New Build / Refurbishment Projects Over £8M to £14M

Justin Kay

Justin Kay
Name: Justin Kay
Employer: Morgan Sindall (Construction) plc
Project: Irk Valley Community Primary School, Lower Crumpsall, Manchester
Contract: NEC

The walls were all up, the roof was on and the first-fix M&E all but complete. Then, with the site just hitting the peak of its activity with 10 weeks left to practical completion, the client told Justin Kay that it wanted to extend the building by half as much again.

Justin’s response was magnificent. This unflappable construction manager took it in his stride. There was no slackening in his partnership approach, and he collaborated enthusiastically in determining the extension options and limiting the level of abortive works. He also initiated a series of reviews with the designers and supply chain that ultimately saved the client tens of thousands and a whole lot of heartache.

His superb budget and programme management ensured best value from the major redesign. He accommodated the £1.9m variation with only a four-month time extension to the original completion date.

And if that weren’t enough, consider the rest.

He overcame the daunting buildability challenge of constructing the school on stilts to deal with the sizable flood risk. He eradicated Japanese knotweed from the derelict site and encapsulated the industrial contamination.

He changed the finish of the extensive external ramps to a resin-bound, maintenance-free, non-slip material. It eliminated unsightly gulleys and mitred flagstones laid to falls and considerably shortened the programme.

He replaced traditional masonry with Metsec to minimise waste and eliminate scaffold. He replaced CFA with precast driven piles to move construction offsite.

He also replaced MDF under sinks with bespoke vanity units. These small but aesthetically pleasing small touches added to the overall feel of quality.

Value: £8.9m