Most further education colleges across the country would benefit from funding to improve their buildings and with the Chancellor’s commitment to new capital funding in the latest Budget, many will get that chance. Ian Ashman, former college principal and special advisor to Equals, discusses how to get your property strategy in order, to help secure and benefit from these funds.

Read the full article below

Anthology has completed its residential development, Deptford Foundry, located within the Deptford regeneration area of London. It consists of eight buildings and one separate residential tower and includes 316 new homes.

This attractive new development has a selection of one, two and three-bedroom homes, all including balconies or terraces. There is also commercial space, and residents have access to a communal landscaped garden.

We provided cost management services on the project, including overseeing the procurement process, administration of the Construction Management Appointment, post contract cost management and Employers Agent services to the early works packages.

Work has started on a development on Cavendish Place in Marylebone, involving the demolition of an existing commercial building and the construction of a new office development of circa 16,000 ft².

The new building, which has been designed by Squire and Partners, will have seven storeys, with six for commercial office use and retail on the ground floor.

We are providing project and cost management on the project.

Níall McLaughlin Architects have been appointed to design a new performance space in part of the Grade I listed building at Somerset House. Although the estate is large, there is not currently a space for large gatherings aside from the outdoor courtyard.

Equals have been appointed as project managers on the scheme.

Equals also provided project management on a feasibility study for the redevelopment and assisted with developing the brief. We examined the viability of developing a large, flexible space designed for a wide range of uses, including performances, exhibitions and conferences with capacity for 350-500 people. There will also be a new public space which would connect the Upper Terrace to the River Terrace.

Working in operational environments can be extremely challenging for both contractors and clients. In the arts and culture sector, there is the added component of large numbers of the public visiting on a regular basis.

We’ve been thinking about the best ways to mitigate these pressures and have come up with six handy tips for running a project while it’s business as usual…

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

With another delay to Brexit prolonging uncertainty in the industry, it is clear that there is still some cross-sector reluctance to commit to new work. Overall output has been consistently in decline, continuing a trend that has been steady since the summer. With a general election coming up next week, the result may lead to some clarity – whatever the outcome may be.

This hub hotel designed by Allies and Morrison in West London has recently completed, two months ahead of schedule. The hub hotel is a new, contemporary space to cater for business and leisure users. It has 89 rooms and includes a deli style café on the ground floor. The contractor was Gilbert-Ash.

Working for Banham Security Holdings Ltd, who were the developers, Equals provided project, cost management and employer’s agent services on the redevelopment of the site. The new seven storey hotel has replaced an existing three storey building and will be operated by Whitbread as a ‘Hub by Premier Inn’ hotel.

We love our apprentices – and they now make up 15% of our business. With our latest intake settling in fast, we’ve been reflecting on what we’ve learned and the impact they have had on the business. Plus, we’ve got their perspective. Together, this paints a great picture of the huge positive difference the apprenticeship scheme has made to our organisation.

It’s wonderful to see work in full swing at BAFTA HQ on Piccadilly. The site – a Grade II listed building – is undergoing a transformation including the creation of a new fourth floor.

Designed by Benedetti Architects, the project aims to improve and expand the existing building and consists of a refurbished entrance, new spaces for screenings and events, and the creation of a new fourth floor by raising and revealing the original Victorian roof lights.

We are providing the role of client project director, working on behalf of BAFTA to provide strategic direction to the project team, to control and monitor the project budget, to liaise with internal stakeholders on the developing design, and to report to BAFTA’s senior management team and Board of Trustees.

In the drive to fully integrate modular techniques in the UK construction industry, are we losing sight of objective and considered decision making? In this article, Matt Barrington, one of our directors, explores how traditional builds stack up against modular options and suggests how developers and project leaders might go about weighing up the possibilities.

Click below to read the full article.

This week we have welcomed three new apprentices to Equals, Sam Jorquera, Tia Mak and Charlie Orwell. Tia and Charlie are joining the cost management side of the business and Sam is a project management apprentice. They will be involved in a wide range of projects as they work to gain their qualifications.

