Name: Drew Gibson
Employer: Wates Construction
Project: Everest Community College , Sherbourne St John
Contract: JCT 98
Drew Gibson put two and a half years of his life and soul into this project. His drive, determination and passion have been rewarded with the project gaining glowing reviews from architecture journals, appearing on TV and in the newspapers, and being put forward for a national Civic Building Award.
Wates was shortlisted for the job largely on the basis of a previous project where Drew has been construction manager, and he clearly impressed the client right from the very start. At the tender interview, he was well informed and showed a wide-ranging and detailed appreciation of the project requirements and aspirations.
Once appointed, his input and constructive design advice on the package tenders simplified the construction and reduced the costs. Drew’s efforts were decisive in a key value-engineering process that brought the project back onto budget.
Drew was an ideal exponent of the project’s partnering philosophy. He looked at the whole picture and was able to appreciate differing viewpoints while explaining his own views clearly and concisely. Approachable and welcoming, he invariably concentrated on finding out the facts and then looking for ways to get things done effectively.
He was honest with consultants, designers, client and subcontractors about what he really thought and acted with integrity. Teamwork and strong relationships were his guiding lights and combined with his habitual calmness and willingness to offer sensible suggestions to produce excellent leadership onsite.
Drew insisted on quality. By keeping on the plastering subcontractor’s case about the finish required, he helped weed out the rogue plasterers and dryliners and create a core team of quality finishers.
The school had to be complete for the start of the academic year (funding was partially dependent on the sale of the land of the failing school a mile away that it would replace), so he constantly drove the project forward.
In short, Drew made a difficult undertaking – it was the largest project the client had ever attempted – look like light work. His assured leadership brought it in on budget and on time, and created an architecturally and educationally impressive focal point for a new development of 1,500 houses being built around it.