Talent Spotlight
Brian Moore, manager,
delivery, University of
Technology Sydney Program
Management Office
Location: Sydney, Australia
Experience: 40 years
Other notable projects:
1. Ryde Aquatic Leisure
Centre, a venue for the 2000
Summer Olympic Games in
Sydney. He served as project
architect.
2. 1 Bligh Street, a skyscraper
in Sydney that opened in
2011. He served as design
project manager for the first
phase.
Career lessons learned:
“Follow your instincts. And
query any issues or details
you feel could be improved or
are not entirely clear to you.”
Roll Call
For ROI, UTS had one approach to measure success: Did the new building attract more students?
So far, it has. As of December 2015, undergraduate
applications listing the business school as the student’s first choice jumped by 26 percent over the
previous year. Postgraduate applications spiked 21
percent during the same time, defying a three-year,
sector-wide downward trend, Mr. Moore says.
The unique architecture and learning environment also have piqued public curiosity. Group tours
of the building have become routine and exposed
the university to people who otherwise might have
no interest in the school, Mr. Moore says. “We consider that a huge success.” PM
Containing Costs
Cutting-edge innovations drive up project costs.
To retain some of the most unique Gehry touches
without exceeding the budget, the project team
worked with the contractor and architect to incorporate cost-saving materials that still maintained
quality and long-term value, Mr. Moore says.
For instance, to reduce costs for curved 3-D inte-
rior walls, the contractor and architect used thin
sheets of plywood and plasterboard, similar to the
materials used in a boat hull. To reduce the cost
of elaborate door frames throughout the building,
the architect used aluminum instead of wood, yet
maintained the same aesthetics.
“This meant the university achieved a high-quality
outcome that satisfied our needs and reduced the
budget without impacting quality,” Mr. Moore says.
