Finalist |
||
 |
 |
Category: Projects £15-25m Name: Ian Packer Company: Cowlin Construction Project: Student Accommodation, Cambrian Point, Cardiff Contract: JCT 1998 with contractor's design |
Wherever Ian Packer has worked – and he has come all the way up from apprentice carpenter – a chorus of approval has followed. This project was no exception. The client, the architect and the subcontractors all shower this hands-on construction manager with praise.
An excellent manager of people and projects, Ian brought a calm and focus that instilled trust and confidence. He led from the front, constantly reviewing co-ordination and progress problems onsite rather than from the safety of the office.
His trade background has furnished him with an instinctive feel for good construction detailing and sequencing, and makes him a natural design and build leader. Ian consistently struck the right balance between thorough pre-planning, control of ongoing processes and response to unforeseen site issues.
Bordered by terraced housing and a railway line, the site had severely restricted access through a narrow gap between two blocks of terraces. Through detailed planning and good organisation, Ian kept construction up with the programme. And when encountering unexpected ground conditions on the brownfield site early on, he extensively and seamlessly revised the phasing.
Ian led the re-engineering of the construction when a change in the progressive collapse Building Regs scuppered the initial design for a traditional cavity wall with precast flooring.
Assessing the various alternatives, he quickly decided on a reinforced concrete frame, value-engineering the project to bring the framing solution in line with the original cost figures. Using a timber-frame attic truss helped achieve an early watertight date with the flat-slab flooring on the frame.
He also successfully innovated on the project. Throughout the scheme Ian used pre-erected doors and steel frame sets incorporating architraves that could be clamped onto the partitions. It saved time and gave a consistency of quality and robustness that suited the end-user population.
Ian's extreme hard work, control of the project and ability to work outstandingly well with the entire team up and down the supply chain delivered the time, quality and financial elements to the satisfaction of all parties. Ian's ambition and thirst for success has allowed him to exceed expectations on all sides.
