The art of good development
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102 A n area that is as focused on property development and construction as this one produces a hive of related activities, from architects and investors to builders, chartered surveyors and estate agents. For the most part these varied players interact rather organically, their paths crossing as dictated by need, but in reality construction and development projects are huge undertakings that require careful planning, control and a sound coordination of all the parts that come together to produce them. As it matures, the industry is becoming increasingly aware that the challenges thrown in the way of developers can be best met by placing overall project man- agement responsibility with specialist companies who, like the conductor of an orchestra, ensure that all the pieces play together to produce an efficient, effective whole. As the founder of MDCI, Mark Lawson has been a pioneer in the field, promot- ing good development standards and practice in pursuit of his clients’ objec- tives. These can vary in detail, but always include two elements that are central to MDCI’s philosophy: completion of proj- ects on time and within budget. Quality control, product development and mar- keting advice, right down to suggestions on small but important details, are the other important services provided by a company that can handle anything from feasibility studies and site selection at the conceptual stage to stepping in and sal- vaging existing projects that have run astray. “We do this and a lot in between,” says Mark, emphasising the flexible, mod- ular structure of his company’s services. “We are neither property developers nor a construction company, but the people who can step in, take the brief from our clients, the developers, and ensure their objectives and requirements are met.”The degree of involvement varies according to the clients’ wishes. “We consult investors and developers at the conceptual stage, often helping them to find the land. Companies that are used to developing their own proj- ects often call us in to control the Project Management for them, although it is also not unusual that we are asked to come in and ‘save’ a project that is falling behind and going over budget. In such cases we inherit the contractor and all his suppli- ers. We study the situation, provide the client with a report in which we identify the problems and mark out the measures required to get things back on track. As the point of contact for the client, it is our responsibility to ensure that the builders and suppliers meet their targets. The degree to which you can salvage a trou- bled project depends upon the damage already done, but in most cases such clients take us on as their project devel- opers for subsequent ventures.” “The Project Development service is used especially by those investors who know where to buy land, what to devel- op and how to sell it, but have no exist- ing infrastructure or expertise when it comes to the physical realisation of the project. This is where we come in, estab- lishing the targets and objectives with them and then translating these into a project planning, costing and quality control programme that has a simple end result as its goal: delivering the proj- ect to the client on time, on budget and to the quality and specifications they demand. Of course, if we can win on time and save them money, so much the better, but our time planning is not so much a race against the clock as a realistic framework with built-in cush- ions. Our initial costing and budgeting, likewise, already uses tried and tested methods to negotiate the best possible prices with builders and suppliers alike without sacrificing quality. We also pro- vide ongoing inspection and control, as well as watertight contracts that tie con- tractors and suppliers to their duties and responsibilities, and include financial penalties when these are not met. It is our expertise in bringing all these com- ponents together and our ability to deliver the goods that proves our value to our clients.” On observing that it must be very challenging to get so many service-sup- pliers to do exactly what you want them to, Mark replies, “Not really. We work with those people who have proved to be professional in the past, but we are also continuously testing newcomers to the market.”Then again, growing up in Spain and having a father who developed proj- ects here must surely be a big advantage. “Yes, it’s definitely in the blood,” agrees Mark, explaining how his entire career, from selling real estate in England and helping clients build their villas, to man- aging big development projects for lead- ing resort chains, has led him to his ultimate destiny: MDCI. For more information contact MDCI, Tel: 952 903 190. www.mdcispain.com As the founder of MDCI, Mark Lawson has been a pioneer in the field, promoting good development standards and practice in pursuit of his clients’ objectives The art of good development [ business perspectives ] Report: Michel Cruz Photography: Craig Stennet MDCI
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As the founder of MDCI, Mark Lawson has been a pioneer in the field, promoting good development standards and practice in pursuit of his clients’ objectives
Transcript of The art of good development
102
An area that is as focused on propertydevelopment and construction asthis one produces a hive of related
activities, from architects and investors tobuilders, chartered surveyors and estateagents. For the most part these variedplayers interact rather organically, theirpaths crossing as dictated by need, but inreality construction and developmentprojects are huge undertakings thatrequire careful planning, control and asound coordination of all the parts thatcome together to produce them. As itmatures, the industry is becomingincreasingly aware that the challengesthrown in the way of developers can bebest met by placing overall project man-agement responsibility with specialistcompanies who, like the conductor of anorchestra, ensure that all the pieces playtogether to produce an efficient, effectivewhole.
