Design Consultation

The A/V Project design process consist of three phases, and is initiated by the Client completing the A/V Design Consultation request form above.

Phase 1 - Needs Analysis

After receiving your A/V Design Consultation request, a member of the Learning Spaces team will schedule a time to meet with you to discuss your needs for the space, take measurements and pictures, and discuss the project budget. We want to accurately capture what functions you want to be able to perform in the space, and what the physical parameters are around the space.

Example - If you were building a new house for your family, you would start by selecting a property and meeting with an architect/builder. That architect would ask you questions about what you want, how many beds and baths, how the spaces should flow, what square footage you're looking for, and what your budget range is. They will also take note of the property, what trees need to be saved, what the slope is, etc. This is what we're doing relating to A/V technology at this phase.

Phase 2 - Functional Specification

Based on the discussions held and the site survey, Learning Spaces will create a document called a “Functional Specification” that describes how the space will function, where equipment will be installed, and what the estimated cost will be. This document will be submitted to the necessary stakeholders for approval, and it is very important that you understand what activities you will be able to perform in the space and how you will interact with the space and technology. It is much easier to make changes to the scope or functionality at this point in the process. All work provided up to this point is free of charge.

Example - Once the architect meets with you to hear what you're looking for in your new house, they will start with some general sketches and floor plans and run those past you. They want to lock in the layout of the house, the flow, how it sits on the lot, etc. before they go any further with detailed design. They will also give you estimates on what the expected cost would be for the designs they're showing you. This is what we're doing at the Functional Specification phase in our design process.

Phase 3 - Design Proposal

After the functionality has been agreed upon and the project budget established, Learning Spaces will begin to work on the full A/V system design. This includes providing architectural drawings showing exactly how and where items will be installed, providing wiring diagrams for the technicians to use, and accounting for all equipment and accessories that need to be purchased for the project to be completed successfully. The final Design Proposal will be provided to the stakeholders for approval, at which point the project will be funded. Design work is billable labor, even if the project is abandoned.

Example - Once you have agreed on the floor plan and budget for your house, the architect will then go back to work on the details for construction. A general contractor can't build the exact house you want from a single floor plan and a sketch of the exterior. They need to know how tall the ceilings are, what the structural support will be, where outlets and switches need to be, etc. A/V is no different. A common conference room may consist of 15-20 products that need to be interconnected and programmed to work in the manner the client desires, so this must be planned out and documented to be successful.