Case studies

Clapham Sixth Form Centre, Lambeth College

Client: Lambeth College

Service provided: pre construction design management

Brief:

Identify: (1) key design threads; (2) programme processes to different time targets and (3) conclude the procurement route, whilst the College continued dialogue with the Learning and Skills Council over funding details.

pcm was also asked to develop a scheme design and submit a planning application for the Vauxhall Gymnasium and Reception area.

Programme:

pcm worked closely with the Client in supporting the development of the brief, coordinating the design input for planning applications and tasking the design team with a challenging Stage D programme.

• pcm were integral to the Design Team and provided support and direction on a daily basis. We developed a detailed work stage programme and coordinated the process of formal meetings. pcm also managed change within the project and placed great importance on design in relation to the agreed budget and timescale.
• In managing the process, pcm introduced a Project Execution Plan (PEP), which set the guidelines for the project. It identified the communication protocol and established the reporting and meeting processes. A meeting schedule was produced identifying the requirements of the project, the attendees of each meeting, the structure to the meeting and time, location and frequency.
• In identifying the time constraints, a number of planning workshops were conducted with the team's involvement in order to establish an agreed delivery programme for the design. Forward planning was provided in terms of short-term programmes and a count down summary programme was produced for the finalisation of Stage D.

Innovation:

From the outset pcm advised that a cost review of the latest information was conducted to identify the predicted costs based on a revised brief. In working this detail through, a realignment of the costs allowed the team to be informed of the predicted costs and work within a set of agreed parameters. This task also created a cost driven mentality allowing the team to provide an efficient solution to the design challenges in construction and consultancy fee costs.

In order to manage the risks on the project we issued and maintained a key issue log which enabled pcm to target areas of non performance and foresee issues prior to them impacting on the process. This enabled us to take a pro active rather than reactive approach to the management of the design phase.

pcm had successfully encouraged flexibility within the design allowing a number of changes to be incorporated into the design with minimal impact to the programme. A number of cost saving workshops have also been conducted to maintain the project budget. pcm have also managed the contractor procurement process from publication of the OJEU notice to the selection of a tender list for the first stage. We are currently involved in the assessment to select one preferred contractor to proceed to the second stage.

Background:

Lambeth College is a very successful College of Further Education, educating some 20,000 students each year and with a turnover of close to £40 million. It operates over three main sites at Clapham, Brixton and Vauxhall, with a satellite site in Streatham (Adare Centre). It also operates from numerous third party sites (e.g. schools) and has strong links with many employers within the region.

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