Design Factors Influencing The Quality Of Government Funded Building Projects

Abstract

Government funded building projects are designed and constructed to fulfill the demands of users, clients and society. Many of these demands are expressed as functional requirements through building codes, standards and local regulations. Successful management of the crucial and complex interface between design and pre-construction activities is particularly becoming increasingly important in the realization of quality public buildings. It is at this interface that various design factors have been found to influence the project deliverable quality through the introduction of various bottlenecks such as: schedule overruns, noncompliance incidences, poor site coordination and cost overruns. Specifically this study investigated the influence of: communication on design, design changes, design defects and design specifications on the quality of government funded building projects. The study was hinged on two theories; Bad Apple Theory of Human Error and Theory of Axiomatic Design. The study employed descriptive survey research design. Target population of Clients was 137, Contractors were 92 and Consultants were 16. The sample size was of 79 Clients, 58 Contractors and 12 Consultants that were selected to participate in the study. Stratified sampling and simple random sampling was used to pick the respondents. Questionnaires were used to collect data from Clients, Contractors and Consultants in the study locale. Data was analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 21.0.The study concludes that proper communication on design enhances the quality of government funded building projects in Isiolo County, inadequate and deficient design and documentation negatively affects the efficiency of the construction process wellwritten design specifications are essential to the efficient construction of a successful project and that design defects decreases project quality and increases in overall project costs result. 75.4% of clients agreed that reports on poor consultant communication in government funded building project existed and 76.0% contractors also reported the same.81.25 of clients and 86% of contractors agreed that design changes influence the functionality of government funded projects. 88.4% clients agreed that there were reports of schedule overruns of government funded building project arising from variations in project design, the same was also reported by majority of contractors (86.0%) The study recommends that designers should be given sufficient time and fees in order for them to provide quality service needed to carry out the design function completely; there should be a design review before finally approving the design for construction , project designs and out-put should clearly state client’s objectives and be concise and unambiguous, only contain affordable and deliverable requirements, highlight constraints which are essential to project, allow compliance with statutory requirements, ensure lifecycle coordination between design, construction and operation. There is need for proper consultation with all stake holders on project specifications, inclusion of all departments involved in project design in monitoring and evaluation process, proper testing and engaging of structural engineers tasked with design and advancement in technology to cater for alternative designs that are less costly.