Name: Richard Dobson
Employer: Wates Living Space
Project: Stratford Eye, Stratford
Contract: JCT 98
The complications of this project – a horde of stakeholders, a mixed build with three very different design requirements, and a tricky combined heat and power (CHP) installation – demanded an exceptional construction manager. It found one in Richard Dobson, whose outstanding technical performance and client focus have justly made him the apple of the client’s eye.
Right from the precontract, Richard took the lead. He struck up key relationships and brought a reluctant Network Rail to the table to agree timeslots and methods for the crucial support of a gantry on the London mainline.
He insisted on a panoply of geotechnical surveys to establish the right foundation works, and confidently led the team to finalising the eclectic mix of concrete and steel solutions to suit site conditions and design requirements. He came up with a cost-effective unitised cladding system for the tower that eliminated scaffolding, promoted safety, accelerated the build time by 12 weeks, and gave a stunning finish.
Despite having no experience of CHP, Richard undertook an intensive co-ordination of all aspects of the design and installation of the fiendishly complex system.
His client focus was as absolute as his technical mastery. Not only did he ensure the development was delivered on budget, he also went out of his way to maximise the client’s future revenues. He challenged the original penthouse design, championing a duplex alternative that added significant value to the scheme. And he insisted on properly working through all designs before commencement to close out the risk and provide financial certainty.
Without doubt the leader of an engaged team that he had hand-picked, Richard inculcated a no-blame culture and passed on his passion for nothing but the best. As a result of his efforts, the project was completed on time, and with a substantial part handed over well ahead of schedule with very few defects. Not surprisingly, the client was delighted.