We’ve got them busy already with a site visit earlier this week to an Anthology residential development in Wembley.

We are very committed to hiring apprentices because we want to attract, develop and promote the best talent. We believe it is a critical part of meeting the needs of our industry’s future.

It is wonderful to see the Royal Opera House and Royal College of Pathologists up for awards on the Building Awards shortlist – both brilliant projects that we were delighted to work on. Congratulations to everyone involved, and all the nominees.

Equals has been appointed for cost management services on the Cyfarthfa Plan – a new multi million pound strategic plan which aims to regenerate the area of Merthyr Tydfil and celebrate the industrial history of south Wales, with a focus on the role of the town.

The strategic plan will be centred around Cyfarthfa Castle, its park and surrounding area. The plans include new buildings such as a visitor centre and also the landscape development of the park.

It is hoped that the plan will lead to a boost on the number of visitors to this part of Wales with estimates of a fivefold improvement on the current 60,000 who visit the castle annually.

Working closely alongside Ian Ritchie Architects, we are excited to be involved in a project that is set to bring renewed vibrancy to this culturally significant area, and open it up to a new generation.

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

Political uncertainty and a sluggish economy continue to cause construction output to remain low, leading to further dips in tender price inflation predictions.

Brexit, while a key factor, is not the sole political influence and we believe it is important to consider it in its wider context.

We also note some clients are pressing ahead despite the uncertainty – one reason to be cautiously optimistic.

Read the full report here:

Equals acted as project managers on the relocation of the British Ecological Society (BES) office, which has completed. Their 30 staff have now moved to a new, sustainable office in central London, the fit-out of which has been designed by AIS.

Established in 1913, the BES is the oldest ecological society in the world, with 6,000 members worldwide.

We assisted the society in their move, developed the fit-out brief with various stakeholders and delivered the project through to the fit-out of the office and relocation of staff and equipment into the new premises.

Find out more about AIS:

Instagram – @aisworkplace
Linkedin – @ais workplace
Twitter – @ais_workplace

Enabling works have begun at The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) HQ in readiness for the transformation of the Piccadilly site.

Designed by Benedetti Architects, the project aims to improve and expand the existing Grade II listed building and consists of a refurbished entrance, new spaces for screenings and events, and the creation of a new fourth floor by raising and revealing the original Victorian roof lights.

We are providing the role of client project director, working on behalf of BAFTA to provide strategic direction to the project team, to control and monitor the project budget, to liaise with internal stakeholders on the developing design, and to report to BAFTA’s senior management team and Board of Trustees.

We are thrilled that the beautiful Macallan Distillery and visitor centre has been nominated for the prestigious Stirling prize.

Equals provided project and cost management on the project, working with architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and the project team from the project’s inception to completion to deliver this striking piece of contemporary architecture.

Read more about the shortlisted projects here:

https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk

We are very pleased to welcome Patrick Carter to Equals.

Patrick starts in our team as an assistant project manager. A qualified architect, he has moved into project management after excelling in and relishing the more strategic side of designing and delivering projects. We look forward to seeing him quickly develop these skills and seeing him succeed here at Equals.

The new Members’ Room at the British Library has completed.

Designed by White Red Architects, this beautiful new space was a response to the Library’s rapidly expanding membership base which had outgrown the previous Members’ Room. The existing space was extended and newly fitted out and is now an inviting environment full of places to study, featuring plenty of work stations complete with individual power and charging ports.

The details of the design are loyal to features of the British Library and reflect the iconic characteristics of the building. The design is also in line with the previously existing Members’ Room and uses the same bespoke carpet which incorporates specific angles taken from the overall structure in its pattern.

Equals provided project management services.

This hub hotel designed by Allies and Morrison in West London has recently topped out. The hub hotel is a new, contemporary concept to cater for business and leisure users and will have 89 rooms and include a deli style café on the ground floor. The contractor is Gilbert-Ash.

Working for Banham Security Holdings Ltd, we have been providing project, cost management and employer’s agent services on the redevelopment of the site. The new seven storey hotel will replace an existing three storey building and will be operated by Whitbread as a ‘Hub by Premier Inn’ hotel.

