Bangor University’s Property And Campus Services Team Win Prestigious National Award

Bangor University’s Property and Campus Services team has won the title of Principal Contractor of the Year at the National CDM Awards on Thursday 27th October organised by the Association of Project Safety. The title was awarded for the University’s work on the fitting out of the Pontio building in Bangor. The University’s team was also shortlisted for the Client of the Year award. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Awards, now in their ninth year, celebrate, reward and share outstanding good practice in the Design & Construction Health and Safety Risk Management sector. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Principal contractors have an important role in managing health and safety risks during the construction phase so they must have the skills, knowledge, experience and, where relevant, organisational capability to carry out this work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Pontio project had experienced a number of difficulties with regard to delays and in October 2015, Bangor University’s Property and Campus Services team became Principal Contractor for fitting out works within areas in its possession. The project comprised of fitting out works to theatres, lecture theatres, cinema, innovation laboratories, restaurants, cafes, kitchens and bars, together with landscaping. During this period as Principal Contractor, the University’s team was responsible for co-ordinating and programming the work of some 40 contractors with in excess of 100 personnel onsite during any one day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Having made the decision to act as Principal Contractor, the University’s team was under considerable pressure to deliver the works within a very tight programme. With such a complex, sophisticated and highly serviced building, co-ordination of contractors was absolutely essential to ensure the work was delivered, whilst continuing to maintain a safe construction environment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

It was with a great sense of achievement that the University was able to open this iconic building in phases, whilst continuing to provide a safe site. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Dylan Roberts, Director of Property and Campus Services said: ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The University is delighted to win this award and is very proud of its team in delivering this project”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​