Page 18 - A4 Journal 2018 R16

The Company

Civil Engineers on Project 13 looks at how to create the right behaviours, focus on outcomes, the culture and roles for
projects to succeed.
The construction industry’s productivity performance could dramatically improve if MMC is fully utilised. Techniques could
result in more output for the same input. Learning from automotive, the process of manufacturing is not particularly new.
Over the years the process has become ever more efficient and productive, with the different required components being
produced by the car manufacturers supply chain and delivered within tightly defined time slots in a 'just-in-time' approach.
Each iteration of the model brings better and better productivity improvements. In construction this is referred to a
subassembly or platform approach. For building high rise structures, this involves a wide-variety of considerations.
Mace have developed a new way of delivering high rise. At Mace’s Rising Factory project at East Village in Stratford, London,
98% of the superstructure is prefabricated and the towers are built using a climbing mechanism that allows a new floor –
including structure, cladding, horizontal and vertical service modules, bathrooms and utility cupboards - to be fully externally
complete in just one week. No tower cranes are used.
Mace are now evolving what they learned at their East Village project and launching a new and patented construction
technique. This will allow Mace to deliver tall buildings faster, using 40% less vehicle movements, 75% less waste and deliver
potentially lighter structures.
High Rise Solutions (HRS) is an evolution of the Rising Factory approach. Driving innovation such as the application of the HRS
system will allow the construction industry to deliver the homes the UK needs. It will also reduce risk, bring products faster to
market and revolutionise the way tall buildings are build both here in the UK and internationally.

Members are reminded that the views expressed by our members are those of the Author and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Company

Sir Michael Latham

Sir Michael Latham was a much-respected member of the Company,
progressing to Senior Warden before being diagnosed with dementia and
standing down from Court as a result. He was for many years an MP,
representing firstly Melton and latterly, after the constituency changes in
1983, the combined constituency of Melton and Rutland. He was a keen
supporter of independence for Rutland.
In 1994 he wrote “Constructing the Team” (otherwise known as the
“Latham Report” on the Construction Industry), which quickly became a
benchmark for the construction industry, advocating both a new form of
construction contract and the concept of partnering between the
construction contractor and the employer. This approach has gained much
ground over the years following the publication of the report and is actively
encouraged even now.
Over his lifetime he was also a committed Christian, serving as a lay reader for his local church at Gretton in
Northamptonshire, and for many years he sat on the Council of Christians and Jews.
He was also Chairman of the CITB for eight years and in 2014 his service to the construction industry was recognised by the
presentation to his family by the current chairman of the CITB, Mr James Wates, of the lifetime achievement award at the
CITB Pride of Construction Awards in 2014.
Sadly, Sir Michael died on 2 November 2017, and his funeral (at his local parish church) was attended by the Master who was
accompanied by several other Past Masters, Liverymen and Freemen.

Aeternum Vale

We lost several of our long-standing members over the last year and will miss their fellowship, wise counsel and presence in
the future. We remember them and our thoughts are with their friends and families.

Liveryman Alan Chorlton died on 25 October 2017 at the age of 71. He was admitted to the Company in February 1995 and
was granted Livery in September 1995.

Sir Michael Latham died on 2 November 2017 at the age of 74, after a long illness that eventually caused him to relinquish
his membership of the Company. He was admitted on 1 October 2005, being granted Livery on admission.

Liveryman Alastair Mackie died on 2 August 2018 at the age of 70, after a short illness. He was admitted in September 2007
and was granted Livery in September 2009.

Page 18 | The Journal of the Worshipful Company of Constructors | Autumn 2018