About Building Designers

Building Designers Design Buildings

A building designer is a person who designs buildings (or parts of buildings).

The design is the single most important element in creating a new building, whether it be a residential or non-residential building. Building Design is a complex task that is best entrusted to a professional. It is not simply a matter of 'drawing a set of plans'. Every building site is unique and has its own complexities. It is the task of the Building Designer to understand the complexities, and maximise the possibilities of the site.

A Building Designer:
	interprets client briefs and prepares and develops sketch plans for the client’s consideration;
	once approval is received from the client, the building designer prepares detailed architectural drawings and documentation, showing internal and external layouts of the building;
	analyses the design, and prepares preliminary sketches and detailed instructions;
	prepares working drawings showing plans, elevations, sections, materials and finishes, as well as other aspects such as layouts, plumbing, drainage, car parking and landscaping;
	calculates the quantity and quality of materials required for the projects, as well as material and labour costs and project completion dates;
	prepares building specifications for building plans for the project;
	visits building sites to make sure that the plans and specifications for that project are being followed;
	liaises with relevant consultants (engineers, quantity surveyors, building surveyors, planning professionals etc) to ensure all aspects required for the project are adequately addressed;
	examines relevant codes and local council by-laws in the course of undertaking project documentation.

A Building Designer sees things from your point of view and puts many
years of practical design experience into taking and shaping the client’s brief to a final concept.

Value for money is the Building Designer’s key objective to meet the client’s requirements.

Building Designers can produce a design for your residential or commercial project from a brief or a sketch you have prepared, or an idea you have in mind.

Building Designers are required to be registered with the Building Practitioners Board, in accordance with the Victorian Building Act 1993. Part of the registration requirement is to have in place professional indemnity insurance
to the minimum amount of $1million. Building Designers are registered under
the category of Draftsperson, Class of Building Design (architectural).
Further information about the registration process is available at www.buildingcommission.com.au

In accordance with the Building Act, registered building practitioners are required to adhere to certain professional standards, including performing their work in a competent manner, and to a professional standard.