Expert Witness Journal Issue 68 August 2026 - Flipbook - Page 25
The Hidden Price of Vague
Speci昀椀cations
Speci昀椀cations
by Austen Smith, Architect Expert at Hawkins.
Museum
of theas
Future
described as
one
overcome,
in the design of
The Museum of the FutureThe
is often
described
one is often overcome,
particularly
in the
design particularly
of the projectof the in
most
buildings inde昀椀ning
the world.
ThisIndeed, the
de昀椀ning
façade.
Indeed,
of the most beautiful buildings
thebeautiful
world. This
façade.
昀椀nal cost
of the
façadethe 昀椀nal cost o
due inwhere
part to its unique
was price
roughly
double the
tender price subm
reputation is due in part toreputation
its uniqueisfaçade,
wasfaçade,
roughlywhere
double the tender
submitted
by the
glazing
forms of
quotes
poetry
of His
façade
with each pane
the glazing forms quotesthe
from
the poetry
His from the
façade
sub-contractor,
with
eachsub-contractor,
panel ultimately
Highness
Sheikh
Mohammed, the Ruler
of around
Dubai. 250,000 costing
Highness Sheikh Mohammed,
the Ruler
of Dubai.
costing
(aroundaround
£51,000).250,000 (around £51,0
building’s
of a diagrid
Thefaçade
main contractor
and the façade su
The building’s structure isThe
in the
form ofstructure
a diagridis in the form
The main
contractor and the
sub-contractor
horizontal
members
vertically
unablecost
to agree
on how these co
with horizontal memberswith
spaced
vertically
every spaced were
unableevery
to agree on were
how these
increases
4.5metres.The
diagrid
supports both
internal
hadshould
arisen bear
or which
party should be
4.5metres.The diagrid supports
both the
internal
had the
arisen
or which party
昀椀nancial
昀氀oors and the external façade.
responsibility.
Thisbefore
resulted in procee
昀氀oors and the external façade.
responsibility. This resulted
in proceedings
DubaiCentre
International
the Dubai International the
Financial
(DIFC) Financial Ce
The façade comprises
approximately
1,000
panels
Court,
where I expert
acted astoan independe
The façade comprises approximately
1,000 panels
Court,
where
I acted as an
independent
made from
glass 昀椀bre
reinforced polymer
(GFRP)
Court issues.
determine these comple
made from glass 昀椀bre reinforced
polymer
(GFRP)
help the Court
determine help
thesethe
complex
overlaid
withDue
stainless
overlaid with stainless steel
sheets.
to thesteel sheets. Due to the
calligraphy
writing
each
panel
So, how
could
the tender price di昀昀er so
calligraphy writing forming
the glazing,
each forming
panel the glazing,
So, how
could
the tender price
di昀昀er
so dramatically
is unique.
from
the 昀椀nal
cost? Did the façade su
is unique.
from the 昀椀nal cost? Did the
façade
sub-contractor
underprice
the works,
underprice the works, or
did something
moreor did some
As might
be expected on such a technically-unique
fundamental
As might be expected on such
a technically-unique
fundamental cause the cost
to increase?cause the cost to increase?
project, of
there
were atonumber of obstacles to
project, there were a number
obstacles
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