The most expensive MEP decisions happen before engineering starts. This may come as a surprise, or you may be saying “no-duh we’ve all seen the integrated Design Process graph of Project Timeline vs Effort and Impact”.

The biggest cost overruns, schedule slips, and redesign battles aren’t caused by bad engineering. They’re baked in during programming and conceptual design. This is why I enjoy truly early collaboration, involvement even before schematic design, with owners and architects so much. I’m not looking to add to engineering fees; done right, this involvement actually reduces engineering workload by allowing input on most effective system and how to program for it.

Through such involvement I look to discover a few things from the owner, some of these can be thought of as preference sliders, some are just questions, and are always adjusted for building/industry type.

Here’s some examples:


• Importance of First Cost vs Life Cycle Cost

• Maximize Operational Efficiency or Simplicity?

• Identify stringent air conditions/quality requirements



Concurrently, I look for collaboration with the architect. Together we can ensure a cohesive design allowed for and developed from the onset.

• Hidden vs exposed (industrial look) systems
• Just how high did you want those ceilings
• Equipment Placement: hiding, protecting, limiting noise, allowing for maintenance

Architects are amazing generalists. They have good instincts and experience about what type of HVAC system will likely work. I don’t want to challenge that; I look to enhance it. We live in a volatile world, and while the supply chain is calmer than it was a few years ago, lead times and dollar per ton costs are still changing, and that’s hard to keep up with as a generalist. As an example, I’ve recommended VRF systems on buildings that normally I wouldn’t think of it. Why? Because time frame mattered and VRF equipment was on the shelf at the time while everything else (even traditional split systems) were months out.

Working together we can avoid very costly mistakes. These increase both cost and headaches in construction and through the lifetime of the building:

• Having too much or too little mechanical, electrical, and chase space. – Late design floor plan changes hurt everyone.
• Oversized HVAC systems. – This is expensive: upfront, when running, and especially when it causes humidity issues.
• Overcomplicated systems the owner doesn’t want. Does anyone really want to have to use a tablet to turn on office lights
• Oversimplified systems that can’t adapt as the building changes.
  
  

Buildings aren’t just systems; they are environments for people. Getting MEP right from the start honors that by protecting budgets, schedules, and relationships without demanding extra effort. I’m grateful for partners who invite that early dialogue.