Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Kristyna who joins our growing team.

Kristyna joins us as a project manager with a wide range of experience delivering both new-build and refurbishment works. Kristyna has delivered projects within the commercial, retail and health care sectors, in Prague, EMEA and the UK.

Equals is delighted to have been appointed as Project Manager and Cost Consultant on the West Pier Kiosk restoration project in Brighton.

The West Pier Trust is planning to restore an octagonal kiosk which was original to the 1866 pier and salvaged in 1996, and the kiosk will be located in the new landscaped area adjacent to the BAi360. The kiosk will be restored to its original form, and once completed the kiosk will be a Seaside Learning Centre allowing the public to not only enjoy the new facility but to also remember the glory of the original pier.

We are pleased to announce that construction has commenced at the Anthology Wembley Parade project, a residential development consisting of 195 homes, part of the masterplan surrounding Wembley Stadium in North London where Equals is providing commercial management services.

Following the completion of the demolition works in February 2018, the piling operations and groundworks are now well underway and good progress is being made. The focus is currently on procuring the façade and M&E packages. The project is due to complete early in 2020.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Damien Tuffy and Stuart Waite who join our growing team.

Damien joins us as a project manager with a wide range of experience delivering large, complex and challenging projects within the commercial, education and retail sectors, in the UK, Ireland and the US. In his previous roles as both project manager and site manager, he has worked with clients such as Selfridges & Co. and the London Borough of Hounslow.

Stuart joins us as a senior quantity surveyor with over 14 years’ experience within the construction industry. Stuart has a wide range of experience, having delivered numerous projects within the commercial, education, residential and hotel sectors working with clients including Capital & Counties, CitizenM Hotels and West Kent College.

The Royal Academy of Music have completed their new recital hall and major refurbishment and new build works to the existing theatre. Equals provided cost management services on the project, situated within a Grade II listed building and designed by Ian Ritchie Architects. The new theatre has increased audience capacity by 40% and includes state-of-the-art stage and recording facilities. The scheme also includes a new 100 seat roof-top recital hall and improvements to back and front of house facilities.

The new lobby creates a light and airy link between the old and new buildings and the new theatre lighting features a stunning display of 600 fibre-optic crystals.

Neil Rutherford and Gary Woollard will be attending Data Centre World on 21 – 22 March 2018 at ExCel London.

The Bristol Hippodrome is a Grade II listed, 2000 seat capacity auditorium and is part of the Ambassadors Theatre Group. ATG has undergone significant improvements including the installation of a new lighting system, brand new orchestra pit lift system (installed by Unusual Rigging) and new seating, as well as improvements to the back of house facilities.

Equals provided project management services on the project, working with ATG to coordinate works packages and scheduling of contractors to ensure the project was delivered smoothly and on time.

Planning approval has been secured by Max Architects for the new community centre for the Slade Gardens Community Play Association in Lambeth. The scheme aims to be a focal point for the local community, encompassing multiple charities, community needs and social functions. The new community centre will provide community space, children’s play space, administrative offices, cafe and public amenities.

We are providing cost management services on the scheme and have played a crucial role in ensuring the emerging design can be delivered within budget. We have also advised the client and design team on the various procurement and tender strategies available to achieve the key drivers for the project.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Sean Starling to our cost management team.

Sean joins us as Technical Director bringing over 20 years’ of experience within the property industry, including ten years with a large multi-disciplinary consultant and prior to this, fourteen years with a leading international building contractor.

Sean has worked on a wide variety of projects including residential, large mixed-use developments and international office schemes within the EMEA region, Asia and Europe.

The latest issue of our quarterly inflation report is now available to view.

In this update we continue to forecast 2.0% tender price inflation for 2018, 3% in 2019 and 4% in 2020. The report considers the continuing impact of ongoing uncertainty relating to the final post BREXIT arrangements of the UK.

Michael, Caroline and Declan will be attending MIPIM 2018.

http://www.mipim.com/

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Ciaran Dolan to our cost management teams.

