WELCOME TO THE FAMILY - Halcrow

VOX 

DEcember 2011 

Projects and people 

WELCOME 

TO THE FAMILY 

Halcrow employees celebrate 

joining CH2M HILL 

Eastern Promise 

Romania team at 

forefront of country’s 

development – 26 

Peter Gammie 

Chief executive 

retires after 33 years 

at Halcrow – 40 

PLUS – Survey results 

– Thames Hub – Bridge 

rebuilding, Pakistan – 

New York fireboats 

A CH2M HILL COMPANY

The winning photo – Tom McNulty 

and Floyd Meenan at Everest base camp 

Romania’s Bucharest office celebrates 

with party poppers 

editor’s 

comment 

In this issue of Vox we celebrate a new 

chapter in Halcrow’s history as the 

company joins with CH2M HILL. 

We say farewell to retiring chief executive 

Peter Gammie after 33 years with Halcrow 

and catch up with new managing director 

Greg McIntyre. The Romania team takes 

us on a tour of its current projects, and we 

report on progress to rebuild bridges in 

Pakistan following flooding in 2010. 

This issue of Vox also features a number 

of videos. Look out for the ‘play’ icon and 

click to watch online. 

We’re always on the lookout for interesting 

stories, so please let us know what you and 

your colleagues are up to. Send your project 

successes and other news to Eloise Young. 

Vox team 

Welcome to 

the future – 8 

Thames Hub vision to transform UK infrastructure 

Halcrow joins CH2M HILL 

Celebrations gallery 3 

Five minutes with Greg McIntyre 4 

employee survey – Your feedback 6 

Projects 

Bridges over troubled water 16 

Halcrow helps Pakistan rebuild after floods 

Putting out the flames 22 

Green upgrade for New York’s fireboat facilities 

Eastern promise 26 

Romanian business goes from strength to strength 

Happy birthday UAE 34 

People 

Peter Gammie retires 40 

London calling 46 

Tapping into future talent 

Giving 

Transforming lives 48 

Halcrow Foundation improves care for disabled orphans 

The Philippines team looks forward to 

meeting its new colleagues 

Celebrations 

gallery 

A selection of photos from around the world 

Everyone say ‘cheers’ in Long Beach 

Have your cake in Melbourne... 

Surf’s up in Exeter, UK 

Party time in Buenos Aires 

...and eat it in Glasgow 

Eloise Young, editor 

youngel@halcrow.com 

Editorial 

Haidee Harrison 

Richard Rhydderch 

Video 

Claudia Lee 

2 ◆ Vox ◆ projects and people 

Emilie Dadswell, designer 

dadswelle@halcrow.com 

Graphics 

Tracy Newman 

Web 

Adeel Arshad 

Andrew McRae 

Out of office 

Making a song and dance 50 

Eddie McDowell shares his passion for performance 

Meet the sound engineer 52 

Music-mad Stephen Bilby’s got two strings to his bow 

A Welsh welcome from Cardiff 

To view all the celebration photos click here 

projects and people ◆ Vox ◆ 3

Five minutes 

Tell us about your first few weeks as 

Halcrow’s new managing director. 

It has been a very exciting time. It’s great meeting 

new colleagues and discovering just how much we’ve 

all got in common and how many values we share. 

Everyone I speak to seems to have a sense of possibility 

and optimism. 

What was your first day like? 

with 

Busy! On day one, I was straight on a 

plane and out to the Middle East to meet 

colleagues in our offices in Doha, Sharjah, 

Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I met several 

hundred people and was very impressed 

by their enthusiasm and their depth of 

knowledge. The Middle East is a tremendous 

showcase for Halcrow projects – they are some of 

the best advertising material we’ve got. 

While I was in the Middle East we got the Halcrow and 

CH2M HILL regional and practice area teams together to 

talk about strategy. The teams have each got their own 

strengths and together they are going to be a real force 

to be reckoned with. Across Halcrow and CH2M HILL, 

we’re going to focus on building on and developing our 

strengths together. 

What do you see as Halcrow’s main priority? 

Our number-one priority must be serving clients and 

ensuring we deliver high-quality products safely each and 

Greg Mcintyre 

An interview with Halcrow’s new managing director 

“Our 

numberone 

priority 

must be 

serving 

clients” 

every day. We need everyone to maintain that focus in the 

months ahead. 

What do you find most encouraging? 

The goodwill and enthusiasm of Halcrow colleagues. 

Employees seem to be determined to make the 

integration process work – and I know that CH2M HILL 

colleagues are just as committed. 

The two employee surveys have also been 

very encouraging. The responses reveal a 

high level of engagement and interest and 

has helped us to highlight employees’ key 

areas of interest. 

Your feedback shows that employee 

development is top of people’s agenda and we 

are going to be prioritising this in the months to come as 

we work to bring Halcrow’s career management approach 

in line with that of CH2M HILL. We’ll also be looking 

closely at employee learning and development. You’ll be 

hearing more about the various elements of this very 

early next year. 

What is your message to employees? 

The last few months have been an exciting – and 

occasionally nail biting – time for all of us. But now I think 

we’ve got all the right ingredients together to really go 

for it. Enjoy the holiday season – and then together let’s 

make 2012 a year to remember! 

Quickfire round 

What is your earliest memory? 

Sneaking downstairs early on Christmas morning 

Which living person do you most admire? 

Nelson Mandela 

If you weren’t an engineer, what would 

you be? 

Growing up I was always adamant I didn’t want to 

be an engineer as my Dad and older brothers are 

all engineers – this aversion obviously didn’t survive 

long! If I had chosen a different path I think it would’ve 

been in veterinary medicine or journalism 

What did you want to be when you were 

ten years old? 

Like most small boys I wanted to be a professional 

athlete – preferably American football 

Define leadership in one word 

Front – leading by example means being out in front 

What makes you truly happy? 

Laughing with my family 

What is the worst job you’ve ever done? 

Kitchen porter while studying 

What’s your worst habit? 

Working on weekends 

What is the most important lesson life 

has taught you? 

Life is short, live it with integrity 

If you were a famous structure, what 

would you be? 

The Statue of Liberty 

Where’s your favourite place in the world? 

On a boat somewhere in the Caribbean – my only 

stipulation is that it has to be warm! 



EMPLOYEE SURVEY 

YOUR FEEDBACK 

In early December, some two months after the acquisition was 

announced, the value assurance team issued a second short 

survey. With further information now available and many people 

more familiar with CH2M HILL’s people and operations, the survey 

aimed to gain an insight into employees’ views and gauge the 

current mood of the business. 

2,476 EMPLOYEES 

COMPLETED 

THE SURVEY 

IN THE LAST SURVEY 

WE ASKED HOW YOU FELT ABOUT 

HALCROW BEING ACQUIRED. 

HOW DO YOU FEEL 

ABOUT THIS NOW? 

COMPARED WITH YOUR RESPONSE 

IN THE PREVIOUS SURVEY, 

DO YOU FEEL MORE POSITIVE 

ABOUT THE ACQUISITION, 

OR LESS SO? 

7% 

6.5% 

32.1% 

54.4% 

MORE POSITIVE 

LESS POSITIVE 

DID NOT COMPLETE PREVIOUS SURVEY 

THE SAME 

EMPLOYEE COMMENT 

“GREAT COMMUNICATION 

AND THE FEELING OF BEING 

PART OF SOMETHING BIG” 

1.4% 

NOT 

AT ALL 

POSITIVE 

3.7% 22.9% 48.9% 23.2% 

NOT 

VERY 

POSITIVE 

NEUTRAL POSITIVE VERY POSITIVE 


“BOTH COMPANIES SHARE 

THE SAME HIGH VALUES” 

IN THE LAST SURVEY WE 

ASKED HOW YOU FELT 

ABOUT CH2M HILL. 

HOW DO YOU 

FEEL ABOUT THE 

COMPANY NOW? 

0.8% 

NOT 

AT ALL 

POSITIVE 

3% 

NOT 

VERY 

POSITIVE 

25.9% 

NEUTRAL 

49.8% 

POSITIVE 

COMPARED WITH YOUR RESPONSE 

IN THE PREVIOUS SURVEY, 

DO YOU FEEL MORE POSITIVE 

ABOUT CH2M HILL, 

20.5% 

VERY POSITIVE 

OR LESS SO? 

