The Power of Feasibility Analysis - 9 Levels of Due Diligence

Establishing the feasibility of a project is a critical stepprojected durations.
on the road to successful property development.Assemble necessary building permit applications such
Performing the necessary due diligence at the correctas Building Permit, Plumbing, Heating/Mechanical,
time is the key to effective risk management. TheSignage, Water, Sewer, Fire Suppression etc.
primary impacts in all property development, property6 Energy and Environmental Analysis
planning and process management are scope,Enables property owner or developer to consider
schedule and budget. Monitoring these three thingsdifferent environmentally conscious planning strategies
and assessing where you are relative to each willand assess impact on long term building costs.
allow you to advance from milestone to milestoneIntroduction to LEED and other measuring systems
with confidence. Below I have listed the nine levels offor environmentally conscious buildings. Introduce
feasibility analysis required to ensure adequate riskenvironmental building strategies and concepts such
management.as green roofs, green wall systems, storm water
LEVELS OF FEASIBILITYsystems, passive solar systems, etc.
1 Programming and Needs AssessmentProvide energy analysis of proposed new buildings
Enables property owner or developer to identifyand building additions.
general business and operational needs which will be7 Condition Assessment (Existing Properties)
used as a baseline for planning physical buildingEnables existing property owners to better manage
projects.their facilities and establish budgets for maintenance
Identify general site and building key program needs.and repair.
Develop a space program to be used in conceptualEnables property investors to assess risk as it relates
building design. Initiate preliminary research ofto existing property condition and to assign costs for
systems and strategies which support business andrepair and maintenance to be incorporated into
operational needs.investment proforma.
2 Conceptual Site PlanningNon destructive exterior physical grounds assessment
Enables property owner or developer to assesswhich identifies critical items, repair items, and general
investment risk based on how well the programmedmaintenance items as it pertains to parking,
site elements fit and function on the available site.sidewalks, landscaping, site amenities, etc.
Provide conceptual site plan which delineates logicalNon destructive building condition physical assessment
site element placement. The site plan factors inwhich identifies critical items, repair items, and general
primary and secondary adjacency requirements asmaintenance items as it pertains to building envelope
well as technical site limitations and restrictions.and enclosure.
Typical site elements would be building structures,Provide photographic survey of exterior and interior
parking, access roads, service drives, wetlands,building. Provide structural building assessment which
ponding, site amenities etc.identifies the condition of the existing building
Provide conceptual site planning options for propertystructure and evaluates technical feasibility for
owner or developer evaluation and review. Identifyproposed building expansions.
short term and long term physical planning strategiesProvide mechanical systems assessment which looks
for operational growth and expansion which supportat the age, condition and capacity of existing
the business growth projections.mechanical equipment and systems.
3 Conceptual Building PlanningProvide electrical systems assessment which looks at
Enables property owner or developer to assessthe age, condition and capacity of existing services
investment risk based on how well the programmedand systems.
building elements function in a basic buildingProvide a Life Cycle Cost Analysis and Capital
configuration as it is located on the proposed site.Expense Plan which itemizes existing building
Provide conceptual building adjacency diagrams whichequipment and the projected replacement cycle for
factor in primary and secondary functionaleach.
adjacencies for building components, departments8 Cost Estimating
and/or specific spaces.Enables property owner or developer to evaluate
Provide building plan options which incorporate allinvestment risk as it is impacted by overall project
available conceptual planning criteria.cost and provides comprehensive figure for
4 Zoning Analysisconstruction related costs to be incorporated into
Enables property owner or developer to assessproject financial analysis.
investment risk based on how well the proposed siteProvide a conceptual cost estimate which includes an
plan and building meet local planning and zoningitemized breakdown of anticipated costs including but
requirements.not limited to general construction, furniture
Complete Zoning Analysis Checklist which itemizesequipment and technology, surveys and testing,
site and building zoning requirements for typical zoningreimbursable expenses and contingencies. Also
categories such as zoning designation, permittedprojected are primary and specialty design and
uses, parking, setbacks, building height restrictions,consulting fees.
FAR, landscaping, etc.Provide budget projections which factor in all
Review city zoning map and zoning classification.projected project costs and available funding sources.
Assess compliance of proposed site and building.9 Risk Management Scheduling
Identify site easements and restrictions. AssessEnables property owner or developer to assess
impact of easements and restrictions on proposedoverall investment risk as it relates to project timing
site plan and building plan. Review city Land Use Planand requirement for project funding.
and assess compliance of proposed building and sitePrepare a detailed critical path schedule which takes a
configuration.detailed look at the due diligence tasks, phases, and
5 Building Code Analysismilestones required to complete the project.
Enables property owner or developer to assessThe schedule is composed of milestone durations
investment risk based on impacts of current buildingwhich are tied together with hypothetical dates that
codes and local amendments.provide a synopsis of the process from site
Complete Building Analysis Checklist which identifiesdiscovery to the end of construction.
general project information and itemizes generalThe milestone schedule is structured in a manner to
building code requirements for criteria such asdelineate levels of risk and provides natural process
acceptable building type, allowable areas and buildingmilestones to evaluate feasibility and assess capacity
heights, occupancy group classifications andto proceed.
occupancy loads, exiting, fire resistive rating, etc.Make a Plan. Have a Plan. Lets make it happen!
Identify building permitting process requirements and