ARCHITECTURE YEAR - 2016 AT A GLANCE

Posted by 

Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu

Project Architect

This post is dedicated to God, my beautiful girl, Chinonso,  and to all Architects who did their very best in the year 2016 and landed those juicy projects. Here, I have listed all the projects I directly (or indirectly) worked on in the year 2016. The list is not Chronological. 

For each project, I have put up a picture that tells the story as well as brief comments on them. I also endeavoured to mention the client and location including the status of the project, who worked on it with me and what exactly I did while on it. The duration of the projects have been left out as some are yet underway.

Feel free to leave your comments under this post. Details of the projects are always available for discussion/review anytime! Thank you.

1.0 De-World University Admin Block (Architectural Consultancy)

A private University located at Awgu local government area of Enugu State. Owned by a retired priest. Massive construction is underway. Under supervision of Arc. Eskay.

1.1 De-world university faculty of management sciences (Architectural Consultancy)

As built measurement was taken after which complete working drawings were produced. construction is underway. The medical Center and Cafeteria are also included in the developing projects.

2.0 Open Havens Estate Akpuoga-Nike, Enugu State (Architectural Consultancy & Supervision)

The client Emach Global Synergies, is desirous to develop a gated community style residential layout and thus commissioned us to develop the comprehensive master plan featuring four building prototypes and infrastructure design. Cheers to the Architects at Cadright! who worked with us on the project. A link to the animation video will soon be updated here.

COUNTRY-HOME PROJECT, AMAECHI-UWANI ENUGU

Posted By 

Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu
Project Architect

The project is a five(5) bedroom duplex. Its site is the private residence of an extended family hosting an existing six bedroom bungalow which was taken down to erect the new duplex and a smaller bungalow.

The rubble from the deconstruction process was reused in leveling of the site which has a gentle slope to the rear. The wood recovered from the roof was reused for some form-work during construction. The old bungalow was enveloped by the new duplex footprint which saved time and allowed for removal of only conflicting walls.others were levelled and used as fill in the new foundation.

Its internal features include a 4m high headroom main lounge in the ground-floor which flows into a 5m x 5m wide dining hall. The kitchen is complete with store and a door that leads the residents to the rear side of the house where they can interact with the existing bungalow, an ante - room with a visitor's toilet. It also has a 5m x 3m wide family lounge on the first floor which shares a curtain wall with the main lounge on the groundfloor. The master bedroom and the

ARCHITECT : KNOW YOUR CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENTS

Posted By:  Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu

As a project Architect, Knowing your construction equipments by name, is unavoidable. This post  is dedicated to highlighting the common construction equipments and explaining their uses.

PROJECT MANAGER : ISSUES WITH THE STAFF

Posted by :  Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu

This post is a sequel to the earlier post: "Project Architect: resolving staff conflict in site"

from left: Architect, Carpenter

As a construction project manager, issues with staff are going to abound. What matters in the end is still Results!

In my experience, workers over time tend to grow too friendly and thence become rebellious. They suddenly seem to have got a hunch that you have been manipulating them into doing 'your' Work while you get all the 'big' money. This feeling if not checked leads them into acting abnormally uncooperative and even ready to end the relationship.

As the Architect, and project  manager, you have the responsibility of keeping your site in control so that you can continue to produce results, Especially if you work for a senior Architect who has entrusted the site in your management.

Here are a few of my own  tips on managing crisis in the site:

1. Understand that; when all is said and done, violence or force benefits nobody. With this in mind, you are left with the effective tool : diplomacy. Use diplomacy to coerce your workers into doing whatever you want without realising they are all players in 'your' game.

2. Your boss expects results, results and more results, he hardly has time to attend to reports from you or your staff, he believes you should Handle whatever situation arises on site with minimum supervision. Dont prove him wrong! 

3. Preach and emphasize teamwork to your workers. They would think twice before starting up a fire next time, if they see you as a brother instead of a boss.

4. Remain aloof, but make sure you are the smartest guy in the site. No tricks can evade you unless you let it for a higher cause. Use occasional little favours like careless tips, relaxed timing or bonus pays, to buy the hearts of your workers in preparation for the day you will make huge demands from them. 

ENSIBUM PROJECT ROUNDING OFF : REFLECTIONS ON LESSONS LEARNT

By Kosi Emmanuel Chukwujindu
Project Architect

ENSIBUM is short for the : Enugu-South international Building materials market. The first phase of its development is 95% complete. This zone is for sale of reinforcement bars. 

It features a small 3m x 2m office space with large 6m x 12m frontage/ per occupant for stacking the reinforcement bars for sale. A total of 200 single units have been completed so far, and is on sale to the general public at a flat rate of N2,500,000. 

As we know the developer is Mc.Donalds manufacturing and industries ltd. The technical consultancy service from scratch was rendered by GEOMETRIX consultants and Builders ltd. while the construction was done by MALDINI construction company ltd. our sister company. I have been the project manager here for over a year now.

This post highlights my personal reflections about the project as it gradually nears hand over. As a great man said: "in life, we never really lose, its either we win or we learn something". I can say I have picked up a thing or two while working on this project.

1. Never forget who you are directly answerable to. While assuming the perfect courtiers posture to everyother interests.

2.

Never conive secretly or openly with your staff to loot the company. It will be blown out of proportion when they speak of it and you will be made to look like a thief..just like them. As much as you can, keep the books tidy.

3. Dont assume you know everything just because you have a college degree. Listen to others ideas but remain the decision maker.

4. No matter how lonely she is at home, never bring your spouse to the site. Let work be work and family be family.

5. Monthly paid or at least weekly paid staff, perform netter overall than daily paid staff. They also offer greatter degree of dependability.

6. Dont live inside your own box, ask around elsewhere for broader ideas, methods and rates before you decide on your own project.

7. Dress for the job. Wear suitable clothes for the work always..make sure there is clear distinction between the worker and you.

8. Never employ anyone who is too old or way above your physical and psychological control. Make sure your staff remains loyal to you and you alone. Do not invite them to sit with the m.d when you are having a meeting, else they get a false sense of belonging and grow rebelious. Discharge such rebellious ones at once else they plan a mutiny against you.

9. Diplomacy is the key to manipulation. Use it always to get your way, without force, plead when you have to, enforce when you need to, coerce people to do your work happily.

10. If the project does not provide a vehicle, buy one for yourself!

11. Be reacheable and ready always.

12. Dont forget to learn!