29.9% 60% 4.2% 5.9% 

MORE POSITIVE 

THE SAME 

LESS POSITIVE 

DID NOT COMPLETE PREVIOUS SURVEY 


“THE MORE I LEARN ABOUT CH2M HILL, 

THE MORE FIRMLY I BELIEVE THAT THEY 

WILL BE GREAT TO WORK WITH” 

YOUR TOP PRIORITY: 

19.7% 17.8% 14.2% 12.8% 

EMPLOYEE 

RETENTION 

CAREER 

RETENTION 

MAINTAINING 

CLIENT 

RELATIONSHIPS 

12.8% 9.8% 9.7% 

CLARITY AND 

CERTAINTY OF ROLES 

TECHNICAL 

REPUTATION 

REWARD AND 

RECOGNITION 

COMMUNICATION 

3.1% 

BRAND 

DIRECTION 



Welcome 

to the 

future 

Integrated Thames Hub vision to 

transform UK infrastructure 

All images courtesy of Foster+Partners 


“T 

here is no reason anyone would 

want a computer in their home,” 

opined Ken Olson, president 

of market leading computer manufacturer 

Digital Equipment Corp, writing off the PC 

in 1977. 

History is littered with similar technological 

predictions that failed to materialise, as 

the current lack of personal flying vehicles, 

robot helpers and colonies on Mars attests. 

One proposal whose backers are confident 

will avoid this fate is the Thames Hub – a 

vision for the UK developed by Halcrow, 

architectural giant Foster+Partners and 

economists Volterra. 

“What we’re proposing is a 21 st -century 

infrastructure network that will 

change the face of the UK” 

“What we’re proposing is a 21 st -century 

infrastructure network that will change the 

face of the UK and position the country at 

the forefront of global trade and industry,” 

said Ben Hamer, who is leading the 

project for Halcrow. The self-funded study 

includes proposals for a high-speed orbital 

rail link, a new flood barrier, renewable 

energy generation and communications 

infrastructure, along with a 150 million 

passenger international airport to be built on 

the Isle of Grain in the Thames Estuary. 

Proposals for growth in the estuary, which 

connects London to the sea, have been 

floated at various times over the past few 

decades but successive governments have 

decided against constructing large-scale, 

integrated infrastructure from the ground up. 

However, with the economic implications of 

inaction becoming increasingly impossible to 

ignore, all the signs point eastwards and to 

the need for big, ambitious thinking. 

Halcrow’s role 

Norman Foster, the visionary architect and 

eponymous founder of Foster+Partners, 

approached Halcrow several years ago to 

help firm up his proposals for an integrated 

transport hub in the Thames Estuary. 

➔ 


Halcrow had played a key role in a study for the 

Mayor of London’s Thames Estuary steering 

group, which looked at different options for 

development in 2010 and the potential for 

investment. A south-east regional aviation 

strategy published in 2002 – the SERAS report, 

which informed the UK’s 2003 aviation white 

paper – also bore the Halcrow stamp. This 

background, coupled with the company’s 

proactive work to progress the Severn Barrage, 

established Halcrow as the obvious choice to 

provide the necessary technical muscle. 

Over 40 Halcrow employees covering more 

than 30 specialisms contributed to plans 

for the Thames Hub. Halcrow has produced 

22 technical studies to date, delving into 

issues ranging from the impact on wetland 

habitats and local communities to the specific 

geotechnical challenges surrounding the 

barrier and hydropower generation. Literally no 

stone has been left unturned, with the multidisciplinary 

team approaching each part of the 

project from every conceivable angle. Proposals 

for hydropower generation, for example, look 

at tidal currents, positioning, existing shipping 

lanes and the scope for realignment, available 

and developing technology, airport energy 

demands, installation challenges, yield, and 

cost implications. 

“The main thrust of our work has focused on 

‘Is it doable – technically, economically and 

environmentally?’” said Halcrow chief economist 

Andrew Price, responsible for driving much of 

the technical output. “We need to demonstrate 

the robustness of what’s being proposed.” 

“Halcrow has produced 22 technical 

studies to date” 

Part of the team’s work involved identifying 

and ironing out anything that could prove 

to be a spanner in the works as the project 

progresses. This ranges from the positioning of 

existing liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities to 

the potentially volatile wreck of the US warship 

SS Richard Montgomery, which sank in 

1944 carrying 1,400 tonnes of potentially 

volatile munitions. 

Winning hearts and minds 

Public engagement and securing buy-in from 

stakeholder groups will be crucial. “Over the 

past few weeks we’ve been liaising with a 

range of stakeholders, and the response has 

been largely positive,” said Halcrow’s David 

Kerr, who has been involved in the project 

from the outset. “Some of the local councils 

have been fairly vociferous in their opposition, 

but we’re trying to better understand their 

concerns and hopefully address some of 

these going forward.” 

Growth benefits for the 

Thames Gateway area are 

estimated at £75 billion 

According to Halcrow’s head of public 

relations Garry Whitaker, who is leading the 

media campaign, press coverage has been 

both extensive and receptive to the ideas 

underpinning the project. “We’ve also been 

driving the debate in the public domain and the 

media as this ensures the arguments against 

the project come into sharper focus, enabling 

the team to find solutions,” he said. 


While exposure is undoubtedly a positive thing 

for the project, and by extension for Halcrow, 

the focal point for media attention to date 

has proved frustrating for the team. 

➔ 


“The press has completely fixated on the 

airport component,” said Ben. “Providing 

a long-term replacement for Heathrow 

and expanding the UK’s airport capacity is 

essential, but to represent the project as an 

airport in the Thames Estuary is like talking 

about building a new city from scratch and 

then just mentioning the buildings. We’re 

working hard to change this perception and 

ensure people understand the benefits of the 

project as an integrated whole.” 

Over half the UK’s container traffic 

comes within 50km of the Thames 

Estuary, set to increase to 70 per cent 

when the Thames Gateway port opens 

“Projects of this size and scale will inevitably 

raise environmental fears,” added Andrew. 

“We’ve been talking to stakeholders such as 

the Environment Agency, which has been very 

pragmatic and open to our proposals. We’re 

planning to meet with the Royal Society for the 

Protection of Birds to discuss the potential for 

habitat creation and new nature reserves.” 

“The main thrust of Halcrow’s work 

has focused on ‘Is it doable...?’” 

Next steps 

Following the Thames Hub’s detailed launch 

on 2 November interested murmurs began 

emanating from Westminster, with chancellor 

George Osborne and Steve Hilton, the prime 

minister’s strategy chief, reportedly backing 

the project. Later that month the chancellor 

pledged to ‘explore all options for maintaining 

the UK’s aviation hub status’, although a third 

runway at Heathrow has been expressly ruled 

out. These findings will be outlined in the 

government’s consultation on aviation strategy, 

due out in March 2012. 

The spine 

• conduits for high-voltage 

power, broadband fibre and 

water distribution 

• hidden in landscaped mounds 

beside the rail line, reducing 

noise pollution 

Flood barrier and 

hydropower 

• replacement flood defences for London and 

the Thames Gateway area through to 22 nd 

century 

• 20 per cent population growth in the south 

east region requires flood risk management 

to an extended area 

• 525GWh/year generation capacity – enough 

to power 76,000 homes with renewable 

energy or 100 per cent of the airport’s 

projected energy demand 

• designed to reduce the north-south 

economic divide and encourage smallscale 

renewable energy production 

The hub also epitomises the thinking behind 

the UK’s 2010 national infrastructure plan, 

updated this year and published alongside the 

chancellor’s Autumn Statement. As well as 

co-ordinating public and private investment 

and targeting new funding sources, the strategy 

aims to break down silos across government 

departments and create a more centralised 

model for delivery. 


➔ 


visit thameshub.com 

With considerable scope for private 

sense to build integrated infrastructure – why 

investment, Andrew believes the project 

wouldn’t we want to get maximum benefit out 

will prove an attractive prospect for the UK of our investment?” he said. “If you’re building 

government:“There are many funding options to a new airport, first-rate public transport links 

take forward, with different levels of involvement are essential or it turns into an expensive 

for the public and private sectors. Ultimately, white elephant. If you need a new flood barrier, 

this must be a joint effort, with the government why not install hydropower turbines at the 

providing the right regulatory and planning same time? And if you’re already digging up 

environment, along with upfront financial land for a rail line, putting in communications 

support for some elements of the project.” and energy cabling concurrently seems like a 

no-brainer.” 

Halcrow and its project partners are currently 

exploring different options to progress the With the train network creaking at the 

scheme – whether this looks something like seams, lorry-loads of goods stuck in chronic 

Corlan Hafren, the legal company set up to bottlenecks and aeroplanes circling the skies 

spearhead the Severn Barrage, or another kind above west London waiting for a landing 

of venture agreement remains to be seen. slot, the UK’s infrastructure engine is slowly 

grinding to a standstill. It seems a case of 

The case for integrated infrastructure is when, not if, the government will need to 

compelling, as Ben emphasises. “It makes summon the political will to act. 

Full house at 

Heathrow 

With Heathrow already operating at 

98 per cent capacity and no scope for 

expansion, the world’s erstwhile busiest 

airport has been overhauled by both 

Beijing and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson 

International Airport – with serious 

repercussions for the UK economy. 

