The CSU conference covers the
newest market trends as well as
current client expectations in the
higher education market. Design
and Construction leaves a long
lasting imprint on the buildings and
physical structure of a campus. P2S
is known for cutting edge project
delivery. How does your team make
sure that this delivery continuously
improves?
Aravind: We at P2S constantly update
our technical skills by attending
applicable seminars and conferences
and we gain knowledge on new
products and systems that not only
help reduce capital costs but also
help the campuses in reducing
their operational and maintenance
costs. We also participate in leading
industry professional organizations
to further the standards of building
systems. We’re cognizant of not only
designing and specifying systems that
are efficient and reduce operational
costs for our clients but are also the
maintenance associated with the
specified systems and equipment.
We constantly look for innovative
products and systems that help the
campus ease maintenance issues and
reduce their maintenance costs.
There has been talk about
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD)
being an up and coming delivery
method in the education market.
Is this method an effective way to
deliver complex projects on fixed
budgets and tight schedules? Or is
it a method that will minimize a
qualitative high-profile delivery?
Aravind: Integrated project delivery
is an effective method to deliver
projects in a tight budget/schedule
environment. This project delivery
approach helps integrate and
collaboratively harnesses the talents
and insights of all participants to
optimize project results, increase
value to the owner, reduce waste,
and maximize efficiency through all
phases of design, fabrication, and
construction. The delivery method
ensures that the project's design
8
elements at each phase of the project
not only conform to budgets but
also are evaluated for efficiency,
operability and maintenance and
constructability. I don’t feel that it
minimizes a qualitative high profile
delivery if planned and budgeted
correctly. The IPD process ensures
that facilities managers, end users,
contractors and suppliers are all
involved at the start of the design
process, processes are outcomedriven and decisions are not made
solely on a first cost basis. All
communications throughout the
process are clear, concise, open,
transparent, and trusting. Designers
fully understand the ramifications
of their decisions at the time the
decisions are made, risk and reward
are value-based and appropriately
balanced among all team members
over the life of a project, and the
team delivers a higher quality and
sustainable built environment.
Sustainable planning is an
important conference topic and
there is no successful delivery
without smart campus master
planning. There are recent changes
in the CEQA guidelines, on- and
off-site mitigation measures, and
greenhouse gas reporting that bring
additional complexity to the master
planning process. How will P2S
address these changes?
Aravind: Campus master planning is
an essential effort and an important
step towards creating an effective
and useful planning tool in guiding
campus growth. It is however
important to achieve this growth in
a sustainable manner that minimizes
the use of our natural resources by
promoting renewable energy sources
and water conservation strategies
and emphasize conservation and use
of on-site natural features to protect
water quality at the campus. The
Global Warming Solutions Act of
2006, or Assembly Bill (AB) 32 and
commitment of various campuses to
the American College and University
President’s Climate Commitment
(ACUPCC) program are key driving
factors in not only having the
campuses document the current
greenhouse gas emissions at their
campus but also undertaking effective
measures to reduce these emissions
to comply with these legislations/
commitment. P2S brings in a
depth of knowledge in developing
these master plans and we are well
versed with the relevant legislation.
We’re experts at integrating the
sustainability component in the
overall master planning effort to help
campuses achieve their growth in a
sustainable manner.
Let’s focus on another conference
topic, energy and sustainability.
Cx is playing a major role in the
campus environment and P2S,
as a full service firm, has experts
that cover this special demand.
Responsible energy use is very
important in times of tighter public
budgets and higher regulations.
Low carbon development seems
to be the future of the CSU capital
programs. How is the P2S Cx
division reacting to these new
demands?
Gerry: As commissioning agents and
peer reviewers we assist in pursuing
the maximum energy efficiency of
projects during design, construction,
post-construction testing and during
the warranty period.
• During the design phase of the
project we verify that the Title
24 compliance has been done
properly and we coordinate
with the design team so that the
elements in the Title 24 energy
compliance model (glazing, wall
construction, equipment used)
are actually submitted and used
in the project. If we see potential
to improve the energy efficiency
of a system during design we
offer our ideas to the team for
their consideration.
• During the construction phase
we observe the installation of
commissioned systems and
we notify the team if we see