vox, august 2012

AugusT 2012ProjecTs And PeoPle

Mine the gapaustralian infrastructure boom for halcrow – 10

FaceliFt For Forgotten slice oF historyDerelict canal revived – 16

an olyMpic eFFortemployee volunteers bring games to london – 54

PLUS – Air transport success – Bicentenary of Halcrow founder’s birth – UK apprentices

VOX

A CH2M HILL COMPANY

projects and people ◆ Vox ◆ 3 2 ◆ Vox ◆ projects and people

editor’scomment in this issue, we take a look at the multi-billion-pound infrastructure network being developed to transport iron ore from Australia’s new roy Hill mine for export. the global air transport team gives us a tour of its projects around the world, and we speak to the employees behind the mammoth Kishanganga hydroelectric scheme in india.

With the eyes of the world trained on London, we catch up with some of the employees helping to ensure the 2012 Games are remembered for all the right reasons. We meet the Halcrow apprentices taking an alternative route towards a career in engineering, and we chat to Halcrow Foundation project sponsor rob clarke - a man on a mission to improve conditions for residents of Kenya’s informal settlements.

sadly, this is the last issue of Vox. thanks for your input, feedback and support over the years.

Contentsyou’re hireD 3Five Minutes with Jacque rast 8

ProjeCtsiron age sparks golD rush 10 stepping up to a greener Future 14 FaceliFt For Forgotten slice oF history 16 winD oF change 22cleareD For takeoFF 24 rail proJect pulls to the Finish line 29 take the highway 30 centre oF attention 32river Deep, Mountain high 34 Flush with success 38 granD Finale 40 tiMe anD tiDe 44

PeoPlehoMewarD bounD 48where it all began 52 an olyMpic eFFort 54 anyone For briDge 58

GivinGclass act 60 painting the town reD 62 soliD FounDation 64 everyone, Forever 70

sPort 72

AnnounCements 74

Eloise Young, editor

Video Andrew Mcrae

Emilie Dadswell, designer

Web Adeel Arshad

a solid

foundation – 64

vox team

Meet project sponsor rob clarke You’re

hiredApprenticeship scheme prOVides

AlternAtiVe cAreer rOute fOr

yOung engineers

➔


ention the word ‘apprentice’ and the first

thing many people think of is a middle-aged

multimillionaire jabbing a podgy finger at one

dejected candidate and uttering the dreaded statement:

“You’re fired.” But beyond the world of television, growing

numbers of young people in the uK are electing to learn

on the job, with demand for formal apprenticeships far

exceeding available places.

In 2010, responding to the lack of structured alternatives

to a traditional graduate career path, Halcrow and a

number of its industry partners established an engineering

apprenticeship scheme in london and the south east of

england. An audible buzz around the programme has seen

the original six-strong consortium of consultants expand

to include more than 12 companies, comprising a mix of

contractors, consultancies and clients.

M

“Your work is recognised as professional,

rather than just theoretical exercises,

and you’re treated as an equal”

I can’t wait to get in to work to

find out what I’m going to be

working on next”

“I’m at college one day a week

and get to apply what I’ve

learnt on real projects”

bethany wilson, 18, leeds

ray cantwell, 19, london

Zubair osman, 19, london

sean butler, 19, london

“People see how good apprentices

are at the end of it – how much

knowledge they have of the job”

Click the play button to watch the video

➔

http://www.halcrow.com/Videos/Meet-our-London-based-apprentices/


Halcrow’s intake has grown exponentially – from one

apprentice in the launch year to four at present – and the

company plans to take on more trainees in the future.

From an initial focus on the south east, the geographical

spread has also increased to include an apprentice in

leeds, while the Worcester office plans to welcome

two additions to the team this september. new recruits

initially work towards a technician qualification over three

years, with the programme providing a potential path all

the way to chartered status.

ray cantwell became the first apprentice under the

current scheme when he joined Halcrow 18 months ago.

“The biggest thing to change is my confidence,” he said.

“I’ve been exposed to lots of different employees and their

experiences, and the different routes they’ve taken to

get where they are now. You’re always learning from the

people around you.”

The emphasis on applied knowledge and getting stuck in

on real projects is a major draw for young people vying

for an apprenticeship place. equally, the consensus

among Halcrow’s apprentices is that working directly

with senior engineers, and being able to put the

theory they learn at college into practice in the office,

has already accelerated their progress. “some of the

drawings I’ve helped to produce are up on York council’s

website,” said leeds-based Bethany Wilson. “Your

work is recognised as professional, rather than just

theoretical exercises, and you’re treated as an equal. I

feel like I’m responsible for real-life outcomes.”

Beyond the uK engineering industry, rocketing popularity

across the board has seen the number of apprentices

enrolled in nationally recognised programmes increase by

two thirds, from 279,700 starts in the 2009-10 academic

year to 442,700 in 2010-11. In london, mayor Boris

johnson is already halfway towards a targeted 100,000

apprenticeship places by the end of 2012.

sean Butler, who joined the london transport planning

team in september 2011, reckons apprenticeships are in

the public eye for good reason: “I think the reason they

are in the spotlight so much at the moment is that you

can’t just rely on going to university and then getting a

job at the end of it, especially in the current climate. With

an apprenticeship, what you learn directly applies to your

work, and at the end of the three years you have so much

experience and knowledge.”

nineteen-year-old Zubair osman was emphatic with

his message for potential candidates: “I would definitely

encourage anyone who has an opportunity or an offer for

an apprenticeship to take it hands on, because you won’t

get experience like this anywhere else.”

“The apprenticeship scheme really broadens

our scope in terms of what we can

offer young people” next steps

Given the success of the programme, expanding its

scope is a certainty for Halcrow, with intake numbers,

geographies and engineering options for apprentices

all set to grow. the scheme’s close links with the

institution of civil engineers has meant

the focus to date has largely been

on providing routes aligned to this

organisation. As scheme sponsor sam

el-Jouzi explained, moves to diversify

are underway: “We’re looking to branch

out into more engineering disciplines.

We’ll be working with other

professional bodies and colleges so

that the career options we can offer apprentices

reflect our multidisciplinary business.”

“the apprenticeship scheme really broadens our scope

in terms of what we can offer young people wanting to

pursue a career in engineering,” added senior human

resources adviser sam Hannis, who chairs the south-

east consortium. “it’s a win-win situation – the way

our current apprentices are flourishing in the work

environment is testament to that.”

sam el-Jouzi

scheme sponsor

including halcrow’s ray cantwell

Mayor boris Johnson with london apprentices,

during uk apprenticeship week, February 2012

Members of the worcester team at an event

with london deputy mayor richard barnes

halcrow’s sam hannis (left)


programme. I also got to help out with a bid

for a nuclear decommissioning Authority

contract to safely decommission some of the

uK’s Magnox reactors.

How is the integration progressing? our teams are working well together all around the world

to pursue and deliver work. The next step is to determine

the international operating model – we’ll then begin to

implement it from the third quarter of this year so that we

What are you currently working on?At the moment I’m evaluating cH2M

HIll’s options for our 2013 international

operating model, which will help to

shape our strategy over the next couple of

years. I’m also serving as executive sponsor for

a handful of projects, including the Qatar 2022 football

world cup, Philadelphia International Airport, the

london 2012 olympics, and the uK’s High speed 2 rail

are a stronger, integrated, symbiotic entity going

into 2013. We will also make great strides over

the next couple of months by integrating our

financial and Hr systems and tools.

What are you most excited by at the moment? How cool our people and projects are. What a

great company we work for. And, of course, I’m

personally excited that the olympics are just

about to start. I have been waiting for this since

my first meeting with the – then potential –

client in january 2006. It’s amazing how fast six

and a half years goes by!

What have you been up to since we last saw you? getting loads of stamps in my passport! I’ve

been travelling around the world to meet our

international team and better understand

our operations. over the next few months, I’ll

be spending most of my time in europe and

the Middle east – we’re pursuing some key

business opportunities in both regions, and

these are also our largest cH2M HIll and

Halcrow operations to integrate.

What is your message to employees?stay true to our core values and listen to

your instincts.

“Stay true to

our core values and

listen to your instincts”

Quickfire roundWhat is your earliest memory? My mother singing ‘You are my sunshine’ to me. I believe I was

about 18 months old.

Which living person do you most admire? My mother. she was the only daughter of a large, traditional

Italian family that immigrated to the us. she went on to get

two university degrees, become a biology teacher, marry my

Italian father, quit work to raise a family, return to work in real

estate and, ultimately, become an elected official in our local

county government for 20 years. I honestly don’t know how she

accomplished all of this!

If you weren’t an engineer, what would you be?either a blues pianist or an animal shelter manager. I have

done all three but it seems I’m best at making a living in the

engineering field.

What makes you truly happy?developing a vision and goals, and ultimately achieving them,

whether in terms of work, family or leisure activities.

What is the worst job you’ve ever done? cleaning out the bar screens at a wastewater treatment plant

while studying at university.

How would you like to be remembered? As someone that inspired others to live life to the full and

pursue their dreams.

What’s your worst habit?Working too much, especially late at night when I am travelling.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you? It is best paraphrased in a quote from nelson Mandela: “There

is no passion to be found in playing small – in settling for a life

that is less than the one you are capable of living.” every person

that I truly admire pushed past the barriers in their life to do

something meaningful.

Where’s your favourite place in the world?Venice, Italy. It is a city that romances you such that you

voluntarily surrender to both its beauty and disorder.

Five minutesJAcque rAst

with

An interview with halcrow’s chief executive and chairman

projects and people ◆ Vox ◆ 11

Iron age sparks

gold rush

10 ◆ Vox ◆ projects and people

hina’s insatiable appetite for raw materials is fuelling a

global commodities boom, particularly in iron ore.

Thousands of kilometres south of the world’s most populous nation,

the mines of the Pilbara in Western Australia are working flat out to

meet the growing demand. night and day, ore trains rumble out of

the remote region on their way to Port Hedland for export.

In 2014, iron ore production in the Pilbara is due to expand

enormously with the opening of the roy Hill mine. up to 55 million

extra tonnes of iron ore will be heading for the bulk carriers moored

off the coast some 280km away. In its biggest project yet in the

Australian mining market, Halcrow is playing a vital role in ensuring

they’ll get there.

Port Hedland, a remote facility on the northern coast, is Australia’s

highest tonnage port and already receives huge amounts of iron

ore delivery every day. In order to accommodate the increase in

traffic, Halcrow has been commissioned to design a vast new

network of infrastructure.

Although the existing mines in the region are already linked to Port

Hedland by rail, roy Hill’s size means a dedicated rail service will be

needed to transport ore to the port.

“smooth handling of such vast quantities of raw material requires

some major infrastructure,” said project manager james Houghton.

“once roy Hill opens, a train made up of 232 wagons will arrive at

Port Hedland, five times every day, via the new rail link.”

New miNe iN westerN AustrAliA promises iNfrAstructure boom for HAlcrow

C

gold

➔


The total cost of the pit-to-port service plus associated

infrastructure is £4.7 billion (Aus$7.2 billion). Traversing

the isolated Pilbara region, the 342km rail link project is

split into four separate packages. Halcrow is responsible

for package three – Port landside – which includes

the final 23km of rail, rail loop, stockyard and a major

terminal yard facility.

Halcrow will also undertake the foundation design for

the rescreening plant, stockyard rail system, conveyors

and material transfer stations, as well as designing the

car dumper facility. The team has designed a 6m-high

embankment around the stockyard to protect it from

tidal surges.

With early contractor involvement now complete,

and early works underway, construction is set to

start in october 2012, with Halcrow providing the

supervisory team.