According to a recent report published 

by Frontier Economics, poor trade 

links are costing the UK £1.2 billion 

per annum, rising to £1.6 billion within 

a decade. 

Hub airport 

• 150 million passengers annually 

• 60 per cent of passengers predicted 

to use rail links 

• 30 minutes from central London 

• four runways and the largest rail 

hub in the UK with 300,000 

passengers daily 

The proposed orbital route around London 

Central London 

congested capital 

Routes serving London and south-east England are 

predominantly radial, meaning passengers must 

travel to the heart of the capital to catch a connecting 

train – to Heathrow, HS1 to Europe, or to another part 

of the UK. Equally, there is virtually no incentive for 

businesses to transport goods by rail as freight trains 

are also diverted into central London, where they must 

compete with passenger services. 

Orbital solution 

The proposed orbital train line would whisk people 

and freight away from London’s congested inner 

zones, with links to HS1, the planned HS2 line and 

existing rail routes. 

• 180km orbital route with two high-speed and two 

fast tracks 

• journey time from Manchester to Hub airport less 

than two hours 

• up to an hour slashed from journeys across 

central London 

• 4,000 lorries per day removed from the M25, 

freeing up road capacity and cutting the road 

network’s national mode share of container traffic 

from 80 per cent to 50 per cent 

• a third of the route to be built underground to 

protect ecologically sensitive areas 

Hub airport 



Bridges 

over 

troubled 

water 

Halcrow helps 

Pakistan rebuild 

after floods 

Bridge sections ready to be installed on the launched Al-Huda bridge 

Completed bridge open for traffic 

Bridge launching in progress over a major crossing 

Asound unheard for over a year in the farthest 

reaches of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 

province now reverberates across the valleys – 

the steady rumbling of a car engine as it motors across a 

metal bridge, high above the rushing river. 

A year after Pakistan was left crippled by raging floods, 

taking into account infrastructure, irrigation systems, 

bridges, houses and roads. 

The devastating floods were 

the country’s worst in almost 

a century 

A remote bridge connecting farmland 

and orchards with markets 

In addition to the 66 prefabricated steel bridges, Halcrow 

also provided technical oversight for 40 semi-permanent 

schools as part of the accelerated project. Of these, 32 are 

girls’ schools, replacing some of the hundreds in the Swat 

Valley systematically destroyed by the Taliban. 

communities across the country are being reconnected 

Back in 2009, the UK government’s Department for 

With six bridges already open to traffic and another 14 

with the world beyond their villages and isolated valleys. 

Half a dozen of the 66 bridges set to be rebuilt have 

now been installed, with Halcrow providing design and 

International Development (DFID) had approved a 

significant project to rebuild shattered communities in the 

aftermath of Pakistan’s war with the Taliban, with Halcrow 

Flood facts 

Pakistan’s worst floods since 1929 resulted in: 

under construction, the project is already transforming 

lives, as project co-ordinator Muhammad Ali Khan 

explained. “Many of these rural communities have been 

supervision services for the replacement structures. 

and Mott MacDonald appointed joint delivery partners. 

• over 2,000 deaths 

completely cut off from the main arterial roads and larger 

• 18 million affected 

towns,” he said. “In some cases there are no alternative 

The devastating floods that swept through Pakistan in 

In the wake of the 2010 floods, the project was brought 

• more than £6.4 billion in damages 

routes, forcing people to cross the rivers by fords – where 

July 2010 were the country’s worst in almost a century. 

forward to help the country rebuild. Under the £10 million 

• 557,000ha of crops destroyed 

possible – or temporary, locally constructed bridges that 

Over 2,000 people lost their lives in the driving torrent 

scheme bombed-out schools, bridges, road links and 

• 14,000 cattle dead 

are only suitable for light vehicles. The bridges provide 

that ploughed through homes, schools and crop fields, 

other infrastructure in the border provinces of Khyber 

• 8,050km of roads and railways washed away 

a lifeline – now they’re able to access markets and 

with 18 million affected – more than 10 per cent of the 

population. Estimated damages topped £6.4 billion, 

Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Administrative Tribal 

Areas (FATA) would be repaired or replaced. 

• 400 healthcare facilities inundated 

hospitals, visit friends and family who live further afield, 

and children can get to school safely.” 

➔ 



As well as helping people and goods get around, the first 

bridges to be completed have proved indispensable to 

the rebuilding effort. Providing a vital link from the small 

village of Haroonabad to the main road and the town of 

Saidu Sharif, Akhun Baba bridge has improved access to 

a nearby quarry and the construction materials needed to 

repair and replace damaged homes. 

The first bridges to be completed 

have proved indispensable to the 

rebuilding effort 

In Fazil Banda, the newly installed, all-season crossing 

provides access beyond the reach of the annual monsoon 

rains that course through the valley, causing the river 

to swell and flood. “As with all the new structures, 

we’ve been monitoring the number of vehicles crossing 

the bridge. Drawing anecdotal evidence from the 

villagers, we’ve also pieced together a picture of users’ 

demographics,” said Ali. “School kids are crossing daily 

to get to their lessons, along with many women from the 

village who are visiting the market to buy food for their 

families. The region is renowned for its fruit orchards, and 

the permanent bridge has enabled growers to get their 

produce to market quickly and efficiently, boosting the 

local economy.” 

Another new bridge, Sakhra Lalkoo, connects isolated 

hamlets with the main road, slashing the time to hospitals 

and other essential services. With the region’s undulating 

hills thickly clad in prime forest the bridge enables the 

transportation of legally logged trees and other forestry 


VIDEOS 

click the image to watch 

The river divides this community in half, with markets, schools and other 

facilities located on either side. The completed Biha Fazal Banda bridge 

has led to better community integration and easy access for people of all ages 

products, providing a valuable income source and jobs for 

the community. 

“The majority of the bridges – 36 in total – have now been 

screened and tested, with a further 14 to be screened in KP 

province,” said Shahab-ud-din, Halcrow’s resident engineer. 

“We’re making great progress on this project, which will 

run through to 2013. Each bridge we install is literally 

reconnecting communities, helping people to rebuild their 

lives.” In Pakistan’s rural provinces, the rumbling of car 

engines is proving an unlikely symbol of hope 

and reconstruction. 

Far left: Halcrow project manager 

Usman Mumtaz was interviewed by the 

BBC immediately after the floodwaters 

carved a swathe of destruction through 

the countryside. 

Left: BBC reporter Aleem Maqbool 

then revisited the area at the beginning 

of 2011 as the construction team 

hammered the final bolts in place on 

the Akhun Baba bridge. 

Awards 

Halcrow tunnellers scooped the coveted In the UK, the Blackpool central area coast 

international tunnelling adviser of the protection scheme scooped the prestigious 

year award at the New Civil Engineer ICE Brunel Medal, which recognises 

(NCE) International Tunnelling Awards valuable service rendered to or within 

2011 in Hong Kong. The award recognised the civil engineering industry. Halcrow 

Halcrow’s key role on a variety of projects provided support to client Blackpool 

including DART Underground in Dublin, Council on the largest ever publicly funded 

the Northern Line Extension in London and coastal defence scheme. 

Brazil’s TAV – the first high-speed rail line 

in Latin America. The company was also The Broadland flood alleviation project 

shortlisted for the international tunnelling took home the prestigious environmental 

designer of the year award for its design award at the British Construction Industry 

input on key projects around the world. Awards (BCIA) in London. 

The £118 million project is now nearing 

the end of the programme of improvement 

works and moving on to maintenance 

phases. Halcrow was also shortlisted within 

a number of other BCIA categories. 

Accepting the award in Hong Kong 

A-one+ topped two categories at the 

UK Highways Agency new supplier 

recognition scheme awards, against some 

80 entries, for providing cost savings across 

The Broadlands team at the BCIA awards 

the four managing agent contractor (MAC) 

contracts and for mobilising employee 

talents to deliver a smarter service. 

Halcrow scored a hat trick of successes 

at Scotland’s annual ‘engineering oscars’, 

At the Highways Magazine Excellence the Saltire Society Civil Engineering 

Awards A-one+ won the highway worker Awards 2011. 

and site safety initiative award and the 

judges’ special merit award as ‘winner This year’s award for construction 

of winners’, for its work to develop the went to the Rosyth carrier vessel future 

Intellicone, an integrated safety solution for infrastructure upgrade. Designed by 

road maintenance contractors. A-one+ was Halcrow on behalf of Babcock Marine, the 

also commended in the highway industry project involved modifying the existing 

product of the year category for its use maritime structures at the dockyard in 

and promotion of glass-resin reinforced order to allow the construction of the 

polyester sign material. 

new generation of Queen Elizabeth Class 

aircraft carriers. 

The Halcrow-designed White Cart Water 

flood prevention scheme and A75 Cairntop 

to Barlae dual carriageway projects both 

received commendations. 