As the founder of MDCI, Mark Lawsonhas been a pioneer in the field, promot-ing good development standards andpractice in pursuit of his clients’ objec-tives. These can vary in detail, but alwaysinclude two elements that are central toMDCI’s philosophy: completion of proj-ects on time and within budget. Qualitycontrol, product development and mar-keting advice, right down to suggestionson small but important details, are theother important services provided by acompany that can handle anything fromfeasibility studies and site selection at theconceptual stage to stepping in and sal-vaging existing projects that have runastray. “We do this and a lot in between,”says Mark, emphasising the flexible, mod-ular structure of his company’s services.“We are neither property developers nora construction company, but the peoplewho can step in, take the brief from ourclients, the developers, and ensure their
objectives and requirements are met.”Thedegree of involvement varies accordingto the clients’wishes.
“We consult investors and developersat the conceptual stage, often helpingthem to find the land. Companies thatare used to developing their own proj-ects often call us in to control the ProjectManagement for them, although it is alsonot unusual that we are asked to come inand ‘save’ a project that is falling behindand going over budget. In such cases weinherit the contractor and all his suppli-ers. We study the situation, provide theclient with a report in which we identifythe problems and mark out the measuresrequired to get things back on track. Asthe point of contact for the client, it is ourresponsibility to ensure that the buildersand suppliers meet their targets. Thedegree to which you can salvage a trou-bled project depends upon the damagealready done, but in most cases suchclients take us on as their project devel-opers for subsequent ventures.”
“The Project Development service isused especially by those investors whoknow where to buy land, what to devel-op and how to sell it, but have no exist-ing infrastructure or expertise when itcomes to the physical realisation of theproject. This is where we come in, estab-lishing the targets and objectives withthem and then translating these into aproject planning, costing and qualitycontrol programme that has a simpleend result as its goal: delivering the proj-ect to the client on time, on budget andto the quality and specifications they
demand. Of course, if we can win ontime and save them money, so muchthe better, but our time planning is notso much a race against the clock as arealistic framework with built-in cush-ions. Our initial costing and budgeting,likewise, already uses tried and testedmethods to negotiate the best possibleprices with builders and suppliers alikewithout sacrificing quality. We also pro-vide ongoing inspection and control, aswell as watertight contracts that tie con-tractors and suppliers to their duties andresponsibilities, and include financialpenalties when these are not met. It isour expertise in bringing all these com-ponents together and our ability todeliver the goods that proves our valueto our clients.”
On observing that it must be verychallenging to get so many service-sup-pliers to do exactly what you want themto, Mark replies, “Not really. We work withthose people who have proved to beprofessional in the past, but we are alsocontinuously testing newcomers to themarket.”Then again, growing up in Spainand having a father who developed proj-ects here must surely be a big advantage.“Yes, it’s definitely in the blood,” agreesMark, explaining how his entire career,from selling real estate in England andhelping clients build their villas, to man-aging big development projects for lead-ing resort chains, has led him to hisultimate destiny: MDCI.
For more information contact MDCI,Tel: 952 903 190. www.mdcispain.com
As the founderof MDCI, MarkLawson hasbeen a pioneerin the field,promotinggooddevelopmentstandards andpractice inpursuit of hisclients’objectives
The art of good development
[ business perspectives ]
Report: Michel CruzPhotography: Craig Stennet
MDCI
