Council for Aluminium in BuildingNorwich Breakfast Meeting

Making Successful Buildings a Success for Everyone

Making Successful Buildings a Success for Everyone

Robert Dale Bsc(Hons) CEMDipFM FRICS FBEng Partner, Daniel Connal Partnership

What makes a successful building?

Vitruvius: “A well building hath three conditions, firmness, commodity & delight

Today also needs to be sustainable

A Successful building – But was it a successful project?

• Deliver the building the client needs• Built safely without any deaths or serious injury• On time• On budget – profitable for all parties• Without dispute

Delivering the building the client needs

• Clear & achievable

• A practical response to the brief

• Communicate how the design is to be achieved

• Brief

• Design

• Specification

Delivering the building the client needs

Vdara Hotel & Spa in Las Vegas

Delivering the building safely

• Safety considered in design

• Planning and implementation

Delivering the building safely

The Aswan Dam

Delivering the building on time

• A realistic programme

• The appropriate procurement route

• Effective project & construction management

Delivering the building on time

The Scottish Parliament

Delivering the building on budget

• Accurate estimating• Unambiguous specification• Tendering procedures• Contract management - the fours C’s

Co-ordination, Co-operation, Communication and Compromise

The Albert MemorialArchitect: Sir George Gilbert Scott

Biggest risks to a successful project

Conflict, disagreement & disputes• Time• Money

Importance of a good specification to reduce risks & avoid conflict

The Specification – Needs to communicate how the design is to be achieved and define what the client is buying. To do this it needs to cover

Scope, Quality,Activity & Responsibility

The problems of a poor specification

• No level playing field at tender stage• Performance not defined• Design responsibilities unclear

So what can you do if you receive a poor specification?

Effects of Procurement on Specification

• Bills of Quantities or Drawings & Spec• Design & Build • Two-stage tendering• Partnering

Contract Terms• Whose terms & conditions?• Paid when paid clauses• Completion dates & retention• Liquidated & Ascertained Damages• Delays• Loss & Expense

Making Successful Buildings a Success for EveryoneConclusion

• Provide early specification advice• Be-proactive with design teams

– Budgetary advice– Specifications & alternatives– Buildability

• The 4 C’s of Contract Management • Read the contract

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Thank You