Construction Projects

Managed infrastructure projects with London Underground. All the buildings are located at their various sidings. Quantified the fee for projects and managed expenditure. Having completed the structural reports, we reported the progress of work needed on these multi-disciplinenary projects.

We have used the Eurocodes for general design of London Underground structures, schools in the public sector and general housing. The schools are in Hampshire. The use included the detailing of steelwork, concrete, masonry and timber. Much of the design was automated using Tedds, the CSC design package. This speeds up the design process and helps when changes are made. Designs included all the foundations, both, pad strip and piles. Where trees were present the foundations were modified to mitigate their impact.

We have worked for the World Bank on the design of large service culverts in the road for the Pacific island of Kiribati.

We have written design engineering management processes in the oil energy sector including Project Setup, Risk Analysis, Change Control, Non-conformance and Safety in Design. Here we applied ISO 9001, ISO 31000, Eurocodes, CDM, and Prince2.

Delivered a range of construction services to developers and contractors on design using the Eurocodes, costs, contracts, programmes and disputes. This included a house in Kensington.

Smaller sites can pose interesting problems. We planned the procurement for remediation of contaminated land where a petrol station had been located on the site and heavy metals had leaked from the underground fuel tanks. These had formed a plume within the soil that had drifted under the site within the groundwater.

We have lectured on the asbestos regulations and health and safety, and advised sites on the application of the regulations.

We have reported to underwriters on the construction risk for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link contracts.

Successfully project managed, designed, programmed and reported on engineering, costs and progress for Jubilee Line projects to for London Underground. Costs were stabilised and reported more quickly.

We managed construction at Lots Road Power Station, London, of the tunnel and oil and gas pipes, and the electric power Bulk Supply Point on the site. Completed under budget and without disruption to the power supply to London Underground.

Managed the structural design of the British Transport Police Station (10m.) in Hammersmith. Monitored and justified all fees, including design changes. Completed on time and budget.

Led embankment stabilisation analysis and remedial works at Ladbroke Grove Station. Embankment was successfully stabilised whlist the trains kept running.

Led and reported on the recommended strengthening of Brunel's Thames Tunnel which is over 150 years old. Surveyed the tunnel and jointly with other London Underground engineers, made recommendations. Following the report it was relined.

Reviewed structural calculations for piling and box culvert at Victoria Station. The roof slab has a six-storey building above, producing high shear stresses. This was constructed.

Received tenders and managed realkalisation at Uxbridge Station. This is an early reinforced concrete structure and the concrete cover to the reinforcement had become acidic. This was the first realkalisation project on the underground. This was completed to budget.

Managed the restoration at Gloucester Road Station. The Grade 1 tiled facade was surveyed in detail and recommendations made on restoration, including cathodic protection to the main structure.

Undertook scheme designs for Heathrow Terminal 5 with BAA. Designs included different roof supporting systems, the diaphragm wall around the site and the piled foundations.

Led the structural design team on Putney Exchange Shopping Centre with Arup. Acted as resident engineer for the foundation and diaphragm wall construction. Completed on time and budget.

Surveyed and reported on the Langham Hotel at Portland Place, London, with Arup, after a large fire during refurbishment. Hotel partly demolished and rebuilt.

Acted as the assistant to the Arup Resident Engineer at Alban Gate (120m), a City development at the junction of London Wall and Wood Street. Resolved steelwork details and fabrication problems. Also assisted in the structural design of Alban Gate and other City office blocks in steel and concrete. Modelled the sway due to lateral loading on Alban Gate.

Developed a computer programme modelling crowding for Liverpool Railway Station reviewing the proposed train timetables with Arup. Used extensively to adjust the timetable.

Construction disputes

On private developments we have advised on the impact of the Architect's Instructions, including practical completion and Completion Date of the JCT contract. We also advised on the contractor's compliance with the contract specification and possible contract termination. All contracts have a completion date and perhaps delays have incurred costs. Critical path analysis may play a role and we have advised on this too.

We advised on the contractual framework agreement and technical problems for two new NHS hospitals in eastern England. Floor screeds were found to have high moisture content. Tests verified that moisture was sealed into the screed. Also advised on whether the previous acceptance by the Primary Care Trust (PCT) of a Schedule of Derogations within the Contractor's Proposals for the Works meant that the PCT has lost the ability to complain about the design of the facility and/or whether the PCT could rely upon the Lease Plus Agreement in order to pursue a claim for defective design of the facility.

In a strange case of a nursery for a local authority some rammed earth walls as constructed had serious faults which included poor compaction, contamination, formwork movement, extensive distortion during drying and severe rain damage. An expert decided they had to be removed and replaced with some other form of masonry. We advised on the project team to complete and manage the new works and the basis for liability and conducted negotiations with the design team and the main contractor on the dispute for the reconstruction costs. We also advised on adjudication and the appointment of an expert witness.

Sadly accidents do occur on building sites. We advised on the liability for a death on site. The client developer had not correctly maintained the statutory health and safety requirements. Here we advised on corporate manslaughter and the client's exposure to this liability.

Civil engineering work in the ground can close problems. We reported on a possible claim under ICE 5th Conditions of Contract for a tunnel in Norwich for unforeseen ground conditions.

We reviewed the contract to build Canary Wharf Underground Station and considered the independent expert's report on the design for suitability. The problem lay in the connectivity between the diaphragm wall and the oversite base slab.

We successfully helped to defend an architect accused of negligent design where the fault lay with the client's insistence for a particular lighting and heating system.