Which design phase involves investigating different design alternatives to meet the programming statement?

The design phase that involves investigating different design alternatives to meet the programming statement is the schematic design phase. This phase focuses on exploring various ideas and concepts that align with the project's requirements as outlined in the programming statement. During schematic design, designers develop initial sketches, diagrams, and designs that reflect different approaches to solving the project’s needs. This process is critical for finding innovative solutions and ensuring that the proposed designs are both feasible and practical within the given constraints.

While other phases, such as the design documents phase and construction documents phase, focus on refining and detailing the chosen designs, they do not emphasize the exploration of alternatives like schematic design. The final design review phase typically involves assessing the completed designs rather than investigating various options. Therefore, schematic design is the correct choice because it explicitly addresses the exploration of multiple design strategies to fulfill the project’s programming requirements.