027 862 6121
I would like to introduce you to Cpdt Consulting. My name is Jonathan Foster and I have been a mechanical building services engineer since 1997, based in Wellington. In that time I have worked at a number of major engineering consultancies including Beca, SKM (now Jacobs), MWH (now Stantec) and GHD.
In 2017 I realized that I could do the same work I had always done at the large consultancies, but to an even better standard, if I started my own business. So Cpdt Consulting was born. Cpdt provides design and consultancy services for mechanical, plumbing, swimming pool and related building services. I also have close ties with a number of other small building services businesses in Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch that offer complementary skills, so if you come to Cpdt I can put together a team that covers the full building services package. We also, of course, are very experienced in working within already established teams, and can cover anywhere in New Zealand.
The building services industry is in the front line of the huge environmental challenges the world is currently facing. Buildings are among our biggest, longest term and most valuable assets. Decisions we make now have impact decades into the future. High quality buildings can not only provide better energy efficiency, but they can also create an internal environment that increases productivity and staff retention and reduces complaints and absenteeism.
Cpdt Consulting offers excellent service together with broad and deep experience and a quality approach. I would love to talk with you and work out how I can help you achieve your goals by assisting with your projects.
I strongly believe that Cpdt’s business model provides some significant advantages over larger and multi-national consultancies:
At the hardware store frequently the cheapest offering turns out to be sub-standard. The same is also true for professional services. You get what you pay for. If your primary drivers include project cost and on-going costs then you should be very wary of cut price professional services fees. If fees are cut too much then quality will be compromised. Often junior and inexperienced staff are handed your job. Internal pressures are often applied to minimise the hours spent on your project. Sometimes calculations can be glossed over or even missed out altogether in favour of rules of thumb and large contingency factors.
Some consultancies even deliberately reduce the detail on their drawings, while dramatically increasing the level of description in their specifications. This has the effects of reducing their fees, but transferring significant design risk to the contractor.
The results of these practices can be many, and can frequently cost many times more than the up front saving in fees. Design errors can result in construction delays, increased construction costs, increased operating costs and systems that are not fit for purpose.
This race to the bottom in terms of up front costs hurts everyone, as regular and sometimes high profile business failures in the industry can attest. It is unsustainable.
We don’t want you to be playing that game. We won’t compromise on the quality of service we pride ourselves on. Attention to detail at the design stage provides you with benefits throughout the construction period and beyond. Minimising errors and changes minimises unexpected costs and delays through the construction period. It also results in higher quality outcomes and staff satisfaction and lower operating costs.
BE (mech 1st class), NZCE (mech), CEng, MCIBSE, MASHRAE
027 862 6121
jonathan@cpdtconsulting.co.nz
Jonathan is a building services engineer who focuses on working closely with all project participants from the earliest stages of a project through to completion to ensure the the end product fits the brief and optimizes performance. He has developed strong relationships over the years with clients, contractors, suppliers and other consultants based on trust, honesty, effective project delivery and technical excellence.
