Keeping ahead of the changing building industry

IPENZ convention Media Release - www.ipenz.org.nz/media
Wednesday, 16 February 2005

Keeping ahead of the changing building industry

The design and construction of New Zealand’s buildings is increasing in complexity which is impacting directly on professional engineering practices, says one of New Zealand’s leading design engineers.

DaleTurkington, Executive Director at Beca Infrastructure Ltd, says that over the years rules and regulations have become more onerous, and the new Building Act will only introduce further changes.

“Projects are increasingly being delivered through a variety of methods with fast tracked programmes; Councils and local authorities placing increased responsibility directly on the design consultants; and the contract environment becoming more litigious,” he said.

Dale will be speaking at the Institution of Professional Engineers (IPENZ) 2005 “Engineers as Leaders” convention, to be held from March 16 – 18, at Waipuna Hotel and Conference Centre, Auckland. Dale will be talking during the “Building and Construction” stream, and will highlight how some of the changes facing the building industry are impacting on professional engineering practices.

“These changes have a direct effect on the engineering design that consultants undertake. The design process and level of design documentation for building consent, for tendering, and for construction, are all directly impacted by these changes.

“Engineers are only one player in the industry, and to deliver a project it now takes a large cast. The engineers’ role is intricately woven through the delivery of increasingly complicated building projects, and they need to work with industry-wide guidelines to ensure they are all on a level playing-field.

The level of documentation and number of players, including design consultants, cost advisors, project managers, contract administrators and subcontractors, required to deliver building projects today is far greater than in the past.

“Competition is important for a healthy profession, but we must compete fairly. The engineering profession needs to provide leadership in the building industry to maintain our place in the economy and add value to New Zealand,” he said.

Dale has a proven track record in leading the design of large complex projects, including roles as Design Manager for the Sky City/Sky Tower project and Design Manager for a new 720-bed Acute Services Hospital in Auckland. He was also the Chairman of the New Zealand Construction Industry Council’s Documentation Working Party that recently developed industry-wide design documentation guidelines. He was made a Fellow of IPENZ last year.

Ends

Notes to journalists:
About Dale Turkington

Dale is Executive Director at Beca Infrastructure Ltd and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Science from the University of British Columbia and a Master’s of Engineering (with Distinction) from the University of Canterbury. He is a Fellow of IPENZ with over 30 years of engineering experience with senior responsibilities for the design and implementation of a wide range of projects in Canada, New Zealand, Indonesia and Macau. Prior to joining Beca , Dale was the Manager of Bridge Engineering for Crippen Consultants in Canada. He has won numerous engineering awards including the New Zealand Structural Engineering Society Inaugural Award of Excellence in 1998 and the New Zealand Institute of Building Award for Excellence in Innovation in 1997.

About IPENZ

The Institution of Professional Engineers New Zealand (IPENZ) is the professional body which represents professional engineers from all disciplines in New Zealand. The Institution sets internationally bench-marked qualifying standards for degree qualifications in engineering, and serves engineers by securing formal recognition for their professional standing. IPENZ provides services for about 10,000 members.

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