QS Services

Graeae was founded in 1980 and is the UK's leading theatre company championing the work of Deaf, disabled and neurodivergent artists. Following an extensive consultation process with staff, users, artists and other stakeholders, Graeae has developed proposals for a remodelling of its building in Kingsland Road, Hackney.

These will be the first major changes since it was first occupied in 2010 and are intended to create space for other organisations to share the building as tenants, which will aid Graeae's long term business sustainability. Designs were developed working with Morgan Lovell and the works proposed are described in the attached Design Proposals document.

The intention had been to continue working with Morgan Lovell as the main contractor, developing the design through RIBA Stage 4 and then tendering the various subcontract packages; however they advised Graeae in late May that they would be withdrawing from the project as they did not have the capacity or necessary expertise to take it forward. As Graeae had anticipated having the project completed within this calendar year, this was unwelcome news.

Having considered various options, Graeae is continuing with the approach of working with a main contractor on a design and build basis and, to mitigate the impact of the delay caused by the withdrawal of Morgan Lovell to the original timetable, is now undertaking a tender process, working with Bigham Anderson Partnership, to appoint a new lead contractor. In parallel with this, Graeae is now looking to procure a professional team comprising design consultancy, capital project manager and quantity surveyor, all functions which Morgan Lovell was originally going to provide.

QS Services The appointed QS will start on the appointment of the new contractor (anticipated by mid August) and provide the following services: i) Manage the commercial activities in the design development period, concluding with agreement of the Contract Sum; ii) Prepare contract documentation assuming JCT Design and Build with no lawyer drafted amendments; iii) Manage the construction phase costs including agreeing variations and undertaking valuations of the works; iv) Attend regularly convened design and construction meetings (assume one per fortnight); v) Provide regular cost reports; vi) Agree the final account. Further details, including a description of the tender process and a full scope of services, are available in the attached QS Tender Document.