THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC AWAITS YOU …
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time over-runs are variances to the initial design scope. As budgets, workforce and the delivery of materials and supplies are all based on the agreed upon design, changes to this design can take time to resolve, pushing out the timings of trades and affecting the availability and expense of materials.
Once the design has been chosen, the less interference the better if sticking to schedule and budget is important. Of course, issues during the construction process may arise, which is where a great contractor is worth its weight in gold. When unanticipated design issues are identified midway through a project, win-win solutions can be developed quickly between the contractor, architect and client.
AUDIT YOUR BUILDING Before undergoing a refurbishment, it is beneficial to understand the core components that build the base. It’ s necessary to grasp how it was constructed, and knowing where services such as water, power and gas can be accessed can greatly assist in staying on budget.
For example, older buildings can add construction costs and delays. Assessing the age of a building is therefore key to identifying issues early. Older buildings can contain many concrete pre-cast walls, which makes installing cabling a challenge. These access issues generally translate into more worker-hours than usual, sending construction costs soaring.
For educational institutions targeting best-practice, interactive environments, audio-visual systems can quickly exhaust budgets. In many cases, it isn’ t unusual for AV to cost upwards of $ 2 million. Thus, getting construction costs and accessibility sorted is key.
If you have an old building, try to get access to old architectural diagrams that may decode any access issues. Make your construction manager aware of this issue during the quotation period, so it can provide a realistic assumption of hours, taking into account complex service installation.
RECYCLE, REUSE AND REFURBISH A sustainable approach to construction isn’ t just great for the environment, it can also help with the bottom line. Identifying what you can retain, recycle and reuse in your current space can generate savings. There are elements you may not realise can be retained or reused, so briefing project partners such as the architect and contractor to keep an eye out for these is important.
More than $ 200,000 was saved on a recent project when SHAPE pointed out that a new ceiling proposed over two levels wasn’ t necessary. The examination of construction documents determined that the existing ceilings and lighting could be retained, speeding up delivery and improving the project’ s bottom line. ■
Ed O’ Sullivan is a senior project manager at SHAPE Group Australia.
THE UNIVERSITY OF THE SOUTH PACIFIC AWAITS YOU …
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