Handing over a defect-free residential tower is notoriously difficult. David John not only managed the feat, on time and to budget, but delivered a quality that blew the client away.
Covering everything from sample apartments to fire-stopping details and envelope sections, his early benchmark apartment was described as “insanely good” by the scheme funder, and the standard was maintained through to completion.
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Meanwhile, the local authority’s building control inspectors have recognised the project as an exemplar as a result of John’s absolute attention to detail on fire safety compliance.
Other finalists
Matthew Baglow JJ Rhatigan Building Contractors
Mark Brady McAleer & Rushe
Zak Carroll MCIOB McLaren Construction
Mark Chamberlain FCIOB Willmott Dixon
Paddy Connolly MCIOB McAleer & Rushe Contracts UK
Andy Howarth MCIOB Willmott Dixon
Oliver Lester FCIOB Willmott Dixon
The problematic logistics on the city-centre site, with no storage space, included not blocking the route of fire engines at a neighbouring fire station. John’s response was to rent an offsite materials storage yard and bring in a logistics manager. After organising a lessons-learned workshop from a previous project, he created a more robust and cost-effective building by prefabricating the balconies and bolting them on.
When serious hold-ups to an adjacent development prevented him deploying a 60-tonne piling rig to operate from an upper ground floor, John had a propping system designed and installed to cut short the setback.
Faced with a nail-biting, months-long delay – beyond his control – in connecting to the district heat network, John devised a solution that allowed the structural frame to progress while accommodating network installation later on. What client wouldn’t have been thrilled?
Silver Award Winner: Matthew Legg, Vinci Construction
Project: New Victoria, Manchester
Scope: Construction of 520 apartments in a 20-storey and a 25-storey tower, completed in 159 weeks
Client: Muse
Value: £122m
Matt Legg saw off multiple challenges on this towers project. The tight city-centre location demanded constant diplomatic but decisive engagement with Network Rail and other stakeholders. He facilitated 15 service diversions and disconnections before construction began, rerouted a sewer via a pair of 14-metre-deep shafts, and incorporated a £5m link-bridge variation mid-construction.
When Network Rail insisted the project’s piles exert no force whatsoever on its culvert under the site, threatening to halt the scheme, he found a solution. The relieving slab structure added nine weeks to the programme and £350k to the budget but kept the project moving.
Legg cultivated robust relationships with his responsive approach. He delivered the scheme, to budget, with impressive quality, and a thumping 24 weeks early.
