THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF SURVEYORS

ASSESSMENT OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE

BUILDING SURVEYING

Critical Analysis

Case 1:

Renovation of Entrance Lobby at

Existing Training Centre Complex

Name : So Chun Kit

Candidate’s number : B28/07
HKIS Membership No. : 86003 P
Main Stream Practice : Project Management
Commencement Date of Training : 17 October 2007
Submission Date :
Contents Pages

1.0 Background 1

2.0 Personal Involvement 1

3.0 Problem Encountered & Considerations

3.1 Task and Problem Encountered 2

3.2 Comments and Justifications to Contractor’s 2-4

Work Programme

3.3 Comparison between Full-lobby and Semi-lobby 4-6

Closure for Renovation

4.0 Experience Gained and Self-Assessment 7

Appendix A – Layout Plan of Existing Training Centre Complex

Appendix B – Proposed Work Programme by Contractor

Appendix C – Revised Work Programme

Appendix D – Special Arrangement for Access

Case 1 – Renovation of Entrance Lobby at Existing Training Centre Complex

1.0 Background

As being a Technical Officer in Estates, Health and Safety Division in Vocational

Training Council (VTC) in the period between 17 October 2007 and 31 March 2009, I

had actively involved in the VTC Training Hotel Project (the Project) under guidance

and supervision of the Council Project Manager (an Architect). The Project was to

convert a floor of existing training centre complex into training hotel and to construct

a new mezzanine floor for housing of new hotel training facilities.

2.0 Personal Involvement

As a project coordinator in this project, I was mainly responsible in the followings:-

 To coordinate with various parties in the Project, mainly end users, architect,

nominated interior designer, main contractor and stakeholders of the training

complex;

 Conduct regular site supervision and given direction if necessary;

 To have periodic review to the budget and project progress;

 To plan and work out special arrangement and contingency measures to reduce

the disturbance to the normal operation of existing building.

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Case 1 – Renovation of Entrance Lobby at Existing Training Centre Complex

3.0 Problem Encountered & Consideration

3.1 Task and Problem Encountered

In order to facilitate the future training hotel operation, the main entrance and the

associated lobby of existing training centre complex was required to be upgraded into

hotel standard (Layout plan in Appendix A). The main contractor proposed a

programme in Appendix B requesting a 4-month entrance lobby closure to facilitate

the renovation works.

The entrance lobby is the main access point to the building and a critical access for

the person with disability to the designated accessible lift. The long duration of lobby

closure would substantially affect the normal operation of the existing training centre

complex and was therefore considered impractical and inappropriate.

As such, my task in this case was to minimize the disturbance to building operation

from the lobby closure. To achieve my task, I had at first testified and reviewed the

correctness of the contractor’s programme especially on the reasonably of time

claimed for each activities situated in critical path.

3.2 Comments and Justifications to Contractor’s Work Programme

After checking the contractor’s programme, I found the programme was substandard.

The time required in the programme was found over-claimed and had rooms to be

shorten. My justifications were in Table 1 and remarked in Appendix B.

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Case 1 – Renovation of Entrance Lobby at Existing Training Centre Complex

Contractor’s programme My Justification

found in questions

1. Most of the activities Disagreed Some of the activities are not critical and

situated in critical path able to work with other activities in

parallel manner.

2. Abnormal long Partially Only demolition works will have the

duration in most of the agreed substantial noise result in stoppage of the

activities (Reason works, other activities should not be

given by Contractor: affected.

Works may be stopped

due to noise

disturbance within

lesson hours)

3. Sequences of activities Disagreed Inappropriate sequence found in the

activities

e.g. fixing of wall/ floor finishes prior to

the ceiling installation

4. Activities and Events Disagreed Missing activities found.

e.g. Dismantle of existing E&M services

and demolition of existing block walls

Table 1 – Justification to Contractor’s Entrance Lobby Renovation Programme

In addition to the justification above, the following three activities were proposed

with long duration in contractor’s programme:-

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Case 1 – Renovation of Entrance Lobby at Existing Training Centre Complex

a) Installation of wall marble (15 days)

b) Installation of wood veneer and minor installation (21 days)

c) Installation of reception counter (21 days)

After reviewed the actual work sequences with contractor to the above three activities,

I found that most work stages of the above three activities were not fallen into the

critical path and the total duration required was therefore able to be squeezed:-

1. For the installation of finishes, items a) & b), the supporting frame and backing

could be prior fixed and the critical duration should be only for the final surfacing.

2. For the reception counter, items c), off-site prefabrication should be considered

and time required on-site was only for the fitting installation and surfacing.

As a result, I worked out a revised programme in Appendix C which was accepted by

contractor. The duration required for the renovation was shorten from about 4 months

to 2 months instead.

3.3 Comparison between Full-lobby and Semi-lobby Closure for Renovation

Besides, I had also considered the possibility of semi closure instead of full closure to

the entrance lobby. The semi-lobby closure was required to divide the working site

into phases. The working areas and the access would be separated by hoarding board

with a flying-over working platform to carry out overhead demolition work or to

dismantle/ install the overhead E&M.

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Case 1 – Renovation of Entrance Lobby at Existing Training Centre Complex

Comparison to the two closure modes for lobby renovation is in Table 2 below:-

Semi-closure of lobby Full-closure of lobby

Duration of Lobby Longer Shorter
Closure (Relatively) (Relatively)

Cost Involved Higher Lower

(Relatively) (Relatively)

Quality Assurance Difficult Easy

Safety Assurance Difficult Easy
Disturbance to the Lower Higher
building operation (Relatively) (Relatively)

Table 2 – Comparison to the two closure modes for lobby renovation

Referring to the table above, the only advantage of semi-closure to the lobby was able

to reduce the disturbance to the building operation during the renovation period as the

mode allowed an access to the building. However, I considered that the temporary

construction (e.g. additional hoarding and flying over platform) would increase the

contractor’s overhead and was not economical for just a two-month renovation work.

Besides, the working area was small in size (approx 250m2). Such dividing the works

& activities in phases would reduce the efficiency result in prolongation of required

closure time and reduce the work quality especially at the interfacing area. Safety

concern was also addressed to the pedestrian access just next to demolition working

area.

With the considerations above, the mode of full closure to entrance lobby was

recommended and considered benefit the renovation work most. Special arrangements

at the time of full lobby closure were alternatively proposed in a manner of

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Case 1 – Renovation of Entrance Lobby at Existing Training Centre Complex

management measures (Appendix D) to reduce the disturbance to the building

operation instead.

My supervisor was agreed with my views and proposal. After presenting the

contingency measures the relevant building stakeholders, all of them agreed with the

arrangement for renovation work. The renovation was carried out with smoothly

manner and was able to achieve the task to minimize the disturbance to the building.

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Case 1 – Renovation of Entrance Lobby at Existing Training Centre Complex

4.0 Experience Gained and Self-Assessment

Through the process of selecting the best options, I have a chance to develop a critical

mindset by having decision making with justifications. The project also enhanced me

the project planning and management skill at the time of coordination with project

consultants and stakeholders. I have also aware the importance of contact that every

decision making shall be based on and backed up with contract terms.

In addition, I reveal that communication is the key of success to any project at the

time of coordination with consultant and stakeholders. Good communication can help

each other to understand both sides’ expectation and reason of acts and react in more

precise and constructive manner result in helping the project running in smooth and

efficient way. Interactive communication can also help to stimulate alternative

solution within in the project team.

Besides, some resources may be easily neglected due to its nature, such as the link

bridge connecting between the subject building and the neighbour building, which can

help to solve the blockage problem of the access to the accessible lift by the

renovation work. Keep reviewing the resources in hands would help the project

completed in good manner.

In conclusive, the practical experience earned in this project can enhance me in

project management and communication skills that allow me to have a professional

manner to manage similar project.

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Case 1 – Renovation of Entrance Lobby at Existing Training Centre Complex

Appendix A

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Case 1 – Renovation of Entrance Lobby at Existing Training Centre Complex

Appendix B

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Case 1 – Renovation of Entrance Lobby at Existing Training Centre Complex

Appendix C

Note:

a. The project duration was shorten from 113 days (about 4 months) to 60 days (2 months) ;

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Case 1 – Renovation of Entrance Lobby at Existing Training Centre Complex

b. The most critical activity observed in the project was installation of block walls which

enabled full setting out to other activities.

Appendix D

Special Arrangement at the Time of Full-lobby Closure

Since full-lobby closure was adopted in the project, the building operation would

unavoidably be affected. Special arrangements was therefore proposed and agreed by

the stakeholders (various operational units with in the training complex).

The vertical pedestrian flow was flow was diversified by in use of the existing Means

of Escape Stairs which indicated with the arrows in Diagram A below. The starting

point to the building was moved a floor upper from LG/F Lobby to G/F Lobby.

Diagram A

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Case 1 – Renovation of Entrance Lobby at Existing Training Centre Complex

However, person with disabilities was unable to get to upper floor with stairs. In this

connection, alternative path way by using the existing link bridge connecting between

the complex (2/F) and adjacent building (4/F) was considered. Person with abilities

could get access to upper floors with the installed accessible lift of adjacent building

to upper floors and then use the link bridge return to the subject training complex. At

the first time of proposing this alternative, the building operator refused the request of

providing access due to security reason. With negotiations in times and presenting our

standing, the management of adjacent building finally gave permission to person with

disability for using the access.

Diagram B

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