Impact of constructability issues in large-scale condominium projects: a case study for Sri Lanka

Abstract

Sri Lanka’s construction industry has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with an average growth rate of 8.5% from 2010 to 2020. Large-scale condominium projects have emerged as prominent projects in the real estate sector since they hold a dominant portion. Successful completion of these projects requires advanced construction techniques and strategic planning throughout the project, starting from pre-construction stages to project handover. The study adheres to a dual-level classification model for constructability issues in Sri Lankan condominium projects as common and project-specific issues. The evaluation of the impact of these issues on project evaluation criteria is vitally important for contractors to complete projects successfully. The study follows a sequential mixed-method approach consisting with a detailed questionnaire and were conducted among industry professionals to evaluate eight (8) constructability issues, including design complexity (DC), Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing work (MEP) integration issues, to check their effect on seven (7) project evaluation criteria. Through the collected consensus from the industry professionals, the constructability issues are evaluated and analysed using professional agreement rates, cross-tabulation, and using Kruskal-Wallis (KW) Test. The results generated through the KW tests, having lower p<0.05, show that DC, integration of MEP, and material handling are major constructability issues, while issues with p>0.05, including having long shear walls, work hour restrictions, are project-dependent constructability issues. This research contributes to the industry by providing actionable insights into mitigating constructability-related risks, ultimately facilitating the successful completion of large-scale condominium projects in Sri Lanka