The new sports complex at King’s College School in Wimbledon has reached practical completion.

King’s College recently retained its place at the top of the Sunday Times table for boys’ and co-educational independent schools in the UK. The sports upgrades are part of a wider masterplan involving high-profile architects and designers to provide a suite of new, high quality facilities.

Equals provided cost management services on the sports centre which includes a swimming pool, sports hall, exercise studios and associated facilities. We also have an ongoing project management role for the construction of additional tennis courts.

The completion follows the music school which was finished in April last year and won a RIBA Award. It was designed by Hopkins, and Equals provided project and cost management services.

Equals provided cost management, project management and contract administrator services on the refurbishment and upgrade of high specification offices at 17 Portland Place in Marylebone. The scheme has recently completed.

Previously used as a conference centre, the Adams Brothers designed building has had its historic character restored after listed building consent and planning approval were secured for a sympathetic refurbishment into high grade offices and sub-lettable space. The property is a Grade II* listed building in the heart of the Harley Street conservation area.

The scheme has provided Duchess Investment Holdings Ltd, a joint venture between Investec and clients of Argo Real Estate, with 1,212sqm of office space.

We worked alongside the architects Found Associates to develop the scheme from concept to tender and moving through the construction phase.

Image credit: @GG_Archard

The Enrichment project at the National Maritime Museum has successfully completed and has created new, unified entrance spaces at the heart of the Grade I listed museum in Greenwich. The new spaces provide access to all galleries, learning spaces and commercial areas, and along with new entrances, the project has improved orientation and wayfinding to make the museum more welcoming and wayfinding more intuitive to visitors.

Equals provided cost management and contract administration services on the scheme, which also included new displays including two new video walls, interactive lecterns and the refurbishment of ‘The Streets’, a key orientation space. Objects are included in these areas and the design took into consideration conservation and lighting elements needed for their ongoing preservation.

We’re delighted to see so many of the projects we are involved in being shortlisted for the New London Awards – Open Up at the Royal Opera House (pictured), BAFTA, the Aga Khan Centre and the Music School at King’s College School Wimbledon (pictured).

We are delighted to see two of our projects winning RIBA London Awards at the awards ceremony last night; Kings’ College School Wimbledon Music School by Hopkins Architects and The Royal Opera House Open Up by Stanton Williams – congratulations to all involved in the projects.

It was recently announced that the new development by Matching Green has gained planning permission from Southwark Council. Equals is providing project and cost management on the project and has been instrumental in helping the scheme through the planning process.

The exciting new development is a residential led mixed use scheme of 111 mixed tenure residential units with 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 is pleased to announce the arrival of Oliver Williams and Oliver Price to our cost management team.

Oliver Williams joins the team as a Senior Cost Manager. Oliver has previously worked as a Cost Manager, Contract Administrator and Fund Monitor across a range of sectors including residential, commercial, industrial and healthcare.

Oliver Price joins us as an Assistant Cost Manager. Since graduating Oliver has gained experience working both as a consultant as well as client side with a major UK infrastructure client.

Illuminate, the Science Museum’s new events space has officially opened. As part of their overall masterplan, the Science Museum Group (SMG) have created an exciting new events space on levels 4 and 5 of the Museum, which offers striking views of the City and an abundance of natural light. The new space provides a dedicated, flexible and high-quality event space that will deliver greater diversification of the Museum’s offering. There are two event spaces that can be combined to create a larger space.

Appointed in the role of Project Director on behalf of the museum, our role involved providing day to day contact for the team, providing direction and instruction on behalf of the Museum, as well as keeping the SMG stakeholders abreast of key issues and decisions required of them.

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

Recent published Tender Price Inflation (TPI) forecasts for the next 3 years provide overwhelming sentiment that the forecasts, although still positive, are reducing from the levels previously reported. With the continuing uncertainties surrounding Brexit, a challenge for clients and contractors will be managing the risk of potential increases to labour, plant and materials costs and prices on construction projects.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Callum Graham to our team this week.

