Coe triumphs again at the 2006 Building Awards

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Olympic champion wins race for Personality of the Year at Tuesday's gala dinner, attended by footballing legends

Lord Coe, the former middle-distance runner who led London's successful bid to host the 2012 Olympics, was named Personality of the Year at this year's Building Awards.

The double Olympic gold medallist received the accolade on Tuesday night in front of more than 1600 guests and a host of footballing legends including players from England's successful 1966 World Cup-winning team.

Coe beat competition from Rab Bennetts, director of Bennetts Associates; Steve McGuckin, head of project management at Land Securities; Geoff Wright, director of Hammerson; Rob Smith, senior partner of Davis Langdon; and John White, chief executive of Persimmon.

He was praised for his presentation in Singapore, which many felt clinched the Games for London, and his co-ordination of the bid, which brought together the worlds of sports, construction and politics.

Persimmon's White walked away with the Chief Executive of the Year Award after seeing the firm through the £643m takeover of Westbury to create the UK's biggest housebuilder.

Taylor Woodrow won both the Constructing Excellence Best Practice Award and Major Contractor of the Year Award after gaining plaudits for its record in completing projects on time and to budget, including a stand at the Oval cricket ground.

Redrow scooped the Major Housebuilder Award, coming out on top of a shortlist that also included Taylor Woodrow, David Wilson, Miller Homes, Barratt and Bellway.

Sir Stuart Lipton became the third recipient of Building's Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award. He was recognised for innovative procurement and projects including Broadgate in the City of London.

Construction Client of the Year went to developer Land Securities, which started more than £1bn of work in 2005 and is reshaping the City with projects such as Rafael Viñoly's Fenchurch Street tower.

Other categories were: