Name: Adam Cannon MCIOB
Employer: Wates Construction
Project: HM Prison Birmingham
Contract: PPC 2000
Given the difficulties of the project environment, any construction manager could have tanked without it coming as too much of a surprise. But Adam Cannon, a former design manager promoted to project leadership and on his first ever solo project, did more than justify his employer’s trust; he demonstrated how effective control of the detail can bring about success on a much broader level.
The technical challenge alone was substantial, with Adam having to replace three very different roofs in confined and restricted spaces. One was flat, another pitched and the third an octagonal cupola light above a four-storey wing at the heart of the prison.
Adam managed the feat with aplomb. Despite the complications of site workers being escorted to the workface by prison staff unaware of the risks posed by a construction site, his observant monitoring of health and safety ensured risks were so clearly recorded and conveyed that zero accidents were recorded.
He successfully challenged the external consultant’s advice to replace the composite metal sheet on one of the roofs, because its ends had rusted, by inviting the original manufacturer to the site to provide guidance. As a result, he was able to implement an edge treatment that avoided the removal of the sheets, resulted in less disruption to the prison, and offered a quick, cost-effective and durable solution.
And with the prison insisting that plywood linings be fitted under all metal roofs, he carried out extensive surveys that established that the sarking board beneath the pitched slate roof was still in good condition and adequate for the replacement composite cladding. It brought a substantial budget saving and ensured the programme remained lean.
The location placed onerous security demands on the project. Every construction worker had to be escorted by a prison officer to and from their working position and have their tools tracked and checked on a regular basis. Given the frequent unavailability of escorts, this posed repeated opportunities for downtime and delay.
Adam overcame the substantial risk to the project by personally acting as the liaison with prison staff. He persuaded the subcontractors to work unsocial hours to maximise escort potential, and issued the main security gate with a daily bulletin containing enough detailed information to allow construction workers and deliveries to be processed quickly into and out of the prison.
It was all part of a litany of success that directly resulted in Wates winning further work at the prison.
Value: £831,000