Halcrow was recognised at The Waterfront 

Centre’s 24 th annual ‘Excellence on the 

Waterfront’ awards in New York. The 2011 

annual honour award was presented for 

the Queens West Stage II project. Halcrow 

was the waterfront engineer on the 

landscape architect-led team. 

The A-one+ team celebrates another success 


project news in brief 

terminal. The first phase of the 

What’s in Your Backyard website. 

project is anticipated to be completed 

Halcrow worked closely with over 100 

in time for the opening of the upgraded 

maritime local authorities in order to 

Panama Canal in late 2014. CH2M HILL 

capture the vast amount of data that 

is managing the mammoth 

was required. 

£3.35 billion canal expansion. 

Halcrow has scooped a key contract to 

Halcrow’s rail commercial team 

help develop rail links for Indonesia’s 

in London and York has backed a 

booming coal industry. Working on 

winner by providing technical support 

behalf of the Indonesian Infrastructure 

to the successful bid by Netherlands 

Guarantee Fund (IIGF) – an agency 

Railways’ subsidiary Abellio, for 

of the Indonesian Government – 

the new Greater Anglia passenger 

Halcrow will provide a full analysis and 

Why the long face: Washington Nationals mascots and guests open the pier 

rail franchise. Halcrow performed 

development of the Central Kalimantan 

In Washington DC, Halcrow recently 

operational and performance 

modelling, train planning and 

coal transport project for publicprivate 

partnership bidding. The 

The new link will boost the economy in Central Kalimantan 

completed structural, geotechnical 

timetable development, drafted 

completed rail link will speed high- 

and electrical engineering for the pier 

vital safety documentation, and 

quality coal exports from a loading 

of container ships that are currently 

In the UK, Halcrow has been appointed 

connection between The Yards Park 

provided assistance on operator 

centre at Purukcahu to the Bangkuang 

on order. Over 40 per cent of the 

to provide Building Research 

– home of the Washington Nationals 

licensing issues. 

barging point in the lower stream of 

UK’s containerised trade now passes 

Establishment Environmental 

baseball stadium – and Diamond 

the Barito River. 

through the port. Halcrow was 

Assessment Method (BREEAM) advice 

Teague Park. The design allows 

The company has been selected for 

appointed to provide engineering 

and assessment services for the 

maintenance boats to pass underneath, 

a multi-million dollar development 

Thanks to a new deep-water 

consultancy services and to act as 

refurbishment of a 19 th century stable 

as well as future construction of the DC 

Water Blue Plains tunnel, also being 

designed by Halcrow. 

Turkey’s Izmit Bay Crossing. Image courtesy 

of Dissing+Weitling Architecture 

programme in Pakistan for USAID, the 

United States international aid agency. 

The prestigious win allows Halcrow to 

terminal, the Port of Felixstowe is 

the only UK port capable of working 

the largest of the latest generation 

employer’s representative during 

both the design-checking and 

construction stages. 

block – part of the new Living Green 

Visitor Centre in south west London 

opened by UK charity The National 

Halcrow has been appointed 

bid for multi-disciplinary projects on an 

Trust. The centre is part of a two-year 

In Australia, the modelling team 

to undertake the independent 

indefinite quantity contract over a five- 

project to transform the park’s semi- 

in Chatswood has won a contract 

design check of the new Izmit Bay 

year period. Projects will be spread 

derelict stable yard into a vibrant new 

from the New South Wales Roads 

Crossing in Turkey. The 1,550m 

over four sectors – transportation, 

visitor centre, combining the highest 

and Maritime Services to undertake 

span suspension bridge will be 

water supply and sanitation, water 

standards of restoration work with the 

traffic surveys and traffic modelling 

the spectacular centrepiece in a 

resources engineering and building 

latest energy-efficient technology. 

of one of the most problematic parts 

proposed new 420km motorway 

structures. It aims to improve the lives 

of the Sydney road network. 

between Gebze and Izmir. At a total 

of communities across the country. 

Halcrow has been appointed as an 

estimated cost of some £3.9 billion, 

independent safety assessor and 

the new scheme will be constructed 

Homeowners in England and Wales 

independent reliability assessor 

and operated through a build- 

will be able to quickly assess the 

for the planned Hyderabad metro. 

operate-transfer concession. 

risk posed to their homes by coastal 

This follows an earlier win, with 

erosion thanks to a new interactive 

the company also set to provide 

Halcrow’s maritime team has recently 

map developed by Halcrow on 

consultancy services for detailed 

been appointed by the Port of Houston 

behalf of the Environment Agency 

engineering of elevated viaducts on 

Sydney’s congested road network 

to provide programme management 

services for the Barbours Cut container 

(EA). The National Coastal Erosion 

Map is a new feature on the EA’s 

Felixstowe Port is the UK’s largest container port 

a 29km stretch of Line 3, between 

Nagole and Shilparamam. 



Putting out 

the flames 

Green upgrade for New York’s 

fireboat facilities 

J 

ust across the Williamsburg Bridge from 

Manhattan, sheltered in a crook of the East 

River, the Brooklyn Navy Yard is home to the 

New York Fire Department’s (FDNY) fireboat fleet. 

The city has a special relationship with its fire 

department, and fighting blazes both on and from 

the water forms an essential part of the force’s 

commitment to protecting New Yorkers. 

Ready and waiting: FDNY’s new fireboat fleet 

Once a strategic US Navy shipyard, the sprawling 

121ha site is now a thriving industrial park. For 

several decades, the FDNY has berthed its vessels 

along the waterfront and used the adjacent land 

for maintenance. 

So when the FDNY needed to upgrade and expand 

its Marine Battalion 6 facility to handle an entirely 

new, state-of-the-art fleet in 2008, Halcrow jumped at 

the chance to get involved as primary consultant for 

the project. 

➔ 



Bigger, greener, self-sufficient 

Completed in early 2011, the larger, modernised 

facility means all repair work can take place on site. 

New equipment enables boats to be 

hoisted directly out of the water, 

drastically reducing the 

time spent out of service. 

“Previously, vessels 

requiring dry-dock repairs 

had to travel a number 

of miles to a remote 

shipyard, only to be lifted 

onto a trailer and driven 

back to the Brooklyn Navy 

Yard,” explained project director 

Jonathan Goldstick. “The new travel lift 

has a 50-tonne capacity and is capable of hoisting all but 

the heaviest boats. This means the FDNY is self sufficient, 

removing any reliance on other organisations or facilities 

for hauling and launching vessels. All this leads to 

reduced costs and – crucially for emergency services – 

much less time spent out of service.” 

“The 

new travel 

lift is capable 

of hoisting all 

but the heaviest 

boats” 

In an added benefit, the Halcrow team designed the 

travel lift to be able to move floating sections of the dock 

onto dry land during heavy weather or for maintenance – 

usually the work of a specially commissioned crane. 

History in the making 

Established as a US Navy shipyard in 1820, the Brooklyn site 

churned out military ships for over a century before finally closing 

its gates in 1965. At the height of World War II, up to 70,000 men 

and women toiled away to construct and repair the Navy’s conflictbound 

fleet. Installed during the war effort, the site’s mammoth 

‘hammerhead’ crane was capable of lifting 350 tonnes – the largest 

in the world at that time. Bought by the City of New York in 1967, 

the yard was reopened as an industrial park four years later. It now 

boasts 40 buildings, 230 tenants and 5,000 employees. 

Halcrow reused a number of 19 th century cannons salvaged by the 

FDNY as part of the upgrade design. Standing upright and embedded 

into the ground, the barrels serve as unique bollards for securing 

boats, further reflecting the site’s naval heritage. 

Commissioning the USS Spokane in 1946 

Halcrow’s role 

Above-water and underwater inspections 

Conceptual and detailed designs 

Preparing permit documents 

Providing construction administration, 

support and inspection services 

‘Cold ironing’ may sound like a bizarre 

laundry oxymoron, but as project 

engineer Duncan Kopp explained, the 

process is one of several innovations 

introduced on the project. “Cold ironing 

means berthed vessels are able to plug in 

to onshore power from the grid, allowing them 

to turn off their engines while docked but still remain 

ready for action,” he said. “As well as slashing emissions, 

this provides a cleaner and quieter working environment 

for FDNY personnel who must remain on high alert 

during their shifts.” 

Unique challenges 

As with any historical site, forgotten foundations and 

out-of-date plans posed difficulties for the team. New 

electrical feeds had to be navigated through a labyrinth 

of subterranean obstacles including drainage and steam 

lines, electrical conduit, abandoned crane and rail 

beams, and the gargantuan foundations for a wartime 

“Halcrow’s 

design means 

that further 

expansions are 

catered for” 

‘hammerhead’ crane, requiring close 

working between Halcrow and 

the contractor. 

When the team started work on the design, 

none of the new boats had been built and the 

dimensions of some were still being finalised. 

