Charity begins at home

Working to a tight budget is nothing new, but when a project is funded by charity, there's an even greater motivation to keep costs to an absolute minimum. The Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust project is a case in point.

For Mainzeal Interiors, securing the contract to build the hospital provided an opportunity to give something back to the community under Graeme Earl's project management the trust was able to save approximately $1 million in project, consultant, construction and material changes and fees.

The Canterbury Charity Hospital Trust is spearheaded by Christchurch senior consultant and renowned surgeon Mr Philip Bagshaw, plus three colleagues. The group purchased a run-down 1930s villa in Harewood Road, Christchurch, with a vision to transforming the property into a charity-funded, state-of-the-art day surgery.

Graeme Earl, Mainzeal's contracts manager, volunteered his project management skills to the cause. Coming in right at the outset of the project, and using his position as vice president of the Canterbury Registered Master Builders Association, Earl was able to set the work in motion. He pulled together a group of consultants, trades, suppliers and a main contractor Mainzeal Interiors all willing to help the charity by donating and/or supplying services and materials free, or at a reduced cost.

Earl also utilised his experience as contract manager for the Burwood Surgical Services Unit project.

His first-hand knowledge of the industry ensured all buildability issues were ironed out before the construction phase began.

"The client required the quickest possible construction solution for the good of the Canterbury public," Earl says. "And even though this was a charitable project, we expected nothing less than professional quality from the main contractor and subcontractors alike."

Earl says one of the main challenges was the need to distance himself from the Mainzeal Interiors division.

"It was almost a Jekyll and Hyde role. I needed to take the client's perspective for this project, but at least we could be sure there was good communication between the client and construction company."

Earl says the dilapidated state of the old villa and its total change of use provided further challenges.

"It took considerable planning and negotiation to be able to renovate, modernise and adapt the building to its new purpose. As the property is in a residential district, we needed to retain the character of the villa. This meant shoehorning all the hospital facilities into the existing building and accommodating services in a way that would not be obvious to the public."

Earl says the large theatre occupies the former lounge and bedroom. A double fireplace between the rooms and the original timber floor were removed. A new concrete floor, with just a 1mm tolerance, was built to provide a perfectly flat, sterile environment.

Randall Allardyce, deputy chairman of the Canterbury Charity Trust Hospital, says that to meet the required medical standards the team had to anticipate unique demands and constraints.

"Though small, this was not a simple job. It was a bit like building an aircraft, with many related, redundant failsafe systems adding to the complexity. Graeme Earl's leadership was reflected in the efficiency and effectiveness that characterised not only the build, but, just as importantly, the many relationships and decisions that swirl around such a project."

Allardyce says the high standards set by Earl and the Mainzeal team have set a benchmark for the construction industry.

It's an achievement that has already been recognised nationally. The project won the Supreme Commercial Project Award at the recent Canterbury Registered Master Builders House of the Year Awards, and Earl won the Supreme Award at the NZIOB Awards for Excellence in the Building Professions 2008.

For more information, contact Mainzeal Interiors, Christchurch, phone (03) 341 2191, fax (03) 341 2195. Email: mzchch@mainzeal.com, or visit the website: www.mainzeal.com.

Story by: Trendsideas