Fast-tracking by High Performance Design Teams

Among professional clients, there is a growing need for faster delivery of buildings. Until recently fast-tracking processes concentrated mainly on the construction process and concurrent engineering. Nowadays, more and more the awareness is growing that fast-track-ing also has evidential consequences for the earlier design phases. Particularly in the case of a complex building project, where many design professionals and advisors are involved, a lot of professional, managerial communication and team skills of all project participants is required, as well as specialised methods, techniques and instruments. Based on several recent Dutch fast-tracking cases, the paper explores the design, execution and management of fast-tracking design processes. The cases are discussed based on a small model developed in this paper, to analyse and design fast-track design processes. Special attention is given to the implications of this kind of high performance design teams for the design management and coordination function.