Callum joins our cost management team as a Senior Cost Manager. Callum is a chartered surveyor who has worked as a Cost Manager, Contract Administrator and Employers Agent on a variety of projects across a range of different sectors.

It’s great to see three of our projects have made the shortlist of the RIBA London regional awards; the Royal Opera House by Stanton Williams, Royal College of Pathologists by Bennetts Associates and King’s College School Music Centre by Hopkins Architects – we’re very proud to have been part of the teams that completed these amazing projects.

Working closely with Bennetts and the design team, Equals acted as cost managers on the newly completed HQ for the Royal College of Pathologists.

The Royal College of Pathologists is a professional membership organisation and registered charity. The college have relocated from their previous premises in central London to a new purpose built headquarters in Aldgate. Along with office space, the new building includes conference facilities, a library, lecture room and a roof terrace.

We assisted the college with the initial feasibility of this project, helping to develop the brief and produce an initial cost model for the relocation. We then provided cost management services on the new build project – the College purchased a building which was stripped out and fitted with a new shell and core and offices to Cat A and B standard.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Jack Leonard to our cost management team.

Jack is an MEP cost management specialist surveyor and adds to our growing team of MEP specialists. Jack has worked on a diverse range of projects in sectors including education, healthcare, super-prime residential, mixed use residential and commercial.  His experience covers projects ranging in construction value from £5m to £multi-million.

We have recently been appointed as project managers on the relocation of the British Ecological Society (BES).

Established in 1913, the BES is the oldest ecological society in the world, with 6,000 members worldwide. The society is relocating their 30 staff to a new, sustainable office in central London. Providing project management services, we are assisting the society in their move; helping develop the fit out brief with various stakeholders and then delivering the project through to the fit-out of the office and relocation of staff and equipment into the new premises.

With Brexit uncertainty continuing, our latest thought piece considers some of the potential issues and management actions for construction clients.

We’re getting ready for MIPIM this year, please get in touch with our team if you want to meet up with them.

West Herts College has appointed Farrans Construction for Phase 2 of their campus development in Hemel Hempstead, involving the creation of an engineering and construction centre for the FE college. The works started on site this week; the new centre will be two storeys high and include an engineering laboratory, computer science, workshops for plumbing, carpentry, motor vehicles, welding along with classroom and staff space.

Equals are providing project management and cost management services on the project and our input and commitment to managing the delivery will be invaluable to the successful delivery of Phase 2, as the project is on a fast track programme. To enable the college to meet deadlines we have developed a strategic programme to mitigate site constraints. Our cost services include initial cost planning / benchmarking, procurement and contract strategy, tender documentation preparation and cost reporting throughout the project.

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) is a world-leading centre for research, postgraduate studies and continuing education in public and global health. Equals provided cost management services on Phase 1 of a series of planned laboratory refurbishment works within an existing Grade II listed building for LSHTM in Bloomsbury. The project also included significant plant replacement.

We are also pleased to have been appointed on the next phase of the works.

Equals has had another successful year, with a rise in our annual turnover and seventeen new staff joining us over the course of the year. Our apprentice programme is going strong, with another intake of new apprentices this year.

We’d like to take this opportunity to wish all our clients and colleagues in the industry season’s greetings and thank you for your support over the year – we look forward to 2019!

Anthology has achieved a major milestone in its project, Deptford Foundry, located within the Deptford regeneration area of London. The new development consists of eight buildings and one separate residential tower and will provide 316 new homes. The first of the nine buildings achieved Practical Completion this month, making the apartments ready for occupation in December 2018.

This exciting new development has a selection of one, two and three-bedroom homes, all including balconies or terraces. There is also commercial space, and residents will have access to a communal landscape garden. The development will be a home to artists, designers and makers thanks to its work spaces.

Equals are providing Quantity Surveying services on the project, including overseeing the Trade Package procurement process, administration of the Construction Management Appointment, post contract cost management and Employers Agent services to the early works packages.

The overall completion of the project will take place in October 2019.

