CASE STUDY
The pragmatic Greek
Economic meltdown or no economic meltdown; building projects are still being undertaken.
And for those clients who are determined to incorporate green measures, McBains Cooper has
advice as to which systems to choose. Geraldine Faulkner reports.
F
FROM THE carefully designed feasible (or trendy) to go down the route of that fi ts a predefi ned budget. This jigsaw may
pocket mints, with an internal lid geothermal energy when the police force was change when the client changes his mind when
that cleverly prevents an explosion considering which renewable energy to choose cost savings enters the equation, especially when
of its contents as you prise open fi ve years ago. faced with costly eco-friendly energy systems.
the box, to the low energy lighting in the board “At the time it was a risky thing for the
room, there is a sense of seamless and well- police and funders to understand,” recalls
Challenging sectors
ordered pragmatism in the London offi ce of the director. The director says that without doubt the most
the property and construction consultancy, Pushing the boundaries as well as challenging sector to persuade of the benefi ts of
McBains Cooper. maintaining good relations with teams they have energy effi cient systems is the retail sector.
Nothing is there without a reason and it is worked with on previous projects also serves the “Retail is the hardest to convince as they
clear that it has all been carefully thought out. company well. have short-term interests. Particularly as a lot
Engineering director and the group’s head “We are still involved with the same of the environmentally friendly technologies
of environmental strategy, Anthony Coumidis consortium that we worked with on the have medium or long pay-back periods. For
attributes this careful attention to detail to the Gloucester Police contract so we’re still getting instance, if photovoltaic panels are adopted as
company’s inter-disciplinary approach and he is feedback on the project,” adds Coumidis, who the preferred sustainable solution for a large
keen to explain the difference between this and originally trained as a chartered mechanical project that budget can easily increase by a six
the multi-disciplinary option. engineer specialising in the design of power fi gure number; a cost that is disproportionate to
“The distinction between multi-discipline stations - a far cry he says from building what you get out of it in energy saving terms,”
and inter-discipline is fundamental,” he points services. The director compares the building explains Coumidis.
out. “For only with an inter-disciplinary culture services industry to a jigsaw puzzle where The director adds there are always
can a team be truly integrated and collaborative. you have to ensure that different components/ exceptions to the rule.
To be multi-discipline is simply to be a products fi t in with each other to form a “We are currently working with
collection of separate disciplines.” complex and cohesive integrated solution B&Q Properties as building services and
And at no time is this all-encompassing
range of services more important than in the
current economic downturn where building
services consultancies such as McBains Cooper
are competing in an ever-tighter market.
However, Greek-born Coumidis emphasises
that the inter-disciplinary approach taken by the
consultancy does not mean it is infl exible.
“Our inter-disciplinary culture is not
exclusive to situations where the complete team
is from McBains Cooper,” continues Coumidis.
“The majority of our projects involve other
professional consultant companies and we try to
apply the same culture and approach on
those projects.”
A commercial edge
Taking a fl exible approach to projects and
focusing on the client’s commercial drivers are
factors which are serving the consultancy well.
‘
At the time it was a
“It’s important for us to design something
risky thing for the
that gives our clients a commercial edge,”
adds Coumidis.
police to understand
It was McBains Cooper who advised
Gloucestershire Police before it was considered
’
52 SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS April 2009
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