ABSTRACT
A conservation and refurbishment project is often a process of discovery and reaction, which requires careful management from the architect and contract administrator to avoid difficulties. This chapter looks at the key practical issues which are faced when administering conservation and refurbishment contracts as opposed to a new build contract. Most historic buildings will need some form of continued maintenance into the future, thus it is rare that a building is completely refurbished in one contract to a point when no more work will be needed to maintain the building for a significant length of time. Architects used to the construction of new buildings often find refurbishment and conservation projects far more complex and time consuming than normal ‘new build’ contracts, which needs to be reflected in the fees charged. When dealing with older buildings, an initial budget based on predictable cost-per-square metre rates found in standard pricing guides is unlikely to be accurate.