Ciaran joins us as Technical Director bringing almost 20 years’ of experience in project and cost management, gained from working for both construction consultancy firms and a leading main contractor, Laing O’Rourke.

Ciaran has worked on projects in several sectors, particularly offices and industrial projects. He has completed numerous projects in the UK, Europe, Central Asia, Middle East and Africa and has held responsibility for leading teams in all aspects of pre-and post-contract services.

As part of the wider Open Up project at The Royal Opera House (ROH) we are providing project management and contract administration services on the refurbishment of the Amphitheatre bar and restaurant, which also includes the formation of a new Winter Garden overlooking Covent Garden. Works recently started on site, and the new space will offer a greater capacity for both formal and informal dining. Studio Linse are the lead designer for the internal fit out of the restaurant and bar, with Stanton Williams the principal designer for the Winter Garden.

Works are taking place whilst the Opera House continues to function as a world leading performing arts institution, with this particular project having a significant interface with ongoing ROH operations. Equals are working very closely with the ROH and main contractor, 3 Interiors, to ensure there is no disruption to the main performance programme and ongoing visitor experience.

Equals are providing cost management, project management and contract administrator services to provide Argo / Investec with high specification offices at 17 Portland Place. The property is a Grade II* listed building in the heart of the Marylebone conservation area. Listed building consent and planning approval has been secured for the scheme to sympathetically refurbish it into high grade offices and sub-lettable space from its previous use as a conference centre. The scheme will restore the important historic fabric of the Adams Brothers designed building to provide 1,212sqm of space.

We have worked alongside the architects Found Associates to develop the scheme up to tender and will now proceed to construction. Following tendering the main fit works, we will look to commence in March 2018.

Equals are providing cost management and employers agent services on a new residential development in Barking, East London for developer Pocket Living. Planning approval was secured for the 78 unit development which consists of two blocks, with a walkway through as well as communal gardens and hard and soft landscaping. In keeping with Pocket Living’s ethos of providing affordable homes for London’s workforce, the scheme consists solely of one bedroom Pocket apartments. Pocket Living will deliver this scheme using modular methods of construction, helping to ensure the construction programme is optimised, as well as ensuring quality by utilising off-site construction.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of two new members of our team, Gary Woollard and Liam Sumner, who join our cost management team.

Gary joins us as an Associate bringing over 28 years’ of experience within the construction industry as an engineering services quantity surveyor, having previously worked for EC Harris and Core Five. Gary is an expert within the mission critical sector as well as having worked on a wide variety of projects including corporate real estate, residential, large mixed-use developments, office schemes and leisure.

Liam joins us as a Senior Quantity Surveyor from Capita and has a wide range of experience including listed buildings, high end hospitality, fast paced commercial projects and large scale residential developments.

We are delighted to have been appointed as project and cost managers by developer Matching Green on their Dockley Road scheme in Southwark.

The exciting new scheme is a residential led mixed use development of 111 mixed tenure residential units and commercial space at ground level. Designed by French architect Poggi and S/333 in collaboration with Southwark council, one of Dockley’s expressed purposes is to provide more modern commercial space that dovetails in with the living space above.

Equals are providing cost management services at Blackheath Halls; part of the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.

The project passed a significant milestone when planning approval was secured for the refurbishment project. The proposed works provide improved audience comfort, sight lines and acoustics within the main hall through the installation of a tiered retractable seating system, levelling of the stage and improvements to the lighting and ventilation systems.

Major improvements to the halls facilities are also proposed, including the refurbishment of the foyer, bar and WCs. This work follows on from the repair of the existing main roof earlier this year.

This year Equals is pleased to have shared exciting graduate opportunities with students interested in joining our project and cost management teams in London.

We enjoyed speaking to the students and sharing some of our knowledge and experience of the construction and property sector while being able to provide a taster of what working with Equals is about and the exciting career paths we are able to offer. Here is one of our team members, Laura, presenting at the QS Careers Fair at Dublin Institute of Technology.

James Sheppard will be attending the Museums Association Conference 2017 in Manchester.

