The Most Common Mistakes in Simulation Centre Planning
Three early assumptions that turn into costly problems: planning rooms before workflows, underestimating storage, and leaving staffing, governance, and maintenance until launch.
Planning rooms before workflows
A room list is not a functional program. Learner movement, technician access, faculty observation, equipment reset, and scenario turnover should shape the plan.
Underestimating storage
Simulation equipment is bulky, delicate, and often scenario-specific. Storage needs to be close enough to be useful and organized enough to support fast turnover.
Leaving operations until launch
Staffing, governance, maintenance, scheduling, faculty support, and policies should be developed before opening day, not after the centre is already under pressure.
Common questions
What is the biggest risk in early planning?
Treating the centre as a set of rooms instead of a daily operating system for learning, technology, equipment, and people.
Can mistakes be corrected during construction?
Some can, but changes are more expensive and constrained once drawings, infrastructure, and procurement decisions are locked.
Written by Ferooz Sekandarpoor, founder of SimCert Practice Hub. Planning a new centre or a renovation? BrainNet Consulting helps teams with simulation centre design, AV and IT planning, and operational readiness.
Ready to practice? CHSOS questions or CHSE questions.