The Royal College of Art (RCA) has signed the main contract with Kier Group contractors for the new state-of-the-art £56m academic studio and research building located in Battersea. Equals have provided leadership and project management to help the team move from RIBA Stage 0-4 and will now manage the project to completion and provide contract administration services. The works are due for completion in 2020.

Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the 15,500m2 centre will feature workshops and manufacturing facilities across a four-storey studio building and eight-storey research building. The RCA is well on the way to deliver a complex brief within an adaptable building. The expansion of the RCA’s Battersea campus is an important step in its evolution into a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics)-focused postgraduate university.

The British Museum has gained planning permission for its proposed new collections and research facility in Reading. In partnership with the University of Reading, the museum is creating the new facility to house part of the British Museum’s research collection including its world-renowned archaeological material currently stored at Blythe House in West London. The new facility includes study areas and teaching rooms to allow university students, academics and members of the public access for the study of the collection.

Working with the museum in the role of Project Director, we have assisted the Museum since the project’s inception, helping with the initial site selection process and working closely with numerous stakeholders to define the project brief and to then secure planning.

Tony Wilson, Director at Equals said: “We are thrilled that planning permission has been granted and are very pleased to be working with the Museum again on another exciting project.”

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

Whilst construction output is up year on year, in the last three quarters there has been an ebb and flow in the level of new work being undertaken across the UK; probably driven to a large extent by the uncertainties of BREXIT. Tender price increases are still predicted over the next three years but at a reduced rate than previously reported.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Adam Sukhon to our team as Technical Director.

Adam is experienced in providing cost management services from inception through to completion and has been instrumental in the successful delivery of numerous notable projects in London. His experience includes leading the delivery of cost management services on new build mixed use projects with multiphase procurement models, including Private Rental Sector, private sale and local authority developments.

Adam also has a strong background in commercial office refurbishment schemes ranging from shell and core to CAT B and including significant structural modifications of listed buildings. Adam is well versed in providing acquisition support, funder due diligence services, complex procurement advice and master planning guidance.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Matt Barrington to our growing team. Matt joins us as Director bringing 15 years of experience, having worked with blue chip clients on major real estate projects, infrastructure programmes and several national frameworks. Matt’s wide experience within the construction industry enables him to advise clients across all aspects of commercial management including cost modelling, procurement, commercial project controls and value management.

Matt has led and delivered schemes across several sectors including commercial, residential, retail, mixed use and aviation. With Matt’s knowledge and experience working with our diverse client base, we will continue to deliver better outcomes for our clients and provide focused, market leading cost and project management services.

The new concert hall and music school at King’s College School Wimbledon had its Royal Opening by Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Gloucester on Wednesday 26^th September. We are proud to have been project and cost managers on the new 2,200m² music school designed by Hopkins architects, consisting of a new concert hall, rehearsal room, control room, 4 classrooms and 16 practice rooms along with associated offices and facilities for staff and pupils.

We are thrilled to announce one of our projects; the Royal Academy of Music, design by Ian Ritchie Architects, has been shortlisted for the AJ Architects Awards 2018 for Higher Education Project of the Year.

All winners will be revealed at an exclusive Gala Dinner at the Roundhouse in London on 4 December. The evening’s celebrations will feature three special awards chosen from all entries: the AJ Building of the Year, the AJ Architect of the Year and the AJ Editor’s Choice Award.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Amy, Amir and Kieran who join our growing team.

Amy joins us as a senior quantity surveyor. She has worked on numerous residential, commercial and mixed use development projects. Amy brings experience in all project stages for both refurbishment and new build schemes.

Amir joins us as an experienced quantity surveyor with expertise in the office and residential sectors. Along with experience across all aspects of quantity surveying, he is skilled in both pre and post contract cost management and has experience and understanding of traditional and design and build procurement routes.

Kieran joins us as a graduate quantity surveyor, having finished his degree in quantity surveying at Reading University this year. Kieran has previous work experience working on project sites for a major contractor.