This month, we look at the key areas to think about when writing a brief for a STEM teaching building. With many institutions seeking to expand their STEM capacity and teaching capability to meet national, regional and local policy ambitions it is essential that any new STEM building meets (and exceeds) its requirements.

Tom Geard will be attending the one day Social Housing Annual conference in Aldersgate, London.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of two new members of our team, Joe Green and Beatrice Conchado, who join our project management team.

Both Joe and Beatrice bring with them experience in the arts and culture sector, with Joe joining us from Mace and having previously worked on the World Exhibitions and Conservation Centre for the British Museum, while Beatrice previously worked at the Natural History Museum on several projects. They will both be working on the Open Up project at the Royal Opera House.

Simon Birchall will be attending MIPIM UK this year.

http://www.mipimuk.co.uk/

Our latest leaflet featuring our FE Capital Projects capability is now available to view.

Equals have recently been appointed to provide project and cost management on Phase 2 of the West Herts College Dacorum Campus as part of their overall masterplan in Hemel Hempstead, designed by IBI Group.

We were instrumental in the development of the overall Dacorum Campus master plan and successfully delivered Phase 1 in 2017 which consisted of site preparation, demolition, construction and fit-out of new teaching space, learning resource spaces, teaching facilities and refectory.

We advised on a strategy to design, procure and construct the scheme quickly in line with funding requirements; dovetailing design completion and achievement of planning consent to enable construction to commence and the College to take possession during the Easter half-term in 2017, which allowed commencement of Section 2 of the works including demolition of old teaching blocks.

Phase 2 will provide permanent specialist teaching space for engineering and construction subjects (motor, electrical, plumbing, carpentry) as well as ancillary staff facilities.

The overall master plan intent is to modernise the Campus while improving the relationship between the College, businesses, town centre and other nearby public amenities.

Equals officially said goodbye to the British Summer on the 1st of September by escaping to the Sandown Park Racecourse in Esher for our annual away day. With the sun shining and the team ditching their office attire for something a little more glamourous, it was a brilliant day for team building in a great setting, with a phenomenal view of the entire racecourse.

The day’s events were kicked off with a welcome speech from our MD Michael Martin alongside a very enjoyable and delicious afternoon tea and lunch. A fantastic day all round for those that could attend.

We are delighted to have been appointed as cost managers on 55-61 Brewery Road, a commercial scheme for developer Atlas Properties. Designed by Squire and Partners, the new development is creating circa 1,100m² of light industrial and Cat A office space in Islington, and is designed to meet the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard.

Tom Geard will be attending the National Housing Federation conference at the ICC in Birmingham, the leading conference for the housing sector.

http://annual.housing.org.uk/

This month we discuss some of the challenges FE colleges are facing in the wake of the recent Government Area Reviews. Ian Ashman, former college principal and FE adviser to Equals, considers potential approaches to property planning and implementation associated with college mergers.

Tom Geard from Equals will be attending RESI 2017 at Celtic Manor, the leading conference for the residential sector. http://www.resiconf.com/

Equals has recently secured a position on the Procurement for All Development Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) for project and cost management and employer’s agent services. The DPS has, with the recent changes to the Public Contract Regulations (2015), become a more considered and used option in public sector procurement – open to all public sector clients and offering savings by simplifying the procurement processes.

The public sector is currently navigating through a chaotic and challenging period (i.e. Grenfell Tower tragedy) and is crying out for ‘new ideas and new people’ to provide solutions, and quickly. The DPS is the perfect opportunity to stimulate the market, and fast track the solutions that are desperately needed.

Procurement for All includes 21 social housing providers, and any public sector body can join and utilise the system to tender for supplier services. The DPS will be refreshed annually, and re-procured every 5 years.

The DPS is free to join, at any time, and offers the same benefits as a framework.

The Tank Museum at Bovington, Dorset has secured support from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a £2.1 million grant to build a 16,000 sq ft, seven-bay tank workshop and launch an apprentice training scheme. This initiative will provide young people aged 18-25 with the vital skills to get jobs as well as creating more space for the Museum to maintain its fleet. The fund will go towards a new tank restoration centre, two new exhibitions and more support for volunteers.

