| Clearing the Confusion
Your
article on the Miami Performing Arts Center, "Deal Cut
to Expedite Miami Arts Center Job," is a good report
on a troubled project that’s been set right through Agency
Construction Management (ENR 8/30-9/1 p. 12). In one respect,
though, it adds to the confusion in the construction industry
about what CM is and is not.
One of the key players in the project
compares agency CM to "a design-build type collaboration."
In agency CM, the construction manager works directly and
solely for the project owner, providing advice and services
with only the project’s success in mind.
Agency CM is not a project delivery
system but has been shown to work equally well with any of
the commonly used systems. In fact, when a professional construction
manager begins working for an owner in an agency CM contract,
often one of the CM’s first services is to help the owner
select the best delivery method for the specific project.
In Miami, agency CM has provided
true leadership and collaboration to a project plagued by
delays and cost overruns. These benefits can be realized right
from the start by involving a professional construction manager
in a project at the predesign stage.
Bovis Stays Put
Your
article on Bovis Lend Lease, "Parent Firms’ New
Strategy Appears to Oust Bovis Chief," refers to industry
speculation that Lend Lease’s proposed merger partner,
General Property Trust, has questioned the role of Bovis Lend
Lease in the merged group (ENR 8/30-9/6 p. 16).
Recently, GPT’s independent
directors unanimously agreed to recommend a merger with Lend
Lease to their unit holders. One of the key attractions for
GPT unit holders in merging with Lend Lease is the lift in
earnings growth outlook that Lend Lease will provide to GPT.
And this growth is underpinned, in the medium term, by Bovis
Lend Lease.
Under the proposed merger, Bovis
Lend Lease plays a critical role primarily because it is a
high-performing business, which has a solid backlog of secured
earnings, strong growth and a leading position in each of
its core markets. This cements our standing as one of the
top ten international project and construction management
companies.
Testament to our strong reputation
of quality and know-how, which delivers high levels of repeat
business, is that 86% of our Americas business stems from
working with established clients.
The merged group will continue
to undertake significant amounts of development work around
the world, particularly in the retail and large master planned
residential areas. GPT and Lend Lease have undertaken development
work using our in-house project management and construction
expertise. It has been a key element to effectively de-risk
the cost side of the development equation and to provide a
better product. Therefore, it is evident that synergies can
be captured and are indeed strengthened by having Bovis Lend
Lease as part of a merged entity.
Bovis Lend Lease is an integral
part of the Lend Lease Group. Bovis Lend Lease is at the heart
of our business globally and there it will remain.
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