“roy Hill is a completely new mine and covers a wide range

of our skills,” said james. “It’s a tremendous opportunity

for the Perth team, which has grown in number and

capacity over the past 12 months. It will also rely on the

expertise of resources from other offices within Australia

and globally to ensure its successful delivery.”

The new £650 million (Aus$1 billion) facility

will include:

• 25km of railway

• 30km of service roads

• 55Mtpa stockyard

• a new car dumper

Roy Hill

Factfile

800kmOF ELECTRICAL CABLE TO BE LAID

26,000 TONNES

OF STRUCTURAL STEEL NEEDED

750,000TONNESOF BALLAST AND

ROAD BASE REQUIRED

TOTAL COST OFPIT-TO-PORT SERVICE

£4.7 BILLION(AUS$7.2 BILLION)8 MILLION

M³ OF EARTHWORKSTO BE SHIFTED

a huge trainload of ‘red gold’ heads to port

Mineral gold

Mine the gap: the layers of an open-cast iron ore mine

click here to find out more about the team’s work

http://www.halcrow.com/Where-we-work/Australia/Mining_resources_australia/

projects and people ◆ Vox ◆ 15

isitors and residents of Hong Kong are

never far from a man-made slope.

With 7 million people squeezed into just 1,100km²

of mainly mountainous terrain, developers and

engineers have dug, burrowed and tunnelled

into the mountainside to meet the needs of a

soaring population.

More than 60,000 registered man-made slopes

are spread across the territory. some are just a

couple of dozen metres in length, others as long

as several hundred metres.

Because of the huge visual

impact of these slopes, the Hong

Kong government’s geotechnical

engineering office recently

commissioned Halcrow to prepare

a series of technical guidelines

on landscaping of slopes. The

project also had input from a

working group of government

stakeholders, academics and

industry professionals.

Technical guidelines on landscape treatment

for slopes is an A-Z of how to make new

slopes blend harmoniously into the

landscape through careful selection of

materials, planting and patterns. It also

provides key tips on how to soften the

vimpact of existing slopes and make them

less intrusive.

“Hong Kong has many steep man-made

slopes of up to 70 degrees,” said geotechnical

engineer Allan Watkins. “The Hong Kong

government has a policy of trying to make

these look as natural as possible through the

use of soft and hard landscape treatment.

“our non-mandatory guidance covers a variety

of topics, including minimising damage to

the existing landscape from temporary and

permanent works. It looks at ways to create

opportunities for planting and gives advice on

selecting the right species, good construction

practice and supervision, and ways to maintain

landscape works.”

The 220-page document builds on an earlier award-

winning version issued in 2000, for which Halcrow

provided input. The new document focuses on

engineering principles, so it is hoped that its advice

will also help to mitigate the risk of landslides.

The guidance is intended for use from the earliest

design stage for new works, as well as upgrading or

mitigation works. Although it relates to construction

processes used in Hong Kong, its findings could

also be relevant for other parts of Asia where high-

intensity development on steep terrain is becoming

more common.

stepping up to a greener Future

lanDscape guiDance soFtens hong kong’s steep surrounDs

14 ◆ Vox ◆ projects and people

design in hong kong

look up: retaining wall

example of halcrow’s

slope upgrade work

sprouting street: an

stakeholdersworkshop

allan watkins addresses stakeholder


faCelIft for forgotten slICe of hIstory

alcrow is helping resurrect a neglected relic of the UK’s industrial past,

kick-starting regional regeneration and enhancing the lives of thousands

of people living in the south-west of England.

The Cotswold Canals consist of two connected waterways in Gloucestershire – the

Stroudwater Navigation and the Thames and Severn Canal. A project to restore

the historic 58km-long waterway is set to reconnect England’s greatest rivers, the

Severn and the Thames, for the first time in over 70 years.

Following a 30-year campaign,

the restoration is being led

by the Cotswold Canals

Partnership. This organisation

brings together a number

of trusts, societies and local

councils keen to lend weight

to what was originally a

volunteer cause.

Partly funded by the UK’s

Heritage Lottery Fund, the

restoration promises a wide

range of benefits to the local

Cotswold Canals project revives derelict waterway

h

➔opportunities for regeneration through the stroud District

restored green corridors have provided many

full working condition by the project team

wallbridge upper lock has been restored to


environment and communities. By providing a

functioning, navigable canal, the partnership

aims to trigger urban regeneration and

investment, restore an important part of local

heritage, and reduce the risk of flooding.

The first phase of the project targets the

10km stretch of the canal through the centre

of stroud. This overgrown and neglected route

has been infringed upon by local development

and includes many heritage structures such

as locks, weirs and swingbridges, as well as

modern obstacles such as roads and

service crossings.

The Halcrow team, led by framework director

Mark seward, is undertaking the design of

structures, including bridges, locks, flood

control structures and channel works, as

well as dealing with all planning applications,

environmental mitigation and enhancements,

and site supervision services on behalf of

stroud district council.

“It’s a multifaceted and hugely rewarding

challenge for us,” said Mark. “not only are

we restoring an important part of the local

heritage, we are playing a part in ensuring the

area’s future growth, which stands to benefit

local communities. If the sheer numbers

of volunteers who regularly turn out in all

weathers to contribute to the project is anything

to go by, people are very keen to regain the use

of their local waterways.” ➔

leads one of many local volunteering groups Jon pontefract (stroud District council)

to repair towpaths along the canal

the new stroud brewery bridge in

the restored canal passes under

stroud town centre, February 2012

Mark seward, paul williams, becky wheway,

the game changers:

sandy hinxman and simon caseythe restored wallbridge upper lock

locals enjoy a morning coffee at

clearing debris on the derelict canal

cotswold canals trust volunteers

phase 1a and 1b of the cotswold canals from saul Junction to brimscombe


In February 2012, locals and officials welcomed Her

royal Highness the Princess royal to stroud on a snowy

morning, to formally open the new stroud Brewery Bridge

and the refurbished Wallbridge upper lock. residents

celebrated as Princess Anne boarded the first boat to

pass through the lock in over three decades.

A pivotal part of the wider scheme, this event marked the

halfway point in the project’s first phase. With plenty still

to be accomplished, Halcrow is looking ahead. The team

is putting together a bid with stroud district council and

the Waterways Trust to tackle the second phase of the

project – reconnecting the section restored by the first

phase with the national network and the gloucester and

sharpness canal.

Unlocking the pastThe stroudwater

navigation was

built in the

1770s to link

the prosperous

woollen mills

of stroud to the

river severn. It

was designed to

accommodate

craft carrying

loads of up to 100

tonnes, but years of neglect left this once-proud route languishing in a state

of disrepair. A slow decline brought by the rise of rail concluded with the

canal’s closure in 1954.

Built in the following decade, the Thames and severn canal presented

a greater engineering feat as it climbed to sapperton Tunnel, england’s

longest canal tunnel at the time of construction. This too suffered at the

hands of progress, closing completely in 1933.

However, following an energetic 30-year restoration campaign, the

current project will see sections of both waterways fully restored to their

former glory.

click the imAge tO wAtch


the st cyr’s church at stonehouse

the restored canal sweeps past

opens the restored lock

hrh princess anne ceremoniously

the lock on a cold February morning

the princess royal takes a trip through

http://www.halcrow.com/Videos/In-focus-video-news---March-2012/

http://www.cotswoldcanals.com/pages/history-of-the-trust.php


rain travel around Wellington, the capital of

new Zealand, has rolled into an exciting new

era over the last few months.

one by one, Wellington’s eagerly awaited new Matangi

trains have been entering service. Matangi unit 4472 –

nicknamed the ‘scotsman’ in tribute to the famous

Flying scotsman steam train – entered service in mid

March 2012.

By the end of March, 50 per cent of the new vehicles were

in service and the rail network is on track to have full

deployment of the 96-vehicle fleet by september 2012.

t

Wind of change

in WeLLinGtonnew ZeAlAnd’s cApitAl gets

brAnd new trAin fleet

The Matangi trains – the name means wind in Maori –

take pride of place in the greater Wellington regional

council’s far-reaching modernisation of its rail

infrastructure. Halcrow has steered the procurement

process for the new trains since 2006, including

developing the specifications and serving as project

manager for the technical design, manufacturing quality

and build compliance.

Project director Tony oyo said: “The Halcrow

manufacturing quality control team has been working

hard at the Hyundai rotem factory in changwon, south

Korea, to ensure that all the trains are delivered to the

same high quality.

“Paul legdin from our sydney office conducted an

internal audit of the project and we were delighted that he

was able to present the client with a clean bill of health

on the project delivery.”

As well as supervising quality control of the new trains,

Halcrow played a vital role in developing a host of the

Matangi’s modern design features. These include the

fleet’s distinctive low floors, multi-user access areas and

its simplified, cost-effective braking system.and paul nugus, project engineer, in front of 4472

project director tony oyo, project co-ordinator Michelle choi,

Tony said that in the next few months, the team will

be fully focused on delivering and commissioning the

remaining Matangi units to the client and preparing

them for use in the fleet.

“The end of these projects can be as busy as the

beginning as we transition from a project wrap-up into

the reliability and fleet management phase and hand

over the trains to a new set of stakeholders.”on the Johnsonville line, March 2012Matangi unit 4155 launches the fleet introduction

wellington station, september 2010

the first Matangi, unit 4103, at the inaugural launch,

off and ready for service

Matangi unit 4472, signed

decal audit as part of the commissioning

project co-ordinator Michelle choi conducts a process at the wellington depot


ew markets can boast the kind of sustained growth enjoyed by the aviation

industry since the first airliners took to the skies in the 1950s.

despite the lingering effects of the global recession, demand for air travel continues

its jet-propelled trajectory – particularly in the growth economies of Asia and latin

America. Brazil’s civil aviation agency, for example, reports a 194 per cent rise over

the past decade, with demand in 2011 alone increasing 16 per cent on the previous

year. In India, year-on-year growth slid to a ‘mere’ 11 per cent in 2011, down from

17 per cent a year earlier – a minor blip on an otherwise expansionary trend.

“We’re experiencing one of the most active, exciting and varied periods of

international airport work I can remember for years – despite the tough economic

environment,” said Halcrow’s airports and air transport director, Bill Millington.

even in the uK, where diminishing capacity could act as a brake on growth,

passenger numbers are set to double by 2030.

coping with the millions of additional passengers projected to sweep through the

world’s airports will pose a mounting challenge for operators, but also offers the

prospect of soaring returns. upgrades and expansions to accommodate demand

represent a large chunk of the market, and Halcrow’s current workload includes

redevelopment and improvement projects in Kuwait, geneva,

India and the uK, and a new airport for the island outpost of

st Helena. drawing on over five decades’ experience, the

company is no newcomer to the international scene,

as air transport global market director john daly

points out. “We’ve been advising on airports and air

transport for over 50 years, all around the world,”

he said. “clients value this experience, as well as

our ability to bring the specialist skills they need,

wherever they need them. We can get straight in and

start solving problems.”

air transport group Flying high in booMing inDustry

F

cleareD For take oFF

“we’re

experiencing one oF the Most active, exciting

anD varieD perioDs oF international

airport work For years”

➔


Gatwick hiGh flyersHalfway between london and england’s south coast,

gatwick Airport stretches out over 600ha into the bucolic

countryside of West sussex. since winning a four-year

framework contract in september 2010, alongside five

other consultants, Halcrow’s multidisciplinary team has

become a regular sight at the uK’s second-largest airport.