Equals are project managers on the new centre and provided strategic advice to help the Museum with the scheme prior to submitting their HLF bid.

We are delighted that a scheme for a new community centre for the Slade Gardens Community Play Association has been submitted for planning. The project is part of Slade Gardens public park in Lambeth and the centre is set to become a focal point for the local community, encompassing multiple charities, community needs and social functions. The proposed new centre will include community space, a children’s play space, administrative offices, a cafe and public amenities.

Working with Max Architects, we have provided cost management services on the project so far.

Michael Martin, Managing Director of Equals said “We are very pleased this scheme has gone into planning, as it will be of great benefit to the local community. We are also working on a youth and community centre for the Fourth Feathers in Marylebone and are delighted we can help community ventures such as these to realise their plans to enable lasting community support in central London.”

The Royal Academy of Music held a topping out ceremony last week for its new theatre and recital hall project, marking the installation of the glazed oculus. The Academy is transforming its old theatre with brand new facilities, designed by Ian Ritchie Architects, which will offer students a practical and versatile performance space and create an inviting audience experience. The rebuilding of the theatre will allow for a 40% increase in seating capacity and includes a state-of-the-art stage, a new balcony and a new 100-seat roof-top Recital Hall.

Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, Principal of the Academy, said: ‘These fantastic new facilities will have a transformational effect on the professional prospects of the world’s most talented young musicians, and the event afforded a brief moment of true anticipation and excitement as we begin to see how this exceedingly complicated project is now thrillingly on the home straight. The expertise, dedication and teamwork to make this happen – across all the parties involved – was reflected in the collective pride of the occasion.’

We are providing cost management services on the scheme within the Grade II listed building, and our challenges have involved major refurbishment work in a functional Academy. Construction work by Osborne began 2015 and the new venues are expected to be open and ready for productions beginning in 2018.

We are thrilled to announce that one of our projects, the World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre (WCEC) at the British Museum has been shortlisted for a RIBA Stirling Prize 2017, following the win of both a regional and national RIBA award.

The judges said: “This building is the realisation of an extremely complicated brief in terms of spatial challenges, technical requirements, and engineering technologies. Its achievement derives from the elegant and simple way these challenges are met, while maintaining a clear and coherent diagram and a refined and rational building enclosure.”

Equals acted as project managers and provided the main interface with Mace, the construction managers. The hard work of the design team and of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners in particular has been recognised by this huge achievement.

Tibits is a stylish, delicious vegan and vegetarian restaurant concept with restaurants in Heddon Street, off Regent Street in London and in Switzerland. Expanding their London offer, Tibits have proudly opened a new restaurant in Southwark Street, close to the Tate Modern on Bankside and held a successful soft launch opening last week. We provided both project and cost management as well as contract administration services on the new, modern restaurant, offering approximately 120 covers.

We advised on a strategy to procure and construct the scheme quickly; dovetailing design completion and achievement of planning consent to enable the restaurant to begin trading as soon as possible. Emrys Architects designed the new space, which also includes a glazed seating area to the rear of the building.

www.tibits.co.uk

124 Southwark Street, SE1 0SW

12-14 Heddon Street, W1B 4DA

Equals is delighted to have been appointed as Quantity Surveyor and Employers Agent on Anthology Wembley Parade, Anthology’s next residential development.

The scheme, designed by Grid Architects, is part of the masterplan surrounding Wembley stadium and comprises the redevelopment of the former Amex House site at 1 to 4 North End Road into 195 residential homes, together with landscaped courtyard, part naturalisation of Wealdstone Brook, car park spaces and associated works.

Equals Director, Simon Birchall, said “We are thrilled to be involved in this exciting Anthology scheme developing quality new homes in London.”

Equals Inflation Report for 2nd Quarter 2017 is now available. In this update we continue to forecast 2.0% tender price inflation for 2017 and 2018 and 3% in 2019. The report considers the continuing impact of BREXIT on the industry and how the outcome of the June 2017 General Election has perpetuated further economic uncertainty.

