Gold Medal Winner |
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Category: Projects £15-25m Name: Kevin O'Brien Company: Geoffrey Osborne Project: Science Centre, London Metropolitan University Contract: JCT 1998 D&B |
Arriving 20 weeks into this project's construction period after the previous project manager left for another job, Kevin O'Brien faced the toughest of tasks. A 12-week extension of time was already under discussion but, even worse, Kevin found a demotivated team in no state to pull off this challenging and complex contract.
Treating the reinvigoration of the team as the top priority, he arranged a series of team-building sessions. Eager to inspire a team effort rather than dictate matters, Kevin sought individuals' views and group perceptions on how to redefine roles. The end result was a new and clear definition of each team member's responsibilities and goals.
The change in management structure improved internal and external communications, and stimulated the team spirit that was key to the project's ultimate success.
A natural persuader and confidence-builder, Kevin developed strong working relationships with three different client representatives during the course of the project. His openness and refusal to hide potential problems gave the client enough reassurance to grant the 12-week time extension.
From then on, Kevin flew through the project. He revisited and reprogrammed the design and procurement schedule, gave each subcontractor one point of contact with the management team, and superbly co-ordinated the complex detailing and sequencing. With the steel erector already six weeks behind, he allocated more time to the steel frame and accelerated other areas to compensate.
His other key acceleration decisions included installing the lab furniture before ceiling closure but fully protected, and laying the lab flooring in winter and force-heating the area to allow safe concrete pours.
Kevin was pivotal in ensuring the design vision was carried through to the build quality on this highly complex building. As well as a large gym and sports science facilities, the building incorporated a superlab with 280 workstations, centrifuges, incubators, cold rooms and banks of fume cupboards. Services and specialist equipment accounted for 40% of the total construction cost.
Kevin's tremendous care and sensitive management ensured the vision was sacrificed to neither costs nor subcontractor expediency. His sound and intelligent judgement allowed the team to progress with optimism and enthusiasm and bring in an exceptional building on time and budget to the delight of the client and the design team.
