Construction Practice and Management: School Building Project Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of construction practice and management, addressing key aspects of the industry. It begins by examining the evolution of the construction industry into specialized companies, outlining the roles and responsibilities of various experts involved in a construction project, such as engineers, architects, and contractors. The report then delves into a case study of a junior school construction on an old factory site, detailing how different specialists contribute to the project's success, from surveyors and town planners to engineers and builders. It also explores the main stages of construction, from tendering to handover, and the specific specialisms employed at each stage. Furthermore, the report compares construction companies, contracts, and tendering processes, highlighting their differentiating factors. It also discusses the local council's concerns in tender documents, the role of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in design selection and construction, and the factors a main contractor considers when selecting local subcontractors. Finally, the report touches on the application of BIM from the early stages of a project. The report draws on several scholarly sources to support its claims, providing a well-rounded overview of construction management principles and practices.

CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE AND MANAGEMENT
By Name
Course
Instructor
Institution
Location
Date

Question 1
How the construction industry has developed into a lot of specialist companies with
different knowledge skills and facilities
The present construction industry needs a different set of experts. All the expert firms that would
take part in the progress of the project are allocated to carry out different and specific roles and
responsibilities. For the project to be executed there must be a team of experts such as engineers,
town planners, woodworkers, quantity surveyors, construction managers, engineers, electrical
engineers, plumbers, painters etc. the chart below shows different experts who are involved in
the project, the roles and responsibilities of each of the experts are discussed below.
(Herbert Robinson, 2015, p. 764).

Question 2
a) How the construction of a junior school on the site of an old factory building would
involve the skills and specialisms.
All the experts and specialists involved in the development of junior school will use their extent
of knowledge to deliver to the expected standards.
A surveyor is supposed to be the keeper of all the land information. The acreage, landscape,
features in the site, its location and any other underground feature located beneath the ground
upon the project is going to be laid. With this kind of information from the surveyor he is able to
do an elaborate planning, design, and ensure that the proposed junior school implementation is
achieved.
A town planner is the person who is responsible and ensuring that there is order in the
developing landscape where the proposed project will be set. He is also responsible for the
development of the master plan which is layout that is sensitive of the culture, human needs,
infrastructure and other social economic factors. When the construction is ongoing it’s the
mandate of the town planner to ensure that the master plan of the project isn’t misinterpreted and
all the standards given are followed to the letter. The architects’ duties include ensuring that he
helps the client to come up with the requirements of the project on in the simplest way while
keeping in mind that all legal terms and conditions apply.
The engineering team that is expected to work on the project includes; civil engineers,
mechanical engineers structural engineers and electrical engineers. Engineers are very important
in the important since they are the people responsible in design of the project and within their
field of specialization. Engineers such as electrical engineers will ensure that all the electrical

requirements of the projects are met and are up to the required standards. To do this they have to
do several calculations and analysis before delivering a solution (Herbert Robinson, 2015, p.
116).
The contractor/builders are the ones who are involved in the physical construction of the project.
Their main project is the construction and delivering the project to the client by being in charge
of all the activities in the ongoing in the construction site. The contractor is also responsible of
interpreting the design, drawings, and the specifications into the physical structure through the
application of management knowledge and skills and usage of available resources to implement
the project.
The inspection of the materials used on the site and the level of expertise of the work being
delivered on the project site is the duty of the project manager. The project manager also ensures
that the plans and dimensions given by the architect and engineer are followed precisely and
transformed into the building without any alterations by the builder.
a) Main stages of the construction from tendering through to hand over
A general construction process entails the phases mentioned below:
Phase 1: Planning
Phase 2: Design
Phase 3: Tendering
Phase 4: construction
Phase 5: Handover
Phase 6: Evaluation (Burns, 2017, p. 596).

The following processes are involved in the handing over of the construction from tendering;
During the tendering this is what happens;
 Tender documents with enough details are prepared to enable bids to be found for the
construction of the project.
 The quantity surveyor prepares the bill of quantities.
 A contractor is selected by the client with the aid of the experts and the practitioners.
 Different responsibilities by different parties are given consideration at this stage.
During the process of construction the following takes place;
 The preparation of the site. This includes access point construction, clearance of
vegetation and provision of site amenities.
 Digging the foundation
 Construction of the substructure to ground floor level.
 Pouring of the sub-floor concrete
 Construction of walls
 Construction of the roof
 Plastering of all the internal and external walls.
 Installation of the secondary fixtures such as doors, radiators, skirting, etc.
 Cleaning and testing
 Hand over
Specialisms would be employed during each of the main stages of the construction from site
clearance through to hand over
Stage Specialist

Site preparation o Builder
o Project manager
o Town planners
o Architect
o Surveyor
Excavation of the foundation o Structural engineer
o Builder
o Surveyor
o Architect
Construction of the substructure o Builder
o Project manager
o Structural engineer
Pouring of the sub-floor concrete o Structural engineer
o Builder
o Project manager
Construction of walls o Builder
o Project manager
Construction of the roof o Architect
o Project manager
o Builder
o Structural engineer