“It’s a tremendously busy and exciting time,” said

framework manager john Williams. “We’re drawing

on skills from across the company to work on the

airport’s runways, taxiways, water systems, roads and

rail network.”

just six months after the framework win, Halcrow edged

out its fellow consultants to secure the master

civil engineer role. This appointment,

in February 2011, sees the company

undertaking the planning and initial

design of all minor projects at the

airport. “We were really delighted

with the win and have since carried

out around 18 tasks in our master

civil engineer role,” said john.

airport lifeline for saints For centuries, the remote

island of st Helena was

an important stopover for

boats sailing to europe

from Asia and southern

Africa. However,

advances in long-

distance shipping have

brought an increased

sense of isolation. The

island is now almost

solely reliant on monthly

voyages by the ageing rMs st Helena as a link to the

world beyond its jagged coastline, with supplies, mail

and around 1,000 visitors per year making the week-long

voyage by sea from south Africa.

An airport to replace the rMs st Helena as the main

access provider had been mooted a number of times

before the current proposal was unveiled in 2005.

grounded by the credit crunch in 2008, it is now back on

track with Halcrow providing a project management unit

(PMu) for the airport’s design and construction.

The island is part of one of the oldest British overseas

territories, comprising the islands of st Helena,

Work under the framework has been diverse, including

taxiway refurbishment design, acoustic surveys in the

security area of the terminal, and most recently a study

determining gatwick’s ability to safely accommodate the

mammoth Airbus A380, the largest passenger plane in

the world. The team was also recently awarded a major

project in partnership with construction and regeneration

group Morgan sindall. This will involve construction for a

new pier, a new two-storey baggage factory, five aircraft

stands and five taxiways.

gatwick is home to the world’s busiest single runway,

averaging 52 aircraft movements every hour. As part of

the airport’s £1.2 billion investment programme, the

3.3km-long main runway is being resurfaced for the first

time in 12 years. Halcrow is providing design support to

contractor VolkerFitzpatrick on the £40 million upgrade.

The project involves resurfacing an area of 400,000m2

– the equivalent of 100 football pitches – with

approximately 65,000 tonnes of asphalt. john

explains: “one of the main challenges is

ensuring that the runway is kept free of all

debris, which can cause potentially fatal

damage to planes.

“Aircraft pavements require specialist

materials – the runway

must be strong and

durable, but also

smooth.” Because

gatwick does not

have the option of

closing the runway

to allow resurfacing,

construction is taking

place overnight.

looking forward, the

sky’s the limit. “We

will continue to build

upon the solid base

of project success,

delivering great client

care and excellent

results to ensure we’re

in a strong position to

bid for further large

projects,” said john.

THE NAME ‘GATWICK’ WAS FIRST RECORDED IN 1241, AS GATWIK, DERIVED FROM THE ANGLO-SAXON WORDS GĀT,

‘GOAT’, AND WĪC, ‘DAIRY FARM’

33.8MILLION

PASSENGERS PASSED

THROUGH THE AIRPORT

IN 2011/2012

DOMESTICINTERNATIONAL SHORTHAUL

FLIGHT DESTINATIONS:1 3

78 0

%%%INTERNATIONAL LONGHAUL

Gatwick in numb3rs

TYPE OF PASSENGER:

ORIGIN AND DESTINATION TRANSFER 92% 8%

OF TRAFFIC IS VIA LOW-BUDGET CARRIERS

55%

SERVING 13 DOMESTICAND 200 OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS

AROUND 70 AIRLINES USE GATWICK

THE AIRPORT HAS

TWO TERMINALSNORTH

(OPENED IN 1988)

SOUTH(OPENED IN 1958)

Departures

“halcrow has becoMe a

regular Feature at gatwick, the

uk’s seconD largest airport”

Ascension and Tristan da cunha. Its size, isolation and

lack of industry means the saints – as the residents call

themselves – remain heavily reliant on aid from the uK,

and people have increasingly been forced to leave to seek

work. In a boon for st Helena’s fledgling tourism industry,

the airport is projected to swell visitor numbers to 30,000

annually – bringing economic independence and the

prospect of increased employment for the island’s

3,800 inhabitants.

Prosperous Bay Plain, near the island’s eastern coast,

has been earmarked for construction of the airport – the

only suitable site, given st Helena’s craggy, challenging

interior. A 1,550m runway means the A319-100 and B737-

700W – able to carry 160 and 148 passengers

respectively – have space to land.

Halcrow is managing the four-year contract,

which also includes construction of a wharf for

importing plant and materials, an access road

across the island and a fuel storage facility. With

client liaison support from the uK, the PMu is

being led by Andreas Huber, supported by two

deputy resident engineers, Miles leask and

Paul Welbourn. environmental monitor robert

Kleinjan will play an essential role in protecting

the island’s endemic flora and fauna during

construction, much of which teeters towards

the endangered list. Miles said: “despite the

challenges of island life, we are keen to see this

exciting project completed and contribute to the

huge impact it will have on people’s lives.”

historic city Jamestown, capital of st helena

Many visitors to st helena are following the trail of

arguably its most famous resident, napoleon boneparte.

Defeat at waterloo saw the ‘little general’ exiled to the

windswept island in 1815. longwood house, where he

was held until his death in 1821, is one of st helena’s

major tourist attractions.

the deposed emperor dictated his memoirs from his

island jail, lamenting his imprisonment on ‘this cursed

rock’ and criticising his captors. a loose cadre of

supporters plotted various rescues, but plans to

resurrect the napoleonic empire hatched

by groups in the us and latin america

were ultimately foiled by the general’s death.

➔

case study case study


runway rehabilitation As well as being ghana’s primary airport, Kotoka

International Airport serves as an aviation hub for the

entire West Africa sub region. The airport’s pavements,

taxiways and parking apron are being rehabilitated, with

Halcrow commissioned by contractor PW ghana ltd to

provide consultancy services.

The design, undertaken by the Warrington office

following an intensive site investigation, takes

into account the specific condition of the existing

infrastructure. Areas for pavement repair and

strengthening have been identified, with high-

quality Marshall Asphalt set to be overlaid and

asphalt reinforcement used to prevent cracking.

The project has been planned around the existing

pavements to minimise disruption.

pavinG the way to successWhen Hyderabad’s new airport opened in 2008, its cargo

facilities were designed to handle an annual capacity of 100,000

tonnes. However, growth in cargo traffic has far outstripped

those forecasts in terms of both volume and the size of aircraft

typically transporting cargo.

As a result, the airport operator, infrastructure company gMr

group, approached Halcrow to carry out a review of the cargo

apron pavements and identify expansion requirements based on

forecast traffic. The team was also asked to provide designs for

pavement strengthening and apron expansion.

Having identified that pavement strengthening was required,

the international Halcrow project team provided designs for the

first phase. The ongoing relationship with this important client

is now also

being supported

through a

work-share

arrangement

with the cH2M

HIll aviation

team in India.

new pier for Geneva When the Boeing 747 entered service

during the 1970s, its unprecedented

proportions gave airport operators a minor

headache. some four decades later, geneva

airport’s existing pier – originally intended

as a temporary structure to accommodate

the ‘jumbo jet’ – is being replaced as part of

the current eight-year master plan.

joint-venture company rBI, comprising

rogers stirk Harbour + Partners, Bugna,

and Ingerop, sought Halcrow’s airport

planning expertise, with the team

developing a simulation model to verify the

winning competition design.

The project comes in response to an

upsurge in traffic at the airport and will

bring the east pier facilities in line with the

rest of the terminal.

of the pier design

halcrow’s simulation model

alcrow continues to blaze a trail across

Australia’s rail network, completing work

on the maintenance depot at craigieburn on

Melbourne’s north-western edge in january 2012.

The train maintenance facility represents the fifth stage of

a project to establish a complete stabling and maintenance

depot on the site. Halcrow provided concept designs to

develop a new maintenance facility at the depot to service

some of the Melbourne trains, which will increase the city’s

rail network capacity. The depot design includes the new

£50 million train maintenance facility, a train wash and 17

roads for storing trains overnight. A new wheel lathe is also

planned for installation on the site.

As well as the initial design work, the team – drawn

from Halcrow’s sydney and Melbourne offices – reviewed

the designs and monitored the installation, testing and

commissioning systems, including the train traction

power supply, lifting equipment cranes and turntables,

and key safety aspects.

raIl projeCt pulls to the fInIsh lIne

Project manager giles dallaway said: “We witnessed

all major tests to ensure the equipment behaved as

anticipated – and where it didn’t, we reviewed what had

gone wrong. We identified any defects that needed to

be rectified before the contractor could claim practical

completion for the works and hand over the site to the

end user, Metro Trains Melbourne.”

In november 2011, the first train entered the depot under

traction power, and the maintenance lifts worked exactly

as planned.

“It’s been a challenging project, but a testament to the

great results that can be achieved by sharing skills

between our teams and offices,” said giles.

In conjunction with eight other stabling sites around

Melbourne, the capacity of the rail network will be vastly

improved – and the condition of the city’s trains more

easily maintained.

h

one of the Melbourne comeng trains

artist’s impression of the building

Technical support during construction is ongoing, with

the Warrington team responding to the challenges of

short access periods for the runway, variations in site

conditions, and changes in end-client requirements.

In addition, Halcrow’s london-based planning team

is collaborating with Pascall+ Watson Architects on a

purpose-built business aviation terminal for PW and

Kotoka’s operator, ghana Airports ltd.

site investigation on the main runway

at kotoka international airport

case studies

hyderabad airport, known as

rajiv gandhi international airport


here’s an unaccustomed tranquillity in

the twin speyside villages of Fochabers

and Mosstodloch these days.

After years of enduring 11,000-plus vehicles

thundering down their high street each day,

local people are relishing the return to a quieter

way of life, thanks to the new A96 Fochabers

and Mosstodloch bypass.

opened on 31 january 2012 by scottish Transport

Minister Keith Brown, the 5.1km bypass now

carries the bulk of traffic heading along the A96.

connecting Aberdeen and Inverness, the A96 is

one of the main transportation arteries across

north-east scotland.

The £31.6 million bypass was designed by

Halcrow on behalf of Morrison construction for

ultimate client Transport scotland. Two years

of site supervision was also undertaken by

Halcrow teams following a successful tender

submission and the subsequent detailed design.

“Fochabers and Mosstodloch had been plagued

with high-density traffic flows – the traffic

literally cut the communities in half,” said

Halcrow project manager colin Walker. “local

people campaigned for almost 20 years to get

the bypass built.”

T

bypAss brings peAce fOr scOttish VillAgesTake the highway

As the bypass cuts through the historically

important and environmentally sensitive

gordon castle estate, an extensive consultation

process took place. The resulting mitigation

measures – including willow-faced acoustic

barriers and embankments – ensure the bypass

blends into the designed landscape within

gordon castle and along the northern edge

of Fochabers.

The new road includes two sections of wide

single 2+1 carriageway which provides much-

needed overtaking opportunities on the A96.

These skirt the south of Mosstodloch, crossing

the river spey via Fochabers new Bridge and

bypassing the north of Fochabers. The bypass

then reconnects with the A96 and A98 to the

east of the village.

detailed planning, staged construction of

bridges and temporary traffic management

schemes ensured that traffic continued to

flow smoothly on the existing A96 carriageway

throughout the construction period.

“This multidisciplinary project was a major

achievement for the glasgow-based design

team,” said colin. “It helps to boost our

reputation in the design-and-build market in

scotland and across the uK.

“It clearly demonstrates our ability to provide

our clients with a one-stop shop when it comes

to large transportation projects and is a great

example of what our people can deliver.”

stats the way to do it

• 5.1kmofall-purposeroad;2.7kmofovertakinglane

• fourroundabouts

• fourpedestrianandcyclewayunderpasses

• 190,000m³ofexcavation

• 390,000m³offillused

• 17kmoffencing

• 1.9kmofacousticbarrier(using160,000nails)

• 284,000plants

• over1,200tonnesofwasterecycledandreused

Halcrowwasresponsibleforthedesignandsupervision

ofthealignment,pavement,drainage,highway

ancillaries,bridges,geotechnics,lighting,landscaping,

andenvironmentalandnoisemitigation.the bypass

an aerial shot of

flows along the a96the project has eased traffic

meets local kids

it was thiiiiiiis big: the halcrow team


ith its enormous sidra tree-style

‘trunks’ and acres of glass, the vast

new Qatar national convention

centre is a unique blend of organic shapes and

high-tech design.

