The operational (functional) and space programming may be a defined as the essential component of the projects, which are implied by the long range capital investment of the healthcare facility. The core tasks of such programming are the following – it should serve as the control mechanism for the entire set of the members of both design and planning teams (Varawalla, 2010).
There are the following components of the operational (functional) and space planning - programing, which in turn, may be represented as an integral component of the whole process of space planning as well as the separate service. The second stage is the preliminary diagramming (estimation of the approximate square footage, critical for each space and function). The last stage implies the space panning with the detailed reorientation of the furniture plans (Addi and Lytle, 2001).
That is why, the management of the healthcare entity should design and elaborate the components, which, in turn, are referred as the most critical in terms of development of the facility. In the case of the large-scale projects, the initial capital cost as well as the construction or renovation are usually exceeded by the long-term operational costs in five-to-six years. That is why, in the case of proper consideration of the efficient planning at this particular stage, there is an option of saving a significant quantity of the operational monetary funds in future.
In the case when the ‘wish lists’ are distinguished from the actual space needs, it is possible to omit contraction of the inflexible and inappropriate space and in such manner, eliminate the options of overbuilding. Initially, the program of architectural area was the only documents, which has been dedicated to the construction and design of the healthcare facility. Currently, the space planning is preceded by the operational planning and the outcomes of both processes are contributed by one document - functional (operational) and the space programme (Varawalla, 2010).
References
Addi, G., Lytle, J. (2000) Space Planning. Retrieved from: http://www.aia.org/aiaucmp/groups/aia/documents/pdf/aiab089276.pdf
Varawalla, H. (2010) Rethinking Healthcare Facility Planning. Retrieved from: http://archivehealthcare.financialexpress.com/201005/strategy05.shtml