Plastering of all the internal and external
walls
o Builder
o Project manager
Installation of the secondary fixtures o Electrical engineer
o Architect
o Project manager
o Carpenters
o Mechanical engineers
o Builders (Issa, 2013, p. 714).
Handing over o Project manager
Compare the main factors which differentiate between construction companies, contracts
and tendering depending on their roles within the construction process.
In the basic definition we are allowed to state that a construction company is a one that is
involved in projects that involve building/construction projects. These types of companies are
divided into classified according to the type of work they are engaged in. Examples of the
companies are General Construction Company, real estate developers, renovation Construction
Company, and professional construction consultants among many others.
Before construction mutual agreements between two parties are made in the construction
industry based on the terms and conditions on the form. These are usually called construction
contracts and they are;

Cost plus fixed fee contract, special contracts, lump sum, and scheduled contracts and percentage
rate contract.
Question 3
a) Main concerns that the local council would include in any tender document
Work requirements are usually communicated to the tendering constrictors by the means of
tender documents. Local councils usually include the following in tender documents;
 The scope of the project
 The conditions under which the project (school) will be constructed
 The project specifications
 Bill of quantities of the project
 The works requirements
 The preliminary health and safety plan
 The pricing documents (Kelleher, 2011, p. 782)
The concerns mentioned above will help the tendering contractors understand the amount of
work to be done and its nature.
b) How BIM helps the council to select the design of the school
All the data gathered and stored in the BIM repository during the planning stage are used to
dictate the design that will be selected for the project. The primary design usually aim at
ensuring that the development of the project and all the required construction documents
delivered will be useful, safe and sustainable. All the decisions made during the design phase

should consider constructability, ability to maintain and running of the proposed project (Reddy,
2016, p. 880).
BIM plays a very critical role in the designing stage of the project since all the experts involved
in the project have to use it to help them identify the errors and any other areas that may
eventually require clarification.
The BIMS are also used to carry out the structural analysis of a project during design. This
includes that structural design, elements such as beams and columns that are commonly used in
the construction of bridges. Doing structural analysis using BIMS is very simple since the
standards and specifications are easily keyed into the BIM and generate a structural analysis for
the elements that are used. This will enable the experts to know which reinforcements that will
be used in the construction of the structural elements. During design the BIMs’ applications are
greatly relied on to provide the lighting conditions that will be most suitable and required in this
project. This will direct electrical engineers about the type of lamps that they will use in for a
given work (Kaneko, 2013, p. 651).
Application of BIM in the construction stage
BIM provide a conducive environment for the data and knowledge which is required during the
process of construction. The crucial role played by the of utilization of the site and the designing
is carried out by the BIM this entails the location of all the supporting facilities that are required
in the project, site clearance, storage facilities, delivering of services such as water and electricity
and building of diversions (Reddy, 2016, p. 880)

The building information model also plays a crucial role in the planning of the construction
system. This usually involves the construction of false work and the scaffoldings where they will
be needed.
During the working on the project, the building information model will give a clear and powerful
picture which will offer planned specific timeframes as per the construction requirements.
Through overseeing the planning and construction process and planning ahead greatly helps in
the early detection of unforeseen problems that may have happened in later stages of the
Construction project and prove to be critical to the safety the workers or local residents and costs
of the client (Guggemos, 2016, p. 116)
The Building information modeling is usually of great help when it comes to the digital
production of the construction constituents for example the production of columns and steel
beams that will be used in the construction will be met by the aid of Building information
modeling (BIM). By feeding the required standards of the elements into the Building information
modeling database they are used to produce the building elements automatically. This is a time
saving process and it is also accurate which minimizes errors and saves on the production costs.
c) Factors would be taken into consideration by the main contractor when looking for
small local companies who could act as sub-contractors.
Among the factors that are considered before selecting a local subcontractor include;
i) On time delivery of the project.

Time is a very crucial matter when it comes to construction. The construction of the junior
school is supposed to be complete within the time allocated or earlier. This will prevent any
losses and ensure that the school is opened on time.
ii) Communication
The subcontractor selected for the project should be always open to sharing of information with
the other experts while seeking clarifications on ambiguous ideas without hesitations. This helps
the work to be done effortlessly and with high coordination among the experts while reducing
any errors that may arise due to negligence or poor communication.
iii) Quality work
The main contractor is supposed to be in charge of overseeing the subcontractors work and
ensuring that it is not only up to the required standards but also quality and with a touch of
creativity and ingeniousness. This will ensure that the client doesn’t feel like he wasted his
money or hired inexperienced practitioners.
iv) Track record of the subcontractor.
A good portfolio of a subcontractor is an equivalent to a CV which contains the skills of the
subcontractor and the projects he/she has worked on. Hiring a subcontractor with a good track
record ensures that the work will be done with a lot of keenness and high level of
professionalism
Other considerations when choosing a subcontractor include;
 Conflict management skills
 Managerial skills

