What key information is required regarding the client's needs during the schematic design phase?

During the schematic design phase, understanding the client's needs is critical for aligning the design process with their expectations and constraints. One key piece of information required is the construction procurement method. This determines how the project will be delivered, whether through design-bid-build, design-build, or another method. Knowing the procurement strategy allows the architect to tailor their design approach, understand the implications on project scheduling, cost management, and contractor selection.

While aspects like soil composition reports, budget milestones, and legal surveys are essential in their own right, they typically come into play at later stages of the design and planning process. Soil reports and surveys relate to site conditions and feasibility studies, while budget milestones are generally tied more to the financial and project management aspects that come after initial designs are established. Thus, the construction procurement method stands out as crucial during the schematic design phase specifically for aligning design intentions with how the project will ultimately be executed.