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Technical
CIOB Awards 2025: Commercial & Leisure
Gold Award Winner: Graham Mercer MCIOB, Skanska UK
Project: Norton Folgate, Shoreditch, London Scope: Refurbishment, extension and redevelopment of six building plots to create over 300,000 sq ft of office and retail space, completed in 158 weeks Client: British Land Value: £232m
Graham Mercer brought 40 years’ construction experience, engineering skills, adaptability and problem-solving to this project. He introduced a precast strategy that gave the construction project certainty, introducing 13 sectional completions to give the client commercial benefit by allowing early tenant access.
Mercer’s championing of a precast facade mitigated the risks associated with working near a major rail line. It also improved labour efficiency, enhanced quality and eliminated scaffolding, expanded the floor area, and shaved three months off the project completion time.
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Simon Bywater Willmott Dixon Jason Elphick Willmott Dixon Alex Heath MCIOB Willmott Dixon Jason Sims MCIOB Caddick Construction Dillon Siva MCIOB Willmott Dixon Fraser Tanner MCIOB McLaren Construction Chris White MCIOB Willmott Dixon
Every floor plate was different across the 12 buildings, and 67 floors were being worked on simultaneously. Each had a unique design, making standardisation impossible and bespoke solutions necessary at every level. Mercer tackled the challenges with meticulous planning and coordination.
To deliver on quality, Mercer created a quality management team drawing members from each project discipline together. He also worked to foster a culture of openness that allowed issues to be addressed promptly and proactively.
The judges agreed with the client’s assessment of Mercer’s delivery of this complex development as ‘heroic’. Mercer’s collaborative, transparency and value-driven culture inspired a shared purpose among the team and delivered client joy.
Silver Award Winner: Connor McMahon, McAleer & Rushe
Project: City Square House, Leeds Scope: Construction of 140,000 sq ft of office space over 12 storeys, completed in 145 weeks Client: MRP Value: £43m
At practical completion 85% of the space had already been pre-let, resulting in happy tenants and an even happier client. Connor McMahon’s can-do approach earned him a fit-out contract for two of the floors.
He expertly managed piling the site, which had already been piled twice, crimping existing piles, executing extensive temporary works with A-frame props and overseeing the late introduction of a secant wall.
He championed slipforming the building core for speed, quality and strength. When the subcontractor went into administration, he directly employed the labour to keep the project on track. Similarly, when the curtain-walling subcontractor went out of business, he directly employed its key personnel.
With limited room to construct the basement car park, he redesigned the project to retain the basement.
The January/February 2026 issue of Construction Management magazine is now available to read in digital format.
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