Constructionarium: dreams, teams and learning
What is Constructionarium?
full Its like an aquarium but full of Construction Ravenspurn Oil Rig East Reef Pier Naples Airport Underground station Millau Viaduct
Brief History Ove Arup Foundation supported Chris Wise to teach at Imperial College. Chris frustrated at the theoretical teaching. Stef Stefanou (John Doyle) offered money to Chris to find a solution. Industry bodies soon gave support: Concrete Centre, Construct, Concrete Bridge Development Group, Ove Arup Foundation, CITB/NCCE.
Constructionarium teaching team? Triangular partnerships (innovative) University Construction Contractor Consulting Engineer Students Site Suppliers
What constitutes the Constructionarium? Residential field trip (usually 6 days) Hands-on site experience for students Work experience?.....No, role experience Students roles range from CEng to general operatives Innovative link of industry-academic as equals on neutral ground
Why do it? Long-term solution…………………. ……………….to longstanding problems
Problems Solutions Skills Shortage Hands on Experience Safety Awareness Stringent H&S training Recruitment by Industry Exposes students to site life and easy to Head Hunt Theoretical Approach Pragmatism rules due to tight time deadline and budget Gender Imbalance Up to 40% female participants See the Big Picture Applied management training Staff CPD Training Learn by teaching
National Construction College East National Construction College East CITB Construction Skills, Bircham Newton, Norfolk Where is it held? 14 acres land 14 acres land fully residential college fully residential college Construction training facilities Construction training facilities on former RAF base on former RAF base Terraformed site Terraformed site
Scale - Flexible To start keep it small then grow e.g. small bridge (6m) to large bridge (21m Millau Bridge) Choose projects within area of partners expertise and use their network of contacts for supplies Infinity Bridge Millau Bridge
What do contractors do? Bring logistics and site know-how, experienced staff, materials, plant, equipment, operational and safety management, quick fix experience, supervision experience, foresight Fund materials, plant & equipment, own staff and accommodation Act as Client, negotiating contracts and variations
Contractor cost Controlled mostly by contractor, liaising within their triangle. Depends on number of projects. Can be in range £7-10k/project (plus sunken cost of staff). Lower if supply chain used. Design packages being developed for plug and play. Can develop own project(set against cost of project, as pilot work).
Others costs University: £150/student; staff time; accommodation (£55/day) and travel for students and staff; admin and preparation. Consulting engineers: staff time, design preparation, scaling, modelling, student pack development, residential costs, travel etc.
Who recognises its value? 2004 CONSTRUCT Award for Innovation CITB NCC donated 5 acres of land 2005 Ingenia (R A Eng magazine) article led to visit by Prince Philip as Senior Fellow of R A Eng in /8 East of England Development Agency (upgrade the outdoor classroom and project portfolio) 2008 CITB NCC donated further 9 acres Positive educational and technical press BIS, JBM, Construction Skills Council, Professional Bodies, The Concrete Society, HEFCE, Cogent and National Tunnelling Academy
Nuclear Island Project Participating Training Experience NOT a Nuclear Site Safety Awareness Nuclear Awareness New Nuclear Designed Package
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