Editorial

Article Type: Editorial From: Facilities, Volume 30, Issue 3/4

A three-year study into the strategic assessment of building adaptive reuse opportunities is the subject of the paper by Langston. The paper considers two approaches for assessing the reuse suitability of candidate buildings –the existing adaptive reuse potential (ARP) model and a new model based on multiple criteria decision analysis (iconCUR). The paper goes on to recommend the use of a two-staged process of screening likely candidates. Thus, ARP would be undertaken first, and those projects with ARP scores exceeding 50 per cent be carried forward to a second level of evaluation using iconCUR. Such a model clearly shows the value of a coherent and structured approach in an area deserving of careful attention.

The problems of sick building syndrome and indoor air quality (IAQ) remain a major concern for building operators. In the second article in this issue by Wong et al. we consider the practical problem of measuring indoor air quality in office environments – where the quality within the space is often varied and costly to measure. The paper presents a novel approach to measurement that provides an initial IAQ screening involving less manpower and cost. This involves assessing only the three most significant air pollutants among those commonly found in offices.

The paper by Bull and Brown describes a case study characteristic of many change management scenarios in facilities management. The case study evidence indicated that sufficient time should be given to implementing any change. The authors propose that any facilities change initiative should have a communications strategy at its heart.

The conflict between the procurers of FM services and the FM function is highlighted in the analysis of Green and Plane. Invariably, the procurement process focuses on securing lowest cost, whilst the FM team are concerned with issues of quality. This is particularly pertinent when exploring the issue of“relationships”. Differing procurement routes inevitably give rise to different contract characteristics. These are often associated with the type of relationship that is possible. In Green and Plane’s review the paper considers the implications of taking alternative procurement routes.

Footfall, or in other words, the number of people visiting a shop or chain of shops in a given period of time, is the subject of the paper by Lam and Chau. The level of pedestrian flow is a major determinant of rental value and thus forms the basis of their study in Hong Kong, examining 146 shopping outlets. Building age, distance from the rail-link, number of storeys and number of entrances were just some of the factors found to have a significant impact on pedestrian flow. Approximately 90 per cent of the observed variation in pedestrian flow value (PVF) could be explained by the list of determinants identified.

Edward Finch