London’s Royal Opera House (ROH) has been reinvigorated following a major transformation. Designed by Stanton Williams, Equals were project managers on the refurbishment, working closely with the design team, construction managers Rise and over 30 contractors to enhance the experience for the public, staff and performers alike.

Constructed over nearly three years with the venue remaining operational throughout, this complex project balances the desire to attract new audiences for ballet and opera with the need to respect the ROH’s heritage and unique character.

One of the project’s biggest challenges Equals faced as project managers was the logistical complexity of carving out new space for the interventions whilst the building remained in use. Time restrictions were also in place due to the surrounding residential accommodation. Thanks to careful phasing and decanting throughout the lengthy construction programme, we were able to ensure that not one ROH rehearsal or main auditorium performance was missed.

With a final construction cost estimated at £50.7 million, the scheme involved re-designing both the Bow Street and Covent Garden piazza entrances, new foyers (an increase of 50% foyer space) including a larger shop (designed by Drinkall Dean) and new café. The Linbury Studio theatre has been completely replaced with the new Linbury Theatre. This state-of-the-art facility has a a 400 seat auditorium and is fitted with adjustable seating configurations and electroacoustic technology.

The Opera House has also refurbished the Amphitheatre and Amphitheatre Terrace, opening up the Amphitheatre foyer and introducing a new bar and 230-cover restaurant (designed by Studio Linse) which will be open to the public rather than just performance-goers. The Clore Studio learning space has also been refurbished.

Project Director at the Royal Opera House, Sarah Younger, said:
“The Equals team have been invaluable in helping us to deliver a complex, challenging project within the Opera House. Their experience, advice and approach to understanding our needs, those of the multiple stakeholders and the project has been a vital part of the project’s success.”

Tony Wilson, Director at Equals said:
“We are thrilled to have worked on such an interesting and culturally significant project, and to have delivered it with minimum impact to the day to day operations of the Opera House is a great achievement.”

The Members Room at the Natural History Museum proudly opens its doors after undergoing a major refurbishment over three floors of the Grade 1 Listed South Central Towers. The museum embarked on an ambitious programme to create an exclusive destination that inspires and delights members as part of a drive to increase museum membership. The room is centrally located above the Hintze Hall and includes a reception with a feature display showcase, kitchen, restaurant, private dining room, lounge and study.

Equals provided project management and contract administration services and played a key role in defining the brief, selecting designers, designing procurement strategies and conducting stakeholder liaison. We also provided expert technical leadership from feasibility to listed building consent submission to the museum team.

Equals is pleased to welcome four new apprentices, Mollie Evans, Neil O’Connell, Sophie Rowson and Toby Rice. Our apprentices are all working towards RICS qualifications while developing their professional skills through experience on a wide range of Equals projects. Our approach to apprenticeships is consistent with our business objective of attracting, developing and promoting the best talent. It demonstrates our commitment to supporting the future needs of our professions and industry.

Equals is pleased to announce its recent London office move to 130 Shaftesbury Avenue, Soho.

We are delighted to announce that, as a consequence of continued growth, we have moved to a contemporary office in the heart of Soho and Covent Garden. Our new office has been designed to support agile working and includes many facilities and amenities including showers, cycle storage, a feature art wall and informal break out areas.

Managing Director Michael Martin comments: “We are delighted to see the continued growth of our services and business and our new London office will allow us to create new and exciting opportunities for our staff and clients. We look forward to welcoming our clients and friends to our new office”.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team led by Ian Ritchie Architects Ltd, Equals has been working as cost consultants on the Humber Bridge masterplan. Appointed by the Humber Bridge Board, the team has developed a masterplan of the lands surrounding the Grade I listed bridge in order to create a destination that features the bridge itself, it’s engineering history and aids the wider regeneration of the area.

Team: Ian Ritchie Architects with Atelier One, Equals, Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Atelier Ten, Regeneris, BDP Transport

Equals are delighted to have been appointed as cost and project managers and also contract administrator for the redevelopment of 7-11 Cavendish Place.

