Existing conditions are the physical features and circumstances at a site or structure before planned work begins.
Definition
Existing conditions include the features that a design or construction team encounters before new work, such as terrain, utilities, structures, access constraints, and visible damage. Firms document them through records review, surveys, site observations, measurements, or testing, depending on the assignment. The scope should say which areas and features will be checked and what information the client must provide. Firms may rely on client records for some items and perform field verification for others, so the depth and cost of documentation vary. Inaccessible areas, concealed conditions, and outdated drawings can leave gaps that should be recorded as assumptions or limitations. Existing conditions are not necessarily a complete inventory, a warranty that records are accurate, or a prediction of what will be found during construction. Owners use this baseline to set design assumptions, coordinate disciplines, and handle changes when field information differs.
How owners use it
- Set proposal assumptions by separating records supplied by the client from features the firm will verify in the field.
- Compare survey and field documentation needs with project access, schedule, and design milestones.
- Example: 2 days of survey work × 2 surveyors = 4 surveyor-days to document the defined area.
- Record newly discovered or changed conditions so the team can assess scope, fee, and schedule impacts.
