In fact, the word laboratory can immediately conjure up people in white coats doing tests on wooden benches.
Speaking about the innovative qualities of the Circle project, Co-Founder Martin Wood comments that Circle Reading was the first exercise to really connect design and construction in such an intimate way.‘The platform principle completely enshrines design and construction as a single entity,’ he says.
‘It’s effectively a way of thinking, a principle where the rationale in design supports the rationale in construction in a fully unified, virtuous circle effect.’.Johnston elaborates, explaining that the project employed an ‘evidence based approach’ to ‘balance various and often contradictory [stakeholder] needs.’ These included those of individual clinical specialisms, nursing staff, catering providers, facilities and maintenance providers, the Care Quality Commission etc...Ultimately, Johnston explains, this facilitated an ‘overall optimum outcome,’ which he describes as being a combination of fantastic patient experience, minimised costs, optimised use of DfMA and more.
‘We aren’t aware of anyone doing it in this way before,’ says Johnston, ‘because anyone who could do the stakeholder piece couldn’t then design the DfMA systems and vice versa...’.As the Reading project demonstrates, working in this way drives a great number of efficiencies and Johnston remarks that ‘Circle were highly supportive of the design and delivery approach developed for them evolving in this way,’ noting that they ‘have always been keen to share best practice with other clients.’.
Indeed, as Wood points out, the benefits of Platforms can be applied across typologies, from healthcare to educational facilities and housing.
As time progresses and ushers in vastly increased productivity demands for the construction industry, the use of digital technologies and automation will provide a key solution to facilitating the necessary increases, as well as generating an array of client, end-user and societal benefits.This presents an additional challenge.. Marks says it’s particularly problematic due to the siloed nature of the ecosystem.
She doesn’t want the language of industrialised construction to hold anyone back, or create barriers, and feels it’s simply a matter of adapting and changing a few behaviors.. Prioritising Design to Value with lean construction principles.Jaimie Johnston recognises that people are becoming bogged down in the granularity of the words, even with terms like ‘on-site’ and ‘off-site.’.
The important thing is to fully understand the outcomes clients are aiming to achieve, he says, be it speed, greatest flexibility, or lowest costs.That’s why Bryden Wood likes the term.
(Editor: Top Kettles)