ASDA Barnes Hill, Birmingham
Introduced By:
Asda appointed contractor appointed ourselves as part of our Global Asda Service agreement on the back of completing two other new stores in Gorseinon and Melksham.
Client Needs & Challenges:
The new two storey store, with planning approval already gained, was to be constructed on the existing site of the RSPCA, Birmingham. The site contained several existing buildings for demolition, Japanese knot weed in certain locations, a major electricity pylon crossing the site above the proposed buildings, an existing open storm drain for diversion and part works to an existing woodland for handing back to the community. In addition, a need to save money on the contract valued at £21m.
What did we do?
Our approach in working in 3d within a building information modelling process on previous retail stores had highlighted the savings in time, cost and programme time on site. Together with creating an electronic version of the project provided an ability to fully understand the scheme and potential savings that could be realised.
The site existing levels were modelled, and it became apparent that the basement car park was not in the ground on two sides. This revelation meant that two sides of retaining walls could be omitted, if replaced by an open timber fence 50% of the exhaust extract system could also be removed. The process of all the consultants working in a 3d world also allowed the chance to resolve the locations of all services including sprinklers to reduce the height of the building by locating holes in the structure rather than a service zone.
These two principle savings assisted in saving £1.9m on the contract value.
The pylon was also drawn in the model and provided information to all contractors and sub-contractors on the health and safety risks, their ways of working had to be adjusted to a safe method and no risk or accidents occurred.
The data produced had the side effect of being able to walk the community by way of video to communicate the works in particular the brook diversion and the woodland works.
The completion of the job also allowed the passing of all this data to the facilities management company so to support their systems, including for example the first time the FM company were aware that a contract for an installed item contained a first year free service – previously paid for due to not understanding the specification and inclusions.
The store was constructed on time and met the opening date, trading to this day…
On completion we moved onto Asda Sheffield, £14m contract value.
