Residential over £15m

GOLD

Shaun Evans MCIOB
Senior construction manager
Previously of Carillion

Project: Jefferson Place, Manchester: construction of 309 apartments in 21-storey block, completed in 113 weeks
Value: £33.3m
Contract: JCT 98

Parachuted into this project, on which a succession of construction managers had come and gone, Shaun Evans revitalised an unhappy team that was eight weeks behind schedule after seven months on site and seemingly locked into poor productivity.

Evans rebuilt the management team, retaining and recruiting colleagues for their sense of responsibility and ownership, as well as their enthusiasm and people skills.

He gave his managers specific roles, with defined responsibilities and measurable deliverables for the first time. He involved them in meetings with the client to boost their sense of engagement, and insisted that each manager produce a weekly progress report to help them anticipate and resolve problems.

His leadership won him the respect and enthusiasm of the workforce as well as the professional team. Unrest in the project turned into motivation and staff churn sank to zero. Productivity subsequently rose and the team handed over 10 apartments a week, compared with an industry norm of 6.5.

This output was not delivered at the cost of poor quality. On the contrary: the client rated the project quality as the best it had ever seen, backed up by the best tenant satisfaction ratings it had ever recorded.

He did it by creating a sample room before any apartments were handed over, and holding weekly quality meetings with the client’s clerk of works. Defective works were discussed at weekly meetings and closed out in a timely manner. And he set up a separate team to rectify any outstanding defects within a week of tenant occupation.

A highly visible and inspirational leader, Evans hit budget and delivered exceptional quality. His efforts won his employer repeat business and a possible framework agreement from a delighted client.

SILVER

Richard Dobson
Construction manager
Wates Living Space

Project: Stratford Eye, London E15: construction of 160 apartments in a 19-storey tower and five linear blocks, plus six-storey office block of 40,000 ft2, completed in 120 weeks
Value: £33.9m
Contract: JCT 98

The complications of this project – a horde of stakeholders, a mixed build with three very different design requirements, and a tricky combined heat and power (CHP) installation – demanded strong technical knowledge and people skills. Richard Dobson displayed both and his performance on this project made him a firm favourite with the client.

Dobson took the lead from the start. He struck key relationships and brought in Network Rail to agree time slots and methods for the crucial support of a gantry on the London mainline.

He insisted on a range of geotechnical surveys to establish the right foundation works, and confidently led the team to the mix of concrete and steel solutions to suit site conditions and design requirements. He came up with a cost-effective unitised cladding system for the tower that eliminated scaffolding, promoted safety, and accelerated the build time by 12 weeks.

Despite having no experience of CHP, Dobson undertook an intensive co-ordination of all aspects of the design and installation of the complex system.

His client focus was as strong as his technical skills. Not only did he ensure the development was delivered on budget, he also maximised the client’s future revenues. He challenged the original penthouse design, championing a duplex alternative that added significant value to the scheme. And he insisted on properly working through all designs to eliminate risk and provide financial certainty.

Evans promoted a no-blame culture and passed on his passion for excellence. The project was completed on time, and a substantial part was handed over ahead of schedule with very few defects.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

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Rod Kilby (Telford Homes) ICONA, Stratford, London E15
Mark Norton (Debut Services) for Alexander Barracks, Army Recruitment Training Accommodation, Pirbright, Surrey