King’s College School Wimbledon held a topping out ceremony for their new music school a few weeks ago. We are providing project and cost management on the project, and the ceremony represented the mid point of construction and the culmination of the glue laminated timber frame.

The finished project, designed by Hopkins Architects, will have a recital room, new suite of sound-proofed practice rooms and control room along with associated offices and facilities for staff and pupils. The concert hall will accommodate an audience of 200 and a 70-piece orchestra. Construction work by Interserve began summer 2016 and the project is due to finish Q1 next year.

Tom Geard and Simon Birchall from Equals will be attending CIH in Manchester this year, the leading conference for housing associations, local authorities, housebuilders, funders, contractors and advisors.

Attached is a brief summary of our expertise and capability in the sector.

The doors to the V&A Museum shop were open to the public last month after undergoing its £1.5 million redesign and transformation project to introduce a contemporary approach to retail, providing a more flexible, creative space. The well-lit new shop is located at the heart of its surrounding galleries and features industrial steel, bespoke ceramic tiles and wood, and incorporates the latest digital manufacturing and fabrication techniques.

Equals acted as project managers, and developed a procurement and delivery strategy that ensured the works were accomplished quickly during an exhibition changeover. We played a key role in ensuring that the designers produced information to support the alteration of the base build M&E as well as the fixtures and fittings, and we acted as contract administrator for the delivery.

Last month saw the successful completion of PedElle; a charity ride organised by Club Peloton to raise money for Coram, the UK’s oldest children’s charity.  Over 40 women from across the property industry took on the 3 day, 500km cycling adventure from Porto to Lisbon. Helen Gray returned triumphant and in one piece, despite facing a few obstacles along the way. The ride raised more than £35,000.

Helen says “It was a great experience meeting other successful women within the industry and having the opportunity to spend 3 days getting to know each other. PedElle is a great way of breaking down barriers and encouraging women in both their careers in property and their cycling. Given the opportunity, I would 100% do it again”.

We are excited to announce that one of our projects; the World Conservation & Exhibitions Centre (WCEC) at the British Museum won a regional RIBA award at the RIBA awards ceremony in London on Monday 22^nd May. The award was collected by John McElgunn from Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Tony Wilson from Equals.

The WCEC project at the British Museum comprises a 1,100m² special exhibitions gallery, 6,000m² of conditioned storage space for collection material, and state of the art conservation workshops and scientific research laboratories. The new building also accommodates modern flexible office space, and a logistics and object handling area that facilitates national and international loans.

Equals acted on the project as the client project manager and provided the main interface with the construction manager, Mace. We are delighted that the hard work of the design team and of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners in particular has been recognised by this award.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Tom Geard as Director. Having worked in the Construction industry for over 28 years and bringing over 10 years of housing experience, Tom has held senior management roles for industry leading consultancy firms, such as Capita, Mace Group and Turner & Townsend. His more recent 10 years at an Operations Director level saw him leading on significant housing regeneration and development projects and programmes.

Tom will continue to work closely with local authorities, housing associations and developers in assisting them with meeting the challenges of resolving the housing crisis and providing solutions and actions to guarantee success.

Blackheath Halls; a Grade II listed building located in South East London (part of Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance), considered to be one of the oldest purpose-built concert halls still in existence, recently completed phase one of a major programme of refurbishment and restoration work.

As contract administrator and cost managers on the scheme, we ensured the project successfully delivered its aim in increasing the overall thermal performance of the building and enhancing artist and audience experience. The refurbishment consisted of a new slate roof including restoration of the existing roof coverings, works brick friezes and architectural features.

Equals acted as project managers for the refurbishment of the Piccadilly Theatre in London’s West End. The theatre is part of the Ambassadors Theatre Group and was originally built in 1928. It re-opened last week with a triple bill of plays from Russia’s reknowned Moscow Sovremennik Theatre, following a short dark period in which the works were completed, though preparatory works also took place while the previous show was playing.

