Analysis Of Interface Risks And Coordination Challenges In Multi-contractor Campus Development Projects

Abstract

Multi-contractor Campus Development Projects Are Increasingly Adopted By Universities To Accelerate Delivery And Leverage Specialist Expertise, Yet They Consistently Suffer From Significant Interface Risks And Coordination Failures That Lead To Delays, Cost Overruns, Rework, And Operational Disruption In Live Academic Environments. Despite Growing Literature On Interface Management In Megaprojects And Infrastructure, The Distinctive Combination Of Fragmented Contracting, Strict Phasing Requirements, Sustainability Mandates, And The Necessity To Maintain Uninterrupted Teaching And Research Activities On Campus Remains Largely Unaddressed. This Research Aims To Fill This Gap By Systematically Analysing Interface Risks And Coordination Challenges Specific To Multi-contractor University Campus Projects In Developed Economies. Using A Sequential Explanatory Mixed-methods Design, The Study Will First Identify And Prioritise Interface Risks Through A Large-scale International Questionnaire Survey Of Experienced Practitioners. Subsequently, In-depth Semi-structured Interviews, Participatory Workshops, And Multiple Case Studies Of Recent Campus Projects (2018–2025) Will Explore Root Causes, Interdependencies, And Campus-specific Aggravating Factors. The Quantified And Qualitative Findings Will Then Be Synthesised To Develop A Practical, Four-layer Interface Management Framework (Governance – Process – Tools – Behaviours) Tailored For Multi-prime Higher-education Projects. The Proposed Framework Will Be Refined And Validated Through A Two-round Delphi Process With An International Expert Panel.

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