Case Study Flashcards
When was capital house constructed?
2003
Who was the developer originally involved in the construction of Capital House
Greycoat
Who was the architect involved in the original development of Capital House?
Foster and Partners
Which stakeholders did you involve in the briefing process for Capital House?
- Client
- Architect
- Services Engineer
- Leasing Agent
- Building Manager
How was the initial budget of £3.5m compiled?
- By QS
- Following initial briefing process
- Not inclusive of Chiller replacement
How were the programme dates collated?
- By Myself
- Not inclusive of Chiller
- Following initial briefing process.
Following your review of the procurement routes how did you report to your client on your recommendation?
- Meeting with presentation
- Following, issued procurement strategy report.
What is the difference between a PCSA and an LOI?
- PCSA aligns with the JCT contract and contractor has more of a scope of service.
- LOI is drafted by clients legal aid.
Why did you issue an expression of interest and not a PQQ?
- Issued both.
- Issued EOI first to gage initial interest, followed by PQQ to work up tender list.
What is the difference between an expression of interest and PQQ?
- EOI - less detailed, less information, more of an open invite.
- PQQ - schedule of questions, more project specific, trying to gage contractor quality.
Was the extended vacant period, as part of the recommended single stage approach, considered in the client’s review?
- Yes
- Leasing agent advised on value of this vacant period.
- Was accounted into clients decision.
You mention the procurement strategy, was this not a tender strategy review? (relevant to key issue one)
- Procurement is the overarching approach of purchasing a good or service.
- Tender approach was a large part and dictated the wider procurement strategy.
Why did you decide to discount a direct D&B approach?
- Concerns over design for areas such as central plant.
- Client wanted more control over design for the floors.
What is the life expectancy of a Chiller?
25 years.
What part of your programme did your services engineer undertake their preliminary site survey of the chiller?
- RIBA stage 2.
Could you please provide a brief description of a VRF system?
- Use refrigerant to provide heating and cooling.
- Refrigerant from condenser to indoor units.
- Installed
What is the difference between VRF and VRV?
- VRV is a trademark of Daikin
- No difference
What is the difference between VRF and VAV?
- VRF more efficient and uses refrigerant, 50% more efficient.
- VAV uses Air flow fans to provide cooling, more expensive.
What is a HVAC system?
- Uses fans and air handling units to provide cooling to the office space.
What is a chiller and how does it work?
- Uses refrigerant to cool air from the return or outside.
- cool air then passed to an air handling unit.
What is an air handling unit?
- Unit that cleans the air.
- Provided heating to the air.
- Connected to ductwork and FCU’s
What are the basic components of a fan coil unit?
- Fan
- Filter
- Heating or cooling coil.
- Drip tray
How did you determine that the VRF system would achieve an EPC of a B?
- As part of an assessment undertaken by my services engineer.
- EPC specialist that modelled the building if a VRF were to be installed to determine EPC.
When is void detection required?
void in excess of 800mm (Building control confirm)
If you have a professional team appointment in place, why would you require signed terms of engagement also?
- Ensures client is aware of any company specific details such as complaints handling procedure.
How did you determine the lead time for fan coil units was 18 weeks?
- Project benchmarking.
- Services engineer dialogue with specified manufacturer.
Other than early procurement, how could you manage this risk of FCU delivery?
- Longer lead in period.
- Dialogue with manufacturer.
- Alternate manufacturer
Would you not have allowed time for value engineering within your programme as part of a Two Stage process?
- Some would be allowed for in form of contingency.
- Not enough if a number of packages were over budget.
What is a void period?
Period where floor is not occupied.
Who assessed this saving of a reduced void period and would this usually be assessed as part of project budgeting?
- Agents assessed the saving.
- This is not usual within budgeting however given the procurement review this was relevant prior to the approach being selected.
How did you deduce a value for not achieving open market competition?
- Benchmarking.
Were there any additional health and safety measurement required to allow works to be undertaken OOH?
- Additional site management.
- Adequate lighting.
- Coordination with building management.
Who advised the landlord’s requirement under the lease to provide tempered fresh air?
- Agent and lawyers
Why would you make a saving on preliminaries for works being undertaken as one contract?
- Reduced insurances.
- Reduced costs for temporary lighting and fire alarm.
What times were considered OOH?
- 7am - 7pm
Did you have to isolate any sprinklers or fire alarm to allow you to proceed with these ceiling works? Was this safe?
- Sprinklers were locally isolated.
- Temporary fire alarm installed.
How did you ensure as project manager that the contractor was making good each evening?
- Sent photos each morning.
- Regular visits.
- Coordination with building management.
- Agreed an acceptable scope of making good at the outset.
How long would this phased plant refurbishment approach take?
- Across 5 years.
Could the client still achieve an EPC B for individual floors?
- Yes they could have but full building is a stronger statement to the market.
How did you check the rates applied by the QS were sensible?
- Benchmarking
- BCIS
Was there not a risk of disturbance to surrounding tenants with the works being undertaken on adjacent floors?
- Some risks but limited when compared to disturbance of other options
How would you have ensured that each tenant were satisfied with the temporary office design?
- Issued at design stages for their review.
- Review of samples.
Would there have been a project to strip out the temporary office following the works?
- Would have been used for marketing purposes.
- Client then strip out before tenant undertakes works
How did you go about assessing the costs for each plant replacement option?
- Coordination with QS.
- Benchmarking
- QS assessment and then report issued to client.
Aside from the install of new chillers, were there any other works that your client required to undertake in order to achieve EPC B?
- LED’s
- Some localised upgrades to glazing.
Why are the construction periods the same on your programme comparison document, would two stage not have been quicker?
- Given the requirement to replace cetrnal plant within the project, we do not feel comfortable adjusting the construction periods at this early stage.
- Phasing, logistics and procurement required further considferation prior to shortening the construction period.
In your role as project manager, how did you ensure that you weren’t simply post boxing your services engineers advice?
- Validated their recommendations from a commercial / programme standpoint prior to these being put to the client.
- Considered whole building strategy for EPC and worked with leasing agents.
- Provided advice from a phasing / strategy perspective relevant to on-floor plant.
Was it not an obvious decision to proceed with the phased option relevant to the on floor plant refurbishment?
- No, the whole building EPC was perceived to be a negative to the client.
- Not achieveing this limited their ability to sell the building in the near future and until the central plant works were complete.
Negotiating with a contractor would have provided you with the fastest programme, reduced void and should be a competitive contract sum. Why didn’t you proceed with these option?
- Client had received been involved in a project where negotiation had failed so saw this as a heightened programme risk.
- Commercially not as beneficial as competitive contract.
How did you determine that a 4 week period would be required for the OOH replacement?
- Benchmarking
- Visual review of site with contractor to determine No. of FCU’s and remediation required.
- Coordination with tenant to understand permissible working hours.
How did you consider service charge when assessing the phased plant replacement?
- Works udnertaken over a longer period of time, multiple years, means a larger amount of service charge could be attributed to the works.
What was the scope of validations undertaken at Capital House?
- AHU - Flow rates.
- FCU - Flow rates.
- Sprinkler - Pipe corrossion.
- Chiller - Temps / flow rates
How did you know that replacing the Chillers would trigger the need for the on-floor plant to be replaced?
- FCU’s were circa 10 years on anyway.
- Coils were not compatable with the temperatures to be provided by the new VRF system
How did the 18 week FCU delivery align with your programme?
- Refurbished previous floor in the building with similar scenario so we knew it could be achieved.
- Partial install of ceiling with FCU to then be installed upon arrival and ceiling closed up.
