Tax team tactics May 13, 2010
Tasked with helping Inland Revenue find new headquarters for its Wellington staff, the Technical Advisory Team, led by The Building Intelligence Group, took a fresh approach to evaluating potential properties.
We asked the question: Why leave short-listed developers in limbo to prepare their proposals? Why not provide guidance in line with Inland Revenue's expectations, so the developer can be sure of putting their best foot forward, and Inland Revenue can be confident of receiving the best possible proposal?
"It was about working on a partnership basis even before we had a partnership, to give developers the best possible chance and to achieve the best possible product for Inland Revenue," says Project Director David Mann.
Inland Revenue's overarching requirement was for a building that would increase its teams' efficiency and support its long-term business plans. The building also needed to contribute significantly towards the department's environmental sustainability goals as it strives for carbon neutrality in 2012. Savings that One Featherston Street will deliver include 13 million kwh of energy, 61 million litres of water and 5800 tonnes of carbon over the next 15 years.
The Building Intelligence Group facilitated meetings between short-listed developers and Inland Revenue design consultants to assist the preparation of proposals that maximised the benefits of their property against Inland Revenue's requirements.
One Featherston Street - the capital's largest office building, being built by Mark Dunajtschik - was clearly identified as fitting the bill. Inland Revenue is scheduled to start moving in from the end of 2010.
The Building Intelligence Group was a key party to negotiation of the development agreement for construction of the new building to Inland Revenue's requirements, incorporating:
- Building performance specification that provides minimum standards for the building environment both on completion and for the lifetime of Inland Revenue's lease
- Agreeing a programme and method for integration of Inland Revenue fit-out to minimise cost and maximise flexibility
- Agreeing key milestones and risk mitigation methods to provide maximum certainty of project delivery.
David believes this process is essential for all organisations who are serious about ensuring they have the best environment for their staff and that the building continues to perform properly for the duration of their lease and renewals, not just the first 12 months.
He notes the fantastic efforts and professionalism of the team that helped conclude the project agreements. Along with The Building Intelligence Group, this included DTZ, Pelorus Architecture, eCubed Building Workshop and Simpson Grierson.