BAM is to become one of the first contractors to work under the new NEC4 alliance contract, as part of its work for Sheffield Hallam University’s plan to revamp its campus.
BAM has teamed up with the university, the design-led consultancy BDP-Arup, and facilities management firm CBRE to create a new collaborative construction procurement and delivery model, aimed at inspiring change in the sector.
The Hallam Alliance will initially deliver the first phase of the university’s campus plan – with work due to start this month on renovations to the atrium of the university’s Owen Building. In doing so, it will be one of the first adopters of the new NEC4 alliance contract.
The partnership will share profits and losses to incentivise the parties to work together collaboratively. The partners will work through all stages of design, construction and operation in a bid to deliver the best long-term value. Meanwhile, Mace and Fulcrum are providing scheme and programme management services.
The alliance will operate under a clear governance structure, with formal cooperative boards which require unanimous agreement, making decisions on issues on a "best for project" basis.
Sheffield Hallam University’s campus plan sets out a 20-year development framework for the Sheffield Hallam estate. The first phase could see £220m invested over the next five years and will focus on the university’s city centre estate and create a new gateway to the city, transforming the campus.
Daniel Ladbury, director of estates and facilities at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “The agreement of the alliance contract marks the culmination of over two years of hard work the university has led on to challenge the industry to deliver better buildings. The Hallam Alliance provides a unique opportunity as we look to the future in these challenging times to create a high performing and efficient estate that provides fantastic places for students, staff and visitors to learn, collaborate, and innovate whilst enabling us to continually learn and improve”
“The Hallam Alliance provides a unique opportunity to bring academia, professional services and industry together to solve the current and future challenges currently facing universities, the commercial sector and the construction industry and we look forward to realising a new benchmark for successful developments over the coming years.”
Paul Cleminson, construction director at BAM said: “This new approach will make it easier to deliver the high-quality, affordable and sustainable buildings that we all want. That’s why The Hallam Alliance will be a beacon for improvement for the region and the entire industry.
“This new type of framework means the clients, designers, construction contractors and FM providers all have the same goals and objectives, with benefits such as transparent open book costs approach, and improved risk management. This builds mutual trust which will then the drive efficiencies, standardisation and continuous improvement that we are all seeking.
“This is a very exciting time for us all. We are all incentivised to work together to create valuable apprenticeships and work placements and provide many opportunities for students to have real local work-based learning. The Alliance will also prioritise using the local supply chain, which will boost businesses in the Sheffield City Region and help grow the local economy.”
