Name: Christian White ACIOB
Employer: Baggaley Construction
Project: Wyre Forest Crematorium & Cemetary, Kidderminster
Christian White’s inspired technical leadership of this greenfield cemetery and crematorium scheme made it clear why the client was so keen on him to be its construction manager again. So keen in fact that it awarded the project only on condition that he ran it.
He ably juggled the second-phase construction of the crematorium chapel and gardens so that the first phase of the project he delivered – the cemetery – could open while the project was still onsite. And he perfectly balanced the requirements of his own subcontractors with those of the client’s specialist suppliers engaged in the substantial task of fitting out the crematorium.
His graceful solution to the highly complex roof design was the key to achieving the client’s aspirations on budget, timescale and, indeed, aesthetics. The original proposal was to construct it using the main structural steel members, forming the required convex and concave shapes by means of timber joists. Pointing out that this would not only be expensive and horribly time-consuming, but that the 400mm thick roof would look unsightly too, Christian proposed a far more effective approach.
He installed hot rolled circular hollow-section steel purlins off the main beams to create the exact roof profile required. By slashing the 400mm-plus roof build-up to between 100mm and 200mm thick, it made the construction much more visually – as well as financially and programmatically – attractive.
This superior buildability and value-engineering input continued throughout. He replaced the clay-based surface water drainage system with SUDS-delivering soakaways. He fed two large ponds in the memorial gardens with rainwater pipes rather than from the mains. And his remodelling of the cut and fill allowed all waste to be reused onsite, reducing cost, landfill and vehicle movements.
Value: £4.8m