Formally opened on 4 december 2011 by the

chair of the Qatar Foundation, sheikha Moza

Bint nasser, the centre is the latest landmark

project in Qatar’s drive to establish itself as a

key centre for arts, business and education in

the Middle east.

The concept design for the convention centre

was provided by the influential japanese

architect Arata Isozaki, who also designed the

Museum of contemporary Art in los Angeles

and Bilbao’s striking Isozaki Atea twin towers.

Made from 20mm plate steel, the enormous

‘tree trunks’ hold up the centre’s concrete roof.

The trunks are modelled on the sidra tree,

a symbol of wisdom and learning in Islamic

culture that is used in the logo of the Qatar

Foundation which commissioned the centre.

Halcrow was appointed as executive architect

to the project in 2004. In addition, the

company was responsible for the design

management, structural design and building

services design. A carefully selected team of

of attentIon Centre

bold, strikiNg desigN grAbs HeAdliNes iN QAtAr

Warchitects, cost consultants, theatre planners

and other consultants, including data and

communications systems designers, worked

under Halcrow’s lead, to co-ordinate design

information and enable the procurement of

a contractor.

The 90,000m² centre houses a conference

facility for 4,000 delegates, a 2,400-seat theatre

and 57 meeting rooms. The building has

3,500m² of solar panels and was built to satisfy

the requirements of gold certification for the us

green Building council’s leadership in energy

and environment design (leed).

Project manager Alan rowell said: “The centre

is one of Halcrow’s biggest and most complex

building projects in the region to date. It was

a challenging but inspirational project to work

on for all those involved. The final product is a

project of which we can all be very proud.”

The centre is the latest showcase for Halcrow’s

expertise in the neighbourhood of doha’s

education city. In recent years, Halcrow

has delivered the Texas A&M college of

engineering, the carnegie Mellon university

campus buildings and the Weill cornell Medical

college research unit. The company is also

working on a local light-rail network for the

campus, with other schemes in the pipeline.

‘trunks’ hold up the centre’s roof

Modelled on the sidra tree, the enormous

French artist louise bourgeois

the foyer plays host to a work by renowned


roject sites are rarely more challenging than the

Kishanganga hydroelectric scheme.

High up in the Himalayas, with the dam site cut off by

snow and ice for months in the winter, it’s one of the

biggest mega-wattage projects Halcrow has undertaken

to date.

When the seven-year project is completed in 2016,

Kishanganga’s 330MW output will help to fuel India’s

economy. The local state government of jammu and

Kashmir will also receive 12 per cent of the power output

as a royalty.

As lead designer, Halcrow has drawn on its technical

ingenuity to work successfully in the notoriously

challenging ‘squeezing’ ground conditions of the

Himalayas. overcutting and consolidation grouting

techniques are being used to deal with the most difficult

sections of the 15.5km downstream end of the tunnel,

which are being excavated with a double-shielded tunnel-

boring machine (TBM). drill and blast methods are being

used for the 8km upstream tunnel end.

reMote hyDroelectric proJect takes shape

p

river Deep,Mountain

high

➔kishanganga river

the dam site on

crossing the razdhan pass


“This is a major international project by any standards,”

said chief engineering geologist Mike Palmer. “There are

many logistical, topographical and geological challenges

that make this an important project for Halcrow.

“The powerhouse area is reasonably accessible by road

but the dam site and the drill-and-blast tunnels are

particularly remote and are cut off for five months of the

year by snow and ice.”

A 37m-high dam will be built across a remote valley to

partially divert the Kishanganga river. The waters will

rush through a 24km-long headrace tunnel to a 21m-span

underground powerhouse in Bandipur, which houses

three 110MW vertical Pelton turbines and transformers.

The discharged water then flows out into the Bonar

nullah river and on to Wular lake in the Vale

of Kashmir, India’s largest freshwater lake.

using a TBM in the Himalayas is not without its

difficulties. The weak, fractured rock, coupled with high

depths of cover, has led to a preference for drill and blast

techniques in India.

Because of the issues associated with the ‘squeezing’

rock conditions, Halcrow has worked closely with

Professor giovanni Barla of the Politechnico di Torino in

Italy to develop a construction

methodology using time-

dependent numerical modelling.

This aims to provide on-site

guidelines to identify conditions where

special measures may be needed.

Halcrow is partnering with the Hindustan construction

company (Hcc) to deliver the project on behalf of the

national Hydroelectric Power corporation. Hcc is

responsible for all civil and associated infrastructure

works, with Halcrow undertaking the detailed design

of the civil works, co-ordination with the electrical and

mechanical contractor, and provision of site design

and liaison.

“We’re working to a tight 84-month schedule,” said

project director Iftikhar drabu. “There are penalties for

delay and also penalties for under performance if the

scheme fails to achieve its full power potential.

“It’s an exciting and demanding project to work on. The

site team, and the design team in delhi and the uK, all

recognise that the most challenging sections still lie

ahead of us.”

fact file

• 37m-highconcrete-facedrock-filldamwith

25m-deep concrete cut-off wall

• 9.5m-diameterdiversiontunnel

• 23.5kmofheadracetunnelwithanaverage

5.3m diameter

• 112m-deepsurgeshaft

• 1km-longsteel-linedinclinedpressureshaftof

4m diameter

• 11.3m-long,21m-widex49m-highunderground

power house

• 800m-longtailracetunnelandoutfallstructure

kudos for kishanganga

• creationofalow-carbonenergysource

• 1,500jobscreated–25percentlocallabour

• enhancedeconomicactivityandlocal

development

“the Drill-

anD-blast tunnels are

cut oFF For Five Months oF the year by snow

anD ice”

the segment casting yard

under construction

Diversion tunnel

the double shield tbM

ready for action:

at the rear of the tbM

segmental lining

conveyor, bandipur

tbM spoil handling


t first glance, the rolling landscape of

the great Artesian Basin in south-east

Queensland and north-eastern new

south Wales doesn’t look much like an energy-

producing heartland.

Hundreds of metres below towns such as roma,

gunnedah and narribi, though, millions of cubic metres

of coal seam gas (csg) are being tapped to meet the

worldwide demand for readily accessible power.

since january 2012, a newly integrated Halcrow and

cH2M HIll water and environment team has been

pooling its resources to work on behalf of santos,

Australia’s leading natural gas producer. It’s a winning

combination, according to team sales director

Paul Wilkinson.

“Working with our new colleagues has made us

stronger than ever,” said Paul. “The combination of

Halcrow and cH2M HIll has positioned us extremely

well to be a strong player in the rapidly growing

Australian csg industry.”

In Queensland, the multi-billion dollar gunnedah

liquefied natural gas (glng) project is a partnership

between santos, PeTronAs – Malaysia’s national oil

and gas company – the Korean gas corporation (Kogas)

and French-owned Total. csg is extracted from the

roma, Fairview and Arcadia regions ‘upstream’ and

shipped via a 420km underground gas pipeline to the

‘downstream’ operation at curtis Island, near gladstone,

where it is cooled to form lng for shipping.

FLusH WitH success

JOint teAm sAfeguArds wAter resOurces in bOOming AustrAliAn cOAl gAs industry

A“Halcrow has been working with santos for two

years, principally on the upstream project,” said

Paul. “our work is mainly focused on all the activities

involved with managing the water released when the

gas is freed.

“Because the water is produced in very large quantities

and is often rich in salts and other minerals, it requires

careful management. our work involves numerical

modelling, brine management, water storage and

remediation.”

Bringing cH2M HIll’s remediation team on board

has made a pivotal difference to project delivery,

according to Paul. “contamination assessment and

remediation is an area in which we did not previously

have local capacity; it complements our hydrology and

groundwater team.”

As well as the glng project, the new team is working

with santos on several other major schemes across new

south Wales within the gunnedah Basin. up to 20 people

at any time from the Brisbane, sydney and Melbourne

offices can be working on santos projects.

“There’s a really positive team dynamic,” Paul said. “We

have a common focus on producing a high-quality, client-

focused outcome, on time and within budget, and this has

been very well received by our client.”

“We have a common focus on producing

a high-quality, client-focused outcome”

safeguarding the Great artesian basin

the great artesian basin is the largest and deepest artesian basin in the world, stretching

over a total of 1.7 million km². as the only reliable source of freshwater through much

of inland australia, maintaining its purity is the most important consideration in any

csg operation.

halcrow and ch2M hill experts are closely monitoring all possible aspects of

environmental impact. these include:

• mitigatingagainstdetrimentalimpactsongroundwater

• assessingandmonitoringsurfacewaterandmanagingrisk

• storingandtreatingCSGwater,managingbrineproduction

• exploringoptionsforreusingCSGwater,tobenefitruralcommunitiesandthe

environment

• risk-basedmonitoringandmanagementregimetominimiseenvironmentalimpact


andwiched between london’s West end and the bustle

of camden to the north, the area around euston road

has seen a number of transformations over the years.

Part of the uK capital’s first ever bypass, opened in 1756, this

arterial route was constructed to herd sheep from the surrounding

farms to smithfield Market. After heavy shelling during World

War II flattened most of the buildings that once lined the road,

reconstruction saw waves of 1960s office blocks dominate.

now this pocket of london is undergoing the latest stage in

its evolution with the completion of regent’s Place. The

ambitious mixed-use development has taken shape

over two decades under the ownership of leading uK

property developer British land. Halcrow provided

full structural services for the north east Quadrant

(neQ), the final section of the master plan, now

nearing fruition.

scheduled for completion in 2013, neQ will add a

further 152,000 m² to regent’s Place, including

office and retail space, and a mix of market-led and

affordable apartments.

With the economic downturn hitting the property market hardest,

the project was shelved for several years before activity resumed

in 2010. “We’ve been involved in neQ since 2003,” said market

director for buildings jason guneratne. “We revisited the project

and ended up doing a full redesign within the existing planning

permissions. We rearranged the floor plate to maximise the space

north east quaDrant coMpletes aMbitious Master plan

FinaleGrand

s

➔

“on a proJect like

this tiMing is key, especially as we were Designing

anD builDing siMultaneously”


lifts and stairs,” said

Halcrow project

engineer Keith

davidson. “We moved the

core from the centre to the rear of the floor plate to

create more premium office space. As this changed the

building’s lateral system, we stiffened the upper floors

using a moment-frame structure that we managed

to incorporate without compromising the building’s

appearance or views across london.”

available to prospective tenants and our

client, British land.”

neQ’s showpiece is a steel and

concrete composite commercial

building that overlooks the main

plaza, featuring floor-to-ceiling

glazed external cladding. The

15-storey central block is flanked

by two lower wings of eight and

ten floors respectively, creating a

visually arresting series of angles

and architectural forms.

In a design feature that is both

aesthetically interesting and

increases available space, the glass façade leans

outwards and is skewed to the rest of the building. From

the open ground floor a soaring internal atrium replicates

this four-degree lean, tapering off as it approaches the

upper floors. Further accentuating the building’s angular

appearance, the atrium columns are also inclined, which

serves to counterbalance the façade.

