... sophisticated methods of estimating, such as cost models. Early in the planning stages, both building clients and designers must agree on an anticipated cost of the project at completion. Preliminary estimates are employed in the early planning phases of a proposed project to match an owners needs, expressed as written programmatic requirements, with budget constraints in order to establish its overall scope and quality expectations. Estimate comparisons at this stage are especially valuable in evaluating the feasibility of strategic alternatives being considered to satisfy current and projected space requirements (often known as Conference estimating). Financial methods fix a cost limit to the building design, where elemental cost planning is used; this will be the target cost that should be decided during the brief stage. Where comparative cost planning is used, some idea of the figure may be suggested in the earliest stage but the actual decision is not made until the ...

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