In short
An operational design review is an independent check of a leisure venue's plans, layout and intended operation before construction or fitout begins. It is commissioned by owners, developers, landlords or investors who want to know whether a design will actually work when guests, staff and peak periods are added. The review does not replace an architect or engineer; it adds the practical perspective of an operator who has opened and run these venues.
Why layout mistakes are the expensive kind
Most design problems do not announce themselves during the concept phase. They show up on opening weekend, or three months later when you realise you need one extra staff member on every shift just to cover a sightline the drawing hid from view.
The cost is not only the rework. It is the daily friction: slower throughput, higher labour, guest congestion, supervision gaps, and the wear and tear that happens when staff and equipment cannot move the way the operation needs them to. Fixing those issues after the doors open means trading while you rip things apart, or learning to live with them. Neither is a good option.
- Cheaper to redraw a line than to move a wall, pit, counter or platform.
- Bad flow shows up as labour cost, not just guest complaints.
- Supervision gaps become safety and insurance problems, not just design problems.
- Once trade starts, the appetite and budget for rework disappear quickly.
What the review actually covers
I read the drawings as an operator. That means I am not scoring the architecture or the aesthetics. I am asking what happens when the venue is staffed by real people, used by real guests, and pressured by a busy Saturday. If you are earlier in the project, the project establishment service may be a better starting point.
- Sight lines and supervision coverage: where can one staff member see, and where do you need another pair of eyes.
- Circulation and pinch points: how guests move between attractions, toilets, cafe and exits without blocking each other.
- Entrance and ticketing flow: how the guest journey starts, where wristbands happen, and where bags, prams and queues stack up.
- Queuing and peak handling: what a full house looks like at admissions, party check-in and food service.
- Party and group room placement: where parties arrive, wait, eat, and re-enter without disrupting general admission.
- Parent and spectator areas: where adults sit, see their children, order food, and feel comfortable staying longer.
- Cafe and retail positioning: whether the F&B and merchandise locations capture passing trade or create bottlenecks.
- Storage and maintenance access: where equipment, cleaning gear and spare parts live, and how staff reach them without crossing the guest floor.
- Staff movement and rostering: what the plan implies about how many people you need on a quiet Tuesday versus a busy Saturday.
What I need from you to do the review
The review can be done remotely from drawings if the information is clear, or on site if the space is already secured. Either way, the more context you give me, the sharper the output.
- Current floor plans, elevations and reflected ceiling plans if available.
- Equipment layout from your supplier or designer, including any structural or service requirements.
- The intended operating model: target age groups, capacity, sessions versus open jump, parties, cafe service, and staffing approach.
- Any draft timetable, pricing structure or programming assumptions.
- Known constraints: lease conditions, council feedback, landlord requirements, or existing building quirks.
When to commission a design review
The earlier I see the plans, the more useful the review is. At concept stage I can question the overall layout. At development approval stage I can feed practical conditions into the documentation. At fitout stage I can catch coordination issues before the builder orders the joinery. A useful companion is the guide to opening a venue.
- New build: before the design is locked so operating assumptions can shape the brief.
- Redevelopment or expansion: before you commit to the new floor plan and workflow.
- Refit or rebrand: when you are changing the offer but the building envelope is fixed.
- Lease negotiation: when you need to compare two sites on operational fit, not just rent and size.
- Change of use: when a building was designed for something else and you need to understand what it will cost to make it work for guests.
How this differs from an architect or equipment supplier
Architects make spaces that work structurally, aesthetically and within the planning rules. Equipment suppliers know their products inside out and will tell you how to install them safely. Both are essential. Neither is usually focused on the day-to-day operating rhythm: how guests queue, how staff supervise, how many people a shift needs, and what happens when the venue is full.
That is the gap I sit in. I work alongside your architect and supplier, not instead of them. My job is to translate the operating model into comments on the drawings so the final venue is easier to staff, safer to supervise, and more efficient to run. If something in the design does not support the operation, I say so plainly and suggest practical alternatives. If you need help selecting those partners, see third-party partnerships.
Standards and guidance that shape the review
The review references the Australian Standards and regulator guidance that apply to leisure venues, but it does not certify compliance. For structural, engineering, building code or certification matters I will always point you to the qualified professional who can sign off.
- AS 5159.1 Trampoline park facilities, which covers design, operation, maintenance and inspection.
- AS 5159.2:2026 Trampoline park facilities, Part 2: Dismount pits, specific to the design and operation of dismount pits.
- AS 2316.1.1 and AS 2316.1.2 for belayed and non-belayed artificial climbing structures and challenge courses.
- WorkSafe WA amusement devices guide for local government, which covers amusement device registration and inspection expectations in Western Australia.
What you get back
I deliver a written review that maps comments directly onto the drawings or plans. Each item is explained in operator language: what the issue is, why it matters commercially or operationally, and what options you have to fix it. Where the question sits outside my scope, I flag the expert who should answer it.
- Marked-up plans or a structured commentary keyed to drawing references.
- Practical recommendations ranked by impact and ease of change.
- Questions to ask your architect, builder, supplier or certifier before the next stage.
- A short discussion with you and your team to walk through the findings.
An honest next step
I am Paul Brownrigg, based in Perth and working Australia wide. If you have plans in front of you and you are not sure whether the design will survive first contact with real customers, send them to me. I will tell you whether an operational design review is worth doing at this stage, what I need to see, and how long it will take. I am based in Perth and work Australia wide. The review is scoped per engagement, so we agree the boundaries and deliverables before any work starts. You can also read more about Venue North and how I work.
Questions operators ask
When in the process should I bring you in?
As early as possible. At concept stage I can question the overall layout. At development or documentation stage I can feed operating conditions into the brief. Even during fitout I can catch coordination problems before they become expensive to fix.
Can you review plans remotely?
Yes, if the drawings and equipment layouts are clear. I can also visit the site if it is already secured or if the physical constraints are hard to read from paper alone.
Will you work with our architect and equipment supplier?
Yes. I am not a replacement for either. I read the plans through an operator's lens and feed practical comments back to your design and supplier team so the finished venue works on a busy day.
Can you help us choose between two lease options?
Yes. I can compare sites on operational fit: access, ceiling height, column spacing, services, parking, spectator areas, and what each layout means for staffing and throughput.
Does this work for a venue that already trades?
Yes. For existing venues the review becomes an operational layout audit. We look at what is fixed, what can be changed, and which improvements will give you the biggest return in safety, labour or guest experience.
What do you need from us to start?
Plans, drawings, equipment layout and a clear description of how you intend to operate. The more context you provide about capacity, programming, staffing and constraints, the sharper the review will be.
Are you an architect or engineer?
No. I am an operator with twenty years in leisure, including ten in indoor and outdoor action and adventure venues. The review complements your architect and engineer; it does not replace their certification or sign-off.
What does an operational design review cost?
Each review is scoped per engagement depending on the size of the venue, the complexity of the design, and the level of documentation you already have. I will give you a clear written scope and deliverables before any work begins.
Sources
- WorkSafe WA amusement devices guide for local government. https://www.worksafe.wa.gov.au/amusement-devices-guide-local-government
- AS 5159.1 Trampoline park facilities. https://www.australiastandards.com/product/AS-5159-1-2018/
- AS 5159.2:2026 Trampoline park facilities, Part 2: Dismount pits. https://webstore.ansi.org/standards/sai/51592026
- Standards Australia, Rock on: artificial climbing structures standard revised. https://www.standards.org.au/news/rock-on-artificial-climbing-structures-standard-revised