Name: Jerry Hayes
Employer: Costain Ltd
Project: ICMA Centre Extension & Henley Business School, University of Reading
Contract: GC Works 1998
Brought in three weeks after site start following the resignation of the previous construction manager, Jerry Hayes rose to the challenge with flair and despatch.
Soon after he arrived, design deficiencies with the pile caps tore 12 weeks out of the programme. Jerry’s calm response was to recover most of the lost time through mitigation measures.
He was instrumental in giving the client solutions rather than problems. It was all about collaboration rather than confrontation. Time and again he cut through complex problems to find the heart of the matter and clearly see it through to an acceptable resolution.
Rather than hunker behind the hoardings, he was proactive in bringing the users into the construction process. And by getting to know them, he was able to anticipate what they wanted and deliver it with minimal delay.
When, for example, the anti-slip flooring spec could not be substantiated with the right HSE numbers, Jerry went straight to BRE to organise a test certificate. Likewise, when the adequacy of the roof access for maintenance was questioned, he prepared a comprehensive, illustrated procedure and arranged a convincing demonstration in situ. It was simply another job done with minimal fuss and no politics.
Win-win was Jerry’s theme. Take his proposal to redecorate rather than rework an existing stair core. Cost cutting at the client’s expense? Hardly. He redesigned the new link structure with ramps and a lift for users with disabilities. For the client, it minimised disruption and offered a better access solution; for Jerry it reduced the risk associated with works in the existing building.
Value: £22.5m