Case Study — Industrial & Manufacturing EV Battery Test Facility, Gaydon
Quantity Surveyor for a £20.3m electric vehicle battery test facility at Gaydon for a global automotive manufacturer, a highly technical building designed to withstand destructive testing of live batteries.
The challenge
A building engineered to contain the worst case
A global automotive manufacturer needed a dedicated facility to test electric vehicle batteries to destruction, including drop, submersion and vibration testing of live battery packs. The building had to withstand a possible battery explosion, with test cells built from twin-wall precast and in-situ concrete, and a large basement of seismic blocks on air bags to isolate vibration.
It was delivered on an occupied site, alongside the client’s own direct contractors installing high-value process equipment, which demanded careful coordination of design responsibility and cost.
Delivered by Ollie Thompson MRICS in a previous role at Mace.
Project facts
At a glance
A highly technical test facility delivered on a live automotive site under a JCT Design and Build contract, from RIBA Stage 0 to 5.
Client
Global automotive manufacturer
Location
Gaydon, Warwickshire
Value
£20.3m
Contract
JCT Design and Build with a schedule of amendments
Our role
Quantity Surveyor
RIBA stages
0–5
Building
EV battery abuse, vibration and destructive test facility
Structure
Steel frame, precast and in-situ concrete test cells, seismic basement on air bags
Contractor
SDC
Our approach
Cost control for a highly technical building
Cost Planning
Involved from the outset, with cost plans tracking a complex, evolving design, including the specialist test cells and vibration-isolated basement.
Procurement
Commercial input to the contractor’s appointment and the schedule of amendments to the JCT Design and Build contract.
Enabling Works
Early enabling packages for surveys, site clearance and piling were cost-managed while design development continued.
Interfaces
Clear cost responsibility between the main contractor and the client’s direct contractors, supported by a design responsibility matrix.
Valuations & Change
Monthly valuations and cost reports, with change assessed before being instructed.
Cost Reporting
Clear, regular cost reporting kept the client informed of the forecast final cost through construction.
The outcome
A dedicated EV battery testing facility
Specialist test facility
Delivered for a global automotive manufacturer on an occupied site.
Battery testing
Abuse, vibration and destructive testing of live battery packs.
RIBA stages
Quantity surveying from inception through to construction.
Images: SDC. See our Cost & Commercial Management service, or view all projects.
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