Saving the Olympics
Well almost!
I don’t recall signing a non-disclosure agreement, but it’s probably inappropriate for me to say too much about the nuts and bolts of my involvement, if for no other reason than there are dozens of companies and government agencies involved and I don’t know what is politically sensitive. Suffice to say that I was called in at short notice to offer advice and design for some temporary works that are being used to install electrical equipment in one of the arenas.
Rawlings Structural Design were called in by a repeat Client at very short notice because of contractual problems elsewhere. As a Sole Practitioner it is important that the office programme has built-in gaps to accommodate such issues. Whether it be an issue at the Olympic Park, a local refurbishment or a domestic extension, unexpected issues always raise their heads and, when there is work proceeding on site, this has to take priority. If time is not allowed for these events in the programme, it would soon be a seven day a week 24 hour a day office. It only feels like that, at the moment.
Security at the Olympic Park is airport quality, and the development itself is fascinating. To see one stadium go up is fun, but to see four or five being developed at the same time and within sight of each other is really exciting. It is possible to see an entire community taken shape as accommodation, hotels and support buildings are going up at the same time as the main arenas. The infrastructure is pretty much in place (all though awaiting final tittivation). Roads, walkways, bus services and sign posts are already there is a small town emerges out of the backlands of east London.
So what was a Sole Practitioner doing on such a large site? In truth, it doesn’t matter how large the project is, when it comes to putting pen to paper, turning a spanner or offering advice, personal relationships are of utmost importance. And it was those personal relationships that allowed a difficult situation to be resolved rapidly and amicably.
Keith