“This meant the design criteria was constantly shifting, 

even during construction,” said project manager Alan Waller. 

“It was essential that the facility remained operational at all 

times, so we delivered the project in phases – requiring a 

close relationship between our team and the contractor.” 

With one eye on future requirements, Halcrow’s design 

means that further expansions are catered for – in this 

century and beyond. “People and safety are at the heart of 

this project,” said Jonathan. “Better maintenance facilities 

give the FDNY a more responsive fleet and improved 

conditions for personnel, which helps protect New York’s 

assets, its people and the environment.” 




Eastern 

promise 

Halcrow’s Romanian business goes 

from strength to strength 

Romania managing director Jeni Ionita (centre) 

flanked by the management team 

I 

t’s 9am on a warm morning in 

Constanta and the sun has almost 

scaled the sky to its highest point. 

The air-conditioning unit is in overdrive and 

every desk in Halcrow’s site office is occupied. 

Three UK-based members of the project team 

are in town, and there’s a low hum as laptops 

and plans are pored over. The project, which 

sets out to stem the effects 

of erosion on the Black 

Sea coast, epitomises 

what Halcrow is all about 

– innovative schemes 

delivered by strong local teams, supported 

by the company’s specialist skill base. 

Halcrow’s operation in Romania exemplifies 

this model, and its success is clearly evident 

as the team supports the country’s continued 

growth and development. 

Romania joined the European Union in 2007 

following fast-track reforms. In the wake of 

accession, a steady stream of euros is being 

allocated from Brussels to Bucharest to bring 

Romania’s infrastructure up to the standards 

demanded by the union, with some £25 billion 

(€30 billion) earmarked for investment. 

Halcrow’s trajectory has traced this upward path. 

Halcrow is helping to 

improve the lives of 

Romanian citizens 

The company’s first foray came during the early 

1990s, soon after the fall of communism. After 

delivering several successful projects, Halcrow 

established a legal subsidiary in 2002 with just 

a handful of employees. From this skeleton 

staff, rapid growth means it now employs 

a 100-strong team covering all disciplines 

and focused on supporting Romania’s 

ongoing infrastructure 

development. From 

modernising road and 

public transport networks 

to enabling the treatment 

of waste water, in many areas for the first 

time, Halcrow is helping to improve the lives of 

Romanian citizens. 

“We’re currently involved with a number of 

projects of national significance, creating a 

positive legacy for future generations,” said 

managing director Jeni Ionita. “We’re improving 

the quality of our highway infrastructure; we’re 

helping to reduce pollution by developing a 

framework of wastewater treatment plants; 

we’re ensuring that our cities have adequate 

infrastructure provision; and we’re involved in 

making sure industrial growth does not come at 

the expense of environmental protection.” 

➔ 


A first for the capital 

Glina wastewater treatment plant 

At dusk, the lights of central Bucharest are in south-east Europe. Stage two, which 

reflected in the Dâmboviţa River as it flows lazily further boosts treatment capacity, 

through the city. This postcard-perfect scene will require an estimated £252 million 

hides a disturbing truth. The waterway is one of (€300 million) investment. 

the most polluted in Romania, and represents 

a big part of the reason why the Danube is in “We’ve been carrying out a range of tasks 

such dire straits. The Danube delta – the largest including project management support, 

in Europe – was declared a World Heritage Site master planning, handling funding 

in 1991, reflecting its diverse ecosystems. As a applications, and monitoring supervision and 

result of air and water pollution, however, many works contracts,” said project manager Horia 

of the bird, fish and reptile species that inhabit Galoiu. “We’re now working to prepare the 

its lakes and marshes are threatened with feasibility study and financing application for 

extinction. Until very recently, Bucharest was EU cohesion funds that will pave the way for 

the only European capital without a wastewater the project’s second phase.” 

treatment plant. 

Millions of cubic 

An £84 million cash injection 

The project tapped into 

tonnes of the city’s was required to get the Halcrow’s global skills 

raw sewage were project back on track and proven experience 

discharged downstream every year, decimating of delivering large wastewater treatment 

the delicate ecological balance. Cleaning up this plants around the world – an advantage 

colossal problem topped the list of priorities for keenly recognised by the client, Bucharest 

EU accession funding in 2002. 

Municipality. “We’ve largely benefited from 

the assistance provided by the Halcrow 

Half an hour’s drive from central Bucharest, team,” said the client’s project manager, 

the Glina wastewater treatment plant sprawls Sanda Trasculesu. “The fact that all experts 

over almost 100ha along the Dâmboviţa’s involved in the project have had extensive 

southern bank. Construction began on the experience was of great importance. 

project way back in 1985, but progress came 

to an abrupt halt with the overthrow of former “We hope that the ecosystem will recover 

dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989. During – certainly this won’t happen very soon, 

the mid-1990s the government tried to revive probably in 15 or 20 years – but nevertheless 

the scheme, which was largely structurally this is a step forward.” 

➔ 

complete but had never been fully tested or 

operated. However, funding dried up and the 

unfinished site lay dormant for over a decade. 

An £84 million (€100 million) cash injection was 

required to get the project back on track and 

work to bring the abandoned infrastructure up 

to modern standards began in 2007. As part 

of a joint venture, Halcrow was awarded the 

technical assistance contract for phase one of 

the project – the largest environmental scheme 



The works include: 

• two 11,000m 3 anaerobic BIO-P hydrolise tanks 

• two sludge recycling pumping stations, 200m 3 /h each 

• a chemical plant for additional phosphorus 

elimination 

The finished plant represents a seamless mix of 

refurbished and new components 

Refurbished 

• inlet works 

• primary sedimentation and aeration tanks 

• anaerobic digesters 

New 

• final sedimentation tanks 

• advanced biological treatment systems 

• power recovery station, generating up to 

70 per cent of the plant’s energy requirements 

The view from the digesters with aeration 

and primary sedimentation tanks visible 

The anaerobic digesters have been 

completely refurbished 


Cleaner rivers 

Braila wastewater treatment plant 

Follow the treated water discharged from the With regional control superseding the former 

Glina plant and you eventually end up in the centralised model, boosting the administrative 

burgeoning port city of Braila, on the banks of capacity of local institutions is essential 

the Danube. The city’s history is intertwined if Romania is to get the most out of its EU 

with that of the river and its wider delta, which funding. “We’re able to guide clients through 

have supported trade, transport, industry, the intricacies of European financing and 

agriculture and fisheries for centuries. 

procurement, standing them in good stead for 

Quality of life for Braila’s 215,000 residents the future,” explained Halcrow’s head of water, 

has drastically improved with the upgrade Adrian Uifalean. “Clients appreciate the fact 

of municipal water and sewerage services, that Halcrow is equally as comfortable dealing 

operational since the beginning of July. 

with EU financial and contractual processes as 

the technical side.” 

“Beyond the primary 

goals of improving quality 

of life for the community 

and dramatically 

reducing pollution levels in our waterways, 

this project has brought a number of related 

successes,” said project manager Costi Cozma. 

“New sealed roads have been constructed to 

follow the pipes and our client, the local water 

company, has gained important experience in 

delivering large, complex commissions.” 

£16.8 million worth of 

works were delivered 

in just four months 

➔ 

Project manager Costi Cozma (right) discusses 

plans with Cristina Peltea and Costel Spanoche 

Halcrow’s Alin Ilicea shows 

guests around the site 

Project overview 

Construction underway at the Braila 

wastewater treatment plant 

Halcrow has been involved on the Braila project since 

2002. The company is currently engaged on ten works 

contracts in six locations across Braila county – this is set 

to continue as part of a new cohesion fund finance 

package secured by the local water operator. 

• sewerage network extended by 38km into three 

districts previously without mains services 

• two sewage pumping stations, wastewater treatment 

plant and 4.2km-long sewage collector constructed 

• wastewater treatment plant completed in seven 

months 

• £16.8 million (€20 million) worth of works delivered in 

four months 

• the plant is designed to treat 100,000m 3 per day 



City living 

Conserving the coast 

Timisoara urban planning 

Timisoara, near the western borders with 

Hungary and Serbia, is one of seven urban 

centres identified for major growth. Halcrow 

has established a permanent base in the 

cosmopolitan city, dubbed ‘Little Vienna’ for its 

baroque grandeur and former affiliation with 

the Hapsburg Empire. The company has been 

involved in a handful of projects as Timisoara 

lays plans for its population 

to rocket past the current 

315,000 residents. 

Just south of the city, 

Mosnita is home to 4,500 residents, most of 

whom commute to work in Timisoara. With 

new residential developments edging their 

way towards the drawing board, this figure 

is set to double by 2020. Even without this 

imminent growth, the area’s transport system 

is beginning to creak at the seams. Rush hour 

on the road connecting Mosnita with Timisoara 

is already a snarling traffic jam, with bus 

passengers also getting caught in 

the congestion. 

