About the Project

Gascoigne East Phase 2, Block E2, London

Construction of 159 homes in blocks, completed in 123 weeks. 

With a sizeable treasury of construction expertise amassed over a 25-year career across multiple sectors, Aaron Pearson was well equipped for this scheme to build residential blocks ranging from six to 10 storeys high. 

He capably progressed a project that was significantly over budget in the precontract phase but had uncrossable redlines on feel and quality that limited the alternatives. By unpicking the build and redesigning wherever necessary, he hauled the scheme back to financial viability without losing the high-quality finishes and environment. 

Aaron made the wall-to-floor ratios more efficient and identified more economic build sequences. His key pricing initiative, though, was to rethink the construction method for the superstructure. He ditched a precast concrete frame approach for a much more cost-efficient hybrid solution that left only vertical elements such as the lift shaft walls and twin wall panels as precast. 

His value engineering encompassed greater functionality as well as lower cost. The introduction of a baffle over windows to suppress noise from outside allowed them to be opened for air changes. 

Other innovations included replacing timber door sets with steel for the escape staircase during the build. The cost-effectiveness of this fire strategy innovation came from the ability to easily recycle the steel doors from project to project.