As with all commercial developments, space is at a

premium so the building is cleverly engineered to

maximise the floor area. “each block has a slipformed

concrete core for lateral stability and to accommodate

“scheDuleD For

coMpletion in 2013, neq will aDD a Further

152,000M² to regent’s

place”chosen for their economical weight, cellular beams carry

all building services through their openings, cutting

down the amount of space lost to ceiling

voids. This allows for the maximum number

of floors for the building’s height, while

maintaining high ceilings and the desired

sense of spaciousness.

construction began in december 2010 and the

structural works are now largely complete. “on

a project like this timing is key, especially as we

were designing and building simultaneously,”

said resident engineer jan Minor. “All the

various services follow in sequence, so any

issues needed to be sorted out immediately to

avoid a slip in the programme.”

High above the rumble of traffic, aqua glazing

panels glint in the sunlight as they’re lifted into

place on the commercial block. The emphasis on

modern, architectural spaces has clearly

paid off – visually and, for British land, in the shape of

tenants eager to sign on the dotted line. “We’ve already

managed to let half of the 32,500 m² of commercial office

space,” said British land construction executive Matthew

White. “This is an excellent position to be in a year out

from completion.”

NEQ in numbers

Wilkinson Eyre for commercial andStephen Marshall Architects for residential

Two architects

152,000m² of new development

32,500m²of premium o�ce space

700people working

on site at peak times

4,700tonnes of steel used

reflected glory: the glass office

blocks overlook the square below

resident engineer Jan Minor with

assistant resident engineer andrew simpson

glazing is installed in the glass facade


http://www.halcrow.com/Videos/North-East-Quadrant-Development-London/


seal of approval

the unique mapping scheme has received

resounding approval from halcrow’s client, the

environment agency.

in its latest strategic flood risk management

performance scores, the ncerM delivery

team received six perfect 10 scores in eight

categories.

any people dream of living in a house with

a dramatic view of the sea. For some uK

householders, though, rapid coastal erosion

has turned their dream lifestyle into a daily nightmare as

they anxiously watch the sea encroach on their homes.

In Holderness on the lincolnshire coast it is estimated

that up to 2 million tonnes of material, or an average of

2m of coastline, are being swept away every year on one

of europe’s fastest-eroding coastlines.

With an estimated 300 homes at risk of being completely

lost to coastal erosion in the next two decades,

the environment Agency, working on behalf of the

department for environment, Food and rural Affairs

(defra) and the Welsh Assembly, has launched a unique

interactive service which defines the ongoing erosion risk

in england and Wales over the next century.

driven by data produced by Halcrow, the national coastal

erosion risk Map (ncerM) is instantly accessible on the

environment Agency’s ‘What’s in your Backyard’ website.

Visitors to the site can zoom in on their local area to

view the likely erosion risk, based on existing shoreline

management policies ranging from ‘hold the line’ to

‘managed realignment’.

“The wider agency maps are people focused rather

than technical and reflect the potential impact on

communities,” said project manager jonathan rogers.

“They incorporate climate change data and key

information about river flood risk and water quality.

Following our work on ncerM, they also allow you to find

out information about erosion strategies, including the

design of the defences.”

jonathan and his team worked closely with over 100

maritime local authorities to capture the data. To help

process the material, the team developed an innovative

WebgIs which provided an online tool to view and amend

the data. This incorporates the model that drives the

erosion predictions – risk Assessment for coastal

erosion (rAce) – also developed by Halcrow.

Two pilot maps were launched online late last year. over

the next few months, the environment Agency and Halcrow

tiMe anD tiDe halcrow’s online coastal erosion Map looks 100 years into the Future

M

carefully studied the feedback from the pilot in preparation

for the nationwide roll out in March and April 2012.

“The pilot maps initially projected coastal change for the

next 20 years,” jonathan said. “Because people were

requesting a longer time frame, we decided to include more

detailed information which allows users to understand the

risks of coastal erosion up to 100 years ahead.”

As well as helping the public to plan for the future,

the maps will also enable local authorities to plan and

prioritise funding for flood and coastal defence works, as

well as developers of sites along the coastline.

“The maps have been extremely well received by the

environment Agency and the public,” said jonathan.

“We are working together to ensure they are continually

improved as new data becomes available and the

science that underpins our understanding of erosion

processes develops.” commenting on its potential wider

application, he noted: “our erosion engine and web-based

infrastructure for ncerM can easily be transferred to

other regions and countries. I’d be delighted to explore the

potential for rolling this out on an international stage.”

all images courtesy of roger Moore


a strengthening and refurbishment

project on an elegant thomas telford

bridge won halcrow the heritage award

in the annual ice west Midlands awards.

in 2009, an emergency 7.5 tonne weight

restriction was placed on worcestershire’s

holt fleet bridge after hidden cracks

were discovered in the structure. the

bridge, built in 1826, was successfully

strengthened and refurbished to carry 40

tonnes and reopened in september 2011.

halcrow celebrated a quadruple project

win, a runner up and a commendation

at this year’s uk waterways renaissance

awards. for the past ten years the awards,

run by the waterways trust, have been

recognising and rewarding exceptional

projects that have turned inland

waterways into desirable places for living,

learning and leisure.

the halcrow winners were:

• outstandingachievementaward:

droitwich canals restoration project

(british waterways)

• innovationaward:A11BowRiverside

footbridge and walkway (british

waterways)

• partnershipaward:WallbridgeUpper

lock, cotswold canals restoration

(stroud district council)

• floodriskmanagementaward:White

cart water (Glasgow city council)

in the design and construction category,

the dutton upper horse bridge was

commended, with the a11 bow riverside

footbridge and walkway the runner-up.

halcrow was highly commended in the

commercial and business services sector

of the royal society for the prevention of

accidents (rospa) occupational health

and safety awards 2012 in May.

celebrating halcrow’s global commitment

to preventing accidents and ill health, the

uk’s largest health and safety awards is

recognised by clients worldwide.

the a487 porthmadog, Minffordd and

tremadog bypass, which dramatically

reduces traffic congestion in three

scenic towns in north wales, bagged

two high-profile awards in May. the

5.5km road took home the institution

of civil engineers (ice) wales cymru

George Gibby award, for projects over

£3 million, along with the Green apple

built environment award in the heavy

construction project category. it is also

shortlisted for three other industry

awards.

the ice wales project awards proved a

successful night for halcrow in two other

categories,withtheUsktownwallflood

refurbishment scheme winning the special

category of the roy edwards award and

the M4 variable speed limit project securing

the special award for innovation. in the

individual honours, cardiff-based graduate

engineer Mark sanders won the 2012

graduates and students papers competition.

Mark’s paper, fertiliser from human

waste in scottish agriculture, was one of

three finalists, whittled down from initial

submissions from all over wales.

halcrow’s Granit system won the product

and equipment innovation category at the

2012 Ground engineering awards on 4 May.

Granit (Ground anchor integrity testing)

has transformed rockbolt testing in the

mining, tunnelling and slope stability sector.

foster + partners’ and halcrow’s vision for

the thames hub – an integrated rail, freight

logistics, aviation and energy hub in the uk’s

thames estuary – was named project of the

year at the 2012 Global airrail awards.

recognising best practice, the awards

celebrate new technologies and

innovations, customer service and

marketing – with a focus on vision

and creativity.

halcrow’s work on the Gate project in

doha was recognised with an award

from Meed, the market-leading business

intelligence source for the Middle east.

named as the Qatar national winner in the

building project of the year category for

2012, the Gate went up against other iconic

structures at the regional supreme awards

in May.

the ethiopian nile irrigation and drainage

project, a joint venture with Generation

integrated rural design, won the project

innovation honour award in the applied

research category of the international

water association europe and asia regional

awards in brussels.

“this is an extremely important scheme

which has the potential to reduce poverty in

the project areas and promote sustainable,

smallholder-based agriculture,” said project

team member robin wood, who received

the award along with fellow team member

andrew lowe.

Awa rds

halcrow’s nigel valvona (centre) receives the

award on the company’s behalf

night works on the M4 variable speed project

graduate Mark sanders with his prize

the gate, qatar

the historic holt Fleet bridge, worcestershire

andrew lowe and robin wood at the ceremonythe a487 glides through the

north wales countryside

To remember

halcrow pensioners’ reunionsaturday 6 october 2012, edinburgh

halcrow pensioners are invited to the northern region’s third biennial reunion lunch in edinburgh.

where: the royal over-seas league, 100 princes st, edinburgh, eh2 3ab

(close to waverly station)

when: saturday 6 october 2012, 12.30pm

cost: approximately £35, including a welcome drink

all pensioners, partners or other interested parties are welcome. the event complements the southern region’s biennial reunion.

guest speakers will include representatives from halcrow, ch2M hill, and pension trustees.

please register your interest and provide your contact details, preferably by email, to:

roy dargie pen caerDriw, tylwch, llanidloes, powys sy18 6Jl

[email protected] 01686 412 754

information is also available from vic scott: [email protected]

To send condolences [email protected]

Des Mirner died on 25 June 2012, aged 59. based in glasgow as part of the highways and bridges team, Des was a contracts specialist, with many years’ experience in the design, project management and construction of civil engineering projects.

since joining halcrow in 1975, his project work included the n8 cashel Mitchelstown road improvement scheme in ireland, contracts management for the performance audit group in scotland, and a secondment to the scottish executive development department. he also worked on a number of projects in the uae.

Des died peacefully in his sleep at home. he is survived by his wife, patricia.

Andrew Kopec died on 1 January 2012, aged 80. he was a widower.

Thomas K Bateman died on 16 January 2012, aged 83.

Robert J Fitzpatrick passed away on 20 January 2012. he was 64.

Douglas Hollick died on 14 February 2012, aged 83.

Ena Wylie passed away on 27 February 2012, aged 87. she was the widow of Mr Ja wylie, who died in 2009.

John Jones died on 11 april 2012. aged 74, he was the widower of Judith Jones who died in 2011.

aged 87, Raymond Jordens passed away on 15 May 2012.

Joan Ambler died on 30 april, aged 78. she was the widow of Mr hJ ambler.

Maureen Vigne died on 29 May. aged 80, she was the widow of Mr J vigne.

Richard Meader died on 27 June, aged 78.

Roger Thompson died on 25 March 2012, aged 75. he is survived by his wife, Jennifer.

David Collard died on 19 april 2012. aged 90, he is survived by his wife, Dora.

David Peter passed away on 22 May 2012, aged 71. he is survived by his wife, Joan.


y first day on the project, I was simply walking around the site

removing anything that would puncture a tyre, like old fence

posts and metal debris.” sweeping an arm over the red Texas

dirt, james Massey describes his journey from general labourer to grading

foreman. “Today, I’m supervising a crew of more than 20 people and

overseeing the main dirt hauls, over about a 5km stretch of the project.”

james is one of almost 200 local people hired to work on the 15.5km stretch

of Toll 49, segment 3B. When the new highway opens in eastern Texas early

next year, drivers travelling between cities in the us’s second largest state will

benefit from faster journey times and reduced congestion. But as they belt out

classic hits along to their car stereos and marvel at the lack of traffic, few may

realise the extent to which the project has transformed the lives and career

prospects of residents from surrounding communities.

cH2M HIll is the sole prime-contractor, providing full service design-build

delivery including design, construction and quality control. At the heart of the

company’s delivery model for Toll 49 is its focus on achieving

a strong local workforce, with 95 per cent of the construction

team calling east Texas home.

“From the beginning, we knew the success of this project

would rely heavily on the local labour force,” said project

manager Forrest Fischer. “The most common trait among

employees here in Tyler is a strong desire to work. When

coupled with the unique opportunities that a project like Toll

49 provides, you begin to develop a highly motivated workforce

that will retain their skills and ultimately improve the

competency of the local workforce overall.”

