The Crescent at Donaldson’s

Comprehensive service offering

We provided quantity surveyor services throughout the entire project, including cost planning, first- and second-stage tender, work package evaluation and finalisation of the construction services agreement, as well as all post-contract duties through to close-out of the final account. 

In addition, we provided principal designer, pre-contract project management and post-contract employer’s agent services.

Two-stage, design-and-build contract

The project was split into two phases. The main contractor, BAM, carried out the shell and core works while the client, CALA, undertook the high-end fit-out, including all the plumbing, electrical and heating installations and the internal joinery. To facilitate this, a two-stage, design-and-build contract was adopted, with sections of the building formally passing to CALA once the first phase was complete.

This required careful ‘site within a site’ delineation to allow CALA to take possession of some parts of the building while BAM continued to work on others, while also avoiding the potential difficulties of access to individual apartments that this created. 

Access was further complicated by the split nature of the overall Donaldson’s site, as work on the renovation of the adjacent historic building proceeded under an entirely separate contract.

Complexity and challenges

The complex nature of the project was clear from the outset, requiring us to be proactive and methodical in organising the different strands, numerous stakeholders and concurrent contracts.

We therefore held parallel meetings with all stakeholders to agree responsibilities and liabilities, as well as key dates for handovers and completion. These were then put into a formal agreement, with specific checklists to be followed and completed at each handover. This helped us to track costs and liabilities for individual stakeholders on a monthly basis, while also managing the overall cost of the shared contract.

Careful coordination by our multidisciplinary team and a flexible approach helped to ensure the project was delivered successfully.

Award-winning design

The first phase of properties in the Crescent were released for sale in early 2018, with the final phase completed in 2020. The project has won a number of awards, including the Best Innovation in Design award at the Scottish Home Awards and WhatHouse’s Best Apartment Scheme and Best Luxury Development.