Quick answers
What should you find out about the existing hall?
Prepare available drawings, known dimensions, photographs and information about the hall’s use. Find out who owns the building and what documentation exists. Mark missing information as unknown; do not treat an estimate as verified.
Can a 3D design confirm that a connection is possible?
No. The model shows the intended shape and dimensions, but it does not verify the building’s condition, structural capacity, foundations or a safe connection between the two parts. The necessary assessment must be provided by a designer with the relevant specialists.
How should construction be prepared while operations continue?
List which activities must continue, when operations may be restricted and where people and equipment move. Specialists must verify whether construction during operation is possible and how it can be carried out safely; the study itself does not confirm this.
First describe what the extension should change
A short brief is enough: what is missing today, what will move into the new part and what must remain unchanged. Separate essential requirements from preferences. For example: “We need a larger storage area, but access to the current material intake must remain available.”
Prepare a folder of materials
- Available floor plans, sections and documentation of the existing hall.
- Photographs of the building, connection point and surrounding area.
- Information about the site, access and known utilities.
- A description of the operation, equipment and required connection between both parts.
- Known damage, earlier alterations and planned shutdowns.
If drawings are missing, note this in the brief. The designer will suggest whether a survey or investigation is needed. Do not alter or expose parts of the building yourself. Ask the designer to plan any necessary investigation.
Consider the building and its surroundings
An extension may change access, handling, lighting and utility lines. Include the surrounding areas in the working design as well. Treat dimensions and connections as options for assessment, not as a finished solution.
What to take to the designer
Provide a short brief, available materials and the study with a list of open questions. The designer must assess the relationship between the new and existing structures, the required specialist solutions and local conditions. Even an attractive model does not replace a construction design or confirmation that the project can be approved.