Homeward boundCH2MHILLHIgHwayprojeCtbrIngs

JObs fOr teXAs cOmmunity

“

➔

m

the east texas cities of tyler, longview and Marshall

toll 49 will improve connections between

ramiro rubio, James Massey,

toll 49 team members (l to r):

ariel cogar and susan pritchett


large construction companies often

ship in their management team from

other regions, with local people hired

to fill low-skilled roles with little

scope for development. cH2M HIll

takes an entirely different approach,

as senior construction manager

robert Patcheck explains: “Many

of our local employees arrived with

little or no previous construction

experience, but a great attitude and

a willingness to learn. We provide

extensive training and opportunities

for career mobility, and we’ve seen

the results on Toll 49. Many have

steadily scaled the ranks and moved

into supervisory roles, while learning

skills that will easily translate to their

next construction project when Toll 49

is completed.”

All this translates to solid career

prospects and a clear road to future

opportunities. From the cab of his

truck, the interior of which is covered

in a fine sheen of Texan dust, james

surveys the steady rumble of vehicles

and people moving around the site. “It has been awesome

to work in an environment with such a strong focus on

safety, camaraderie and training,” he reflects. “like a

lot of folks on this project, I’ve realised I’ve got dirt in my

veins. This is the type of work I love to do.”

“I’ve realised I’ve got dirt in my veins.

This is the type of work I love to do”

rAmirO rubiO Labour foreman

“I went from being a general labourer at

the beginning of the project, picking up

sticks and debris on site, to supervising

a crew of 12 labourers,” said Ramiro,

formerly a cook at a local restaurant.

“Before this project started, I was making

minimum wage and struggling to make

ends meet. Now it’s much easier to provide

for my family, and my wife can stay home

to care for our children.”

susAn pritchett

Water truck driver and equipment operator

Susan was an equipment operator for another road

construction company but had to travel an hour each

way to get to the job site. Jumping at the opportunity

to work closer to home, she was hired as a water

truck driver and equipment operator and has cut her

commute by two thirds.

With Susan’s husband having notched up over three

decades in the construction industry, safety is dinner-

time talk for the Pritchett family. “It’s very important

to both my husband and me that I am safe at work,”

she said. “It’s a really a big thing for both of us. CH2M

HILL is a great employer and very safety conscious,

which is a big plus in my book. Every day in our

morning meetings our managers inform us of what’s

going on and what’s new, and always make sure that

we ‘do it the safe way’.”

Ariel cOgAr Off-road truck operator

Although she previously worked for a commercial

cleaning company, Ariel had long harboured a

fascination with construction. “I have always been

interested in trucks and have always wanted to

operate one,” she said. “My whole family works in

construction, and this was the first real opportunity to

pursue that career that I have ever been given.”

Initially hired as an off-road truck driver, Ariel is

now behind the wheel of a diverse range of heavy

equipment, including dozers and rollers. “This job

has definitely made a positive impact on my life,”

she said. “It has been a great opportunity for me – a

definite career-altering move.”

“I went from picking up sticks

and debris on site to supervising

a crew of 12 labourers”

a team gathers for a safety briefing

James Massey

susan pritchett

toll 49 team is from the local area

around 95 per cent of the


As the export coal market took off, the new firm applied

its expertise to speeding coal by rail to coastal port heads.

The Hylton, southwick and Monkwearmouth railway,

commissioned in 1871, took coal to the port of sunderland

from pits across the north east of england.

Although the railway was not a commercial success, the

lessons Meik learned proved invaluable in creating a series

of railway projects across scotland, including the east Fife

line which operated until 1964.

Port design remained Meik’s true vocation. shortly after

setting up his edinburgh office, he was commissioned to

undertake three major commissions: the Ports of Ayr,

Burntisland and Bo’ness. All three ports used the latest

technology and helped to cement scotland’s thriving

industrial economy in the late 19th century.

t doesn’t look much like a hotbed of industrial

activity these days.

But half a century ago, Blyth Port on the bare

northumbrian coastline was at the heart of one of the uK’s

leading export industries – coal.

By the 1960s, when the trade reached its peak, Blyth was

europe’s largest coal-exporting port. Few projects can

ever have repaid their initial investment so spectacularly

as the port at Blyth, built during the mid-19th century, and

designed by scottish engineer Thomas Meik.

Born 200 years ago, Meik designed numerous landmark

facilities of the golden industrial age in scotland and the

north of england. The firm created by him and his two sons

was ultimately to become world famous as Halcrow.

An edinburgh university graduate, Meik was apprenticed to

a glasgow engineer, john steedman, who was working on

the city’s Hutcheson Bridge.

2012MarksbICentenaryofhAlcrOw fOunder’s birth

iWith Britain industrialising

at breakneck speed,

skilled engineers were

in hot demand. Meik’s

career trajectory followed

the almost overnight

transformation of once

sleepy rural districts into

heaving boom towns.

In 1845, aged 33, he was serving as engineer to the river

Wear commission, which was the driving force behind

sunderland’s maritime works. In 1859, as shipbuilding

exploded along the south Wearside, he was responsible for

the construction of Hendon dock.

With work pouring in, Meik took the momentous decision

to go into partnership with his former pupil, Wd nisbet, in

1868. The foundation of this new practice, with offices in

edinburgh and sunderland, is generally considered to be

the formal beginning of Halcrow.

WHere it ALL

thomas Meik

began

Thomas Meik practiced as an engineer until 1888, when

he retired at the age of 76. He died in 1896, a nationally

respected figure revered as a ground-breaking engineer

and a much called upon ‘expert’ witness at innumerable

royal commissions and parliamentary committees.

Meik’s sons, Patrick and charles – both highly respected

engineers in their own right – developed and diversified the

company until their respective deaths in 1919 and 1923.

The founder’s name lived on in the company’s name until

1941, when cs Meik and Halcrow was renamed as WT

Halcrow and Partners.

sunderland

a 19th century map of

designed by thomas Meik and sons

hMs amethyst enters a new dock

Thomas Meik practiced as an engineer

until 1888, when he retired at the age of 76


the saFety volunteer lifeguard Jon Dempsey makes a splash

If you’re the sort of person who likes to stay warm

and dry, you won’t want to join me

and the other safety volunteers for the

olympics canoe slalom event.

We’re standing just metres from the

main event at the lee Valley white

water course. And because we are on

lifeguarding duties, we all have to be

ready to jump straight into the water and

help out any competitor who gets into

trouble – or any spectator who has got too

close to the edge and slipped in. of course,

the upside is that I get one of the best views

in the stadium!

I’ve gained a lot of valuable experience in

white water safety – as well as nine years’

white water kayaking under my belt, I’ve also

attended a number of rescue courses.

Being part of the safety team

is a serious time commitment.

Athletes are practising during

the two weeks prior to the

games and we’re on site from

7.15am to 6.30pm, so some

pretty long days. during the

four competition days, we’ll

alternate between covering

the morning practice

sessions and the afternoon

competitions.

You’ve certainly got to be fit

to provide safety support

for this event. As part of

my training I had to swim

the whole course several times.

Take a look at the size of the white water when the

event is on and you’ll appreciate what it feels like!

the ‘Meeter greeter’ Marion Myers welcomes visitors to london

As a member of the protocol team, I’m based at

Heathrow Airport to meet and greet olympic teams

and officials.

We are one of the first points of contact for people when

they land in the uK. our role is to offer assistance to

visitors and deal with any problems they might have.

And, of course, we’re there to give them the warmest

possible welcome to london. It’s a seven-hour day, six

days a week for the full two weeks leading up to the

olympics and then three days when the athletes depart,

so it’s pretty full on!

In my shifts so far, I’ve already met athletes from

around the world – Argentinian rowers, Brazilian

basketballers, colombian swimmers – you name it! The

world’s media has also arrived en masse - my friend

spotted me on Australian TV and I had my photo taken

for Time magazine.

You’ve got to be a people person and

able to cope in difficult situations

to be a volunteer, as you’re dealing

with a range of personalities and

nationalities.

My husband stephen is also

volunteering at the olympics.

He’s been assigned to the

national olympic committee

attached to the Italian

delegation, as he speaks the

language fluently.

It’s a fantastic, once-in-a-life-

time opportunity. But when

it’s all over, we’re going

straight off on holiday to

recuperate!

I’m part of the transportation team,

based at olympic Park. I’m what’s

known as a T3 driver, which is a

bit like a private taxi service – I’ll

be ferrying officials, sponsors and

other VIPs between various sites

around london in a brand new

BMW 3 series.

After applying in october 2010,

I eventually had an interview in

january 2012 and was offered

a position at the rowing venue

in March this year. unfortunately, I

had to turn this spot down because of

the location, but was delighted to be

selected as a driver in june.

In early july I got a chance to test out

the fleet cars and practice using the

radio system, so I’m good to go. I’ve

always been involved with my children’s

sports teams and used to coach

amateur swimming. In fact, one of the

kids I used to coach as a 12-year-old is

competing in the olympics!

an olyMpic eFFortvolunteers help brinG GaMes to london

➔

the athletes are arriving. the olympic torch is winding its way around the uk. and a small army of volunteers is gearing up to ensure the world’s biggest sporting event goes to plan.

From greeting visitors at heathrow airport and directing lost spectators to supervising venues as the action unfolds, over 70,000 ‘games Makers’ are preparing for their allocated roles. amidst the sea of purple and orange uniforms, a handful of halcrow and ch2M hill employees are playing their part in london 2012.


the Driveralan capell gets vips from a to b

http://www.halcrow.com/newsletters/Vox_videos/


the lonDon aMbassaDorlost? selma hooley is here to help

I’m one of 8,000

london ambassadors

who are volunteering

across the capital

during the olympic and

Paralympic games.

We come from all

walks of life and

include school leavers

and pensioners.

our role is to provide a friendly face for the millions

of people who will be visiting london. We are all

passionate about london and we’ll be expected to do

all sorts of things from helping sports fans who are

desperate to get to the olympic stadium to advising

families where they can get a bite to eat on a budget.

I’m based in central london for six four-hour shifts in

the run-up to the games. The three training sessions

I’ve attended have been a really valuable preparation

for the real thing. We were all been taught how to keep

calm in a crisis and ‘become a pro’ at dealing with

difficult situations!

My family and I are

all sports lovers so

we’ve been looking

forward to the

games for years. unfortunately, london ambassadors

don’t qualify for free tickets but we’ve managed to

get them for the fencing, football, beach volleyball,

basketball and diving.

It’s going to be a summer like no other in london.

Ambassadors will be right at the heart of the

excitement and it will be great to look back and say

‘I was there!’

the DruMMer avnish raichura keeps the beat at olympic ceremonies

I’m going to be part of a cast of

15,000 as a drummer at the opening

and closing ceremonies.

I applied last year and was invited to

a two-stage audition process. each

audition lasted for six hours and

there were about 300 people in

each group.

The first round involved dance,

marching and choreographed

formations. In the second round,

we were invited to ‘role-specific’

auditions where you could choose

from dancing, roller skating,

acrobatics and drumming. I chose

drumming as I had some training in

percussion from high school.

The final audition was the most

surreal experience. Three hundred

of us were asked to repeat rhythms

played by drumming legend Mike

dolbear, under the watchful eye of

director danny Boyle.

Four weeks later, I received a call

confirming that I’d been selected and

rehearsals started in May. It has been

a substantial time commitment, but

also the most incredible experience.

the hostDignitaries are in safe hands with billy ahluwalia

As an olympic Family hotels hosting team member,

I’ll be based at three central london hotels to look

after various dignitaries. These include members of

the International olympic committee, national olympic

committees and international sports federations, as

well as representatives from the court of Arbitration for

sports and World Anti-doping Authority.

Between 18 july and 13 August, I’ll work one 12-

hour shift and 12 six-hour shifts. As you can imagine,

security is really tight. on my first shift I had to refuse

entry to the venue security manager because he didn’t

have the correct accreditation to enter a restricted area.

