Name: Jerry Hilsdon
Employer: Laing O'Rourke
Project: O-Central, Crampton Street, London SE17
Contract: JCT 98
When it comes to a tight site, Jerry Hilsdon’s project took the biscuit. Bounded by apartment blocks, business units and a mainline railway, the construction works not only completely filled the site boundaries but went considerably further. Two of the three residential blocks extended beyond the site, supported by concrete columns in the car park of the business units.
Jerry knew that he would deliver the scheme only by building the best of relationships with the many neighbours. In particular, piling foundations just 5m from the doorsteps of the business units while still guaranteeing vehicle access would require an exceptional level of co-operation and assistance from everyone.
That Jerry got it is a tribute to his communication skills and sheer hard work. He issued a newsletter every other month, undertook letter drops on forthcoming activities, and held regular discussions with the residents association to elicit advice as well as to inform the neighbours of what was going on.
Only his constant rigorous planning and dialogue with all parties kept the project on course and the neighbours happy. He used two mobile cranes to dismantle a tower crane, landing the 60m jib on top of the project’s roof and removing the structure in sections so as not to oversail the railway or the neighbouring apartment blocks. His extensive protection measures included scaffold fans on the overhanging sections of the buildings, and strict segregation of the foundation and concrete works.
Strongly team-oriented, Jerry successfully encouraged the main subcontractors to contribute to the programme. His ability to engender enthusiasm and drive underpinned a successful reprogramming exercise midway through the job when he was six weeks behind schedule.
His thoughtful use of innovative construction included post-tensioned flat floor slabs, precast flights of stairs and prefabricated bathroom pods. He also delivered £1.85m of client variations without having to extend the practical completion date.
Honest and proactive, Jerry led an enthusiastic team by example and delivered a solution that so impressed the client that it has led to the formation of a partnering approach with Laing O’Rourke. Jerry is now looking at the fourth in a series of projects with the client.