A CONSTRUCTION expert from Wellington has been shortlisted for a prestigious awardfor his work on a landmark Somerset building.

Dermot Parkinson has been shortlisted for the construction industry’s most prestigious prize for his work leading work on the UK Hydrographic Office.

The 11,000 sq m structure was completed by BAM Construction in January, houses 850 UKHO employees and took 1,500 people more than 700,000 hours to construct.

The building has already proven highly successful winning awards from RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects), RICS (Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors) and Construction News’ project of the year award.

But it is the CMYA awards, known as the industry’s “Oscars,” that stand out because they are about individuals, and not the team.

It poses an unusual challenge, says Dermot, 52, who lives in Wellington.

"This industry is all about a large range of parties working together and our ability to collaborative effectively is what can distinguish success from failure," he said.

"It goes against the grain for any of us to single ourselves out. The truth is that my time in Taunton building the UKHO was blessed by the fantastic partnership we formed with our client, partners and supply chain."

Winning the award would be a career highlight, Dermot says, but he already boasts an impressive CV.

He built Minehead Hospital and Bridgwater Police HQ, among many others in the West Country.

Jo Funnell, the scheme’s project manager for the UKHO, said: "Dermot had our best interests at heart going above and beyond his duties to ensure that we not only got a high quality, award winning building but that we were also confident to use through extensive training and aftercare.

"We thoroughly enjoyed working with him, the BAM team and their suppliers.”

Somerset County Gazette:

AWARD-WINNING: Inside the new UKHO development

Although the building – designed by AHR and Hydrock and with the involvement of Mace and a host of Somerset-based sub-contractors, was completed by BAM on time and to budget - the company’s philosophy is that it is not just what it builds, but how it builds it, that counts.

"Every project we build, we look for the opportunity to add value," he added.

"We ask, how can we use this opportunity to enhance lives, build careers, help young people learn, and assist the community?

"At UKHO we were able to provide work placements for 30 students at Bridgwater College, for example, develop several apprentices, and test out innovative well-being strategies to look after our people on site."

Dermot is one of 12 finalists across the UK in the public and infrastructure category.

One of them – Tony Richards from Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire – is a BAM colleague who led work an industrial facility for driverless cars and technology.

"The awards are run by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and are hugely popular, and many hundreds enter. Everybody wants to win a medal, which can be career enhancing."

Dermot will only find out if he has won a silver or gold medal on the night of the awards, which are hosted at the Marriott Grosvenor House hotel in London on Wednesday, September 18.