The term “Discovery Process” is borrowed from the attorney litigation arena where information is shared prior to going to court. I have found it particularly valuable for architects in the pre-design and planning phase of projects as we–the collective team of owners, users, planners, architects, engineers, and other stakeholders–establish the parameters of a particular project and how it fits into an overall strategic plan, prior to beginning schematic design.

Understanding the critical factors driving the essence of the project is directly related to its successful design and construction. The more we define the problem, the more likely we are to have a creative and successful solution. The keys to a successful solution are:

• Knowing all project requirements 
• Understanding the priorities of each stakeholder
• Establishing a consensus toward key project elements
• Developing project vision statement, design concepts, and directives 
• Providing an open and welcoming facility 
• Providing a functional facility with sufficient square footage to satisfy current and future space
• Developing a realistic budget and providing a master plan to reach the total required square footage; if not now, in the future
• Considering long-term maintenance, energy, and sustainability in the cost/value equation related to project cost and budget

This exercise identifies key attitudes and issues of major project participants and is the first step toward defining problems and setting the stage toward a creative and unique design response which reflects client attitudes and expectations.