An American retail chain, entering the European market and wishing to increase its market share rapidly, has decided to set up its UK headquarters in Leeds City Centre. The client has bought land to construct a £75m office complex. The office complex is eight storeys high, with the location for the development comprising a gap site between two large multi-storey office blocks. Each of these buildings is new, with insurance companies, banks and advertising and management consultants as occupants. The proposed new office development has main city roads to the front and rear of the site, with other offices, retail outlets and restaurants in the near vicinity also. The new development will require substantial Information Technology (IT) requirements, including high levels of mechanical and electrical (M&E) service installations to handle heat gains and provide a reliable, controlled internal environment. A geotechnical site investigation undertaken by the client as part of the land acquisition process has indicated that the ground conditions could be classed as ‘difficult’. The American client is keen to ensure that the office complex reflects their corporate status, with it also potentially becoming the primary headquarters for their European operations within the next five years. You have been hired as a consultant to advise the American client on procurement. Write a report advising on:
