BDP settles over unwanted ice store

Exclusive by Michael Gordon



Building Design Partnerships made an undisclosed settlement with the Natural History Museum (NHM) last week following a fortnight of legal proceedings.

No blame has been apportioned and proceedings were dropped when a compromise was reached, believed to be an award to the museum of almost £1 million.

A spokeswoman for BDP said: "This case is sub judice, and so we have no comment." BDP oversaw the design, construction, and installation of an ice store and air-conditioning unit at the NHM.

At the hearing in the Technology and Construction Court in London, the museum's representatives argued that the ice store for the air-conditioning system was not justified on grounds of economics.

A spokeswoman for NHM said: "The matter has been settled between both parties. It is not in our interest to make public the figure awarded, because both parties want to maintain confidentiality, and because it has not as yet been formally agreed.

Overall the project was worth £6 million, and was completed in the summer of 1994.

The hearing centred around distinguishing between cost and liability, leading to a breach of contract and the damages incurred. Tony Francis, solicitor with Fenwick-Elliot, London, said: "The ice store is worse than useless and must be disconnected and taken out of service," at a cost estimated at £148,000.





He said: "It is unnecessarily complex and expensive."

The original BDP contract was worth £1.5 million.