Make Consulting was appointed by the University’s Estates Team as Project Manager, Contract Administrator and Principal Designer to deliver the relocation of the School of Pharmacy into refurbished laboratory accommodation within the Biodiscovery Institute (BDI). The project formed part of a wider £850,000 programme of linked refurbishment projects delivered by Make across the University estate over a 12-week period. Acting as an extension of the Estates Team, Make provided programme leadership, multidisciplinary coordination and day-to-day stakeholder management, ensuring the University’s operational priorities, programme and statutory responsibilities were successfully delivered within an immovable academic deadline.
The Project
The project involved refurbishing an existing laboratory within the Biodiscovery Institute to create specialist accommodation suitable for the School of Pharmacy following the discovery of RAAC. The works included:
- Installation of new fume cupboards and microbiological safety cabinets
- Installation of specialist laboratory benching and sanitaryware
- Alterations to ventilation systems and associated mechanical and electrical services
- New electrical installations including power, data and lighting
- New vinyl flooring and full internal redecoration
- Alterations to improve access arrangements
- Relocation and recommissioning of specialist laboratory equipment
As Project Manager, Contract Administrator and Principal Designer, Make coordinated the multidisciplinary consultant team, managed statutory compliance, chaired project meetings, monitored programme and cost, and acted as the primary interface between the University’s Estates Team, Faculty representatives, specialist users and the Contractor throughout delivery.
The Challenge
The project was delivered within a live University environment under exceptionally challenging programme constraints. Following confirmation of the RAAC risk, replacement facilities had to be designed, procured, constructed and occupied before the commencement of the new academic year to ensure teaching and research activities could continue without interruption.
Alongside the immovable completion date, the project involved relocating specialist laboratory equipment, hazardous chemicals and sensitive research materials, requiring careful planning, robust health and safety management and close collaboration with Faculty representatives, specialist users and the University’s Estates Team. The project also formed part of a wider programme of concurrent University refurbishment projects, requiring continual coordination to ensure resources, programme and operational priorities remained aligned throughout delivery.
The Solution
Make embedded itself within the University’s Estates Team from project inception, working collaboratively with Faculty representatives, laboratory users, specialist consultants and the appointed Contractor to fully understand operational requirements before construction commenced.
Early stakeholder workshops informed the project brief, procurement strategy and construction sequencing, ensuring the programme reflected both the University’s operational priorities and the Contractor’s delivery methodology. Throughout delivery, weekly progress meetings, regular site inspections and daily communication between Make, the Contractor and University representatives enabled emerging issues to be resolved quickly whilst maintaining programme certainty.
Acting as Principal Designer, Make coordinated design risk management throughout the project, chaired multidisciplinary design discussions, coordinated pre-construction information and ensured statutory compliance remained embedded throughout design development and construction. Close collaboration with the University’s Compliance Team ensured laboratory requirements, health and safety considerations and operational continuity were fully integrated into project delivery.
The Outcome
Make successfully delivered the refurbishment and laboratory relocation within budget and ahead of the start of the academic year, enabling teaching and research activities to continue without interruption.
Through close collaboration with the University’s Estates Team, Faculty representatives, specialist users and the Contractor, Make successfully coordinated a technically complex programme within a live university environment whilst maintaining programme certainty and providing the Client with confidence throughout delivery.
The University provided positive feedback on the quality of communication, responsiveness and overall project management, recognising Make’s ability to operate as an extension of the Estates Team whilst successfully delivering a technically complex refurbishment project within a live operational environment.
