Name: Mark Davidson
Employer: Kier Scotland
Project: Sainsbury's Braehead, Glasgow
Contract: Design and build
Mark Davidson has turned in one successful retail project after another. This dauntlngly fast-track scheme gave him the task of converting a disused warehouse in a retail park into the client’s biggest supermarket in Scotland. With an already tight 23-week programme shrunk to just 19 weeks with no increase in the budget, Mark really had his work cut out.
But he had the confidence born of years of experience in building retail facilities. He resequenced, and overlapped operations, and introduced night shifts on the demolition phase.
With vigour, skill, persuasion and encouragement, Mark got the backing of his team and the supply chain, and forged ahead. His top-class teambuilding and expertly judged client relationship were aimed at getting the right result for all stakeholders. He held meetings twice-daily and even hourly to review and pick up progress. He never accepted no for an answer, keeping the whole show on the road through determination and his ability to persuade.
He held the strict budget line by marshalling a string of value-engineering initiatives. He reused the crushed concrete removed from the existing service yard to provide the required level for a filling station. He eliminated the requirement for a new pumping chamber by constructing heavy-duty lids for the existing chamber, which he left in place.
He dismantled and re-erected the front entrance of the store in its new location. He reused external cladding from one elevation to repair the damaged panels around the rest of the building. And he shifted the filling station by 1.5m to avoid major service diversions and to retain existing walls.
Value: £10.2m