Plan for staff and visitors together
The project should distinguish regular employees from visitors and service users, especially at peak times. Public users may require clearer wayfinding and staff guidance than people who work in the building every day.
Operational readiness matters after construction
- responsibility for inspections and maintenance;
- clear routes and signs;
- accessibility for people with limited mobility;
- ventilation and backup power checks;
- documentation and defect records;
- staff procedures for directing visitors;
- periodic readiness exercises and update of user information.
Define acceptance before procurement
For a public buyer, procurement should state not only what is supplied or built, but also which documents, tests, commissioning steps, warranty conditions and acceptance criteria are required at handover.