THE LIGHTING DESIGNER DOMINIC MEYRICK
You design what you believe will be a triumph of lighting design and then issue the specification. But then the rumours begin and the phrase ‘VE exercise’ starts to appear on email trails. VE exercises are usually carried out at the
end of a project, just before final orders are placed, and normally respond to a budget crisis across a number of disciplines. By this time the exercise can only be harmful to the final visual impression of the space and, though it might save money, the hard work and fees spent on designer input are likely to be compromised. Semantics are always important, and it
the whole design, procurement and installation processes require constant evaluation. This often means progression from concept to the actual design, and the selection of equipment requires some hard decisions. But when we talk about hard decisions this should not be confused with ‘panic cuts’, or value engineering (VE), which can occur when projects run out of money. This type of VE will affect the overall scheme, and the outcome can only be down to poor financial planning at the concept stage. For correct decisions to be made, the
whole design team must be well organised and set out clearly what is needed to provide the final visual experience of working within and visiting the building. This process may well produce ‘must have’ and ‘would like to have’ lists, which can then be finally agreed with the project management team and end user. In conclusion, lighting is a very small
part of the overall building services package, but it has a large interface with the end-user and is a key factor in the overall effect of the building. Unfortunately, this is not always appreciated.
l Steve edouin is project manager with Canary Wharf Contractors
‘Panic’ VE can occur when projects run out of money, and can only be down to poor financial planning at the concept stage – Steve Edouin
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Gordon Ramsay’s Bread Street Kitchen at One New Change, London. Hoare Lea Lighting viewed the bespoke LED products as necessary to meet the requirement for energy efficient downlights, saying it would not have been possible to use halogen technology due to energy restrictions
is worth considering the words that make up the phrase. Value is, according to Oxford Dictionary, ‘the regard that something is held to deserve the importance, worth, or usefulness of something’. However, add ‘engineering’ and it becomes: ‘The modification of designs and systems according to value analysis.’ In the 11 years I have worked as an
independent lighting designer, I can only remember two projects where specified luminaires were changed. In both instances this was to do with the supply chain and, in both cases, the final lit impression suffered as a consequence. As independent lighting designers we
have a distinct advantage – the very fact that we have been hired and that our input is deemed worthy of a fee shows that the lighting design is important, so why should it be ignored? This is a cornerstone conversation for the lighting design industry, as it is hired to ensure that the lit environment ‘looks good’. Switching product effectively means that we get paid for lighting design input on a project, but then are absolved of responsibility if the end scheme looks rubbish because: ‘You changed our spec. What can we do?’ In my view, there are five basic values
that apply and it is my job to determine which of these is most important to my client. These are: money, time, visual impression, user satisfaction and quality. This last value can be split into two subsections – quality of light and quality of product. Now, when we hear the term VE, we almost immediately assume it is the cost of the specified products that is under
December 2011 CIBSE Journal 43
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