Asset Management – Quality for a lifetime
by Dr. Penny Burns »
Definitions vary but basically asset management is choosing, using, maintaining and disposing of an asset in a manner that optimises benefits for the owner and stakeholders. It concerns the decisions made before the asset is acquired and those decisions that continue throughout the life of the asset. In essence it is about maximising benefits over the entire life of the asset, be that ten, twenty or 100 years or more. Is such a ‘life cycle’ approach relevant for the designer whose involvement in the project is a pretty short one?
An abridged version of this paper was published as Chapter 8.6 in Managing Quality in Architecture.
Read Dr. Burns papers by downloading the files below:
Minimising Life Cycle Costs
by Dr. Penny Burns »
Design impacts not only the costs of construction but also the costs of maintenance, systems operations and disposal, user productivity, and, increasingly in today’s world of social and environmental consciousness, the costs of dealing with official and community watchdogs and public opinion. Attention to the following in terms of both design and choice of materials will minimise the overall costs for owner and users.
It is important to determine how long is the building designed to last and whether it is likely that functional requirements will change in this time. Moreover, If it is likely that re-sale value will be enhanced by ability to adapt to new uses, then appropriate design can substantially reduce the costs of adapting to new uses.
This paper was written to support Chapter 8.6 in Managing Quality in Architecture.