THE NEW DIMENSION IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Kier Construction Synchro at work for:
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– Adrian Greenhalghe, Commercial Director, Kier Build
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“Synchro allows us to maintain control of an ever changing worksite. It is the finest management system ever built for the construction industry.”
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Project: Overview:
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The Client
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This NHS Procure 21 framework project was to build a new Mental Health Unit (MHU) on the grounds of Ealing Hospital in West London with a construction value of £27 million. The project ran from October 2005 to July 2007.
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Ealing Mental Health Unit
NHS Hospital Trust / NHS Estates
Background
The Business Improvement Manager and the Commercial Director of Kier Build reviewed Synchro and identified it as a way of addressing many of the deficiencies they experienced in managing collaborative projects. It also impressed them by the way it interpreted closely the requirements of the NEC Form of contract in use on the project. Continued on back
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Kier Construction was the main contractor for the Ealing MHU. Kier are a top 10 (by turnover) construction company, headquartered in Tempsford, Bedfordshire. Kier Construction is one of five framework contractors eligible to carry out projects in the southern region on behalf of NHS Estates. Ealing MHU was one of several projects carried out by Kier for NHS Estates.
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The Contractor
Kier Construction Synchro at work for:
Specification
Kier selected the Synchro software application for a number of reasons: • The contract was a fixed cost project and improvements achieved in its delivery would directly impact profitability • Demonstration of innovation • Increase in openness and improvement of communication with client • Management of and engagement with supply chain • Improvements to programme control through better monitoring of actual output. • Ability to compare plan with actual • Ascertain reliable end dates for completion. What Synchro Ltd Provided
• Conversion of 2D drawings into a 3D model • Set up of resource assignments • Training of site personnel • Facilitation of subcontractor integration workshops The Outcome
Synchro was used as a progress reporting tool and to integrate subcontractor programs of work to build up a comprehensive plan and picture of the project prior to delivery. It constantly added a feeling of reality to the quality of the construction programme, particularly in reconciling the progress to date with the planned programme. Subcontractors reacted positively to the availability and use of Synchro, as did the project auditors (Cyril Sweet).
Take a test drive
To experience the power of Synchro, take our three-day, risk-free test drive at www.synchroltd.com If you have questions, would like to request a demo or simply want to learn more, we invite you to contact us: UK Office:
US Sales Office:
Online
Design Hub 2.3 Coventry University Technology Park Swift Road, Coventry, CV1 2TT t: +44 (0) 2476 792204
19 Crockett Street Rowayton, Connecticut 06853 Tel: (203) 599-1670
www.synchroltd.com
THE NEW DIMENSION IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Costain
Synchro at work for:
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Project:
Wembley Commercial Park
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Overview:
After the completion of the new Wembley Stadium, it was proposed to improve the surrounding land through the provision of retail, commercial and residential properties. The project has been developed by Quintain Estates who worked with Costain Limited to establish the construction implications. The project is due to begin in 2008 and will take most of the subsequent decade to complete.
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The Client/Contractor
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Costain is an established civil engineering and construction company with a particular reputation for major civil engineering and infrastructure projects. Their expertise made them a proper partner for Quintain to work out the implications of a large project such as Wembley.
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Costain has been active in the use of modeling to improve the way in which they go about the interpretation of design and delivery concepts, the proofing of design to ensure it is fully consistent and integrated, and the next step of using the model to help understand the best way of proceeding with the build phase. They have taken a professional approach to the use of modeling and are able to show considerable financial benefits from its application. Synchro was reviewed by the top level management team who saw the synergy between what the software did and the methods that Costain believed delivered positive results. Continued on back Specification
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Background
Costain
Synchro at work for:
Costain selected the Synchro software application for a number of reasons: • The software was easily able to absorb an enormous land mass with its different buildings and site infrastructure and display it back in a flexible way • Its ability to link the dynamic scene with different timelines and display the ongoing consequences of different strategies for building out the various structures • Its ability to bring in all the logistics implications of the programme to help position cranes, roads, parking, earth stores • The opportunity to compare visually different strategies to understand flaws and wins for one route over another • The screening off or exposure of different parts of the site so that they could be examined in more minute detail when relevant • Demonstration on split screens and the creation of videos to display what was relevant at specific meetings • Speed and simplicity of the approach. What Synchro Ltd Provided
The conversion of 2D drawings into a 3D model emphasising the use of block models to highlight activity in different spatial areas. Set up resources such as cranes so they could be assigned to different tasks as applicable. The creation of videos to allow client staff to use, as and when needed The Outcome
The client was able to demonstrate effectively to Quintain Estates the justification for its preferred strategy and convinced them that Synchro represented an approach that was to be retained for managing the entire construction programme. Visualisation of construction methodology has been specified as a requirement for future works on the Wembley project.
Take a test drive
To experience the power of Synchro, take our three-day, risk-free test drive at www.synchroltd.com If you have questions, would like to request a demo or simply want to learn more, we invite you to contact us: UK Office:
US Sales Office:
Online
Design Hub 2.3 Coventry University Technology Park Swift Road, Coventry, CV1 2TT t: +44 (0) 2476 792204
19 Crockett Street Rowayton, Connecticut 06853 Tel: (203) 599-1670
www.synchroltd.com
THE NEW DIMENSION IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Mace
Synchro at work for:
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Project:
The Glass Shard
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Overview:
On the south side of the River Thames at London Bridge, it is planned to redevelop the office space by the creation of what will clearly be a landmark structure. The main building is known as the Glass Shard and it will be the tallest building in UK. As its name implies, it is a glass exterior giving the appearance of a shard of glass.
