The checklist for building educational institutions

When it comes to building learning environments, there are a few things that companies need to consider in terms of design, construction, and project management. Patterson Building Group specialises in building in the education sector, and while it is a lucrative area to be in, it’s also one that requires a bit of extra thought at every stage.

Design

Educational buildings are designed with simplicity in mind. Along with clean lines, here are some of the key things that designers have to consider:

Space

Architects optimise the space they have to work with, but at the same time, they ensure that there is enough space for students and staff to move around easily and safely. So that crowds of people can move quickly and comfortably between different areas, there needs to be spacious hallways, doorways, administration areas, and stairways.

Accessibility

Schools and universities have to be accessible all students, including the disabled. While the entire school does not have to be easy for the physically disabled to navigate, there needs to be some parts of it that are. It is then up to the school to schedule classes in those accessible areas. With this in mind, construction companies in NSW try to include lifts and ramps in the design.

Amenities

For both the safety and comfort of students and staff, every educational building needs facilities such as bathrooms. The number of amenities should be relative to the amount of people using the buildings.

Effective setups

Part of the design process is to have good learning environments. This all comes down to the setup. For instance, at schools, classrooms should have desks for the students and a slightly raised section at the front for teaching staff.

Building

When it comes to building in the education sector, Sydney commercial builders are bound by many requirements set down by the government.

OH&S

All properly accredited building companies follow Occupational Health and Safety requirements, often known simply as ‘OH&S.’ Basically, this just means that all buildings have to be safe to use. This is to reduce the chance of injury and other health problems for occupants, as well as any associated legal issues.

Signage

Clear signage is particularly important in schools, colleges, and universities. As these kinds of institutions usually have a lot of ‘wings’, ‘departments’, and ‘blocks’, it’s important that to label them clearly to avoid any confusion.

Project Management

Project Managers have to take the utmost care when working on educational sites, especially because there may be young children around.

No disruption

Often, these projects are undertaken while the schools are in operation. The safety and continued learning of students is a priority. Sydney Project Managers have to take the time to figure out how best to work around the students without disturbing the regular running of the school. This may mean doing most of the noisy work early in the mornings, during breaks, or after hours.

Time frames

It is common knowledge in the building industry that educational institutions impose some of the shortest time frames in which to work. Usually, the schools decide to undertake construction and refurbishment during holiday periods, and as such, give the companies they hire very tight deadlines. The challenge for builders is to complete the projects to the highest possible standard within the given time frame. If they do this, as well as meet the budget, client satisfaction is almost a guarantee.

As we’ve outlined, there are many things that designers, builders, and project managers need to take into consideration when working on educational institutions. This ensures that students and staff can learn and work in great, safe environments.

The difference between tier 1, 2, and 3 building companies

Every industry has a ‘classification’ or a ‘rating’ system. Sometimes these labels are official; other times they’re just unofficial ways to describe a company’s size and abilities. For example, small companies often call themselves ‘boutique’, while larger ones make their ‘significant’ size known. While these general labels are helpful, the construction industry has a very specific rating system. Building firms are classified as ‘tier 1’, ‘tier 2’, or ‘tier 3’, and since that doesn’t really give much information away, we thought we’d explain what those terms mean.

What’s the difference?

The tier system isn’t a difficult one to wrap your head around – it’s actually quite logical. Basically, Sydney builders are rated according to their capacity to take on certain projects. The size, resources, experience, and of course, money a company has determines the kind of projects they are able to take on, and therefore what ‘tier’ group they fall in to. In layman’s terms, tier 1 companies are the big guns, and the tier 3 ones are the more modest firms. Over time, companies can move up the tiers if they fit the criteria.

Now, let’s explore the different tiers a little more.

Tier 1

Tier 1 firms are the largest, wealthiest, and most experienced in the industry. This tier is so exclusive, in fact, that there are only 5 tier one contractors in the whole of Australia! Furthermore, all 5 are run under 2 parent companies. Here’s the breakdown:

• Leighton Holdings – has Leighton Contractors, Theiss, and John Holland under its umbrella
• Lend Lease Infrastructure – controls Boulderstone and Abigroup.

These Sydney commercial builders take on major commercial projects such as motorways, railways, hospitals, universities, office towers, shopping centres and the like. They have the expertise, resources, and finances to take on such large-scale projects. Tier one contracts are usually in the hundreds of millions and even billions price range.

Tier 2

Mid-tier companies are still key players in the construction industry. As the name suggests, they are somewhere in between tier 1 and 3. As a general rule, tier 2 companies are more likely to take on commercial (rather than residential) projects. Patterson Building Group is a tier 2 company, and we specialise in aged care, education, heritage, retail, and industrial projects.

Tier 3

Now that you know a little bit about the tier ratings, you can probably guess that tier 3 companies take on the smaller projects. There are a lot more of them around, and they have plenty of work to keep them busy. Tier 3 firms usually take on projects around the million-dollar range; sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. The types of projects they take on are:

• Sizeable residential jobs, including rebuilding and refurbishing.
• Small-scale commercial work, such as building or refurbishing petrol stations, supermarkets, offices, and places like McDonalds.

These companies are essential to the industry, and they build up their portfolio with this type of work. They then have the opportunity to start moving up the tier ladder.

What to look for when hiring a building company

Hiring a building company is a process that requires careful consideration. If we’re being honest, the building industry doesn’t have a stellar reputation. Because of this unfortunate status, clients need to be alert and educated when they are approaching construction companies. Similarly, those companies need to be able to prove their skills and reliability. When embarking on a building project, you’re investing both money and time in your contractor. Of course, you want to make sure you will be working with the best possible partner. To help you avoid encountering any problems, we’ve compiled this guide to hiring a Sydney building company. We suggest you use it as a checklist when you’re at the initial stages of your project.

Qualifications

Fortunately, it’s very easy to find out a company’s qualifications. From a client’s point of view, a company’s accreditations are a useful indicator of how qualified they are, and what exactly they are qualified to do. As accreditations are awarded by third party boards, they attest to a contractor’s reliability and consistency. They prove that the company is genuine and accountable to someone other than their client. Finally, they give you, the client, peace of mind. Look out for accreditations such as Quality Assurance and OH & S.

Experience

When hiring a company to undertake a commercial project, experience is a major factor. We recommend choosing one that has experience with the type of project that you have. This is the best way of knowing that they have the skills and resources to do the job right. Luckily, all you have to do is ask for their project portfolio. A genuine, reliable construction company should be able and happy to provide you with this information.

References

As well as asking for proof of successfully completed projects, it’s also a very good idea to ask for recommendations. If people make the effort to refer a company, they are confirming their trustworthiness, reliability, quality of work, and communication skills. Such references will help you to determine if the company’s ‘character’ suits your needs.

Price

As a general rule, in the construction industry, you get what you pay for. Therefore, price is a very important consideration. Just like in any other industry, every company will charge according to their own fees and resources. Remember, the price does match the quality. If the quote seems too good to be true, it probably is. Projects are a long-term investment, so it’s worth spending that little bit more on a verifiable Sydney commercial builder that you know will do the job well.

Time

Make sure that the company has the time to complete your job within the given time frame. This hurdle can be taken down in the interview stage. Just ask them outright if they can meet your deadline. If they seem to be overstretched, it might be in your best interest to move on to the next one.

Put everything in writing

Repeat after us, everything must be in writing! This should not be a problem at all, and if it is, cue the alarm bells. Draw up a contract at the beginning of the project, and make sure it is signed and agreed upon before anything else. In addition, if there are any changes to the original contract along the way, put these in writing as well. Avoid verbal agreements at all costs. It’s the sensible thing to do.