My graduate job... refurbishing the British Architectural Library

The British Architectural Library is housed within the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) headquarters – a grade two listed 1930s building, situated near Regent’s Park in London. Established in 1834, the library is the largest and most comprehensive resource in Britain for information and research on all aspects of architecture. DTZ was approached by the RIBA directly to act as the contract administrators for the internal refurbishment of the library, having previously managed external works on the building. Nick Myers joined the project in May 2007 and feels privileged to work on such an important building. ‘This is an exciting first project for me as a graduate surveyor. I’m working with a highly respected client on a prestigious building and I’m looking forward to seeing the finished library.’

'This is an exciting first project for me as a graduate surveyor.'

Initially the project involved preparing a feasibility report for the refurbishment of the library. ‘This included information on the scope of works (the RIBA’s requirements and the suggestions we put forward) and the programme of works (the schedule for when the refurbishment was to be done),’ Nick explains.‘Works were carried out when the library closed for six weeks over the summer. We worked closely with the RIBA to remove books and furniture to be put into storage before the start date. Due to the fragile nature of the books and internal fabrics of the library, it was necessary to ensure that all remaining books and surfaces would be covered and protected.’

Making the project sustainable

Nick and his team were required to work to a corporate environmental policy to ensure necessary steps were taken to prevent environmental damage and increase sustainable practice. ‘For this project we specified use of paint with a low volatile organic compound to protect the books for future generations,’ Nick confirms. As contract administrators, Nick’s team were consulted on the client’s design brief in terms of user requirements, cost parameters, programme and risk management. ‘We were also responsible for tendering (finding suitable contractors) for the client,’ says Nick. ‘Once the works were under way we arranged regular site meetings to monitor the progress of the project. The duration of the contract was only six weeks, so we needed to have weekly meetings with the contractor to check that it was all going to schedule.’

'We used sustainable practices to protect the books for future generations.'

Involvement in a project like this has been inspiring for Nick. ‘The project has given me a good understanding of working as a contract administrator. Working with a professional client like the RIBA is a great experience: they understand our role and our duties, which means we can work efficiently and do our job to the highest possible standards.’

Nick Myers is a graduate building surveyor at DTZ. He graduated from the University of the West of England in 2007 with a graduate diploma in building surveying.