The London Borough of Merton’s website recently caught up with their Major Projects Manager, David Leed, to see how the windows replacement project is going.
“As Major Projects Manager I’m responsible for making sure that all the large projects we carry out on our corporate buildings are completed successfully. When we’re working on a large project, like the windows replacement, it requires full coordination and support from the facilities management team, planners, building control, IT, communications and cleaning contractors as well as the main contractor and I ensure that we all work well together to get the job done on time, within budget and with minimum disruption to our colleagues and members of the public.”
When it came to the Civic Centre windows replacement project, David Leed was asked about his involvement with the windows replacement project?
“I was involved from the start when we put together the tender documents to now when we’re checking that every window is properly installed! I’m the project designer which means that I make sure that all aspects of the project are completed in the way we require. I was involved in putting together the specifications for the window and door replacements, scaffold design, concrete and brickwork repairs, ceilings, removal of the old ventilation system and much more. I’m responsible on a day to day basis for coordinating and managing the window replacement project. I evaluate and look at the technical aspects of the project including making sure that the refurbishment of each floor is finished properly and checking each window when its installed for operation and weather tightness.”
Commenting on how the project was going to date, his response was that “The project has gone really well so far and we are nearly there! We have just finished replacing all of the windows from the 5th floor up and there’s five weeks left in the project which means that we’re right on schedule. The short vacations to the second floor have been great and everyone has been very cooperative and patient. We have just finished our own move and enjoyed being on another floor and sitting with different colleagues for a week.”
David Leed was then asked a “leading” question about any ups or downs of the project. In a detailed reply he stated that “One of the most positive parts of the window replacement has been how everybody in the Civic Centre has done their bit to make this a successful project. Staff have really helped to make the whole process of replacing all of the building’s windows hassle-free by preparing well in advance for their short moves to the second floor, being patient during the drilling and scaffolding going up and for giving us feedback so that we could improve the moving process as we went along. Many colleagues and teams throughout the council have helped along the way, particularly the facilities management liaison team including Mick Mills and Ashley Dunn, the sub-contractors, IT, security and the cleaning team. I’d also like to thank Hazlemere and all of their sub-contractors who have done a great job particularly Joe Cross, Hazlemere’s Site Manager who has taken ownership of the project and gone beyond the call of duty ensuring each area is complete on time and any remedial works are carried out swiftly and with no fuss. And the downs of the project…there haven’t been any!”
