Project managing the design and construction of fit-out for a cutting-edge, high-end, world-leading science and technology company is no easy feat.
But co-founder and Director of Focus Project Services (Focus) Nathan Lang took it in his stride when he was tasked by Christchurch’s Syft Technologies (Syft) to support their transition into a world-class and purpose-designed & built facility.
As pioneering providers of SIFT-MS solutions (in layman’s terms, “sniffer machines”), Syft needed a pragmatic project management team to support the move of their company into their newly acquired premises in the centre of Christchurch city.
As a specialist science and technology company, Syft Chief Financial Officer Nicole Robinson agreed Syft lacked the in-house know-how and experience to project manage such an important and complex move. After struggling to progress the project in the right direction, Robinson decided their best option was to reach out to Focus for help.
The brief to Focus was to manage the design and fit-out of the 3000sqm footprint, which was divided into separate spaces to include various office spaces, staff canteen, meeting rooms, production space, development areas, laboratories and storage areas.
A critical element of this project was to ensure the move was executed with minimal disruption to staff, enable ongoing production, and ensure the building services were designed and constructed to meet Syft's exacting technical requirements.
Robinson said it was clear from their first meeting that Focus understood what Syft was trying to achieve.
“We were impressed with how quickly they got up to speed and picked up on what was pretty unique and technical work,” Robinson explained.
“They weren’t afraid to tell us where our gaps were - they were quick to react, get stuck in and help us turn the project around,” she said.
Lang admitted this particular project required a lot of planning and some fairly technical knowledge and design work. But despite the task of having to "catch up the design with the construction", Lang said he enjoyed the multi-faceted aspects of such a technically complex project.
Above all, however, Lang said his main priority was for the project to remain cost effective, meet the design spec, and accurately reflect the client’s needs.
“When we came on board, the budget didn’t adequately reflect the client’s needs or project brief requirements associated with this, and there were apparent gaps in the design and the consultant team as a result," he explained. "In short, the design as it stood was not fit for purpose - so we had to quickly assess this situation and bring in the right resources to meet the design brief, and adjust the budget to suit.”
Robinson said despite the challenges faced with building such a unique facility, Syft remained confident of Focus' ability to deliver.
“Initially we thought we were going to need to bring in specialists from overseas which - given the COVID situation – wasn’t possible,” she explained. “But Focus came in, set up contracts with local contractors and brought us back on track – I don’t think we would be moving into the building in the time frame we have, had it not been for Focus.”
Syft’s Mechanical Engineer for Production Engineering Department Frazer Attrill was also impressed with the expertise Focus brought to the table. He said he doubted Syft could have managed the project’s design and fit-out without the support of Nathan and the team.
“I can’t see how this would have worked without external project management - if it wasn’t for Focus, we couldn’t have done what we have,” he said. “Focus came on board in June 2020, we were in our office space by Christmas 2020, and we are currently on track to be fully operational in the new technical and production area of our facility by the end of June 2021.”
To help meet the brief, Lang said it was imperative they had the right consultants on board. Three Sixty Architecture were already engaged for the provision of architectural design services by Syft and had well progressed the architectural aspects of the design. It was, however, immediately clear that the more technical nature of the project had been somewhat overlooked.
Therefore, Focus looked to immediately procure Powell Fenwick Consulting as main consultant for the specialist mechanical design. The mechanical design brief included designing pressurised and temperature controlled technical spaces, completing hepa filtered air changes for clean room requirements, and creating clean room interlocked lobby spaces amongst some of the design requirements for the project.
Lang further explained how Focus assisted with the procurement and contracting of a design and build contractor (David Browne Contracting) to undertake the highly technical installation of reticulated gas infrastructure utilised to manufacture, test and calibrate the Syft machines. He said that pre-covid times, it might have otherwise been contracted to either a Singaporean or Australian based contractor.
“We believe that the type of pipework system subsequently installed has never been previously completed to this level, or standard in New Zealand, and has been delivered exceptionally well by a local company, David Browne Contracting," he explained.
Attrill, who worked closely with Lang as Syft’s project lead and client side designer for the gas system, stated it was critical the environment in which the design, build and delivery of Syft’s purpose-built machines was of a particularly high standard.
“There are a wide-range of companies we produce our machines for, for example, some are used by our clients to sample air quality - in the likes of a semi-conductor factory, or testing for drugs at border and customs," he explained.
“If our machines can detect ‘defects’ and chemicals early on in the piece (in low parts per trillion), then our clients can avoid a reduction in yield and increase overall profits.”
“This is huge if you are a facility that turns over say $10m per day - so our machines need to be designed, made and tested in a fit-for-purpose environment,” he added.
Attrill also explained how important it was to source the right materials for the facility’s gas-system, which help power and test Syft’s machines.
“We’ve had to design, procure and install over 2km of ultra high grade stainless steel pipe, 13,000 stainless steel gas fittings and 7000 orbital welds to link it all up,” he said, which had to be sourced from “all over the planet”.
Yet, despite what might have otherwise been a very technical and stressful project, Attrill said working with Focus meant for a great overall experience.
“The best thing about working with Focus is the people, we all worked unbelievably well together and enjoyed some good banter along the way,” he said. “What we have been trying to achieve is unusual, so having people who can work with that in a straightforward way has been critical.”
Attrill’s sentiments were echoed by CFO Robinson, who added that the Focus team were very honest and easy to deal with.
“Quite often they would offer up alternatives for forms of contract, sourcing of contractors, suppliers, or different ways of doing things, which would result in both efficiencies and cost savings,” she said.
“We would have wasted a lot of time and money had we not had their expertise, planning and management of the project.”
As to whether she would recommend Focus Project Services as a project management company?
“Absolutely, I would highly recommend them. They were so easy to deal with and worked hard to understand our business, our vision, and make it come to life for us,” she said.
“They have been really passionate about this – we felt like we've been in good hands, and we’ve also had a lot of fun along the way!”
ENDS