 Cooperation
 Team work (Lancaster, 2010, p. 762)
Question 4
a) Application of BIM from the very early stages to control the building process
When doing project planning, Building information modeling is used in the breaking down of the
project into phases and then planning on how to implement the stages. These project phases are
further distilled down into manageable components which will make sure that the design and
construction project are simplified. The stages it is broken down into are as follows; planning,
designing, construction maintenance and operations. These stages also can be broken down
further to ensure easy planning and execution.
When planning the Building information modeling is used to perform the site analysis before the
commencement of the design and the construction project. Building information modeling is
used to analyze the topography of the site using a surveyor among other elements that are
analyzed are the activities in the area, climate of the region and how or to what extent they
impact the implementation of the project. They also analyze the effects on the pace at which it
will impact development of the area.
During the project planning stage the Building information modeling is used in the simulation to
see how the project will work from the beginning to completion and the maintenance.
This alone is evident enough that Building information modeling acts a very vital role in the
designing of the project since it’s the blueprint of all the experts who are involved in the project
and acts as a guidance to them.it helps them reduce errors and project future shortcomings of a
project. It also helps them seek clarification where there is ambiguous information.

b) How BIM will reduce the running costs of the school
The school will enjoy the real time data and specifications that are delivered by the BIM
regarding the operations and maintenance that are needed to be performed urgently. The
presence of the BIM in the school also eliminates bulky and tedious paperwork found in the
schools utility system and the dependency on the paper work. This brings a different approach in
the cutting of maintenance costs. This strategy of using the BIM will see the school undergo
transformative changes and see more revenue incomes while reducing the yearly costs of running
the school (James C. Balogh, 2018, p. 438).
The BIM ensures that there is no data re-entry all the time. This ensures that the costs that are
used to cover the people who do this. The school is able to capitalize on this aspect and thus
saving some costs (Kotaji, 2017, p. 495).
All the human errors that usually go unnoticed and cause problems afterwards are taken care of
by using the BIM. This ensures that there is no loss of information and human error is at its
minimal.
c) How BIM will ensure safety and health both during the building and when the
building is eventually in use.
The BIM will ensure that the school greatly benefits from the from its applications in safety and
health in the following listed ways below;
 The use of BIM during construction ensures that the model-driven fabrication and off-site
fabrication. Building materials such as windows, doors, steel, beams and columns are
fabricated outside in the construction site. Some of the materials are fabricated in the
industry and this ensures that safety is upheld.

 With the BIM present there is a possibility to automatically check the rules and codes set
to be adhered to in the construction of the school. This ensures timely action and safety
measures to be taken and adjustments.
 Hypothetical situation planning is usually possible when the BIM is used. This means
that the contractors are able to build a model of the school that will be tested in place of
the real school. This helps ensure that all the physical factors are considered and the
integrity of the structures tested to see how it will hold in the real physical conditions.
 The BIM also helps in identifying collusions that might happen during the construction
process. This foreseen safety measures are then taken care of by the experts in charge and
resolved to ensure the safety and stability of the final structure.
d) Role of CDM in the construction process
The main role of CDM in the school construction project is to ensure that the safety and health
issues are well looked into in the construction of the school to ensure that the impending safety
hazards do not cause any harm to the workers and the people involved in the construction
process of the school. The rule is that companies with good safety rules are usually considered
by contractors and subcontractors. This is only accomplished by bearing in mind if they have met
the required health and safety standards (Gresham Smith, 2018, p. 54).
References
Works Cited
Burns, T. (2017). Real World Applications of BIM in Construction (2nd ed.). Chicago: JohnWyatt
Publishing.

Gresham Smith. (2018). A Handbook for Addressing Water Resource Issues Affecting Airport
Development Planning (1st ed.). Texas: Transportation Research Board.
Guggemos, A. A. (2016). Environmental Impacts of On-site Construction Processes (4th ed.). Chicago:
University of California, Berkeley.
Herbert Robinson. (2015). Design Economics for the Built Environment: Impact of Sustainability on
Project Evaluation (3rd ed.). Chicago: John Wiley & Sons, .
Issa, R. (2013). Building Information Modeling: Applications and Practices (2nd ed.). Kiev: American
Society of Civil Engineers,.
James C. Balogh. (2018). Environmental Issues (4th ed.). London: CRC Press.
Kaneko, N. (2013). Sustainable Living with Environmental Risks (4th ed.). Paris: Springer.
Kelleher, T. J. (2011). A Practical Guide for the Construction Professional (4th ed.). London: John Wiley &
Sons,.
Kotaji, S. (2017). Life-cycle Assessment in Building and Construction (4th ed.). Chicago: SETAC.
Lancaster, P. J. (2010). Construction in Cities: Social, Environmental, Political, and Economic Concerns
(4th ed.). Chicago: CRC Press.
Reddy, P. (2016). BIM for Building Owners and Developers: Making a Business Case for Using BIM on
Projects (7th ed.). London: John Wiley & Sons.