Gold Medal Winner |
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Category: Projects £0-4m Name: Mike Teasdale Company: Mansell Construction Project: Military Court Centre, Bulford Camp, Salisbury Contract: DefCon 2000 D&B |
Silence in court is a judicial demand, but this project's location beneath the flight paths of screaming fighter jets from RAF Boscombe Down made it a more challenging requirement than usual. That the project comfortably passed its stringent acoustic tests – one of which involved a helicopter hovering overhead – is largely thanks to Mike Teasdale.
A natural leader with a powerful presence, Mike's honest and direct approach commanded enormous respect from a strong project team always prepared to go the extra mile. Mike led the meetings with the key subcontractors and suppliers to achieve workable acoustic design solutions.
The roofing subcontractor, window manufacturer, dry liner, M&E installer and flooring specialist all co-operated with Mike in developing a joined-up design. They provided the high standard of workmanship necessary to marry up the material junctions to minimise noise transference, meticulously completing the laborious and slow-to-construct details.
Mike took control of the project right from the start. His presentation won the tender for Mansell with an unexpected depth of detail which respected the client's requirements but effectively – and successfully – challenged them. He changed the orientation of the building to minimise the scale of the required new access road. And he replaced the huge original 40 sq m roof light with a vaulted ceiling that simulated natural light. The proposals generated significant buildability and cost savings.
Mike's direct and active involvement was key to success. When the carpentry firm doing the bespoke courtroom wall panels and furniture went bust midway through its works, Mike immediately drove two hours to persuade the abusive and upset director to release materials vital to completing the package.
Notably skilled in communicating, Mike became aware through private conversations that the tender proposal for the central garden feature, while meeting the brief, did not come up to client expectations. He arranged for a landscape architect to discuss the possibilities and present options to the client team. The low-maintenance Japanese courtyard garden that resulted from his intervention fully lived up to their aspirations.
