Planning
In the architectural/engineering practice, planning refers to activities in advance of detailed design or construction documents. Planning defines a vision with some action or future changes.

The scope may be rather small such as the program or space requirements for a specific facility department or quite large in the case of a comprehensive or regional transportation or land use plan.

The process typically requires gathering information, interviewing users, discussing operations, establishing goals and expectations, prioritizing, discussing funds and schedules and defining the outcome. The deliverable may be a study report documenting the planning process that is mostly text with minimal graphs and plan drawings or it may be a plan or set of plans that are mostly illustrations with descriptive labels. Planning services include: 

• Programming/Space Planning 
• Community Planning 
• Site Planning

Programming/Space Planning
Programming is generating a specific list of features that are to be included as a part of a facility. This is often expressed precisely such as 80 parking spaces, four Kindergarten rooms or 1000 square feet of storage. It may also be expressed as non-spatial requirements such as daily parcel pick up, create a sense of entry or providing a separation between incompatible uses. Planning programs can be developed for buildings, sites or both.

Space planning goes a little deeper by illustrating the adjacencies and circulation between the program elements. This is also the time when options for various configurations may develop.

We listen attentively so your program is well defined. Our years of experience also allow us to ask the right questions so that the program is thorough. Our experience and use of technology also allows us to create and explore many options which allows you to feel more confident with your decision making.

Community Planning
Community planning spans the spectrum of facilities and activities that define our lives. Whether it's the roadways and trails that transport us from home to work and events or public and private uses such as neighborhoods, schools, shopping, industry, healthcare and parks; planning defines the successful relationship of uses. At Shive-Hattery, we believe community planning has at its core a goal of well-being and sustainability.

Site Planning
Site planning is an exercise to create the safest, most efficient and sustainable configuration of uses on a site. It starts with a good list of the program of required site elements. Next the site is analyzed for its physical features and off site features impacting the site to reveal limitations and assets. Now begins the creative process of applying the site program elements in different configurations to test necessary adjacencies and to bring desirable features into prominence. The layouts are tested against vehicular and pedestrian circulation to provide safety and limit conflicts.

We use the disciplines of landscape architecture and civil engineering in concert to cross the broad spectrum of form and function to deliver an unusually good site plan.

Contact planning@shive-hattery.com