The local transport provider, Regia Autonomă 

de Transport Timișoara (RATT), has opted 

to extend Timisoara’s existing tram network 

to service the satellite town. Halcrow’s 

transportation team is undertaking a feasibility 

study for the project, which includes road 

widening, constructing bike lanes and 

rehabilitating public utilities affected by the 

works. “Extending the tram line will meet the 

increased capacity requirements while reducing 

energy consumption and journey times,” said 

project manager Irina Kovacs. “Trams are 

56 per cent more energy efficient than buses 

and can cut operating costs by 30 per cent.” 

Part of Timisoara’s allure lies in its stately 

squares and public spaces, where chess 

games are keenly contested and people of all 


“Our plan sought to 

reinvigorate the historic 

parts of Timisoara” 

The Timisoara team celebrates 

coming together with CH2M HILL 

ages meet to catch up. Three squares and ten 

adjacent streets in the city’s historic centre 

were recently given a facelift to ensure civic 

areas continue to fit the demands of modern 

life. Halcrow was involved in reorganising public 

spaces to create pedestrian zones, parking 

areas, improving traffic safety and bicycle 

lanes, and providing suitable street furniture, 

as well as developing and modernising the 

utilities network. “Many cities have suffered 

from the trend towards decentralisation,” said 

Mihaela Vrabete, head of development planning 

and design. “Our plan sought to reinvigorate 

the historic parts of Timisoara, integrating the 

city’s heritage with modern components.” 

The historic Unirii Square 

Black Sea coastal erosion prevention 

Back in Constanta, holidaymakers and sun 

worshippers have congregated at Mamaia, 

a resort on the outskirts of the city where 

clusters of beach-front hotels and bars have 

sprung up to cater to tourists. Beyond the 

towels and umbrellas strewn on the sand, 

100m from the shore, a series of breakwaters 

protrudes from the Black Sea. This is a 

component of the existing coastal protection, 

set for an upgrade as part of a Halcrow-led 

project. Covering a 240km stretch of varied 

coastline, the scheme sets out a comprehensive 

long-term plan to inhibit erosion that takes into 

account different pressures and priorities. 

“That project was 

designed by Halcrow – 

that’s why it is so durable 

and why it makes a 

difference” 

“One of the big challenges is to combine 

solutions for environmental protection and 

sustainable development with the pressures 

from urban and tourism areas and development 

projects for harbours,” said project manager 

Serban Tiganescu. “Tourism is a major cog in 

the region’s economic wheel, so maintaining 

the area’s allure for visitors is essential.” 

The project, a first of its kind for eastern Europe 

given its scale and scope, is reflective of what 

Halcrow’s Serban Tiganescu 

and Dan Tarara 

Constanta’s thriving port is an essential 

part of the region’s economy 

Halcrow’s Romanian team 

stands for – innovative 

approaches, big ideas 

and cutting-edge work to 

improve the lives of future 

generations. Jeni Ionita 

points to the company’s 

increasing portfolio of 

essential infrastructure projects that make 

Halcrow stand out from the crowd. “Part of 

what makes us proud to work for Halcrow is 

the legacy we leave behind,” she said. “It’s 

great to be able to tell people: ‘That project 

was designed by Halcrow – that’s why it is so 

durable and why it makes a difference.’” 

Existing erosion defences 

require urgent attention 



www.40years.ae 

Happy birthday UAE 

F 

Emirates celebrate 40 years of success with help from Halcrow 

ew countries in the world have changed as 

rapidly, or dramatically, in so short a period of 

time as the United Arab Emirates. 

In the 40 years since the UAE’s foundation on 

2 December 1971, the nation has undergone a 

whirlwind transformation. 

On foundation day, the six component emirates of the 

UAE – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, 

Umm al Quwain (later joined by Ras al Khaimah) – were 

still small, isolated settlements closely linked to their 

maritime and trading past. The transformation of the 

UAE is a testament to the visionary leadership of the 

rulers of these emirates and the impact of their decisions 

to invest in infrastructure development. Many of the most 

strategically important projects across the UAE were 

undertaken by Halcrow and the state continues to be one 

of the company’s most important markets. 

Halcrow was working in the region for almost 20 years 

before the UAE’s foundation. Among the landmark 

projects delivered by Halcrow engineers in the 1950s 

and 1960s were the first paved road between Dubai and 

Sharjah, Dubai Airport and the initial road systems of 

Sharjah and Ajman. 

In Dubai, work initially focused on the creek and its 

environs. Al Maktoum bridge, designed and engineered 

by Halcrow, was the first bridge across the creek when it 

Bridging the gap: 

Al Maktoum bridge 

opened in 1963. Dredging works helped to keep the creek 

navigable until the decision was taken to develop the 

container port at Port Rashid in the late 1960s. 

The pioneer days of the late 1950s and 1960s were 

dominated by charismatic Halcrow engineers such 

as the legendary Neville Allen. The strong personal 

relationships of trust between these engineers and the 

rulers were integral to the success of projects. 

Following the foundation of the UAE – and the discovery 

of enormous oil resources in Abu Dhabi – economic 

development accelerated dramatically. The dawn of 

shipping containerisation sparked a rush for deepwater 

facilities and led to the creation of Sharjah Deepwater 

Port, Khor Fakkan Port and Jebel Ali Port. These 

enormous projects cemented Halcrow’s reputation as the 

pre-eminent infrastructure engineer in the region. 

World class: Port Rashid 

From the boom years of the 1980s onwards – with the 

key infrastructure of the new state firmly established 

– attention turned to projects that improved residents’ 

quality of life and addressed the cultural and artistic 

aspirations of the UAE and its leaders. 

In Sharjah Halcrow worked closely with the ruler, His 

Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, 

to develop a series of Islamic-themed projects, focusing 

on education, heritage and culture, that have shaped the 

emirate’s image. 

Safe landing: Sharjah airport 

The distinctive Islamic design of Sharjah International 

Airport was based on drawings created by His Highness, 

a respected historian with a keen interest in architecture. 

Majarrah Souk, opened in 1987, defines the creekside 

area with its distinctive take on classic Islamic 

architecture and has now been converted into the Sharjah 

Islamic Museum. The Government of Sharjah remains 

Halcrow’s third largest client worldwide. 

Abu Dhabi’s Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan Mosque 

is one of the most iconic structures in the United Arab 

Emirates. With its 82 domes, four minarets and space for 

over 40,000 worshippers, the mosque’s construction was 

supervised by Halcrow. 

As the UAE moves confidently into its fifth decade, 

Halcrow continues to play a unique role in shaping the 

built environment across its member emirates, according 

to Halcrow’s regional managing director for the Middle 

East and Africa region, Yaver Abidi. 

“Halcrow has been privileged to deliver some of the 

projects that define the modern day UAE,” said Yaver. 

“Our current employees get a tremendous sense of 

pride from knowing that their predecessors created 

schemes like Jebel Ali Port and the Dubai to Sharjah 

road that literally helped to shape a nation. It’s also a 

formidable legacy to live up to and I believe that it acts as 

a tremendous spur in encouraging today’s employees to 

always try and deliver their best for clients. 

“The UAE is one of the greatest living showcases that 

we have for Halcrow’s project excellence. We are looking 

forward to working with our clients in the coming years to 

help bring their exciting visions of the future into reality.” 

Yaver Abidi, regional managing director, Middle East and Africa, 

welcomed clients and colleagues to 40 th anniversary 

celebrations in Abu Dhabi and Dubai 

➔ 



www.40years.ae 

Projects that made history 

Yas Island 

Once a sandy wasteland, Yas Island was transformed 

into an international tourism destination with marina 

facilities, the Middle East’s first ‘links’ golf course 

and a Formula One Track which hosts the Abu Dhabi 

Grand Prix. 

Halcrow delivered all primary infrastructure including 

roads, sewerage, power and irrigation systems on the 

2,500ha site. The company also undertook the design, 

preparation of contract documents and supervision of the 

race track marina. 

Sheik Zayed bin Sultan 

Al-Nahyan Mosque 

Few projects in the UAE so triumphantly blend the self 

confidence of the young state with its respect for core 

cultural values as this stunning place of worship. 

With 82 domes and four minarets standing over 100m 

high, the mosque is the eighth largest in the world. It can 

accommodate over 40,000 worshippers. 

Halcrow supervised the mosque’s construction working 

closely with Italian contractor Impregilo. 

Visit 40years.ae 

Jebel Ali Port 

Halcrow is celebrating 40 years of the UAE with a 

specially created website. 

Jebel Ali Port is the world’s largest man-made harbour 

and the biggest port in the Middle East. 

