Every building project has uncertainties. The question is not whether all of them can be eliminated, but whether they become visible early enough. A shared list of risk-related questions helps the designer, client and contractor work from the same assumptions.

Include more than technical issues

Incomplete site information, an unsettled function, difficult access to the work area or the continued use of the building can all affect the project. Material supply and the time needed for decisions may influence the schedule too. A useful list records what is known, what still needs checking, who will deal with it and when a decision is expected.

Without priorities, the list is only a collection

Not every open question is equally urgent. Start with those that affect several later steps. For example, defining how a space will be used should come before selecting a detailed mechanical solution. Priorities can change, so the list should remain a working document rather than a one-off appendix.

Record the decision as well

When an uncertainty is resolved, record the information or discussion behind the decision. That makes earlier choices understandable if the design changes later. In discussions related to IVVPRO’s project preparation and advisory services, a short jointly maintained question list can be more useful than a schedule treated as final too early.

The featured image is an AI-generated illustration of a project risk discussion; it does not depict an actual IVVPRO project.