Neil Crutchley ACIOB, Simons Construction
£15m tensioned- fabric pavilion, Skegness Butlins wanted a new tensioned-fabric pavilion ready for the 1999 summer season. The £15m project had to be completed in just 19 weeks to meet this deadline and thanks to Crutchley, holidaymakers were met by a stunning new Skyline Pavilion instead of a construction site.
Crutchley took a demotion to run the job, said the judges. He was working at Simons’ head office in Lincoln having just completed the management of an enabling contract.
The fit-out of the pavilion, which included the installation of a bowling alley and cinema, required 11 weeks starting in December 1998. This meant Crutchley had just eight weeks to erect the tent. But his ability to take a firm grip of the job quickly meant the masts for the pavilion arrived on site just three days into the contract. And Crutchley briefed all the trade contractors before they arrived on site.
The erection of the fabric, which acts like a big sail in the wind, required a two-day calm period. Crutchley used detailed Internet weather forecasts picked up from all over Europe to plan the lift. The Health and Safety Executive was sceptical that the works could be completed safely in the time provided. Crutchley gave a presentation to the HSE and then appointed a full-time safety adviser on site.
Darryn Parry, Midas Construction
£3.2m fit-out of Wales Millennium Stadium, Cardiff When Midas’ Darryn Parry first arrived at the Wales Millennium Stadium to start a £3.2m fit-out of the hospitality areas, the project was in chaos. Because of problems with neighbours, contractor Laing was four weeks behind programme and had already admitted that it was going to suffer a big loss on the job. But as a result of Parry’s unrelenting effort, the bars and kitchens were ready for the first kick of the Rugby World Cup.
Shortly after work started, Parry discovered that Midas had no contractual rights to access. And the former army man realised that there was no provision for him to move materials within the stadium.
So he negotiated for the use of a lift, brought in a forklift and took on four teams of labourers to move materials through the stadium. He also appointed a logistics manager to make sure that the materials were delivered “just in time” to the busy areas. At one point Parry was in charge of 400 staff and subcontractors including 27 gangs of bricklayers.
One of the client’s consultants remarked: “Without Darryn’s participation in the contract, it is unlikely that the project would have been finished on time, to the agreed budget and up to the standards expected of all the parties. This was accomplished with tact and diplomacy.”
Jeff Taylor MCIOB, Kier
£11.7m extension to Tesco Extra, Watford Refurbishing a store that is open 24 hours a day is one of the biggest nightmares for construction managers. Deliveries are always at a bad time and using heavy plant is usually out of the question.
The complex project involved extending the existing 7500 m2 Tesco Extra store by 6300 m2, refurbishing the existing store and demolishing the existing petrol filling station. Taylor had to deal with several different departments within Tesco, with a changing brief and with 40 trade contractors directly appointed by the client as well as 70 of Kier’s own subcontractors.
Source
Construction Manager
