Name: Stephen Harnett MCIOB
Employer: Willmott Dixon Construction Limited
Project: John Perryn School, East Acton
Contract: JCT 2005
Steve Harnett had a very personal reason for doing the best he possibly could for this project. As a former pupil of the school, which had been put into special measures for its poor performance, Steve was determined that the new build would be the start of a more successful future.
He wanted to make a lasting difference by delivering the best possible construction and finish within the budget. He changed all the flooring from carpet to lino to improve durability. He replaced many glass panels by board, putting window inserts above pupil head height to prevent distractions. He cut full-height toilet cubicles to user-appropriate half-height versions.
To fund high-quality, practical and hardwearing finishes, Steve found savings in other areas. He reduced the size of the external canopies, the amount of acoustic cladding and the age of the external planting.
His commitment never wavered. When the headteacher realised at a key stage in the build that pupils moving to the first-floor classrooms would lose lesson time because they had to use the central staircase, Steve he brought an external fire exit staircase into main structure of the building to allow for free movement.
The new build was on a site with a four-metre drop and touching the boundary of the old school, but Steve ran a very safe project. He smoothly managed the risk of using a 180-tonne crawler crane to lift precast panels in close proximity to live train lines and residential properties,
His success on this scheme mirrored the school’s exit from special measures during the course of the project.
Value: £8.5m