Three conferences all on the same subject, but all very different. That’s my conclusion after chairing the conferences at Hardwick Hall, Dublin and Glasgow.

Whilst many presentations were the same at each venue, presentations on Conservation – The Product, The Conservators Perspective and also the Funders Perspective all provided a local flavour.

It was the audience that made the real difference, but there was still some common ground. Can’t afford project management was the claim of some, despite the fact that speakers identified that poor or no project management was the cause of many failed projects!In Glasgow, Paul Jardine of Jurra Consultants provided the results of a study undertaken for the Heritage Lottery Fund on conservation outcomes. This highlighted the inadequacy of project management on many projects and identified why project management was so important. I suppose it also highlighted some very good reasons for this conference series.

Trevor Francis, CIOB’s representative at COTAC also described the need for good project management. Trevor provided graphic details of what happens when it all goes wrong. Poorly designed and executed work by contractors purporting to be experts, and project management so poor that responsibilities for fault cannot be pinpointed.On the other hand, I presented best practice models on conservation project management. In using the project management of architectural paint research as a case study, I described a simplified project management methodology that should prevent all the problems described by Trevor Francis and Paul Jardine from occurring. For some of the audience however, this simplified project management methodology wasn’t simple enough! On reflection, does this indicate the depth of the problem we have? Not enough understanding of project management and not enough understanding of its necessity.

The education perspective was provided by Professor Phil Banfil of Herriot  Watt University, Richard Groom of Construction Skills and Trevor Francis representing COTAC. They gave an overview of where the human resource for conservation and heritage projects will come from in future. They also gave detail on the training provision that exists today. Clearly a lot is happening, especially in the craft training area, but there was by no means a consensus on whether we have got it right.

The perspective of those that implement the final product was provided by specialist contractor Charles Anelay, the seventh generation co-owner of York based contractor William Anelay. Many clear messages delivered and much in common with the conservator’s perspective delivered by Nic Boyes, representing ICON. Involvement at the earliest possible stages was their clearest message.

Simon Byford a project manager with contractor Sir Robert McAlpine provided the main contractor’s perspective with a case study of the HBOS Mound restoration in Edinburgh, for which Simon won the CIOB Construction Manager of the Year Award 2007. The scope of the project in such a sensitive building emphasised why Simon’s management was so loudly applauded. When it came to question time it was the extent of intervention into such an important historic building, that was the main focus of attention. This may have provided another reality check for many! Ultimately, Simon Byford did a fantastic job in managing a very complicated project and did what the designers and client required. He delivered a major project that seemed to involve major intervention, which many in the audience found difficult to understand and accept.

The Trust Perspective provided by Torsten Haak, Director of Glasgow City Heritage Trust focused on project management from the broader perspective of managing resources to deliver improvements that are managed by others.

It cannot be said too many times, but conservation projects must deliver “conservation”, and this product was well described by Fiona MacDonald of Edinburgh World Heritage, who represented the IHBC. The Edinburgh World Heritage site provided many graphic details of what the conservation product is.

Conferences delegates were introduced and welcomed to the event by the Deputy Chief Executive of the CIOB Michael Brown. Michael described how the Institute began almost 175 years ago, by builders such as the renowned Thomas Cubbit. Now the products of such builders are the focus of this conference series.

John Edwards is the chair of the conference series, Chairs the CIOB’s Conservation, Maintenance and Refurbishment Group and is an Associate with TFT Cultural Heritage, based at their Cardiff office.

 

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