NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

PM5106 DESIGN MANAGEMENT

Semester 1, AY2012/2013

Time Allowed : 2 Hours

INSTRUCTIONS TO CANDIDATES

1. This examination paper contains THREE questions and comprises NINE printed
pages.

2. Candidates must attempt ALL questions.

3. The total mark for this paper is 60.

4. Students are to write their answers in the answer booklet.

5. This is an OPEN BOOK examination.

6. The examiner for this module is JASON TEOU.

/2
 PM5106 DESIGN MANAGEMENT

Page 2

Mr Ringo has recently acquired a land parcel in Hanoi, Vietnam. It is nestled in the new
administrative area in My Dinh. Mr Ringo has employed you as his in-house Project
Manager to oversee the development and Molly as a sales and marketing manager.

He has appointed the following consultants:

a) Colin, the Concept Architect from Singapore;

b) Mr Sok Heang, the local Architect who is collaborating with Colin;
c) Mr Pich, the local Civil & Structural Enginner;
d) Sovann, the local Mechanical & Electrical Engineer;
e) Eugene, the Quantity Surveyor based in Singapore;
f) Alexis, the Interior Designer from Singapore;
g) Mr Sim, the Main Contractor;
h) Ricky, leasing manager from a real estate agency.

Molly presented her market research study to Mr Ringo. It showed increasing sales and
rental rates in the residential market. The most recent completed project was
Keangnam Landmark Tower, a mega project consisting of high-end residential, retail
and commercial development. 80% of the residential units were sold but the office take
up rate was much slower. To date, only 20% of the office space was taken up.

Mr Ringo and Molly had differing views on the development mix. He was thinking of
having 20% of the space for Retail component and the balance as Residential
component. On the other hand, Molly proposed 20% of the space for Retail component
and the balance as Commercial office component. She explained that the future
demand for Grade A office space would be good due to the projected rise in Foreign
Direct Investment. She projected a shortage of office rental space in My Dinh in the
near future. However, both did agree on the need for the retail component for high-end
boutiques stores. Ricky agreed and proceeded to discuss with Alexis on the interior
design concepts.

Colin presented his Concept Designs (Figures 3 & 5) for the 2 massing options
(Figures 2 & 4) recently. Eugene did the preliminary construction cost estimates
indicating an overrun in budget. Mr Ringo was concerned and appeared to be
indecisive on the massing and development mix option.

Eugene has identified some of the key items that contributed to the overrun in budget.
Colin has designed a massive transfer beam to ensure minimal columns. This is to
facilitate the design for more carpark lots within the basement. Sok Heang requested
for maximum span of the beam to achieve as many carpark lots as possible. His
current design can only yield 422 carpark lots based on 2 levels of basement. He
remarked that Mr Ringo would have to consider another level of basement to cater for
more carpark lots.

/3
 PM5106 DESIGN MANAGEMENT

Page 3

Alexis has also requested for a bigger column span inside the Retail mall atrium area to
project a grand entrance and reception. She was not particularly concerned about the
peripheral columns as these would eventually be part of store layouts.

Eugene pointed out the extensive external granite wall cladding that Colin has specified
in his design was costly. Colin responded by saying its application would depend on
the development mix that Mr Ringo selected. There would be room to scale down the
use of granite if the development mix turned out to be Retail & Residential.

Pich and Sovann have been locking horns with both Colin and Sok Heang. Pich has
made several changes in his preliminary structural design in tandem with development
of the architectural design. He lamented that he would not proceed with any further
design until the architectural design is confirmed. Sovann maintained the same stand
as Pich. Meanwhile Eugene is under the pressure to propose the tendering strategy for
the main construction. He reckons it would highly unlikely that they can call for tender
on time if he is to wait for Mr Pich to complete his work.

Colin was displeased with Alexis interior design as he felt that there was no coherence
to his architectural concept design. He felt that Alexis design was too futuristic and did
not exude the opulence of a high-end retail mall. Molly and Ricky remained silent
during that debate.

/4
 PM5106 DESIGN MANAGEMENT

Page 4

Question 1

Explain to Mr Ringo the design phases and identify the critical milestones at each
stage. Advise him on the kind of decisions he has to make at each stage and how it
affects him and the project. Share with Mr Ringo on your views on the massing (single
tower or three towers) and development mix options (i.e whether it should be
Retail/Residential OR Retail/Office component).

(15 marks)

Question 2

Assume that Mr Ringo has accepted your recommendation on the massing and
development mix option in Question 2 above.

Mr Ringo is vaguely aware of sustainable design but he is interested in obtaining the

Green Mark certification for his development. However he is extremely concerned
about the cost associated with this certification. Convince him to proceed with the
Green Mark certification.

(15 marks)

Question 3

Mr Ringo is concerned of the seemingly endless conflicts among the consultants. The
project has already been delayed for 3 months. He requested a meeting with you.

Identify all the issues in the case study. Propose a systematic approach to tackle the
issues and move the project forward.

(30 marks)

/5
 PM5106 DESIGN MANAGEMENT

Page 5

Figure 1: Site Plan

Site Details
01 Site Area 5,200 sqm
02 Site Coverage allowable 42%
03 Allowable no. of storeys 31
04 Basement level 1 or 2 (depending on Option (a) or (b).
05 Land Cost USD 15,000,000
06 Tenure Freehold
07 Development Mix Options (a) Retail & Residential
3 Storey of Retail
28 Storey of Residential with
450 number of units. Carpark
lots required is 600

(b) Retail & Office

3 Storey of Retail
28 Storey of Office space
Carpark lots needed is 350

/6
 PM5106 DESIGN MANAGEMENT

Page 6

Figure 2: Massing Plan 1

/7
 PM5106 DESIGN MANAGEMENT

Page 7

Figure 3: Concept Design based on Massing Plan 1

/8
 PM5106 DESIGN MANAGEMENT

Page 8

Figure 4: Massing Plan 2

/9
 PM5106 DESIGN MANAGEMENT

Page 9

Figure 5: Concept Design based on Massing Plan 2

END OF PAPER