The redevelopment for O&H Properties, will comprise of the demolition of the existing building and the construction of a new office building circa 16,000 ft². The project will incorporate an additional floor at roof level, a new sub-station and works to the existing basement vaults.

The project comes with a number of unique logistical items to resolve, but we are looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead with this exciting project.

The new Aga Khan Centre at London’s King’s Cross Central has been completed. The new centre was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Fumihiko Maki, and the nine storey centre contains teaching and educational facilities including a major library and offices for faculty staff, as well as offices for the Aga Khan Foundation and associated organisations. The building incorporates six Islamic gardens in a series of roof spaces, terraces and courtyards.

Equals’ provided project management staff by secondment to the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) King’s Cross project team, including our former Chairman, Jonathan Harper, who acted as overall project manager for AKDN’s campus of projects at King’s Cross.

In a separate commission, we also provided full move management services to relocate staff of the Aga Khan Foundation, Aga Khan University Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations and the Institute of Ismaili Studies from their existing premises into the new Aga Khan Centre.

We’re pleased that several of our projects have been shortlisted in the AJ Retrofit Awards: the V&A Museum Shop by Friend and Company Architects (pictured), the Royal Academy of Music Susie Sainsbury Theatre and Angela Burgess Recital Hall by Ian Ritchie Architects and the QS-07 offices by Alexander Martin Architects. Good luck to all at the awards in September!

Equals attended the New London Awards held yesterday at the Guildhall in London. We were proud that two of our projects won awards at the ceremony. Well done to everyone involved in the Royal Academy of Music Theatre and Recital Hall by Ian Ritchie Architects and British Land’s No 1 Finsbury Avenue by AHMM.

As of Monday 2nd July, we have moved to our new office located in Soho.

Our new address is:

130 Shaftesbury Avenue
London
W1D 5EU

Please update your records with our new address. Our telephone number and email addresses will remain the same.

We look forward to welcoming you to our new office soon.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Graeme Scott and John Nolan to our project management team.

John Nolan joins us fresh from Cork Institute of Technology after obtaining a first class honors degree in construction management. John has previous experience in Ireland as a project manager working within a civil engineering and construction company where he assisted with surveying, site engineering and cost and quality control.

Graeme Scott has recently moved here from Canada, bringing with him project management experience within a construction and contract management background. Graeme has worked on and managed various large scale industrial construction projects.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Sam Rogers to our project management team.

Sam joins us as a senior project manager bringing 20 years’ of industry experience, including expertise in both construction and commercial projects. Sam has worked on a diverse range of projects within the education, healthcare and high end residential sectors with a proven track record of delivering complex projects within sensitive environments.

Neil Rutherford will be attending the DataCloud Europe 2018 congress in Monaco.

The Tank Museum’s new state-of-the-art vehicle conservation workshops have been completed and were recently opened by Princess Anne. The workshops are the fourth phase of the Museum’s redevelopment, and will provide outreach facilities, conservation to the collection and maintenance of the running fleet.

Equals provided project management and employers agent services on the new centre as well as providing strategic advice to help the Museum with the scheme prior to submitting their HLF bid. The project was delivered under budget.

Richard Smith, Director of the Tank Museum said, “Equals have been instrumental in helping us to deliver these new workshops, from their inception through to completion they pro-actively managed risks throughout and devised and managed a programme that ensured delivery for our royal opening.”

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.

Edrington, the international premium spirits company, has revealed the new distillery and visitor experience for The Macallan. The new distillery and visitor experience is located on the stunning Easter Elchies estate, which has been home to the leading luxury single malt since 1824. Edrington is investing £500 million in the brand of which the £140 million distillery is the centre piece. The new distillery will enable production of The Macallan to increase by a third if required.

Equals provided project and cost management on the project, working with architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and the project team from the project’s inception to completion to deliver this striking piece of contemporary architecture. The undulating timber roof structure is one of the most complicated timber roof structures in the world, comprising 380,000 individual components.

Graham Hutcheon, Managing Director Group Operations, Edrington said: “The successful construction of this exciting new distillery and visitor experience has been made possible through hard work, commitment, innovation and collaboration driven by our team.”

