The Project Team
Team Work, Consultants, Costs and Modern Technology
Architect and The Client
The architect-client agreement is a detailed document defining the terms of their professional relationship. The relationship between the architects and the client, Berkeley Homes Ltd, is inherently simplified due to the unique position of Berkeley Homes as both the main contractor and developer. This integrated position simplifies communication and decision making. Since Berkeley Homes is intricately involved in the entire project life cycle, from conception to construction, the architects benefit from direct and efficient collaboration.
The architect's fee is determined by the number of hours spent on the project. This methodical technique ensures that the architect is fairly compensated for his or her time and abilities. The architect is motivated to take on the project in order to provide their design knowledge and oversee its effective completion.
Throughout the project's length, the MNE Group serves as the primary contract administrator. Notably, the OCL subcontractor mediated settlements with multiple consultants. The site manager was important in assisting Gillespies, the Turley Group consultants, and the contributing architects during the design process. The master designs were initiated by Tp Bennett Architects, while following phases enlisted the assistance of Squire & Partners and Scott Brownrigg.
The architects' pay structure is based on the number of hours spent on the project. In contrast, any design flaws would be immediately detected by the engineers, with no compensation provided for errors. To the best of our knowledge, no such incidents have occurred, demonstrating the effectiveness of collaborative efforts and quality controls that are in place.
Design Team
The design team's collaborative efforts have proven extremely helpful in managing the balance between new design concepts and engineering needs. The collaboration ensured that design concepts were carefully integrated, even if changes were required to fulfil engineering requirements. Despite these changes, the finished result is identifiable and unified, displaying a balanced blend of creativity and practicality.
Brickwork Pattern
Architect Team
Meet the talented professionals of the Squire & Partners, Tp Bennett and Scott Brownrigg architects.
Budget : Programme : Quality
The Berkeley Group plays a pivotal role in supporting the project financially, as they provide the funds necessary for its execution. Their investment of around half a billion pounds underscores the significance of the project's success. The primary focus for the Berkeley Group is to deliver a high-quality program, especially given their strategic approach to profit generation—selling luxury apartments.
The Berkeley Group has extended the project timetable to 2025 in order to prioritise client satisfaction. This purposeful addition highlights their dedication to quality and suitability in the new construction. The Berkeley Group aims to make a long-lasting and profitable effect in the luxury real estate market by guaranteeing that the project satisfies the highest quality and client requirements.
Westminster City Council
​Projected cost and existing budget for West End Gate funded by WCC
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Further information about this contract can be found using this link
Cabinet Member Report - West End Gate Affordable Units Acquisition.pdf
From the information I gathered City of Westminster has been funding small amount of the project. Westminster City Council (WCC) plans to acquire 130 affordable units at a cost of £32.0 million, with a budget shortfall of £7.1 million. Seeking approval to bring forward £13.0 million into 2018/19 for upfront payments, WCC will utilize external borrowing and Housing
Revenue Account (HRA) capital receipts. The remaining £7.1 million will be covered by an increased Cosway Street scheme receipt (£2.1 million) and a £1 million per annum reduction in self-financing expenditure over the next 5 years, ensuring compliance with HRA limits.
Wallacea Living
External Client - Specialising in Retirement Living
Luxury and Comfort
Wallace Living's purchase of one of the blocks at West End Gate emphasises the company's focus on retirement living. A variety of facilities meant to improve residents' lifestyles demonstrate their commitment to creating a comfortable and secure environment. The services include 24-hour concierge and security, ensuring safety and peace of mind.
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Wallace Living aims to provide an enriching living experience in terms of amenities. Residents can enjoy a pool, spa, salon, restaurant, cinema, and gardens, which fosters a vibrant and sociable environment. With sizes ranging from 586 to 1,332 sq. ft., the availability of one and two-bedroom apartments, as well as two-bedroom penthouses, caters to a variety of preferences and requests.
Penalties
A penalty mechanism is planned to be in place in the case of project delays, motivating conversations with the principal site manager. The goal is to implement penalties, creating in the team a sense of urgency to work more efficiently while keeping high-quality standards.he penalty system operates by imposing fees on the company if specific tasks by individual workers are not completed on time. However, there is uncertainty about whether these penalties extend to the individual workers themselves. It's unclear if companies enforce penalties directly on the workers for delays in task completion.
Process and Procedure
The architects and design team initiate the process of communicating details and instructions to the contractor. They develop the details, which are then negotiated with engineers and experts to assure technical feasibility and compliance. The instructions are subsequently sent to the contractors for implementation once they have been finalised. To establish consistency between design intent and practical execution, this sequential process consists collaborative decision-making and iterative refinement.
Modern Methods and Digital Technologies
Glass lifts are used to transfer massive, thin sheets of glass over the broad floor of construction sites, such as the West End Gate project. This equipment is especially important in bigger construction projects, where manual handling of such materials could pose serious health and safety issues. Berkeley Homes prioritises safety by using these specialised equipment, which reduce the risks involved with manual delivery.
Vr in Architecture
I am confident that Virtual Reality (VR) will play an important role in site operations, particularly in terms of business. Shareholders who are unfamiliar with architecture may find it difficult to visualise the design only through plans and sections.
In this setting, the incorporation of Augmented Reality (AR) and VR technologies becomes critical. These tools elevate design visualisation by delivering immersive experiences to stakeholders. They are useful for virtual walkthroughs, design evaluations, and training sessions.This not only improves communication but also allows stakeholders to gain an improved understanding of the project.