ARCHITECTURAL ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

The following is an outline of the new criteria for panel selection in architectural competitions in Wales announced by Commissar Joe Nathan of the Central Committee for Regeneration and Procurement at the Welsh School of Architecture event on 20 June 2013

Assessment criteria

Submissions will be assessed objectively on the basis of quality and price, and chosen on the basis of which one the jury wanted to get the job before the tender notice was issued:

Consultancy team [15%] Team composition, leadership experience and commitment, inter-disciplinary approach; breadth of experience, track record; creativity/innovation, technical, commercial and presentational abilities. Q         Being more concerned with expedient, stereotypical design and delivery through contractor-led  ‘partnerships’ than freshness of approach, creativity and design direction – please describe two projects of a similar nature that you have completed within the last two years. Q         With the client’s desire for  bureaucracy, cutting costs and reducing design to an assembling of parts from a catalogue at the expense of creativity, design leadership and quality – please confirm how you would use BIM on this project.

Response to the brief [30%] Understanding of context and issues; methodology and organisation; application of creativity in vision, design and problem solving; commercial awareness including that of demand and viability; commercial and technical ideas; deliverability and funding. Q         Describe how you would engage with the constructor (considerate contractor certified) at too early a stage to value-engineer the design so that it can be constructed as expediently as possibly while using as many resources as possible on the ‘collaborative partnership’ process itself. Q         Can you demonstrate that you proposal is fully socially inclusive and can be accessed by all through the front door, has contrasting paint colours at every opportunity and has no sharp edges – including prow-form roofs?  Q        Mindful that China has already completed one coal-fired power station this week and that your  large, new building will take an enormous amount of resources to build and operate – please describe how it will help to reduce CO2 emissions in the Principality. Q         How many apprenticeships will be created during the construction phase of the project? Interviews [15%] Q         Are the team members physically attractive, gender balanced, dressed as architects should be, and able to speak in reasonable coherent sentences that ... like ... do not contain the word “like”? Fee submission [40%] Overall price; structure of bid, quoted hourly rates; ability to undertake project agreed timescales. Q         Is the estimated construction cost cheap so that it supports as well it can the untenable business plan? NOTE: A further announcement may be made shortly following representations from those with vested interests in escalating bureaucracy to ensure that additional criteria will include provision  for Vibrant Inclusive Sustainability, Dynamic Low Carbon Emission Communities, Iconic Holistic Symbiotic Leverage