The works involved a major refurbishment of the theatre’s fibrous plaster ceiling, removal of an unsightly 1970’s metal gantry and installation of a new chandelier and house lighting. We meticulously planned and prepared in order to safely complete the works around existing performances and within a restricted dark period.

James Sheppard, Director, said “It was critical that the theatre was able to re-open when planned, and we are delighted that the project was completed on time, testament to the enthusiasm and capability of everyone involved.”

Equals is pleased to announce a new member of staff who recently joined us, David Segelman. David joins our project management team, and has over fifteen years’ experience in the construction industry. David has worked both in the UK and South Africa on a variety of projects including refurbishments and new build projects within such diverse sectors such as retail, office, manufacturing, leisure, and healthcare. David was most recently Head of Projects and Facilities for the retailer Lush before joining Equals.

Last month an exciting (and for some, rather nerve-racking) milestone was passed on the Open Up Project at the Royal Opera House (ROH). Central to the project is the principal of opening up the building to make it more welcoming and accessible to visitors throughout the day and evening.

The transformation of the main foyer at ground level is at the heart of the changes being made and earlier this year work began to remove the concrete piers holding up the cast iron and glass structure that is the impressive Paul Hamlyn Hall. By doing this, the public will in future be met by an expansive, open elevation as they view the ROH on Bow Street.

To allow the piers to be removed, a large transfer truss spanning 17 metres and weighing a hefty 14 tonne was carefully installed to take the load of the building above. Completed over a period of a few weeks, the truss is now successfully doing its intended job, with minimal deflection sustained and no impact on the Paul Hamlyn Hall above, which continued to be in public use throughout. Installation of the façade glazing will shortly commence which will further help give a sense of shape the space being created.

The Lillie Road hotel development passed a significant milestone this week when planning approval was secured for the scheme. The seven story concept hotel, designed by Allies and Morrison, is being constructed in the heart of the high profile Lillie Square development in West Brompton. Equals have been providing project and cost management services to the developer Banham Security Holding Limited, and played an important role in obtaining local authority approval to commence with this challenging construction project in an area where there is significant simultaneous construction activity and regeneration.

Sovereign Court, a 124 unit PRS scheme in Tobacco Dock has completed. We provided employers agent and post-contract quantity surveying services on the redevelopment of the existing site, and the development involved the transformation an existing commercial space into 124 new residential units, set around a courtyard and including extensive landscaping.

This quarter we discuss the challenges of delivering major building projects within environments that need to remain operational throughout the construction period. Maintaining ‘business as usual’ for the client is very often a critical part of project success.

We are delighted to have been appointed as quantity surveyors on Shorts Gardens, a central London commercial scheme for developer Span Group. The scheme, located in the conservation area of Seven Dials in Covent Garden, involves the partial demolition and refurbishment of a six storey building. The new mix-use scheme will be predominantly commercial offices, with several high end residential apartments and retail accommodation.

Equals is pleased to announce that Juliet Price joined us on the 1st February. Juliet joins our project management team, following previous work experience with us last year.

Equals are delighted to have been recently appointed to provide cost management services on the Kew Garden’s Estate’s masterplan. Working with Montagu Evans, we provided initial costs on the estates visioning strategy for Kew, and following this commission were subsequently appointed on the masterplan.
The scheme involves reviewing various options for the main estate at Kew, led by Montagu Evans and masterplanner Grimshaw.

Equals Inflation Report for 1st Quarter 2017 is now available. Equals is forecasting 2% annual tender price inflation for 2017 and 2018; rising to 3% in 2019. The report discusses the potential impact of Brexit on the UK construction market, as well as providing an overview of industry output.

Equals is actively seeking graduates to join our growing team in central London. We are looking to attract the industry’s best talent to be part of our exciting future. If you think this could be right for you please contact us at recruitment@equalsconsulting.com

Equals is pleased to announce Claire O’Brien joined us on the 1st January. Claire joins our project management team and as well as project management has a background in engineering.