A Sussex man has scooped a top accolade for his delicate restoration work on a historic UK building.

David Packham, who lives in Haywards Heath, helped to transform the listed German Gymnasium building in London’s Kings Cross from a crumbling Victorian structure, which secured him the construction industry’s Construction Manager of the Year Awards’ silver medal. The building is now occupied by the upmarket restauranteur D&D.

“The rare arched and bolt-timber laminated trussed roof of this Victorian building presented David Packham with his project triumph. The scheme aimed to reveal the roof in all its glory from inside the building by removing the first floor that obscured it and replacing its felt with Welsh slate. It was David’s recognition of how the structure worked originally and his ability to identify the risks that delivered success.

"David’s solution retained the original look and feel of an aesthetically pleasing interior at less cost than any of the alternative solutions proposed.

"Beyond this, David brought his own experience as a skilled craftsman to bear, along with his knowledge of listed structures and management know-how.”

CMYA Judges

David, who is married with three daughters, moved to Haywards Heath 30 years ago, after growing up in Horsebridge, a small village near Hailsham close to Eastbourne. He now commutes to work for London team of BAM, the contractor which is also behind the local works on the new Waitrose development at the Haywards Heath station.

He started out as an apprentice carpenter, and was site based for 20 years before entering management.  

Since joining BAM in 2006, David has worked on some of the capital’s most significant buildings: the former M&S HQ in Baker Street; the creation of Waterloo station’s new retail balcony and the University of the Arts also at the massive regeneration of Kings Cross. He remains on the 64 acre site that even has its own special postcode creating the dazzling Coal Drops development. But his love of Sussex underpins his working life.

“I’ve lived here for 30 years. My family has grown up in Haywards Heath, and I can be in the countryside within a five minute walk from my home. It’s a very convenient place to travel to work too. I’ve never thought of leaving. It’s good to see my colleagues at work on something that will improve the facilities here right on my doorstep.”

David Packham

Project Manager, BAM

Read more about David’s success: http://www.cmya.co.uk/entries/david-packham-mciob/