Edge Hill – Technology Hub

Description

Identity Consult were appointed in March 2015 as Project Managers and Employer’s Agents for The Edge Hill Technology Hub project which consisted of the refurbishment of an existing building with a high quality extension to support expansion in Digital Creative and Food Science (Biotechnology), including bioinformatics, product design and prototyping. It also includes a Knowledge Exchange, a Computer Aided Virtual Environment, a Food Science facility and an Enterprise Hatchery. It has created high quality space for teaching, learning, student employability, enterprise and knowledge exchange activities.

The Technology Hub building is an excellent example of where Identity Consult have provided the University with innovation, outstanding environmental and sustainability outputs, value for money, whilst being acknowledged as an example of excellence in project management.

Identity Consult were given a challenging timescale of a 6-month period to deliver the construction phase, which required the production of innovative procurement strategies to maximise programme betterment. The response involved devising a project schedule with three overlapping contracts; Enabling works, Shell and Fit-out. This innovative programming approach allowed the University to achieve in excess of 70% betterment in terms of programme. Planning the programme in this way has meant that work could commence on the Enabling Works packages, whilst design elements for the Shell and Fit Out packages were still under development. Additionally, by bringing forward the ordering of key materials, such as steel and brickwork work packages in advance of the appointment of a Principal Contractor, meant that lead-in times were greatly reduced.

Identity Consult worked in a spirit of openness and collaboration with the entire supply chain, including the design team, Principal Contractor and sub-contractors, through regular risk and design workshops to deliver to the constrained project timescale, whilst maintaining cost and quality, with only 6 months from appointment of the team to project completion.

Testimonial

I would not hesitate to recommend Identity Consult as a provider of Project Management and Employer’s Agent services. Their ability to foster a sense of teamwork and motivate our professional team of consultants, contractors and sub-contractors, allied with their strategic focus and can do attitude, means they are a key factor in the successful delivery of the University’s Capital Programme.

David Oldham, Director of Capital Developments, Edge Hill University