He had to go back to the accreditations team and have

his pass validated!

This is technically my second olympics. As part of the

Kenyan hockey team I qualified for the 1980 Moscow

games, but we did

not compete because

of the wider boycott.

Having played 33

internationals around

the world, including

the 1979 hockey world

cup in Perth, I’ve been

involved in major

sporting events before

– but it’s hard to top

the olympics coming

to town.

the retireD coachpeter campbell cheers on former charges

Throughout my

20-year career as

a volleyball player

and coach, I’ve been

fortunate enough

to work with many

talented individuals.

My coaching aim was

to ensure the players

were committed

and serious while

enjoying the sport

and respecting

each other.

As a volunteer coach with the scottish juniors, I

worked with Imornefe ‘Morph’ Bowes. Following an

accomplished international career, he’s now head

coach of the great Britain (gB) women’s beach

volleyball team which will be competing at Horse

guards Parade. In the late 1990s, when I was head

coach of the successful glasgow under 18s, one of

our promising players was chris ‘Monty’ lamont,

now a middle hitter for the

gB men’s indoor team.

I am very proud to have

helped to set the early

foundations for their

respective careers and

I’m sure they will make

the most of the olympic

adventure.

Watching over Monty’s

opponents will be my

good friend and gB’s

first ever indoor olympic volleyball referee, Brian

Mcdougall, who worked with me at glasgow

Metropolitan Volleyball club.

There’s no doubt they all know a lot more about the

game than I do these days, but it’s nice to know that

my early influence and their continued commitments

have brought the ultimate reward. I will certainly

savour their success!

with fellow london ambassadors

selma (second from left)

volunteer of the year award

peter (left) receives a


iven the everyday importance of bridges,

these vital structures have been surprisingly

uncelebrated in music and literature.

An open road rolling into the distance

always gets rock stars’ hearts and

guitar strings singing. But the poor

old bridge, that engineering beast of

burden, seems to be sadly neglected.

Pontist (bridge lover) supreme david

McFetrich has made a bold stab

at setting the record straight. In his

magnificent Encyclopaedia of Britain’s Bridges,

the former Halcrow engineer has gathered up

the fruit of a lifetime’s enthusiasm and created the most

comprehensive record of Britain’s bridges ever collected.

The most historic, daring, beautiful – even the most ugly

– bridges in Britain are included among the 1,650 entries

in the book. Almost half of the bridges were visited and

photographed by david personally. For others, he delved

extensively into his collection of 500 books and pamphlets

about bridges.

“The book is aimed at the general public but it should

also be of great interest to professionals,” said david. “I

originally had the idea for the project about 40 years ago,

but the prospect of creating a card index was too daunting.

anyone For briDge?

ForMer halcrow engineer pens specialist

encyclopaeDia

In 2005, after I retired, I decided to tackle

it as a computer-based project.”

david’s life-long interest in bridges began

as schoolboy in the 1950s when he was given

The World’s Great Bridges by Hubert shirley smith. The

book’s sweeping, dramatic pictures of bridges – and the

descriptions of the challenges required to build them –

played a key role in his decision to become an engineer.

Because of the sheer impact of Britain’s largest bridges,

there is an inevitable temptation to focus on these, to the

detriment of other smaller structures. david pays his dues

to such modern-day giants as the Hs1 Medway Viaduct

(2003) but also looks with a fond eye on the quirky and

historic entries.

“The oldest bridges I mention are the roman bridges at

chollerford (Ad125) and corbridge (Ad160) which are

sadly no longer in existence,” he said. “one of the oldest

g“without

Doubt this is a MaJor book oF british

transport history”

Journal oF the railway anD canal historical

society

existing bridges, of

which original parts

are still standing, is the

White Mill Bridge near

sturminster Marshall,

dorset (1174) – it’s near

where I live and is also one of

my favourites.

“I’ve tried to include bridges that are interesting or unusual

in terms of design, construction or location, or have

connections with people or events of history. Many have

been included simply because they are picturesque.”

david started his career as a graduate engineer at Halcrow

in 1959. during his time with the company, based at

stanhope gate, london, he contributed to several key

projects, including the new roof for the former Wembley

stadium. He also designed the service catwalks in the

roof space of the Terminal 3 main building at london

Heathrow’s Airport.

Ironically, given his life-long love of bridges,

he only designed a single bridge. “It was a

small footbridge in scotland. I designed the

bridge in 1959 as my first project at Halcrow,

and submitted it to the Institution of civil

engineers in 1963 when I applied to become

a corporate member.”

visit www.britainsbriDges.co.uk

for more information.

“books like [this

is] so worthy anD valuable, anD it Deserves a place on the bookshelF

oF anyone who values the historic

environMent oF britain”

inDustrial archaeology review

“a

Marvellous aDDition to

the literature on british

briDges”‘the happy pontist’

blog

built in 1796

the original wearmouth bridge,

thomas telford, is one of the world’s first suspension bridges

conwy suspension bridge, designed by

picturesque Dunsborough bridge


everal hours’ drive from Addis Ababa, along

pitted, red-earth roads, the rural town of Bakko

lies in the watershed of the Blue nile river basin.

over 1,800 pupils attend the local school, which operates

in two shifts to cater for both primary and secondary

students. The chronic shortage of space is compounded

by the fact that the few available classrooms are

dilapidated and no longer fit for purpose, falling well

below ethiopian government standards for education

buildings. The school also lacks a reliable source of clean

water, putting students and teachers at risk of disease.

In partnership with a local non-governmental

organisation, the Halcrow Foundation has committed

to a complete overhaul of the school’s crumbling

infrastructure. This is the third collaborative project to

be delivered by the foundation and environmentalists

development Association-ethiopia (edA-e), an ngo

dedicated to improving living conditions for rural

communities.

co-sponsors robin Wood and Andrew lowe have been

working on a Halcrow project in the nile Basin for several

years, where feasibility studies for irrigation and drainage

schemes spanning 80,000ha represent the first step

towards improved water security for subsistence farmers.

S

down for construction and firewood. By using low-

cost, sustainable mud technology, the project will

bring myriad benefits for the community.

“Mud bricks can be produced locally very cheaply, and

with a low carbon footprint,” said robin. “This reduces

demand for dwindling wood resources and removes

the need to source concrete blocks from Addis Ababa

or more expensive local stone. By using almost

exclusively local labour, the project will also create

jobs for people living in the area.”

The lack of a reliable water source means students

and teachers are more susceptible to illness, which

has a knock-on effect on academic progress and

general wellbeing. The planned solution – a system

that channels rainwater from classroom roofs into a

secure storage tank – has already transformed the

lives of children in Abuka in the rift Valley.

“We successfully installed a safe water supply for

drinking and hand washing at new Abuka school

last year,” said Andrew. “The kids are healthier and

absences have dropped since its introduction. Hand

washing is now a part of their daily routine and many

of the students are passing these messages on to

their families.”

As well as employing local labour, the water collection

and storage system deliberately uses a low-cost, low-

tech approach. community members are able to carry

out repairs using readily available materials, rather

than being dependent on external professionals and

specialist parts.

Bakko pupils move into their new, sustainable

classrooms from september 2012.

“We’ve developed a good understanding with our

contacts at edA-e through the projects

we’ve implemented jointly over the past few

years,” said Andrew. “edA-e specialises in

environmental protection, so all the work it

delivers has the emphasis on sustainability

we’re after.”

A £19,629 foundation grant will fund the construction

of four new classrooms and a clean water supply for

drinking and hand washing. collective ownership is

at the project’s heart – the community is chipping in a

£1,728 contribution towards the costs, with around

£750 raised to date. The Bakko town administration

has agreed to allocate the land for expansion, valued

at £14,000.

Increased pressure on wood supplies has led to

creeping deforestation in the region and problems

caused by erosion, with established woodlands hacked

Mud bricks can be produced locally very

cheaply, and with a low carbon footprint

school, rift valley

pupils at new abuka

problem in the region

Deforestation is a major

forces students to learn in shifts

school’s out: the current lack of space

new fAcilities tO bOOst leArning in ethiOpiA

ClassAct


it was a red letter day for Halcrow on

10 February 2012. From Hong Kong to

romania and from swindon to Mumbai,

Halcrow employees joined in the annual ‘Wear

red for redr’ day to show their support for the

international disaster relief charity.

red socks, shirts and jumpers were fished

out from the back of the wardrobe to brighten

up the workplace. A mouth-watering array of

red-themed cakes was also on offer to tempt

anyone with a sweet tooth.

With gift aid added in for uK taxpayers, a

grand total of £553.39 was raised for redr

from offices around the world. Big-hearted

colleagues in the glasgow office gave the

largest single donation of £160 and a lunchtime

collection at elms House raised £71.

The funds raised will help redr provide

practical help for disaster victims worldwide.

redr chief executive Martin Mccann said: “We

were delighted to have Halcrow’s support. As

an official patron of redr, Halcrow provides

valuable corporate support for our work.

painting the town reD

coMpany supports Disaster relieF charity reDr

how can i support redr?

Become a member

As a redr member you will be the first port of

call to support the international community’s

response when disaster strikes. You’ll need

at least five years’ professional experience,

of which two should be in an overseas field

environment with either a development or

humanitarian focus.

The recruitment and selection process is

rigorous but redr will offer training and

mentoring programmes to the right candidates.

Gain field experience to support future efforts

redr’s future relief workers’ scheme trains

volunteers who are interested in getting involved

in disaster relief missions. The programme

is aimed at people with less than four years’

professional experience and allows them to gain

invaluable in-the-field experience.

Visit www.redr.org.uk for more information.

“The efforts of Halcrow employees

around the world could not be

more appreciated and show that

people right across the company are

backing our valuable work.

“’Wear red for redr’ makes a

real difference to our work of

training, supporting and providing

aid workers in the uK and abroad

to help rebuild lives following

natural disasters.”

delights in york

red-themed

Morag hutton

edinburgh’s

employees in Mumbai the hong kong team

all red in romania


Meet project sponsor

rob clarke

project sponsors are integral to the Halcrow Foundation; it would be unable to function without these individuals, who bring forward proposals for funding and monitor progress. Drawing on close ties to the community, sponsors identify people in great need and local organisations with which to partner.

or Halcrow’s rob clarke, a visit to Africa’s

largest informal settlement over a decade

ago proved a life-changing experience – for

the swindon-based business ethics expert and, more

significantly, for thousands of people living without access

to clean water or sanitation facilities.

rob first ventured into Kibera, home to one in three

nairobi residents, back in 2000. open sewers run

alongside rubbish-clogged rivers, and almost

1 million people live crammed into shacks built from

scavenged materials.

outsiders rarely visit – “It’s not the kind of place

you just wander into,” remembers rob – and

residents avoid venturing out after dark. “It was

quite intimidating the first time I went in, and

shocking, too,” he said. “It really is subsistence

at a most basic level.”

F

➔

foundationSolid

kids in kibera


“I had met some of the people from umande

Trust, a local charity, while visiting my family in

Kenya. umande focuses on water and sanitation,

as well as grass-roots community organising.

I saw first hand the kind of work they do, and

wanted to find a way to make a meaningful

contribution once I returned to the uK.”

