Name: James Roberts ACIOB
Employer: Morgan Sindall
Project: Rye Community Primary School and Childrens Centre, East Sussex
Contract: JCT 1998
On this project James Roberts showed how a thoughtful construction manager can add value on many levels.
There was, of course, the headline-grabbing, money-saving moves. The project was already £500k over budget (and a likely four weeks behind programme) in the very first week of construction, due to the complexity and quantity of curved steelwork required. James led a concerted collaborative search for alternative methods and materials that were cheaper or promoted buildability. His efforts were successful and the value engineering continued throughout the project.
Then there were his initiatives to get off to a good start the school’s relations with the neighbours. As construction started, he held an open meeting for all residents, users of a sports centre and allotment holders to discuss the nature of the works. Regular newsletters followed, and at the most intense muck-away period he even arranged for a resident’s car to be cleaned on a weekly basis.
He developed a fine relationship with the client and the headmaster, bringing the latter into the project to ensure it would meet all user needs. Realising the target completion date would leave the school with only a week for fit-out before the new academic year began, James ensured the client could gain access two weeks earlier.
And even though it was no part of the contract, he then helped decant into the new build the two existing schools being moved. It involved moving a huge quantity of equipment and furniture, and commissioning and fitting a kitchen.
After starting out as a joiner and spending a lifetime in construction, James has undoubtedly learned the difficult lesson of how to keep things in proportion. When problems arose and plans had to change, he simply considered what needed to be done, and made sure it got done. Articulate and firm when necessary with every level of stakeholder − site workers, suppliers, consultants, neighbours and even politicians – he was always upbeat and polite while communicating exactly what was needed.
Value: £5.8m