Which design phase focuses on outlining the major scope before detailed design?

• A. PS&E
• B. Primary Member
• C. Profile
• D. Preliminary Design

Answer: (D)

The main idea being tested is how a project moves from general definition to detailed development. The Preliminary Design phase is where you outline the major scope of the project before getting into specifics. In this stage you establish the overall layout, identify the essential components and their arrangement, set broad design criteria and performance goals, and develop rough quantities and cost/schedule estimates. This creates a baseline for evaluating alternatives and gaining agreement from stakeholders, while keeping the focus on what needs to be built rather than on exact details.

Why this fits best: it captures the purpose of early-stage design—defining the project’s boundaries and direction so later work can refine sizes, materials, and connections with a solid understanding of the intended scope. Once the Preliminary Design establishes the scope, the next steps drill into exact geometry, member sizes, and construction details in the detailed design phase. The final PS&E package, used for construction bidding and procurement, comes after the design is fully developed. More specific items like a profile drawing or identifying a single primary member are components or outputs, not phases that set the overall scope.