Name: Kevin Donaldson MCIOB
Employer: Robertson Construction Northern Ltd
Project: Mezzanine Floor, ASDA Store, Elgin
Contract: JCT
Kevin Donaldson pulled off a convincing triumph on this superstore refurb. Downtime was a dirty word with a client eager to keep the trading area maximised at its most profitable store in Scotland. As a result, work had to proceed seven days and five nights a week right from the start of the project to achieve the blazingly fast 19-week programme.
The true measure of Kevin’s success is that he handed over the first phase − a refurb of 6,000 square feet of existing trading floor − 11 days early. His speed of completion also ultimately allowed the client to advance the opening of the new 21,000 square foot mezzanine to customers by three days. The client has since jubilantly taken up his materials and buildability solutions for its mezzanine roll-out programme.
Expert and knowledgeable, with a string of retail projects to his credit, Kevin offered valuable advice and suggestions right from the design stage. His impeccable programming, efficient management of subcontractors and rapid relationship building with the store’s managers brought the early handover of the first phase that so benefited the client.
His buildability expertise proved equally beneficial in cutting costs. Examples include his decision not to break out the existing concrete base for the sprinkler system’s water tank but to extend and thicken it to support the new, larger tank. He also proposed erecting the steelwork for the mezzanine from both directions and meeting in the middle, which was the key change that allowed the early completion of phase 1.
Using his extensive knowledge and contacts, he was able to meet the material specification at lower cost, which brought substantial savings to the client. The project came in 10% under budget.
His concentration on detail and driving out defects also ensured that quality was never compromised. With handovers immediately succeeded by trading in those areas, snag-free was a critical issue for the client. Reaching practical completion with just 17 minor faults is a real achievement made even glowing by Kevin rectifying them all within four days rather than the 14 stipulated by the contract.
Value: £3.4m