A close and personal approach to communication might be old-school in today’s super-charged, fast-paced world but for David Bowes, Managing Director of Consultus Project Management, it provides his clients with the comfort and certainty that their construction project is tracking as planned towards a successful conclusion. “I think my clients appreciate knowing that I’m available to them and have a very hands-on approach to managing their projects, which can run into millions of dollars.”
“That approach has come from a main contractor background, which gives me an understanding of what it’s like to be a builder and the site conditions. It also enables me to relate to builders and foresee potential challenges. Ultimately, my job is to represent the client throughout the project lifecycle, and I spend at least one day a week on-site, providing the client with site observations both in writing and verbally.”
Before establishing Franklin-based Consultus Project Management in 2005, David had amassed two decades of experience managing significant projects for large commercial construction companies and professional project management companies in Wellington and the South Island. Bolstering his practical experience running projects, David also gained an NZCB (Certificate in Building) in project management. While Consultus Project Management initially focused on high-end residential builds around Oraki and Remuera, for the last sixteen years, David has worked almost exclusively in the government sector, primarily acting as client-side project manager for the Ministry of Education.
In more recent times, Body Corporates have sought out Consultus Group’s expertise, particularly around existing buildings faced with weather-tightness issues. Consultus Project management is currently involved in a multi-level building with 56 apartments and retail on the ground floor, and David says there is potential for a considerable number of Body Corporate projects resulting from weather-tightness issues.
From its Franklin base, Consultus Project Management operates from Central Auckland and throughout South Auckland. “I run all the project facets that deliver the client a high-quality construction product. The client or designer/architect comes to me with a high-level project concept, and I administer that project from its concept and design, market tendering, tender analysis, due diligence, QS, engagement and the implementation of the construction project to the cost-effective, high quality and durable conclusion.”
“There’s a significant risk of cost and time overruns where a client inexperienced with how the process works throughout the construction journey does not employ a professional project manager.”
As the client-side project manager, David acts as the intermediary between the client and other project professionals as well as the builder and that, says David, is a key value that he brings to a construction project. “Early involvement at the conceptual stage is crucial to ensuring the design is cost-effective while still achieving a high-quality result. We also control the project from a financial perspective and minimise variations by trying to anticipate the variables.”
“There are so many variables in a project, and so many things that can go wrong if no one experienced is in control, and control is very important in any construction project. No one project is alike — they’re all very nuanced, and the variables are all very different. There’s a significant risk of cost and time overruns where a client inexperienced with how the process works throughout the construction journey does not employ a professional project manager.”
David acknowledges that the risk of something going wrong in a construction project can never be totally ruled out, but says when that occurs it is his job to correct it and move the project forward immediately to minimise delays and costs. “Construction project management is a very unforgiving industry, and I’ve been here a long time, so I must be doing something right because I survived twenty years of client representation. Working in the public sector can be a very high-stress position to be in, in that if you’re not dealing with private funds, you’re dealing with taxpayer dollars, and those funds have to be used in the most effective and efficient way to minimise loss.”
While work with the Ministry of Education initially focused on the construction of new school blocks throughout South Auckland, over the last eight years, that has transitioned to extensions to administration blocks and arts and drama blocks, infrastructure including swimming pools and the upgrading/refurbishing of existing blocks. “That upgrade work brings a new set of challenges and complexities as you are also working around normal school operations and requires a great deal of organisation.”
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