What does the Design Intent Document (DID) describe?

What does the Design Intent Document (DID) describe?

• A. The project budget and schedule.
• B. Contractor's safety plan.
• C. Details functional requirements and Owner's expectations of how a building will be used and operated.
• D. As-built drawings.

Answer: (C)

The design intent communicates what the owner expects the building to do—how it will be used and operated—and the performance requirements that the design must meet. It translates the owner's program and expectations into measurable criteria that guide space planning, systems design, and how those systems will respond in operation. In commissioning terms, it provides the baseline against which the design and the built project are verified, ensuring the final outcome aligns with the owner’s needs for usability, comfort, and performance. This differs from budget and schedule documents, which focus on cost control and timing; from a safety plan, which outlines site-specific safety procedures; and from as-built drawings, which record what was actually constructed after completion. The design intent sits at the front end, informing decisions about how spaces are used, how systems interact, and how the building will be operated over its life.

The design intent communicates what the owner expects the building to do—how it will be used and operated—and the performance requirements that the design must meet. It translates the owner's program and expectations into measurable criteria that guide space planning, systems design, and how those systems will respond in operation. In commissioning terms, it provides the baseline against which the design and the built project are verified, ensuring the final outcome aligns with the owner’s needs for usability, comfort, and performance.

This differs from budget and schedule documents, which focus on cost control and timing; from a safety plan, which outlines site-specific safety procedures; and from as-built drawings, which record what was actually constructed after completion. The design intent sits at the front end, informing decisions about how spaces are used, how systems interact, and how the building will be operated over its life.