Technical

CMYA 2021 – Office

GOLD: Emily Hoggins MCIOB – BAM Construction

Project: 22 Handyside Street, London
Scope: Construction of 36,000 sq ft mixed-use office block, completed in 85 weeks
Client: Argent
Contract: JCT, design and build
Value: £19m

On this King’s Cross regeneration scheme, Emily Hoggins found herself running one of the highest-risk jobs in the UK at the time. And it was her first job as project manager.

With three rail tunnels – all Grade II-listed and two of them live – running 1m below the strip foundations for the light-steel-frame three-storey block, the potential for catastrophe was only too apparent. Emily oversaw a complex foundation installation programme which deployed super-lightweight concrete, poured in sections of no more than 7m.

Highly commended

Tony Northcott MCIOB  Kier Construction – Oceansgate phase 2, Plymouth

Extinction Rebellion protests taking place in London at the time caused huge delays in concrete delivery, rendering some of it unusable on the project by the time it arrived. Emily inspired the site teams to push through and complete the groundworks and the steel frame in time for the curtain walling to commence.

The superstructure was equally complex. Diagonally arranged to balance the weight better, the build replicates the line of the tunnels, as do the series of parallel standing-seam roofs. Emily introduced BIM to model each coping to ensure it matched the extremely difficult twists and 45-degree pitches involved.

With the project delivered on programme and within budget, she was commended by both client and architect for her performance on this technically challenging build.


SILVER: David John MCIOB – Willmott Dixon

Project: Llys Cadwyn/Taff Vale Redevelopment, Rhondda
Scope: Construction of two five-storey office blocks and a library-cum-gym, completed in 134 weeks
Client: Rhondda Cynon Taf County Council
Contract: JCT, design and build
Value: £45m

With this high-profile project hit by a once-in-a-millennium flood and the threat of a retaining wall collapsing, David John deployed his technical insight and site experience to manage out risk. He identified the buildability and budget issues of the proposed precast concrete cladding and switched to a time and money-saving combination of steel frame and traditional brickwork.

Other finalists

Tony Boorer MCIOB  Skanska – Sixty London Wall
Andrew Feighery MCIOB  Multiplex Construction Europe – 22 Bishopsgate

By building a significant sample panel of the envelope, he eliminated air leakage risks for the building. It allowed the site team to understand the detailing issues and practise installation of the various elements.

His quality focus won the architect’s praise and exceeded client expectations.

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