BMYA: Category 2

Gold

Pile driver
Changing the piling method meant everyone won, as Mark Chamberlain proved

Stringent planning constraints forced the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ new education centre (a 230-seat lecture theatre, 14 meeting rooms and ancillary accommodation) to be built entirely underground.

Externally, there is little to see - just some acrylic domes to let in natural light and revised landscaping to the car park and garden. But the new accommodation, two storeys below ground, is superb. The excellent quality of the completed project is due partly to an elegant design, partly to detailed discussions between Mark Chamberlain, the design team and package contractors, and partly to careful controls on site and the protection of the high-quality pre-cast units.

Some of the design team had previously worked with Chamberlain and his choice as project manager designate at the final interview simplified the choice of Willmott Dixon as management contractor for the project.

Superior system
Chamberlain spent the first few months working with the design team to fully understand the design philosophy and buildability issues. It was then that he proposed a change from concrete bored piles to sheet steel piles to form the external perimeter of the two-storey excavation. He demonstrated the superiority of the system on grounds of cost, programme, increased floor area, accessibility for construction, and environmental considerations.

Environmental matters were particularly important to the Crown Estate, which was the landlord, the Royal Parks Commission for the effect on Regents Park, the Environmental Agency for the effect on the adjacent plane trees, Westminster Council for traffic movements, the neighbours for noise and access, and the Royal College for disturbance to its normal business - which was not to be disrupted, of course.

Partly to minimise potential disturbance to the client, and partly for health and safety considerations, Chamberlain persuaded the Royal College to invest in a system to continuously monitor any movements in the existing structure.

Complex contract
With major excavations adjacent to, and even below, the building, Chamberlain was concerned to record any movement as a result of the excavations and, if necessary, to give maximum warning for the evacuation of the building. No excessive movement was recorded. Health and safety considerations were given a high priority and there were no reportable accidents.

The contract was complex, not just because of its technical content, but also for the high level of management input required. Much of this was directed at informing and satisfying the numerous parties with a direct or indirect interest in the works, and Chamberlain was always at the centre of these discussions.

Some 14 weeks before completion, the basement began to leak and the ground floor slab distorted to a potentially dangerous degree. A large number of parties immediately became involved, but one citation recalls, “Mark was able to steer between all these different parties and issues in a quite amazing way. Once solutions had been determined he ensured the remedial works were carried out very efficiently.”

Winner: Mark Chamberlain
Contractor: Willmott Dixon Ltd
Client: Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Contract location: Regents Park, London
Contract description: Two-storey basement education centre
Contract value: £8.2m
Contract terms: Management

Silver

Holy orders
Cutting out the cussing was just one essential for Paul Andrews

Carrying out building works in one of the country’s major cathedrals always presents a particular set of challenges. Paul Andrews’ partly Lottery-funded contract was no exception. Throughout the whole 81 weeks of the contract, the cathedral carried on with its normal business of five daily services, memorial services, concerts, and educational visits, along with all its usual internal and administrative activities.

In addition, HSE marked its 25th anniversary from this site and the government launched its new Learning and Skills Council from it - no doubt aware of the high level of traditional skills and craftsmanship carried out under this contract.

The standard of the completed work is splendid, from the traditional masonry and flint knapping and brilliantly executed slip tile arches, to the oak joinery and copper and slate roofing, and the exposed pre-stressed concrete arches and stained glass in the library.

The architectural requirements were exacting and many of the details were difficult and precise in joining and blending the new works into the existing buildings - a mixture of Victorian, Edwardian, 15th century and some very poor 1970s construction. Some of the most modern structures were to be demolished, and were found to be so poorly built as to be dangerous.

Having programmed the works, appointed the subcontractors and ordered the long lead-in materials, Andrews started on site to find that archaeologists had discovered all sorts of underground treasures including a Roman road, parts of the original Saxon and Norman churches and a unique 18th century delftware kiln. All are now on public display but, at the time, they presented a real threat to the programme. Andrews suggested the archaeologists become a domestic subcontractor. This enabled him to integrate this work within the groundworks package.

At the start of the contract, the client was concerned with the potential for offence caused by tradesmen’s colourful language and noisy working methods. There were no such incidents, which, according the client’s citation “was the result of Paul’s personal example and friendly firmness”.

Winner: Paul Andrews
Contractor: Walter Lilly & Co Ltd
Client: Southwark Cathedral Council
Contract location: London Bridge
Contract description: Cleaning and restoration of cathedral fabric and construction of new accommodation
Contract value: £7m
Contract terms: JCT Intermediate

Bronze

The leisure principle
Steve Vorres kept the site running despite having to let 30,000 people cross it

The millennium plaza leisure scheme was conceived as one of the primary entrances to the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff and its construction was affected by the delays to the stadium itself. Steve Vorres was appointed to the scheme long before the go-ahead was given for construction. His initial task was to develop the design to take account of the requirements of the key tenants and the effects of the adjacent stadium. He then developed the budgetary information and matched up the two to test the viability of the scheme.

At the same time he was developing the construction programme and logistics constraints, liaising with third parties and neighbours and controlling the enabling works and demolition of the existing buildings on site. He also wrote the safety and environmental plans, which are now the basis for his company’s standards.

By the time the main contract works were awarded, Vorres had built a good relationship with the client’s team and his designers. He realised that the same team spirit was needed from the key trade contractors and he worked hard to ensure everyone could work together.

In the early days, the site was used as a storage and assembly area for the massive trusses for the adjacent stadium roof. In addition, access had to be maintained through the site to the printing press for the local paper. But the most unusual access requirement was for 30,000 people to cross the site on each of the 33 occasions when the Millennium Stadium was in use. Work began to prepare the site a week before each event, with a great deal of liaison with the stadium and the local authority, but each occasion was free of incidents.

Not so simple was the construction. Good progress was made, but one of the principal tenants became insolvent. The client had to find a new tenant, which involved Vorres in a great deal of extra constructional and organisational work to accommodate the changes.

Winner: Steve Vorres
Contractor: Taylor Woodrow Construction Ltd
Client: Delancy Estates Ltd
Contract location: Millennium Plaza, Cardiff
Contract description: 20,000m2 multi-use leisure complex
Contract value: £16.7m
Contract terms: JCT ’81

also Commended in category 2
Phil Baker, Ballast; Ernie Cook, Try Accord; Peter Denness, Morrison Construction; Paul Eccles, Bovis Lend Lease; Steve Edwards, Laing Construction; Mike Howlett, Morrison Construction; Andy Jones, E Turner & Sons; Robert Setchell, Wates Construction; and David Woolnough, Simons Construction.