Sustainability is at the heart of Forma London, a specialist fit-out and refurbishment contractor. “We plan to continue to learn about the best ways of tackling the issue of sustainable construction,” explained Paul Delahunty, company co-founder and Chairman, in an interview with Romana Moares.
Forma London was founded in 2014 by two young enthusiasts with a clear aim – to simplify the overall client journey. “We believed we could bring some innovative methods to the notoriously conservative construction sector, to make the process more standardised, more systematic and, ultimately, quicker,” said co-founder and Chairman Paul Delahunty, when asked what the main trigger was for setting up the business.
He reflected that the process had been a learning curve, marked by several milestones – the completion of a project valued at over £500K, quickly followed by others of over £1 million were big moments for the business and proof that what Forma was trying to do, and believed in as a business, was resonating with clients.
What further pushed the business forward was the implementation of a Business Management System that streamlines workflow and ensures that all the site teams, (as well as office teams), work from the same standard templates and follow the same protocols. “Achieving Constructionline and CHAS accreditation were also hugely important milestones as they have given us the opportunity to expand our client base,” added Mr Delahunty. Forma’s relatively small size is one of its advantages. “We can react quickly to changes,” he said, “and implement new ideas or methods of construction faster than larger competitors, which means we can be ahead of the curve.”
End-to-end service
So how exactly does Forma's approach simplify the client's journey? Mr Delahunty explained that the construction process can be daunting for clients, who may be unaware of current building regulations and the options available: “What we offer is a complete end-to-end service.
“We support the client throughout the process, so at no point are they without our assistance in understanding what their options are, what the financial implications of any decision are, and what the best course of action is.
“We use several simplified reporting documents for all projects to ensure our team knows the process fully and that every report issued to a client is simple and very
clear, yet contains all the details required. Clients don't need, or have the time, to find regulatory information themselves; this is all on our system and readily available. We also externally audit our systems to ensure our processes are correct.”
He confirmed that sustainability is a huge factor that has significantly shaped the direction and methods of construction the company uses. “For existing properties,
both commercial and residential, the process will start in the design phase,” Mr Delahunty explained. “We look at the space and conditions and ensure that we challenge the design to check that we will be reusing and reforming something first and foremost, before adding anything new.”
The purpose of this initial review is to look objectively at what is in situ and see how this can be better employed or reused
within the new design, as opposed to approaching the project as a blank canvas, according to Mr Delahunty: “For new builds, the process is about ensuring the longevity of the building by delivering a high-quality, durable product. Ensuring that it meets and exceeds the requirements for low-energy buildings.
“As before, waste material is reduced and recycled as much as possible, and any new material is appropriately sourced.”
From warehouse to office space
Over the years, the company has completed over 200 projects for a wide range of clients. One particularly stands out, as it very clearly demonstrates Forma’s approach and capability – a project for allplants, a manufacturer of plant-based frozen meals that approached Forma
to design and build allplants’ new multi-purpose office space.
The client wanted a creative environment for their employees, and one that would fit with their company ethos of taking care of the planet. Forma was excited to work with a brand that fits with its own vision of building ethical and sustainable offices and workspaces.
“The building was an empty 20,000 square foot warehouse shell in Walthamstow, said Mr Delahunty. “Along with the proposed office area, allplants wanted space for a recording studio for photo shoots and online video content, and a trial kitchen or innovation studio where new products would be tested. The project required a quick turnaround of eight weeks, with our team simultaneously overseeing the design and the build.”
With the warehouse an empty shell, there were no heating or cooling facilities already in the building. Forma engaged sustainable air movement company Elta Fans for the extraction and used a brand new, state-ofthe-art, energy-efficient solution from iXu for the ventilation system.
Mr Delahunty explained that all the fixtures and fittings were created using recycled materials and wood offcuts from the project on site. For the benches and desks, Forma opted to use materials
from local suppliers and ethical timber merchants to show its support for local businesses, as well as keeping down the cost of transportation and the resulting carbon footprint. Any chairs and seating that were not made by them were sourced from second-hand suppliers.
“The project was delivered on a fasttrack programme, and in alignment with the overall budget,” he continued. “With the limited time constraints, we managed to stay true to allplants’ – as well as Forma’s –
integral values of sustainability. The added bonus is that when it’s time for allplants to move to a bigger space, all of our hard work can be reused and carry on the journey with them.”
Set for growth
It goes without saying that Forma's supply chain and partners are key to the success of any project: “All our partners are vetted before they are approved and added to our contractors list,” said Mr Delahunty. “The questions we ask relate to all areas of their business to ensure they align with our standards, and we routinely ask them about anything new that might be a more sustainable alternative to consider.
“In this way, we are always looking and learning about alternatives in the construction industry.”
Speaking about upcoming projects, Mr Delahunty revealed that Forma is currently gearing up to commence a new-build project in Leigh-on-Sea to deliver several much-needed new homes: “We are looking at different methods of construction to reduce the amount of concrete needed in the foundations, by potentially using a mix of light gauge steel frame and SIPS timber panelling to provide the structure. Hopefully, this will allow us to utilise a screw pile system that we have used on two recent pro -
jects, meaning we will require fewer concrete foundations.”
The future looks exciting for Forma London: and given the ever-increasing focus on sustainable practices, the company is set for continued growth. Starting basically from scratch nearly ten years ago, this feels very rewarding for the founders.
Mr Delahunty concluded that a finished project is the most exciting aspect of his work: “After initially speaking to a client and understanding what they want to achieve, seeing the outcome is so rewarding.” n