Opened in the early 1980s, Jebel Ali was one of the 

largest infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the 

region. The port has played a central role in the economic 

diversification of the UAE. Now extending over 134km², 

Jebel Ali is currently undergoing a gigantic 15-stage 

expansion which will increase its capacity by more than 

seven times. When the expansion is completed, in 2030, 

Jebel Ali will be the world’s biggest container port. 

The original port development was undertaken by 

Halcrow and the company has also designed the 

expansion master plan and detailed design and 

supervised construction of the first stage of development. 

Packed with films, photographs and blogs, the 

website is a unique living archive chronicling the 

development of the emirates from the 1950s onwards. 

It also allows young people in the UAE to share their 

own thoughts and hopes for the future. 

Click here to visit the site. 



From darkness 

into light 

Reaping 

the 

benefits 

Bumper crop as allotment 

brings employees together 

M 

ove over Alan Titchmarsh and Monty Don 

– there’s a new gang of gardening gurus in 

town. 

Canadian Museum for 

Human Rights takes shape 

At the Forks, a national historic site where Canada’s 

Red and Assiniboine rivers meet, history is being 

made. When the Canadian Museum for Human 

Rights is completed in 2012, it will be the largest 

human rights institution in the world, Canada’s only 

museum devoted entirely to this subject and its first 

public museum since 1967. 

Halcrow Yolles designed all structural elements of 

the museum, including the foundations, walls, 

floor plates and façade – a highly complex task 

given the building’s geometric irregularities and 

organic forms. 

Symbolising hope for a changed world, the museum’s 

unique architecture creates a journey from darkness 

to light. From the museum’s ‘roots’, rising up from the 

ground, visitors ascend a series of bridges winding 

through the exhibits. The experience culminates in 

panoramic views from the 50m-tall Tower of Hope. 

Work is currently underway on the immense glass 

‘cloud’ that will eventually bathe the upper part of the 

building in light, completing the visitor journey from 

darkness to enlightenment. 

Once complete the museum will light up the night sky 

Green-fingered employees from the Warrington office 

have been getting back to nature with their very own 

Halcrow allotment. 

Whenever there’s a spare half hour before work, or during 

lunch, the team of gardeners is to be found digging, 

sowing or weeding on 12 raised allotment beds tucked 

away in a quiet area five minutes walk from the office. 

“Our landlord, MEPC, is very keen on promoting 

sustainability,” said Halcrow gardener Kyle Lane. “The 

allotments were installed earlier this year to promote 

healthy living and a sense of community on the business 

park. The landlord has also introduced several lowcarbon 

travel schemes.” 

Six doughty Halcrow employees – a mix of novice 

gardeners like Kyle and relative experts Frank Millward 

and Marcus Holley – rose to the challenge. Over the last 

few months, they have been reaping the tasty benefits of 

their labours. 

“We’ve harvested about 30-40kg of crops over the last few 

months including broad beans, French beans, courgettes, 

tomatoes, radishes, beetroot and lettuces,” Kyle said. 

“That’s not bad going for a first attempt. 

“It’s been a real learning curve for everyone involved. We 

are learning which plants grow well together and which 

Leif Andersen, Steven Rigby, Richard 

Mathews and Frank Millward 

provide the tastiest snacks for the bugs – tomatoes seem 

a particular favourite!” 

The scheme has been such a success that the landlord 

is now planning to provide a further six allotments on 

the site. In the meantime, Halcrow’s gardeners are 

busy digging in plenty of nitrogen-rich compost for next 

season’s crops. 

“It’s great having a supply of fresh organic food, but that’s 

only half the story,” said Kyle. “The social aspect is also 

very important. Working together on the allotment brings 

our communal instincts to the fore and always generates 

positive vibes.” 



Peter 

Gammie 

– a values-led career 

Three decades of achievement 

in a shifting landscape 

Enjoying the cricket at the Oval, UK 

Behind every successful man... 

Marion Myers and Peter 

On the road 

I 

n 1978, the world’s first test-tube baby Louise 

Brown was born, the movie Grease put 

drainpipe jeans back in fashion, and Peter 

Gammie began a career with Halcrow which was to last 33 

years and make him a leading industry figure. 

On 30 November 2011, Peter retired after a decade at the 

company’s helm as chief executive. The period saw him 

establish Halcrow as a values-driven organisation, lead 

the way as Halcrow regularly exceeded its global growth 

targets and navigate the toughest challenges and most 

extraordinary adventures of his career. 

Early days 

Peter joined Sir William Halcrow and Partners as an 

internal auditor, drawn to its dynamic consultancy 

environment. Based in London, Peter’s early career 

memories offer a very different picture to the modern 

open-plan, open-door business environment. “Partners 

were a lot more remote from employees than directors 

are now – you rarely saw a partner and still more rarely 

spoke to them,” he recalls. “Engineers worked behind 

rows of drawing boards, with tracers and draftsmen 

beavering away. The company had one computer, kept 

in a special air-conditioned room.” 

At that time, the company was reaching the peak of a 

glittering wave of success in the Middle East. Following 

a rise in oil prices, an upsurge in revenue triggered 

investment in lavish engineering projects which reached 

its height in 1979. Halcrow was first in line for a parade of 

supersize projects, including the new Sharjah airport and 

Jebel Ali port. “We employed nearly 2,000 people in the 

Middle East at that point, which represented about two 

thirds of the entire workforce,” Peter remembers. “Sadly 

those numbers halved once the projects were finished. 

The company went through a difficult period in the mid- 

1980s when demand in the region dried up.” 

At least one aspect of the business is the same in 2011. 

“In the office or over a game of squash, engineering 

colleagues were all saying the same thing – ‘At Halcrow 

we’re the best at engineering’. Ever since, it’s stuck in 

my mind that first and foremost that’s what we are. The 

message is no different today – our engineers are fiercely, 

and justly, proud of the quality of our work.” 

In 1989, Peter became head of Halcrow’s finance function 

and two years later became a member of the board as 

group finance director, responsible for the operational 

performance of the business. 

➔ 


to be looking at me expectantly. I improvised polite 

conversation in front of a rather nonplussed crowd. The 

thinking time provided by the delay while the interpreter 

translated what I was saying was very helpful!” 

With HRH Princess Anne Peter receives a Hard Hat award 

on the company’s behalf 

Taking the lead 

When he became chief executive in 2001, 

Peter’s horizons – and his air miles account 

– expanded as he undertook regular visits to 

every corner of the Halcrow globe. Negotiating a full 

spectrum of local customs, hospitality and expectations 

sometimes landed him in unexpected situations. 

Of a visit to the Mayor of Shanghai in 2001 to mark the 

completion of Halcrow’s work on a master-plan for the 

city’s political, cultural and historic heart, The People’s 

Square, Peter says: “I anticipated a low key affair – to 

shake hands and discuss the project. But when I reached 

the town hall that afternoon, I was ushered into a huge 

hall with rows of seats and a dais at the end of the room, 

with two armchairs and a microphone. Hundreds of 

people filed in, the mayor came in and everyone seemed 

Checking out a major highways project in Sharjah 


“I’m 

proud of 

everything that 

Halcrow has 

achieved” 

On another occasion, over the course of negotiations for 

a joint venture with an important client in Uzbekistan, 

Peter and his team were taken out for a meal. The 

evening was a much more protracted affair than 

he had been anticipating. “It was my first 

experience of drinking vodka shots,” said 

Peter of the mind-numbing quantity of 

liquid hospitality offered. “I learned the 

hard way that it was best to pace myself 

very carefully.” 

Meeting prime ministers, presidents and 

rulers to princes and princesses has all been 

par for the course: “The thing you learn is that 

they’re really just like the rest of us.” Has anyone stood 

out over the years? “I’ve been particularly impressed 

by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne in the UK. She is 

president of RedR, an international charity that improves 

the effectiveness of disaster relief (Halcrow is a patron) 

and is very active – she does a lot more than just chair a 

few meetings.” 

Peter also cites a particularly satisfying relationship 

with the Ruler of Sharjah, His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan 

bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. “We have a shared passion 

for growing things – he has a big estate in south-east 

England. I mentioned once that I’d planted a couple of 

On a visit to the Chengdu office 

trees in my garden the week before my visit. He replied 

that he’d recently planted 100,000 in his. He recently 

advised me to talk to my trees more often, as they 

appreciate it and it’s a calming thing to do – advice I plan 

to test out during my retirement.” 

Growth, turbulence and Peter’s 

silent revolution 

Peter led the company through years of astonishing 

growth from the late 1990s into the 21 st century. In 

2007 the company’s performance exceeded 

all expectations, with every business group 

performing well above target. Turnover 

rose by 17 per cent to £388 million, 

and profit before tax increased from 

£12 million to £28 million for the year. 

Halcrow’s global ambitions bore fruit, 

with 50 per cent of its work now being won 

outside of the UK. 

However, the industry was soon to be rocked off its 

feet. When the banking crisis broke, Peter entered the 

toughest period of his career, as he was tasked with 

steering Halcrow through a profoundly difficult climate. 

