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Site Assessment & Scoping

Walk-throughs, environmental review, and documented objectives — before a single dollar is committed.

Every Forged engagement starts here. Before we spec a system, source a vendor, or schedule a trade — we walk your site, interview your stakeholders, and document exactly what exists, what's missing, and what it will take to close the gap. The Site Assessment is a standalone deliverable with measurable ROI: it eliminates scope creep, surfaces hidden costs, and gives your leadership team a decision-ready document instead of a sales pitch. Organizations that invest in a proper assessment before breaking ground consistently avoid the six-figure change orders and three-month delays that come from fragmented planning.

What's Covered

Scope of Assessment

Building & Structural Review

Roof condition, foundation integrity, load-bearing capacity, ADA compliance, egress paths, and general building envelope — documented with photos, measurements, and condition ratings.

Electrical & Power Systems

Panel capacity, circuit loading, generator readiness, UPS infrastructure, grounding, and code compliance. We identify whether your electrical supports current operations and planned growth.

HVAC & Mechanical

Heating, cooling, ventilation, and air quality systems assessed for capacity, efficiency, age, and maintenance history. Includes ductwork inspection and thermostat zoning analysis.

Network & Low-Voltage Cabling

Structured cabling audit — Cat5e/Cat6/fiber runs, patch panels, cable management, labeling, and pathway capacity. We map what's in place and what needs to be pulled for your IT buildout.

Physical Security & Access

Door hardware, access control points, camera placement, lighting coverage, perimeter security, and visitor management. Assessed against both operational needs and insurance/compliance requirements.

Compliance & Code Review

Local building codes, fire marshal requirements, ADA standards, environmental regulations, and industry-specific mandates (HIPAA facility controls, PCI physical security, etc.) checked against current conditions.

Our Process

How It Works

01

Discovery & Stakeholder Interviews

We start with your people, not your building. Interviews with facility managers, IT leadership, operations, and executive sponsors to understand business objectives, pain points, growth plans, and non-negotiable requirements.

  • 60–90 minute kickoff session with key stakeholders
  • Review of existing blueprints, lease agreements, and prior assessments
  • Documentation of business-critical systems and uptime requirements
  • Identification of regulatory and compliance obligations
02

On-Site Investigation

Our team physically walks every space — mechanical rooms, server closets, rooftops, parking structures, tenant areas, and common spaces. We photograph, measure, and document everything that impacts your project scope.

  • Full facility walk-through with condition documentation
  • Infrastructure mapping (electrical, plumbing, HVAC, cabling, security)
  • Environmental readings (temperature, humidity, air quality where applicable)
  • Identification of code violations, deferred maintenance, and safety risks
03

Analysis & Gap Identification

Raw findings are organized into a structured gap analysis — what you have vs. what you need. Each gap is categorized by severity, cost impact, and timeline urgency so your team can prioritize with confidence.

  • Current-state vs. desired-state comparison across all systems
  • Risk scoring: critical, high, medium, low for each finding
  • Preliminary cost ranges for remediation and upgrades
  • Cross-system dependency mapping (e.g., HVAC capacity impacts server room planning)
04

Scoping Document & Presentation

We deliver a comprehensive scoping document — not a proposal for more work, but a standalone deliverable your team can use with any contractor or vendor. Includes an executive presentation for leadership buy-in.

  • Executive summary with key findings and recommendations
  • Detailed assessment report with photos and diagrams
  • Prioritized project roadmap with phasing recommendations
  • Budget ranges and timeline estimates for each phase
Deliverables

What You Receive

Executive Summary

A 2–3 page leadership-ready document with key findings, risk highlights, and recommended next steps. Designed for board presentations and budget conversations.

Detailed Assessment Report

40–80 page comprehensive report with photos, condition ratings, measurements, and system-by-system findings. Your single source of truth for project planning.

Prioritized Roadmap

Phased project plan with sequenced recommendations — what to do first, what can wait, and what depends on other work completing. Includes timeline estimates.

Budget & Cost Estimates

Preliminary cost ranges for each recommended action item. Not a binding quote, but accurate enough for capital planning and budget approval conversations.

Risk Assessment Matrix

Every finding rated by likelihood and impact. Critical safety issues flagged for immediate action. Deferred maintenance items tracked with projected failure timelines.

Infrastructure Maps & Diagrams

Updated floor plans, cabling diagrams, electrical panel schedules, and system topology maps. Often the first time a facility has had its infrastructure properly documented.

Who It's For

Is This Right for You?

Pre-Construction & Renovation

Planning a buildout, renovation, or tenant improvement? The assessment defines your starting point so contractors bid against real conditions — not assumptions.

Facility Consolidation or Relocation

Moving offices, combining locations, or evaluating a new lease? Know exactly what the building can and can't support before you sign.

Technology Refresh or IT Buildout

Upgrading your network, deploying new systems, or migrating to cloud? The site assessment ensures your physical infrastructure supports the digital plan.

Due Diligence & Acquisition

Evaluating a property or business acquisition? Our independent assessment gives you a clear picture of deferred maintenance, hidden costs, and capital requirements.

Compliance Audit Preparation

Facing a HIPAA, PCI, or insurance audit? The assessment documents your physical security controls and identifies gaps before the auditor does.

Annual Facility Planning

Proactive organizations run annual assessments to stay ahead of maintenance cycles, budget accurately, and avoid emergency capital expenditures.

Common Questions

FAQ

How long does a typical site assessment take?

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Most single-site assessments are completed within 2–3 weeks from kickoff to final report. The on-site investigation itself is typically 1–2 days depending on facility size. Multi-site assessments are scoped individually.

Will the assessment disrupt our normal operations?

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Minimal disruption. We coordinate scheduling around your business hours and critical operations. Most of our work happens in mechanical rooms, closets, and rooftops — not in your workspace. If we need access to occupied areas, we schedule in advance.

Do we need to prepare anything before you arrive?

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We'll send a pre-assessment checklist, but the basics are: access to all areas (mechanical rooms, roof, server closets), any existing blueprints or floor plans, and 60–90 minutes with your key stakeholders for discovery interviews.

Can we use the assessment report with other contractors?

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Absolutely — and that's by design. The assessment is a standalone deliverable you own. Use it to get competing bids, present to your board, or hand to any contractor. It's not a sales tool for more Forged work — it's a decision-ready document for your team.

What's the typical investment for a site assessment?

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Assessments start at $2,500 for a single small-to-medium facility. Pricing scales with square footage, number of systems assessed, and complexity. We provide a fixed-price quote after an initial scoping conversation — no hourly surprises.

Case Study
750-Staff Nonprofit Health Organization
Consolidated IT operations and improved quality without business interruption.
Read Case Study

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