The facts
Client: University of Surrey
Project construction value: £32m
Services provided: Cost Management
The project
Delivered on time and in budget, the Sports Park sets a
new benchmark for the quality of University Sports
Facilities.
Northcroft were originally appointed as cost managers for the
project in September 2005. We established the project budget and
were also subsequently appointed as employer’s agent responsible
for the project management of the design procurement and
construction stage for the main building works.
The state-of-the-art sporting venue will be a training facility
for both the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as
providing a home to the Guinness Premiership rugby union club,
Harlequins. The park hosted the Women’s International Basketball
matches and the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2010.
This facility is as much for the University students and local
community as it is elite athletes, providing outstanding
opportunities and health benefits for all. One particular goal is
to encourage children to experience sports they have never tried
before, with a wide variety of classes specifically for children
and the introduction of summer camps every year.
Value Engineering
Northcroft understand the importance of value for money for our
clients and were involved in numerous value management and whole
life costing exercises to drive out inefficiencies for the
University. This involved reviewing the University’s original space
brief to see how the internal and external facilities could be best
arranged to minimise the overall build area and removing any excess
circulation and back-of-house areas, whilst not compromising the
University’s requirements for a building that could be adapted for
future changes.
All aspects of the proposed design (structural, architectural
and environmental services) were challenged at pre-construction
design and client meetings and alternative design solutions were
costed by Northcroft and reviewed to take into account capital, as
well as ongoing operational costs, before recommendations were made
to the University for sanction to be included in the Employer’s
Requirements issued for tender.
Life Cycle Costing
Life cycle studies were specifically conducted on alternative
solutions for the M&E services installations to assist in the
selection of the heating and ventilation systems strategies finally
adopted in the Employer’s Requirements which were issued to
tender.
Other projects for University of Surrey include:
- Learning Resource Centre
- Guildford School of Acting Academic Building
- Post Graduate Medical School
- Surrey Technology Centre
The project received a RICS Awards 2011 Community Benefit Award
South East
