Finalist |
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Category: Projects over £50m Name: Roy Mundy Company: Laing O'Rourke Construction South Project: Ascot Grandstand Contract: NEC option A |
Through creativity, daring and exceptional leadership, Roy Mundy won and then delivered this unique project for Laing O'Rourke.
While every other bid manager was looking at a 30-month construction period, Roy proposed whipping a staggering nine months off the programme. For the client, the loss of one Royal Ascot (its core brand and revenue stream) rather than two was an unbeatable offer that would ultimately save it £5m.
Roy then followed up the courage of this proposal with a battery of innovative solutions to contain the cost, meet the radical programme and crank up quality. He pushed for major component prefabrication, proven erection techniques and cutting-edge design and manufacturing logistics to keep output high.
He redesigned the metal and terracotta-clad spandrel steel beams as precast concrete members with prefixed terracotta cladding, and developed concealed fixing methods for them. The substitution cut 13 weeks off delivery time and, more importantly, dispensed with the considerable costs of scaffolding five grandstand levels on two sides.
To allow for economical handling and unit shipment, Roy broke the concrete frame portals into component parts, with connection details to meet the structural requirement. He substituted sheet piles for the original secant pile walls, and developed a precast box and wall unit system, with detailing, for the cores. And he minimised the number of expensive bespoke concrete stair units required for the parade ring structures by laying them on an in situ ground-bearing slab with hand-laid blocks as nosings.
Roy's intellectual rigour and technical expertise overcame the complex engineering problems. From resolving buildability issues to negotiating works packages and preparing programmes and risk registers, Roy involved himself in every detail.
Adverse ground conditions, undetected asbestos discovered during demolition, local injunction threats, design changes and component failure all threatened to destabilise his ambitious programme. But Roy's problem-solving skills and steady hand at the tiller kept the project ship off the rocks. He never once succumbed to the temptation to play the blame card and let the programme slip.
Roy's confidence kept everyone on side, and his honesty, commitment and integrity won the respect and absolute backing of the client. His achievement on such a vast scale and such a high-profile stage is as much a triumph for construction as it is for himself, his team and his client.
