Design intent is the governing framework of a project, yet it is often compromised as it moves from concept through construction.
In this episode of Deliberate Words, Ben Caldwell, Director of Specifications at the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), joins Dave and Steve for a rigorous discussion on how design intent can be systematically preserved through documentation, alignment, and early-stage decision-making.
The conversation examines the role of narrative-based specifications, the continued relevance of UniFormat as a systems-based approach, and the value of integrating estimating insight earlier in the process. Rather than treating documentation as a downstream technical exercise, Ben positions it as an active instrument for conveying intent, coordinating systems, and enabling informed decisions. Drawing from BIG’s global practice, the discussion challenges conventional methods and reframes specifications as a critical medium for translating design into constructed reality, with a brief but memorable aside on the unlikely inspiration of a well-crafted banana split.