Conceptual. Basic. Detailed.

Decisions made early shape everything that follows. The teal line shows how much you can still shape quality, cost and compliance; the magenta line shows what a change costs. Our three stages end exactly at the critical point, before construction begins.

Why the early stages decide the outcome

Why the early stages decide the outcomeThrough the three design stages you can still shape quality, cost and compliance cheaply. Once the design is issued for construction, every change costs more.ConceptualBasicDetailedConstructionOperationDesign frozen and issued for constructionAbility to shape quality, cost & complianceCost of making a change
  • Ability to shape quality, cost & compliance
  • Cost of making a change
  • Agon's three design stages
Through the three design stages you can still shape quality, cost and compliance cheaply. Once the design is issued for construction, every change costs more.

Stage 01 — Define the idea

Conceptual design

Conceptual design turns your business case into a feasible, compliant facility concept. It answers the big questions early: how much space, which zones and grades, how people and materials move, and what it will broadly cost.

G2Concept frozen — Preferred layout, scope and budget envelope agreed before basic design begins.

Key activities

  • URS workshops with your production, QA and engineering teams
  • Capacity, throughput and area analysis
  • GMP zoning and cleanroom classification concept
  • Personnel, material and waste flow concept
  • Layout options and site master plan
  • Order-of-magnitude cost and phasing

Key deliverables

  • User Requirement Specification (URS)
  • Conceptual block layouts, with options
  • Zoning and classification plans
  • Personnel and material flow diagrams
  • Site master plan
  • Concept report and cost estimate

What we need from you

  • Product portfolio and volumes
  • Target markets and regulators
  • Site data and constraints
  • Budget and schedule ambitions
GMP zoning concept drawing: cleanliness grades shown as coloured zones, with airlocks, room pressures and one-way personnel and material flows.
Illustrative GMP zoning concept: cleanliness grades, airlocks, room pressures and one-way flows set at the conceptual stage.

Stage 02 — Fix the solution

Basic design

Basic design develops the approved concept into a coordinated engineering solution across every discipline. Rooms are dimensioned, systems sized and requirements recorded, giving you a reliable budget and a package contractors can price.

G3Basic design approved — Budget confirmed and the tender package released to contractors.

Key activities

  • Dimensioned GA layouts and room data sheets
  • PFDs, P&IDs, equipment list and sizing
  • HVAC zoning, AHU sizing and pressure cascade
  • Utility load lists; PW, WFI and steam concepts
  • Electrical load schedule; BMS and EMS architecture
  • GMP design review and risk assessment

Key deliverables

  • Basis of Design document
  • GA layouts and room data sheets
  • PFDs, P&IDs and equipment list
  • HVAC and utility concepts with calculations
  • Electrical and controls concept
  • Budget estimate and tender package

What we need from you

  • Approved concept (G2)
  • Process and equipment preferences
  • Vendor and technology choices
  • Design review comments
Dimensioned general arrangement drawing beside a room data sheet recording each room’s grade, pressure, environment and finishes.
Dimensioned general arrangement with a room data sheet: each room’s grade, pressure, environment and finishes recorded.

Stage 03 — Build the package

Detailed engineering

Detailed engineering turns the approved design into a complete, construction-ready package. Every discipline is modelled, coordinated and clash-checked, so contractors build exactly what was designed and inspectors find what they expect.

G4Issued for construction — The package is released to site; our design support continues through build.

Key activities

  • Federated 3D modelling of all disciplines
  • Clash detection and resolution
  • Construction drawings, sections and details
  • Calculations and equipment schedules
  • Technical specifications and BOQ
  • Vendor data and submittal integration

Key deliverables

  • Architectural and cleanroom construction details
  • AHU-wise HVAC and ducting layouts
  • PW, WFI, pure steam and gas routing
  • Power, lighting and earthing drawings
  • Fire alarm, CCTV, access control and LAN
  • UPS, BMS and EMS design
  • BOQ, specifications and submittals

What we need from you

  • Approved basic design (G3)
  • Selected vendor data
  • Contractor and site interfaces
A coordinated set of construction drawings generated from one federated 3D model and issued for construction.
A coordinated drawing set, generated from one federated model and issued for construction.

Every stage

Deliverables are not limited to the above and are tailored to each project.

Deliverables matrix

What you receive, stage by stage

Every stage ends with a defined, coordinated package. This matrix shows the core deliverables each discipline issues, so scope is clear from the first day of the engagement.

Discipline01 Conceptual02 Basic03 Detailed
Architecture
  • Conceptual block layouts
  • GMP zoning & flow concept
  • Dimensioned GA layouts
  • Room data sheets
  • Construction-issue drawings
  • Cleanroom wall, ceiling & floor details
Process
  • Process description
  • Preliminary equipment list
  • PFDs & P&IDs
  • Equipment list & sizing
  • Final P&IDs & equipment layouts
  • Datasheets & specifications
HVAC
  • Area classification concept
  • HVAC zoning concept
  • AHU sizing & airflow calculations
  • Pressure cascade scheme
  • AHU-wise ducting layouts
  • AHU schematics & schedules
Utilities
  • Utility list
  • Preliminary loads
  • Utility load lists & sizing
  • PW, WFI & steam concepts
  • Piping route & distribution layouts
  • Plant room arrangements
Electrical & automation
  • Preliminary power estimate
  • Load schedules
  • BMS & EMS architecture
  • Power, lighting & earthing
  • Fire alarm, CCTV, access, LAN, UPS
Cost & documents
  • Site master plan
  • Order-of-magnitude estimate
  • Basis of Design
  • Budget estimate & tender package
  • BOQ & technical specifications
  • Technical submittals

Core deliverables shown; deliverables are not limited to this list and are tailored to each project’s scope.

One package, fully coordinated

Because every discipline is designed by one team, each package is issued coordinated, cross-checked and consistent, never as a set of separate consultants’ drawings.

Let’s design it right.

From the first concept sketch to an issued-for-construction package, Agon designs pharmaceutical facilities that meet the highest international standards. We would welcome the conversation.