It was the MTC that first introduced us to the concept of Platforms.

Other sectors have grasped the opportunities and challenges faced by e-commerce in different ways and with different levels of success, but it’s now an unavoidable feature of daily life for most businesses and individuals.It is something that construction should – and can – also be heading towards.

There is no question that a digital marketplace for Platforms is achievable; the policy context is in place and there is a growing body of work that would support this.It’s up to the industry to decide what it looks like.We should shape this now, proactively, rather than wait for external forces or commercial imperatives to impose something on us..

Considering the examples above, here are the key aspects I believe a digital marketplace for construction Platforms should include:.Create a direct link between customers and manufacturers, reducing transactional friction.

Enable ease and transparency of procurement and payment.

Host a widely distributed network of suppliers, from major materials suppliers to specialist SMEs.We have also built an incubator/accelerator project; a lab building for startups.

The principal MEPchallenge here is catering for the air change requirements, which are clearly much higher in a laboratory than in an office.Doing this has been greatly helped by the 3D modelling that was carried out on the original project.. HVAC upgrades at the Portway.

Also on the Granta Park is a building called Portway.Initially built as a large office complex for one company, we have been working on dividing it up to house nine separate clients.