Vince Finnegan, Wates Construction
Project: Long Wards, Royal Hospital Chelsea, London: Refurbishment of 17th Century facilities in Grade 1-listed building
Value: £23m
Contract: NEC Option A
Vince Finnegan’s project was to re-equip the 17th-century facilities that house the Chelsea pensioners with such modern conveniences as a bathroom for each of the 187 “berths”. He not only had to respect the limitations imposed by a Grade I-listed building, but also ensure the whole complex remained operational throughout, so the client could run an extensive events calendar within the grounds, including the Chelsea Flower Show.
Professional, dedicated and a slave to quality, Finnegan impressed the client. He kept his prized joinery subcontractor on board, despite its inability to store and restore the large number of heritage timber panels offsite, by buying a portable store and workshop and siting it in the car park.
He integrated the separately instructed £1.8m lead roof replacement works within his own main contract works, saving the client considerable sums in prelims.
Likewise, his works resequencing and management following the discovery of additional asbestos mitigated delay to the groundworks. Indeed, he was so effective in doing so that the project finished six weeks early. The resulting client savings in fees were estimated to be £400,000.
He also pulled off a notable feat of replacing the lead and slate roofing to one ward without tying the scaffolding into the building. Instead, he tied it across the roof and then stabilised it all by installing ballast tanks on the facade scaffold.
David Packham MCIOB, BAM Construct UK
Project: The German Gymnasium, London: Restoration of Victorian building including extensive work to the roof
Value: £5.5m
Contract: JCT D&B 2001
The rare arched and bolt-timber laminated trussed roof of this Victorian building presented David Packham with his project triumph. The scheme aimed to reveal the roof in all its glory from inside the building. It was Packham’s recognition of how the structure worked originally and his ability to identify the risks that delivered success.
Investigations suggested the original slate was removed for fear of overloading the trusses. Reapplying that load required an engineering solution for structural stability. Packham argued against bolting steel plates to the sides of the trusses or inserting steel posts into the external walls as unsightly or requiring significant demolition to external facades.
Instead, he devised a slender stainless steel tie-rod to span the roof. This was supported by equally slim rods dropped from cast-iron hooks in the trusses. Barely visible, they ensured structural integrity with minimal intervention and also provided a track for lighting. The solution retained the original look and feel of an aesthetically pleasing interior at less cost than any of the alternative solutions.
Packham brought his own experience as a skilled craftsman to bear, along with his knowledge of listed structures and management knowhow. The site had virtually no storage or delivery space, and room for just a day’s worth of steel for the erection of an internal steel frame and columns. His tight control of deliveries and waste clearance kept trades coordinated and sustained momentum.
Delivering a quality project on budget and on time has strengthened a crucial set of relationships for BAM in the King’s Cross redevelopment.
Comments are closed.