M&E consultant GDM is transforming the furniture giant鈥檚 sustainability record
鈥淔aceless boxes, badly converted warehouses 鈥� no thought has been given to these buildings鈥� impact on communities.鈥�
Culture minister David Lammy鈥檚 scathing attack on the design and location of Ikea stores this summer crowned three years of government criticism of the furniture giant鈥檚 construction programme.
Comments like Lammy鈥檚 have forced Ikea to plan a strategy of sustainability improvements in its stores, creating a sizeable challenge for M&E consultant and environmental specialist GDM Partnership.
GDM has been appointed building services designer for the multinational retailer鈥檚 first city centre scheme 鈥� a 拢40m store in Coventry. In this open-ended deal, GDM is responsible for directing the retailer鈥檚 strategic thinking on energy efficiency.
鈥淭he city centre store is a new concept for Ikea,鈥� says John Biscoe, GDM director. 鈥淏ut like other stores we鈥檝e done with them recently, environmental technologies are high up in their thinking. The latest two involved geothermal technologies, and were fully Part L compliant.鈥�
The introduction of the Part L regulations, which set higher standards for energy efficiency, last April has proven something of a watershed for GDM. The firm, established in 1990 by Biscoe鈥檚 fellow directors Gary Draper and David Moseby, started as a building services specialist, but with the growing need for environmental compliance early in the project, it has evolved into a 鈥渂uilding 鈥�, working alongside architects to design energy efficient structures.
Our framework involves us in Ikea鈥檚 environmental thinking before plans are even drawn up
Gary Draper
鈥淣ot everyone understands the consequences of Part L, but it鈥檚 creating a cultural change in the design process. Traditionally, we were given a project by architects and worked within their confines, but now we tend to be involved much earlier,鈥� says Gary Draper. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what is happening with Ikea, where our framework involves us in their environmental thinking before plans are even drawn up.鈥�
Early environmental input has contributed to a 12% rise in turnover at the company in the past year. It has also seen the firm, which has offices in Dartford, Manchester and Jersey, win its first contract in Dubai. Biscoe says this work, on a healthcare village, is in the 鈥渧ery early stages鈥�, but already the environmental expertise GDM has gained in the UK is proving useful.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking at using solar power, which the client hadn鈥檛 even thought of,鈥� he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 surprising that somewhere like Dubai isn鈥檛 really harnessing solar energy, but it鈥檚 a potential that they鈥檙e just waking up to.鈥�
Although continuing to develop its energy expertise is a significant part of GDM鈥檚 five-year growth plan 鈥� it wants to increase its staff from 35 to 50 in that time 鈥� the firm also wants to reach into sectors outside its core work: currently regeneration schemes and work for financial clients. Projects include the regeneration of Jersey鈥檚 water front and transport facilities with architect Axis Mason.
Target markets for expansion include healthcare, public sector and Ministry of Defence schemes.
Biscoe says GDM would consider expansion through acquisition to reach different sectors: 鈥淲e will be looking closely at opportunities over the next couple of years.鈥�
Of course, GDM has attracted attention from predators. 鈥淥ver the years we鈥檝e had three or four serious approaches, usually merger opportunities with bigger consultants,鈥� says Draper. However, Moseby says the firm is unlikely to accept a bid. 鈥淲e鈥檇 rather attract like-minded people to our practice,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all here for the long term.鈥�
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