Established in 1995, G.E.S. Architects is today one of Zambia’s well-known consulting Architectural Firms. We operate from Anchor House, 7th Floor, Cairo Road, Lusaka and have also executed projects successfully throughout Zambia. Projects are often executed in association with local consultants or in joint venture with international firms.

Our Clients range from central and local government to global aid agencies, private sector investors and industrialists. Through a process of design review, we strive to provide high quality and innovative Architectural and engineering solutions of projects. As such our achievements are recognized by the prizes awarded to projects successfully executed for our clients.

The range of services provided by G.E.S. Architects has grown considerably since 1995. Initially the practice undertook Architectural/engineering designs for building projects. Today the Architectural designing activity still comprises the greatest activity of G.E.S. Architects.

At the same time we have gained notable experience and expertise in integrated projects for different Clients, in the building industry especially in Health, Educational and Commercial Projects.

During the 1997 the firm expanded into other fields, mainly specialized and higher end technologies. As an Architectural firm we have become involved in suburban development, for example Health Centres, Schools, Police and Military camps, Office and Commercial buildings and sports facilities for the private, public sector and increasingly involved in community development projects

Our Clients range from central and local government to global aid agencies, private sector investors and industrialists.

Through a process of design review, we strive to provide high quality and innovative Architectural and engineering solutions of projects. As such our achievements are recognized by the prizes awarded to projects successfully executed for our clients.

G.E.S. Architects is constituted and operates according to the requirements of the Zambia Institute of Architects Act.Cap.442. The firm is registered with the Zambia Institute of Architects as Design and Project Management Consultants, and complies with the ethical code and professional standards as laid down by Zambia Institute of Architects.

The Director has no commercial interests which detract from the impartiality of the services performed by the practice. G.E.S. Architects is wholly owned by the directors.

G.E.S. Architects enables the different interested regional and International Company to participate in significant and larger projects, as Design and Project Management Consultants, in Zambia.

The company combines the knowledge, resources and skills of its shareholders on a national and international basis in order that the Company can operate competitively, effectively and profitably on projects where competitive advantages can be gained by their joint efforts having due regard to their respective visions and missions.

Quality Control
Quality Control is considered to be the regulating process through which the actual quality of performance is measured, compared to the specific or required standards, and the difference acted upon. In this way, the specified or required standards that are not being met are identified, and steps are taken to correct the situation timely.

Quality Control relates to both the provision of own services as well as the provisions of works carried out in accordance with the designs and specifications of others. As far as own services are concerned, innovative designs, brainstorming in groups at the commencement of projects and design reviews during the execution of projects are encouraged.

Construction works, on the other hand, are continuously checked for conformance to drawings, details and specifications during the course of construction contracts.

Quality Audits
A quality audit is an independent review conducted to compare performance with the standard set for the performance. Quality audits are carried out for the following purposes: • to evaluate the internal quality of activities • to evaluate the activities of sub-consultants • to evaluate conformance with stated ethics and required procedures by Associations such as Zambia Institute of Architects. In this regard G.E.S. Architects has been peer reviewed by the Zambia Institute of Architects.

Quality Management
G.E.S. Architects is committed to the Zambia Institute of Architects policy statement on Quality Management in the consulting building/designing industry and subscribes to the Zambia Institute of Architects Quality Management Systems guidelines for Consultants.
Quality Management, as opposed to Quality Control, is advocated in that it implements a process of “plan, do, check, act” that is an on-going function encompassing the everyday activities of the firm Quality Control and Quality Assurance being merely a part of the cycle

It is the policy of G.E.S. Architects to employ and train citizen staff. The firm presently employs Architects, Technicians, Support staff and Consultants, of which 100% are citizen staff.
G.E.S. Architects is proud of its track record in training in the Country and is convinced that the contributions made to the profession and to the Country in this regard are more than worthwhile.

The firm concurs with the policy of encouraging and fostering links with domestic consulting firms and does so wherever such firms are available and qualified to perform particular sections of work. Such work is normally subcontracted to the domestic firm under general direction and review of the Project Director. The firm assumes contractual responsibility (and liability) for satisfactory execution.

G.E.S. Architects welcomes the proposed secondment of Clerk of Works from Client bodies. Seconded staff usually work directly under the Project Architect. Seconded staff are given specific exposure to the following components of a project:

• the planning and execution of the investigation phase of the project
• the assimilation of data, data processing and structuring of inputs to the analysis methods or models. The staff are specifically trained to utilize the analysis software and, most importantly, critically analysis the outputs into useful information.

• the methods of feasibility analysis and preliminary design utilizing
sensitivity tests and economic comparison parameters. • the development of O & M cost projections and cash flow budgets
• the undertaking of detailed designs, contract and tender documentation
• the application of the principles of site supervision, measurement and certification.
From past experience, it is understood and acknowledged that the training function is a separate obligation that can conflict with other project time and personnel demands.
The problems are addressed by means of careful advance planning, implementation and evaluation. In the case of secondments, the success of such programmes is equally dependent on the Client’s willingness to select qualified local professionals for training, to make them available for the duration of the programme, and to afford them appropriate opportunities to apply the acquired skills in the future after the project completion.

G.E.S. Architects considers that Quality Assurance is the activity of providing all concerned with the evidence needed to establish that the quality function is being performed adequately.
To this end, G.E.S. Architects has implemented standard procedures, including reviews and other relevant systems, to ensure, as far as possible, that the internal management
of the Company as well as the provision of their Architectural services proceeds in a smooth, efficient, transparent and technically competent and professional manner.