Holistic Approach Supports Value Engineering

Value engineering and innovation in major projects only become possible if all parties involved come together to make it happen.

That’s the opinion of HBPW’s Managing Partner, Paul Withers. “Contractors and designers often pick up the plaudits for innovation or doing something that has taken cost out of a job, however clients and their advisors also play a key part.

“They need the foresight to provide for innovative thinking in the contract at the outset which doesn’t always happen. Equally, for contractors to put ideas forward that break the mould, they also need to be confident with the way risks, costs and savings are shared, whilst having the confidence to know that their ideas will be acted upon rather than being passively acknowledged and side-lined.”

He said that in some instances contract documents were restrictive to the point that they discouraged alternatives, effectively restricting innovation and stifling value engineering.

“Our work at Llandudno Railway station proved a real winner thanks to the combined effort of Network Rail, the Buckingham Group and ourselves.

“We were asked to undertake a design to strengthen a free standing party wall located next to an adjacent café at the station.

“The wall had been left propped with a temporary steel frame following demolition of former station buildings and, whilst a permanent design had been formulated involving the construction of a large permanent steelwork frame, analysis of the original Victorian engineering drawings for the station walls – along with a detailed study of the local ground conditions – meant an alternative wall strengthening design was formulated using existing foundations.”

HBPW’s Geoenvironmental Engineer, Jay Fox, got involved and a revised engineering approach took considerable cost out of materials and construction costs whilst also minimising lost floor space.

“Could that have happened without a holistic approach that involved the cooperation of all parties? Probably not,” added Paul. “Innovation and value engineering must have space to breath if they are to be given life.”