We are delighted that The Royal Academy of Music theatre and recital hall has won two awards this week; a RICS London award and a RIBA regional award. We provided cost management on the project, designed by Ian Ritchie Architects – congratulations to everyone involved!

This month, we look at the key areas to think about when procuring a project in the FE sector. Developments in the education sector often require a reconsideration of the buildings and facilities that support curriculum delivery. Engaging with the construction and property industries can be an infrequent and, often, expensive and challenging experience for many senior managers in the Further Education sector. This short article outlines six key considerations to enable better outcomes.

Planning approval has been secured for a major redevelopment of a series of Grade II listed Victorian mill buildings on the River Calder in Wakefield, designed by Hawkins Brown. The scheme will provide a diverse and mixed use creative and cultural cluster and a series of unique spaces will be created, providing opportunities to accommodate small businesses such as a microbrewery, hotel, craft workshops, studios and food markets.

Equals have worked closely with the client team, City and Provincial Properties, to fully understand the scope of the project and accurately forecast the associated construction cost.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Congratulations to our latest APC candidates Sean Dillon (Project Manager), David Haynes and Laura Kelly (Quantity Surveyors) who all passed their APC to become Chartered by the RICS in November. This continues Equal’s 100% pass rate for our APC candidates, with Luke Martin also becoming a chartered quantity surveyor earlier this year.

In total 18.4% of our current workforce has studied for and achieved the APC whilst at Equals since our inception in 2009. We are very proud of our success rate, given the national average pass rate for quantity surveyors is 67%, and 74% for project managers – it is a testament to the skill and dedication of our staff.

Equals are project managers on the refurbishment of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. The first phase of the scheme, which involved creating new restrooms in a previously under-utilised basement, was completed in October 2016.

The main scheme is due to complete in 2018, and involves creating a new glazed facade on Bow Street, improved entrancing and foyer areas, the refurbishment of the Linbury Theatre. It will create more open spaces to allow the public more access to exhibitions, education and events, digital interaction and a revamped bar and restaurant.

We are delighted to be part of the BDP team that has been appointed on the Northern Estate Programme (NEP), the adaptation and conservation of a number of historic buildings for the House of Commons. As part of the team led by BDP, we will be providing move management services. The Northern Estate consists of a series of significant Grade I, II* and II listed buildings and interlinking external spaces totalling around 15,300m², including the Norman Shaw buildings originally designed as the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, together with 1 Derby Gate and 1 Parliament Street. The buildings currently accommodate office space for the House of Commons.

Tony Wilson, Director said “We are thrilled to be part of the team on this landmark commission, and look forward to working closely with BDP on this historic part of the Parliamentary Estate. Relocation planning and management is an important part of the services we offer at Equals, and the House of Commons will join clients such as the BBC, the British Museum and the Science Museum for whom we have previously provided this service.”

The Royal College of Art (RCA) has appointed Equals to provide project management services on their new state-of-the-art £108m Battersea South campus. We are part of a multi-disciplinary team led by Mott MacDonald.

The new campus will be an innovative and creative space for students and faculty. The RCA is setting out to deliver a complex brief that marries art, design innovation, research and technology to create a flexible building; contributing to the long term success of the Battersea campus. Equals and Mott MacDonald are providing project management, engineering and design support to Herzog & de Meuron who have been appointed as architects on the scheme.

The BREXIT vote and consequential economic uncertainty underpins this latest report. We are forecasting 2% tender price inflation for 2017 and 2018 as we see signs of a continuing slowdown across many parts of the industry. Despite this, pockets of demand and inflation are expected to persist and the medium to long term effects of BREXIT on construction prices remain unclear.

Equals is pleased to announce the arrival of Simon Birchall as Director. Simon joins from Capita where he was Executive Director responsible for the £140m turnover Property and Infrastructure business. Having worked in the property and infrastructure sector for 29 years and held senior leadership positions within our industry Simon has a combination of project and business leadership experience and will take a lead on driving the next phase of the exciting Equals journey.