Finalist
		Category: Projects under £4m Name: Stephen Kearney Company: Sir Robert McAlpine Project: Aberdeen Marine Operations Centre Contract: SBC 1998 with contractor's design

The architect dreams and the construction manager delivers. In building this iconic structure, Stephen Kearney showed how value engineering is all about giving the client a better building than originally envisaged.

The design concept was for two interlocking forms: a white concrete tower containing the stairs, lift and toilet core was fused to a cylinder clad in facetted glass which contained the main accommodation.

However, during the course of the weekly design meetings and workshops, chaired by Stephen, it became apparent that the original intention of casting the core in situ in reinforced concrete and painting it white was flawed. Given the building's heavily exposed marine location, such a design could saddle the client with high maintenance costs.

Determined to find a solution, Stephen engaged the services of a specialist precast subcontractor to investigate designing large precast concrete cladding panels that would suit the remit. From this came the solution: a hard-wearing white Dolomite aggregate, imported from Spain , that could stand up to the ferocious environmental conditions – and which also looked superb.

Acid-washing the precast panels exposed the white aggregate with spectacular results. The concrete requires no repainting and is also self-cleaning – rain driven onto the panels simply washes the grit and dirt away, constantly removing the layer of grime and reburnishing the brilliance of the white.

This successful blending of durability and beauty was Stephen's payoff from using his knowledge of the marketplace and ability to get early input from the supply chain to assist with all elements of the design. It was also driven by his stimulation of a no-blame culture. Involving the entire team fostered teamwork, swift decision making and attention to detail.

Through judicious management and careful planning, Stephen kept close control of deliveries, storage and labour routes on a very constrained site, where high winds greatly restricted plant movement space when working at height and could even curtail operations.

Despite all the difficulties, Stephen handed over a landmark building whose beauty and practicality owe a great deal to his unique efforts.

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