“The model the [construction] industry has defaulted to is based around design and build, where responsibility to complete the building design is passed down the supply chain. It has been driven by a desire to protect investment returns and transfer risk. But it has become a barrier to innovation,” says Neil Pennell, head of design innovation and property solutions at Landsec. “It restricts clients from exerting influence once responsibility has been passed to the contractor – which is madness. Would BMW hand over the design of one of their cars to another manufacturer to finish?” Pennell highlighted the peculiar logic of the construction supply chain while discussing Landsec’s latest project, which is pioneering a new approach that promises to fundamentally transform how construction projects are procured, designed, and constructed. Their “kit of parts” approach creates efficiencies across the construction supply chain through a more standardized and componentized building system named P-DfMA (platform design for manufacture […]