Top ten tips for building design and construction projects
Top ten tips for the perfect project
If you disagree with our top tips:
- Click on "discussion" above then edit the discussion page and add your tips.
- Or click on "submit comment" at the bottom of the page and send us your ideas.
1. Set it up properly right at the beginning. You won't have time later.
2. You can't do it all yourself. Pick the right people to help you and reward them for success.
3. Make sure you know what you want. Changes get more expensive as you go on.
4. Make sure your aspirations are reflected in your budget. You can’t have a world-class building if you don’t have a world-class budget.
5. Know whether you want quality, low cost or speed. If you want a great building and fast; expect to pay for it.
6. Design fees are a bad place to make savings.
During the life of a building:
| Item | Relative cost |
| Design fees | 0.1 |
| Construction cost | 1 |
| Operating costs | 5 |
| Business costs | 200 |
7. Manage your stakeholders. Focus your attention on the vocal people who can most affect the project and may be against it.
8. Know what the risks are and who is taking them. Only transfer risks to someone else if they can do something about them.
9. Make sure you have a realistic contingency. But don’t tell anyone about it.
10. If it's not working out, make changes, or walk away.
Featured articles and news
Industry leader Steve Murray takes on role.
An abundant and versatile building material.
How overheating complicates ending gas in the UK.
600,000 heat pump installations targeted per year by 2028.
Cost planning, control and related articles on DB.
Helping prevent those unwanted outcomes.
ICE debate Public transport - post pandemic.
How has transport changed due to Covid-19 ?
Cross-ventilation in buildings. Do you have it ?
Will you need it ? after June 15 and the new Part O ?
Share your knowledge with the industry.
Create an account and write the first of many articles.
The green jobs delivery group.
CIAT commentary after the first meeting.
Liverpool's world heritage site status
Who is to blame?
Research recommends focussing on portfolio success rather than project success.
ICE and BSI launch revised PAS 128 standard.
The revised standard for mapping underground utilities.
Launching the UK net zero carbon buildings standard.
Cross-industry steering group seeks support in delivery.
Comments
To start a discussion about this article, click 'Add a comment' above and add your thoughts to this discussion page.
What about ...
Know your costs from the outset. The only way to make a building cheaper, is to make it smaller. --designing buildings 08:48, 10 July 2012 (BST)
Know what's in your budget and what's not. Equipment may not need to be in the budget, but what about fitting the equipment? --GregorHarvie 08:52, 10 July 2012 (BST)
No planning permission means no project. Get planning permission early, otherwise you could spend a lot of money for nothing.
And be very careful with VAT. is it recoverable or not? Are there some items where it is not recoverable in any event?