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The Client/Contractor
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Sellar Property Group is the developer of the site. The project has recently started and Mace has been retained as Construction Managers. This places a major responsibility on Mace to deliver the programme on time and budget with a team of specialists they manage to do the work.
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To quote from the Glass Shard website: “Mace is a renowned global business providing management and construction services to the public and private sectors, with a reputation for finding the best solutions to complex projects. Mace has been responsible for the successful delivery of some of the most complex, prestigious and award winning projects including these in the UK: the BA London Eye, British Museum Great Court, the More London development, including City Hall, Heathrow T5, Heathrow Air Traffic Control Tower, RBS Gogarburn and the City of London’s fourth tallest tower, 51 Lime Street.” As part of its best practice review, Mace concluded that Synchro had the best mix of qualities to provide support in “Visualised Planning” generally for its business and this project is seen to be one on which such a technique brings clear benefits. Continued on back
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Background
Mace
Synchro at work for:
Specification
Mace selected the Synchro software application for a number of reasons: • The software was able to integrate all aspects of design with site infrastructure and display it back in a flexible way • The ability to improve the quality of communication with project stakeholders at all levels • Its ability to link the dynamic scene with different timelines and display the ongoing consequences of different strategies for building out the various structures • Its ability to bring in all the logistics implications of the programme to help position cranes, roads, parking, earth stores in a city centre site where logistics play a crucial role • The opportunity to compare visually different strategies to understand flaws and wins for one route over another and share these with different trade specialists • The interoperability with other planning systems • Speed and simplicity of the approach. What Synchro Ltd Provided
• The conversion of 2D drawings into a 3D model or the assimilation of 3D models, when provided • Staff training • Creation of logistics items and linking of 4D programme from 2D planning schedule The Outcome
The client is now able to contemplate adopting Synchro in house as a means of formulating, proving and articulating construction strategy, and then controlling the actual output with the agreed plan.
Take a test drive
To experience the power of Synchro, take our three-day, risk-free test drive at www.synchroltd.com If you have questions, would like to request a demo or simply want to learn more, we invite you to contact us: UK Office:
US Sales Office:
Online
Design Hub 2.3 Coventry University Technology Park Swift Road, Coventry, CV1 2TT t: +44 (0) 2476 792204
19 Crockett Street Rowayton, Connecticut 06853 Tel: (203) 599-1670
www.synchroltd.com
THE NEW DIMENSION IN CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Expanded Synchro at work for:
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Project: Overview:
Expanded won enormous positive recognition for the way it delivered the Ascot Grandstand on time and on budget in 2006. To do this it used many of the techniques to which it was exposed in working on the T5 project and the use of a 3D model was seen as a valuable part of this. However, they lacked a real working tool, which truly gave them a dynamic oversight of the schedule of activities needed to optimise results. Because of its hugely crowded and busy location, Expanded management felt they needed to be very precise in the way they worked week by week on the site. Synchro is used to normalise the understanding of design and delivery for all project stakeholders, to better illustrate constraints and offer a medium in which to test solutions. Continued on back
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Background
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Expanded is a Company within the Laing O’Rourke Group specialising in structural work who have been appointed to carry out the first phase of the development, including the demolition of Bowater House and creating the completed structure ready for fit-out. Laing O’Rourke is moving towards a position where all its new work is carried out based on 3D models onto which a 4D and 5D planning capability is superimposed. The Company has reviewed the offerings in the market place and as a result have committed to trial Synchro on this project.
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The Client/Contractor
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Where Knightsbridge in London enters Hyde Park, an amazingly prestigious residential apartment block is now being built. It is a project costing in the region of £350 million designed to deliver the highest quality accommodation with prices reaching over £80million for the roof level apartments. To allow this development, it meant demolishing the existing Bowater House office block and rerouting traffic into the park.
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One Hyde Park
Expanded Synchro at work for:
Specification
Expanded selected the Synchro software application for a number of reasons: • The software could absorb easily the 3D outputs from its drawing centre in India with changes assimilated as they occurred and without the need to return to the start point each time. • Its ability to handle the design components at individual or grouped level so that the view of the weekly work schedule could correspond with different peoples’ needs. • Its ability to bring in all the logistics implications of the programme to help position cranes, roads, stores in a city centre site where logistics play a crucial role. Being sure that work was sequenced at each level in the right way was seen as crucial. Logistics are seen to be the key consideration for the delivery of the site to plan. • The opportunity to compare visually different strategies to understand flaws and wins for one route over another and share these with different trade specialists. • The interoperability with other planning systems • Speed and simplicity of the approach. What Synchro Ltd Provided
• The assimilation of 3D models as provided with some element of proofing and the provision of a location breakdown that met the users’ needs. • Staff training • The creation of logistics items and linking of 4D programme from 2D planning schedule The Outcome
After some months into the trial, Synchro is providing value as expected and the prospect for adoption for the entire project, as well as other projects, seems probable.
Take a test drive
To experience the power of Synchro, take our three-day, risk-free test drive at www.synchroltd.com If you have questions, would like to request a demo or simply want to learn more, we invite you to contact us: UK Office:
US Sales Office:
Online
Design Hub 2.3 Coventry University Technology Park Swift Road, Coventry, CV1 2TT t: +44 (0) 2476 792204
19 Crockett Street Rowayton, Connecticut 06853 Tel: (203) 599-1670
www.synchroltd.com