With the Halcrow Foundation established

in 2005, rob was part of a vanguard of

enthusiastic sponsors armed with project click the imAge tO wAtch

watch the video

➔

the joy of six – and countingrobhassponsoredatotalofsixprojectssince2005.Inadditiontothe

biocentres,hehasbeeninvolvedintwoschoolschemes,alsoinkenya,as

wellasprovidingemergencysupportfollowingsocialunrestandviolence

inthecountry.workinginpartnershipwiththeHealthandwater

foundation,theHalcrowfoundationfundedarainwaterharvesting

systemfordrinkingandhandwashingatrirumischoolinnairobi,

andtheconstructionofnewclassroomsataruralprimaryschool.In

earthquake-strickenHaiti,sustainablewatersystemsarereplacingthose

destroyedin2010,androbiscurrentlyworkingonaproposalforanother

biocentreinwesternkenya.

the shower block, kibera

local women help to construct

ideas. At the time, umande Trust was

working to get its biocentre concept off

the ground. rob applied for a foundation

grant to fund the pilot in Kibera and

the rest, as they say, is history. each

biocentre can be tailored to local needs, but

most feature communal sanitation facilities

with space on the upper floors for community

groups and commercial ventures. Biolatrines

also produce gas for cooking and, because they

treat waste in-situ, can be sited anywhere in

informal settlements.

Following the success of this facility, rob

and the Halcrow Foundation teamed up with

umande to deliver another community-owned

“It gives me a feeling of satisfaction

to know that I’ve actually done something

and helped thousands of people”

with construction

rob pitches in to help

http://www.halcrow.com/Videos/Improved-sanitation-empowers-Kenyan-community/


now they’re cooking with gaswiththebiolatrinenowfullyupandrunning,moregasisbeingproducedthancanbeused

onsiteforcooking.Umandetrusthassuppliedanumberofdurableplasticbagstostore

excessmethane,aswellastransportingit

foruseinlocalhomes.

purity ndanupurityndanu,aged22,

is married with two

children,bothunderthe

ageoftwo.“Iamgrateful

forthebiocentreinmy

neighbourhood–before

there were no sanitation

blocks,”shesaid.“Inow

haveaplacetousedaily.”

purityalsobelongstoa

women’sgroupthatmeets

inthevillage

hall space

upstairs

every

month.

biocentre in Kisumu, western Kenya. Importantly, the pilot

provided a workable model for replication on a larger scale, with

governments and other organisations pledging funds. “Things

are happening,” said rob. “There’s been a new sewage pipeline

put in nearby that probably wouldn’t have gone ahead without

interventions like the biocentre. And I believe in Kenya now there

are around 50 biocentres, but they all started with the one the

Halcrow Foundation started not so long ago.

“It gives me a feeling of satisfaction to know that I’ve actually

done something and helped thousands of people.”

have bag, will travel

bags to store biogas

residents checks out the

of the holding tank

rob helps to oversee construction

uantifying the scale of

global water and sanitation

challenges is a daunting

exercise. Frequently quoted figures

– almost a billion people around the

world lack access to clean water

and 2.5 billion survive without basic

sanitation facilities – make the

task of addressing this situation

meaningfully seem insurmountable.

With 3.5 million people dying every

year from preventable water-related

diseases, non-profit organisation

Water for People (W4P) is tackling

this ongoing health crisis one

community at a time. since 2003,

cH2M HIll employees have raised

over us$1 million to help W4P

continue this mission.

The goal of everyone, Forever

underpins W4P’s approach, with the

charity focusing on delivering durable

water and sanitation infrastructure at

a district or regional level. Working

with communities to tap into local

resources and enthusiasm, it ensures

universal coverage flows from

sustainable solutions that are built

and operated by the people who use

them. residents gain a sense of

empowerment, as well as practical

skills and experience, enabling

them to maintain and expand the

infrastructure after W4P moves on.

“We focus on what it will take for all

people in a region to have access to

quality water and sanitation services,

and we avoid the easy solutions that

look good on the surface but which

ultimately leave out people who are

hard to reach,” said W4P’s chief

executive, ned Breslin.


everyone, forever

CH2M HILL supports Water for People’s goal of universal coverage

Qlast year saw the charity achieve

full coverage in chicha, Honduras,

and it is targetting the same result

in cuchumuela, Bolivia, by the end

of 2012.

next up is the rwandan district of

rulindo, home to 265,000 people.

In partnership with the rwandan

government, W4P’s goal is to provide

every resident with access to clean,

safe water by 2014, making rulindo

the first district in rwanda with

universal coverage. ongoing support

forms an integral part of the model,

with W4P committing to monitor the

infrastructure for at least a decade

after installation.

As a World Water corps volunteer,

cH2M HIll’s jonathan Waldron

visited rwanda in 2010 to assess

local needs. He returned to his

california base with a much deeper

appreciation of the organisation’s

work. “W4P’s goal is to put itself

out of work by providing a replicable

model of clean water and improved

sanitation to everyone,” he said.

“That goal shows the character of the

organisation.”

volunteer for the World Water Corps

ClICk here

for more InformatIon, vIsIt

the W4p sharepoInt sIte, or ContaCt julIe kauffman

Ch2m hIll Is aImIng to

raIse us$225,000 through Its annual WorkplaCe gIvIng

CampaIgn

hoW you Can get Involved

http://www.waterforpeople.org/programs/how-we-work/world-water-corps/

https://communities.int.ch2m.com/ga/cr/wfp/default.aspx


“It’s a challenging

run that takes you

up into the mountains, with ascents and descents of

around 1,000m,” said sami. “It’s great fun but definitely

not for the fainthearted.”

sport

irst, they planned to raise

Aus$1,000 for multiple

sclerosis.

Then, they found that they had got an

additional Aus$700 in pledges for the

Melbourne Ms cycle event…

wheels on Fire

l to r: phillip warren, stephen anderson, luke gibbons, Jason guettler, kris thompson, george spink and Darren quinlivan

Donate here

But by the time a team of saddle-sore

cyclists from Halcrow’s Melbourne

office had pedalled their last

metre home they discovered they’d

raised an incredible Aus$2,470 –

and counting.

The eight-strong

team whizzed around

the challenging

46km course in

just two hours on

25 March. As well

as raising cash for

a good cause, the

mixed-ability team

also demonstrated

Fitness fanatics from the Abu dhabi office put themselves to the test

in the Tri Yas 2012 triathlon in April.

david connolly, Paul Wagner and sami Al-Qazzaz were among 18

teams that took part in the event, which was held at the Yas Marina

circuit – one of Halcrow’s showpiece projects and home to Abu

dhabi Formula 1.

sporting duties were divided between each of the team members

with Paul tackling the swim, david the cycle and sami grinding out

the run.

“It was an excellent challenge,” said sami. “We are all planning to

take part in next year’s event but we will each be aiming to complete

it on our own. We’ll be competing in the sprint course which involves

a 750m swim, 20km cycle and a 5km run.”

that cycling is a healthy activity for

everyone, regardless of their skill

and fitness levels.

“It was great fun,” said team

member jason guettler, who works

in Melbourne’s traction and rolling

stock team. “With so many cyclists

on the road, it was sometimes quite

congested. After we got out of the

city, though, the roads opened up

and we were able to do some really

good cycling.”

It’s not too late to lend the riders your

support. click the donate button for

details of how to contribute.

Melbourne teaM peDals For charitydubbed the ‘grand

canyon’ of the united

Arab emirates, the Hajar

Mountains provide a

steep challenge for even

the hardiest runner.

every year a team

representing Halcrow’s

Abu dhabi office tackles

the rocky range in the

nike Wadi Bih run.

“The team is made of

employees, family and friends,” said client director sami

Al Qazzaz. “It’s become a bit of a tradition.”

of the five-strong team of runners, each had to complete

15km to make a total distance covered of some 72km.

testinG tHeir mettLe

tHe LonG And WindinG roAd

F

themselves up for the event

the mountain range

lean on me: team members psych

halcrow runners wind through

(l-r) David, paul and sami

http://register.msmelbournecycle.org.au/2012-MS-Melbourne-Cycle/Halcrow+Melbourne


Announcements

ambreen waseem and irfan nizam, both highway engineers

working in sharjah, celebrated their wedding on 29 January 2012

with family and friends in karachi, pakistan.

Manish aggarwal from the Mumbai ports team married

beautiful bride Megha on 11 March 2012.

henry James lewis was born on 12 May 2012,

weighing 3.4kg, to proud parents nina and Jim in Dubai.

qatar hr manager hiba abboud and her husband,

David poort, were delighted by the birth of noura

eline poort on 19 February 2012. noura weighed 3.5kg.

luca Mcrae, first grandson to london’s head of web and video,

andrew Mcrae, was born on 3 May 2012, weighing 3.8kg.

new york-based communications manager andrea grinbaum

and husband andy were overjoyed by the latest addition to

their family, Jacob Maddox, who arrived on 2 March 2012

weighing 3.7kg. here he is with big sisters Miriam and sara.

robert Mihai stanila was born on 26 september 2011

to proud mum andreea, from the bucharest office,

and dad Marian. he weighed in at 2.9kg.

veronika alicia seborga was welcomed into the world by elated

parents anna and Franz, a structural engineer from halcrow’s

new york office. born on 15 March 2012, she weighed 3.5kg.

cardiff’s arwyn norris and his beautiful wife

kerry were married on 5 May 2012 at scenic

Margam park in wales before jetting off on

honeymoon to las vegas and hawaii.

vasu chhabra, an assistant engineer from the Delhi office,

married his stunning bride chandni on 11 March 2012.

Dylan george was welcomed by delighted parents

richard and sam small on 8 May 2012, weighing 3.5kg.

Dad richard works as a land surveyor in swindon.

vrinda and arvind pasula kicked off 2012 in joyous style with the

arrival of their beautiful daughter aratrika on 5 January. vrinda

and arvind are both urban planners, based in the Mumbai office.

congratulations to ian and anita

liddiard on the birth of baby

edward ian. he greeted the world

on 1 May 2012, weighing 3.2kg.


congratulations to romania hr manager gabi ivascu and

husband bogdan on the birth of their beautiful daughter

iustina steliana. she arrived on 9 June, weighing 3kg.

congratulations to Magdi salem from the tees

valley office and partner sara sayed on the birth

of their daughter, lama Magdi, on 8 January 2012.

Fiona Moore from halcrow’s tees valley office and husband

aaron barth tied the knot on 5 May 2012 in Darlington.

glasgow-based li Mi and yi yu chen were ecstatic

with the birth of their first child, alistair Ziteng,

on 26 april 2011. he weighed 2.9kg.

hamid nazir and his wife saima celebrated the birth of their first child,

hamdan, on 12 May 2012 weighing 2.5kg. hamid works as a

mechanical engineer in halcrow’s sharjah office.

geospatial technologist hrusikesh parida from the hyderabad office

and his new wife Dabasree celebrated their wedding on 29 January 2012

in the picturesque coastal town of puri, orissa.

Delhi-based ganesh panda and his wife alpana are the proud

parents of baby boy gautam, who arrived on 9 February 2012.

congratulations to shelendra Jain and his wife Megha on their new

arrival. baby aradhya was born on 20 March 2012, weighing 2.8kg.

baby yashneil was born on 14 March 2012,

delighting his parents sanjeev kumar

choudhary and annapurna kumari.

sanjeev is part of the finance team in Delhi.

Delhi’s sunder singh celebrated his marriage

to geeta Maweri on 9 February 2012.

graduate engineer varun garg married his stunning

wife preeti on 23 February 2012 in chandigrah.

emma allan (née Fisher) from the exeter office and husband

will tied the knot on 1 october 2011. Following their ceremony at

st Mary’s church in swindon, the rolling green surrounds of the

cotswolds and hot, sunny weather combined for the perfect reception.

quantity surveyor Mohammed

taslim arif and his wife Fozia

celebrated the birth of their son,

ebaad ul haque, on 5 March 2012.

ana sofia Dorneanu arrived

on 1 october 2011, delighting

her dad cosmin and mum roxana,

a senior environmental consultant from

bucharest. ana weighed 3.3kg.

Thanks for reading

http://halcrow.com/vox

vox, august 2012

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