Its full trading name is now Exterior International, instead of Exterior Construction Management, to reflect the firm's plans for overseas expansion and the full range of services it offers.
The five executives who left Schal to form a 50/50 joint venture with fit-out group Interior believe that the firm's original name is misleading. In addition to construction management, the firm offers management contracting and takes design-and-build risk on projects.
However, Exterior will do this only if 80% or more of the work packages on a project are already let, to avoid the risk of costs spiralling. The firm is working on this basis on a building for Mercury Asset Management in the City.
Now 45-strong, Exterior is also planning to work for existing clients in France and Germany.
After a year in business, the firm is running projects worth a total of £100m, ranging from work on business parks, to lottery projects and consultancy work. It now plans to push more into the retail market.
It believes that, by promising to work for only one retailer, it will be able to exploit the dissatisfaction felt by clients whose contractors also work for their rivals.
It is also offering integrated services deals with Interior, where a client commissions a full construction and fit-out package.
