The Design Development phase is focused on the selection of building materials and systems and continues to involve uncovering the needs of the end-user(s). Design reviews are held generally on a biweekly basis with the appropriate groups and input into the design is documented. The architectural and engineering team pay particular attention to the quality of the design, its documentation, and agreement with the original goals detailed in the workshop process. Selections are tested against the overall project budget. Value engineering and choices are made, if necessary, to align project scope against costs.

Code officials are included in the design process to build consensus and eliminate future potential surprises, and a formal quality control group begins their evaluation of generated documents. Drawings and specifications are reviewed for agreement with recognized standards of detailing and documentation. Specifications are evaluated for alignment with drawings and their ability to generate competitive bids.