Being an Effective Construction Client: Working on Commercial and Public Projects

Peter Ullathorne is principal of the Ullathorne Consultancy which provides RIBA Client Advisor services and expert opinion for dispute resolution. He graduated from the Architectural Association in 1976 and has worked with, among others, Richard Rogers and Renzo Piano, GMW, YRM and DEGW. He was Managing Director of the First Architecture Group plc, a Vice President of Gensler and HOK and a Director of Navigant Consulting. His career as an architect and lately as an RIBA Accredited Client Advisor has given him particular insight into the need for clients to have access to knowledge and experience on their roles and responsibilities. He had strong client-facing roles throughout his career whether it was working with commercial developers, local authorities and school governors to define and deliver schools through the BSF programme or with government departments delivering mission-critical, complex and technically demanding projects. As an expert involved in dispute resolution he provides forensic investigation and opinion on projects that have failed, giving him unparalleled insight into how clients can avoid common pitfalls. Peter originally contributed to the first edition of the AJ Office Handbook and has written specialist sections in the Aqua Group Guide to Procurement, Tendering and Contract Administration.

1 How to be an effective client. 2 The government department client. 3 Project feasibility, business case and funding.4 4 Defining the project. 5 How should my project be procured? 6 What services do clients need from their design teams? 7 Choosing the project team. 8 The RIBA Plan of Work 2013.9 The design process.10 Introducing BIM.11 Managing and constructing the project.12 Accepting, commissioning and using the project.13 What to do if things go wrong.14 The client and the law.15 The client's toolkit.