Performance Perspectives of a Quantity Surveyor

ABOUT IRENA

With over 15 years of experience in the property and construction industry, Irena has gained a considerable amount of knowledge and practical expertise in Cost Management and Design Economics. She has worked in almost all sectors of the industry on various types of projects, in both the public and private spheres.

Irena’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Building in Construction Economics from the University of Technology, Sydney and an accreditation from the International Cost Engineering Council.

Irena has a deep understanding and immense appreciation towards solution driven leadership on projects and is an advocate for conscious innovation and purposeful disruption of service and project delivery. Nevertheless, she always upholds fundamental practices, and has refined an ability to maintain a grasp on the detail while absorbing the greater picture of each project.

Irena has held various successful positions on Committees and Chapters in the Property, Construction Industry, and is a key member and current President of the New South Wales Chapter of Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors.

Considering the theme of this edition of The Building Economist being Performance, we wanted to explore how Irena collaborates with her team members, external contractors and suppliers to ensure that the projects she works on meets the highest level of performance required by the client.

Q1: HOW DOES A QUANTITY SURVEYOR POSITIVELY INFLUENCE THE DELIVERY OF PROJECTS THAT REQUIRE HIGHER LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE - ENERGY EFFICIENCY, THERMAL EFFICIENCY, HEALTH, SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY?

The role of the QS in managing costs which are one of the fundamental measures of value of a project are directly linked to project performance. When delivering projects that require higher levels of performance, the QS must manage the cost of these against all other performance criteria, especially at the earlier phases to aid the project design in achieving the highest level of overall building performance. How we translate the materials (products) and labour (techniques) within our costing analysis and advice, can greatly impact the project direction and the level of performance the project can achieve.

The QS can positively influence the performance levels of a project by applying conscious Design Economics to guide the design to maximum performance potential. This requires the QS to work very closely and collaboratively with the design team and have a proactive and flexible approach in their cost management.

Design Economics is a methodology where the QS not only analyses the cost of the project, but also suggests design options, alternative products and various construction techniques. In which case the QS will be required to be very well versed in the products, techniques and technologies available both old, new and developing.

Q2: DOES THE INTEGRATION OF SUSTAINABILITY / PERFORMANCE FEATURES INTO A PROJECT IMPACT THE COST OF BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE?

All elements of a project impact the cost of construction, operation and maintenance. The levels of performance, quality or simply functional expectations will always attract a variable price, and the industry outlook on these are that the price will always be high for sustainability performance features. However, recently completed top performing projects have shown that the price tag is not as high as expected, and the returns outweigh the initial cost. Good design incorporates high performance levels without attracting an excessive premium.

As a QS on a high performance project, we will be expected to highlight where cost will increase due to performance levels. However, a more vital part of our role is not to simply calculate these costs, but also communicate alternative solutions if the design is not feasible, and analyse return-on-investment of the high performing project, as opposed to the initial delivery cost.

Q3: IS IT IMPORTANT FOR QUANTITY SURVEYORS TO STAY UP-TO-DATE WITH LATEST PRODUCTS AND CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES?

It is absolutely vital for any Quantity Surveyor to stay up to date on current and new products, techniques and technologies. These aspects of construction are the essence of what we analyse to define the cost of a project, and are the core categories that we measure and price.

A good QS will always sustain a good knowledge and library of products and techniques, maintain CPD with respect to these subjects, and maintain and nurture a relationship with local and international product suppliers. However, it is worrying that this connection to the supplier world seems to be slowly fading with Quantity Surveyors, due to many factors like lack of time and difficulty of connectivity to said suppliers.

Quantity Surveyors should always maintain a great relationship with suppliers, to benefit the outcome of the project.

Q4: WITH RESPECT TO THIS RELATIONSHIP, WHAT DO SUPPLIERS NEED TO PROVIDE, TO HELP THE QUANTITY SURVEYOR WITH ANALYSING THE PERFORMANCE OF A PROJECT?

The essentials are always product information, including cost data. However, the beneficial aspects are not necessary in this one dimensional information, but in the education that the supplier would provide to the QS in how their products perform, what new developments are happening and what research is currently underway to improve this performance.

This education will arm the QS with the ability to positively influence the performance levels of a project though Design Economics.