“Of my 20 years on the board, the past two have been the 

most challenging without a doubt,” he says. “The credit 

crunch caused a collapse of the market. The hardest 

consequence of this is that suddenly there aren’t jobs for 

people you might know and have worked with over the 

years. I have great admiration for our line managers, who 

in dealing with such a difficult situation have shown such 

passion and concern for the individuals involved.” 

“We’ve 

made a 

huge amount 

of progress in 

terms of living 

our values” 

With former India managing director 

Bill Birch and members of the local team 

Halcrow deputy chairman Tony 

Pryor comments: “Peter had to face the 

enormous challenges that affected not only 

the company but the rest of the industry, and 

indeed the world as a result of the banking crises in 

late 2007. Who better have we had to lead us? The 

last few years have been difficult, but Peter’s most 

courageous decision on behalf of Halcrow and its 

stakeholders has been to lead the company into a 

new future with CH2M HILL.” 

Perhaps Peter’s greatest achievement has been made 

gradually over many years. Those wishing him farewell 

have frequently noted his passionate and sustained 

commitment to extolling and living Halcrow’s values. 

Peter himself says: “When I look back, the thing I’m most 

➔ 


proud of is playing a significant part in making Halcrow a 

values-led organisation. To sustain and improve people’s 

lives is a purpose that we can all engage with and be 

rewarded by. I think we’ve made a huge amount of 

progress in terms of living our values and I have always 

tried to lead by example. Of course, when you set yourself 

high standards sometimes you do fall short – 

but I’m proud to have been part of making 

Halcrow a company which stands for 

something really important. 

“It’s been a great 33 years and I’m 

proud of everything that Halcrow has 

achieved. It’s been a pleasure to work 

with so many talented people. I’m also 

confident that as part of the CH2M HILL 

family the company will go from strength to 

strength. I look forward to keeping track of future 

achievements and wish all employees every success in 

their endeavours.” 

“I tried to 

work out how 

many quarterly 

reviews I’d 

conducted once 

and lost count 

at 350” 

dingy boat – “I went dingy sailing when I was younger and 

have always wanted to do it again” – as well as dusting 

off a few study ambitions and enjoying time with his wife, 

Elizabeth. He will also continue to serve as a member of 

the Halcrow Trust. 

Any last words of advice? “Always go with your 

instincts. Accountants and engineers alike 

tend to analyse things to death and the 

risk is that you lose sight of what you 

were trying to achieve in the first place 

– going with your instincts can bring 

dynamic results. And if you stick to your 

values, both corporate and personal, you 

can’t go too far wrong!” 

Smooth sailing: 

the team’s finished entry 

Putting the finishing touches in place 

Full steam ahead 

New York team helps tackle hunger, one can at a time 

New beginnings 

After taking a well earned break, Peter has no shortage 

of future projects planned for his retirement. “Well, I 

won’t be spending any time sitting on planes, waiting in 

airports or getting up at the crack of dawn to commute 

into London on a packed train. Neither will I miss the 

quarterly reviews – I tried to work out how many I’d 

conducted once and lost count at 350. Every one a 

nightmare!” Instead he’s likely to be found volunteering 

as a gardener with UK charity the National Trust, donning 

protective gear as a novice bee keeper, climbing into a 

Peter with his prized Prius 

E 

levated to iconic status by Andy Warhol, Campbell’s soup is 

among the world’s most recognisable food products. Halcrow’s 

New York team put the artist’s Pop Art inspiration to a more 

philanthropic use at the city’s 19 th annual CANstruction design-build 

competition on 9 November. 

The event sees tinned soup, tuna fish, kidney beans, corn and other 

everyday household items form the building blocks for ambitious 

architectural sculptures. These are then donated to local food banks for 

distribution. Reflecting Halcrow’s involvement in the ports industry the 

team’s ‘CANtainership’ entry – built from 1,680 cans – set sail to help 

eradicate poverty and hunger. 

Addressing employees in 

London’s Elms House 


“Our entry took around five hours to put together, with the finishing 

touches put in place at around 1am,” said team co-captain Erin Hyland. 

“CANstruction’s ethos is based around using one can of food as a catalyst 

for change – proving that small acts can make a real difference. We’re glad 

to be able to support this worthy cause.” 

Halcrow’s 

mission 

statement: 

“World hunger can 

be CANtained one 

can at a time and 

leave no shore 

where hunger is 

ignored.” 

Since its inception in 1992, CANstruction has 

expanded to become one of the largest 

contributors to food banks in the world. The 

charity holds design/build competitions in over 

140 cities around the world, and has donated 

over 6,800,000kg of canned food to help 

alleviate hunger and malnutrition. 

Yes they CAN 

Team captains: 

Erin Hyland Milo Adams 

The team: 

Alex Weinberg Janine Witko 

Franz Seborga Gary Ostroff 

Michael DeAngelis Andy Chan 

Amol Paranjape Manan Raval 

James Banner Daniel Montuoro 

Tania Borodulina Doug Friend 

Duncan Kopp Elizabeth Royzman 


London calling 

Tapping into future talent 

F 

rom wide-eyed youngsters in oversized 

uniforms just starting secondary school 

to university graduates jostling for a great 

buildings, and is 

across London together to kick things off with a few fun 

career start, Halcrow is reaching out to the next 

keen to support 

challenges. The new class of 16 to 17 year-old students 

generation of engineers across London. 

the client’s 

from neighbouring St Paul’s Girls’ school also got a 

efforts to build a 

chance to meet the employees who will be mentoring 

The benefits are mutual. Students can learn from the 

rapport with the 

them over the next six months. 

company at every level – from finding out at a basic 

level what an engineer does and getting careers 

local community. 

Volunteers at the 

Jason Guneratne at the careers event 

The scheme is run by an independent charity, the 

Students complete a fun challenge 

at the EES London launch day 

advice to clocking up valuable experience on a 

Halcrow stand were 

Engineering Development Trust, which encourages young 

working placement. Halcrow meanwhile strengthens 

ready to field questions from curious students aged 11 to 

people to fulfil their potential through careers in science, 

its presence with local communities, schools and 

17 about what is takes to be an engineer. 

engineering and technology. 

photocopying and coffee-making skills, the lucky few 

universities, and can begin to assess the cream of 

are treated to a crash course in what it means to work 

graduate talent early on, by getting to know them in a 

Project director Jason Guneratne said: “It’s fantastic to 

for a world-class engineering consultancy and return to 

working environment. 

get involved with events like this, not only for the benefit 

university streets ahead of their contemporaries. 

Class act community 

The company was recently invited to take part in a 

of the project and our relationship with the client, but 

in terms of encouraging children to consider a career 

in engineering.” Deputy headteacher at the school, 

From taking their first steps to becoming experts on 

computer-aided design (CAD) software packages to 

careers event at South Camden Community School by 

Pete Bains, said: “The opportunity to have one-to-one 

writing reports to a professional standard, the students 

principal London client British Land – one of the largest 

interaction with Halcrow volunteers was especially 

get a good idea of the type of work they’ll undertake 

property development and investment companies in the 

beneficial, as it gave the students a chance to be specific 

as graduate engineers. In return, Halcrow is first in 

UK. Halcrow is providing design services on the award- 

in their line of questioning, but also to feed off the 

line to recruit some of the country’s best young minds 

winning complex of three residential and commercial 

organisation’s presentations and broaden the students’ 

after graduation. 

line of thinking.” 


A sound scheme 

Since 2001, Halcrow has kept a regular date with future 

technical whizz kids as a sponsor of the Engineering 

Education Scheme’s London hub programme. 

Summer school of experience 

Where interviews and open days sometimes fail to shine 

a light on real talent, a six-week internship will almost 

certainly winkle it out. 

The company invites students and their teachers to 

That’s the theory behind Halcrow’s relationship with 

work on real scientific, engineering and technological 

Cambridge University. Each year, its keenest engineering 

problems alongside Halcrow employees. This year’s 

students approach Halcrow for a sought-after summer 

launch event, held at Elms House, brought students from 

placement in its London office. Far from honing their 





Transforming 

lives 

Halcrow Foundation helps 

improve care for Romania’s disabled orphans 

T 

he squat, mustardcoloured 

building sits at 

the end of a quiet cul- 

training programme, 

with a further £12,000 

recently approved 

de-sac in the suburbs of Bucharest. 

to continue the next 

Only the brightly coloured paper cut 

phase. This latest 

outs adorning the windows and a 

grant will cover the 

white rabbit hopping lethargically 

salary costs of the 

along the inside of the perimeter 

local programme 

fence distinguish it from the other 

manager. 

residential properties in the street. 

Stage two involves 

One of many state orphanages dotted 

further training for 

around Romania, the centre is home 

those carers already 

to 15 girls with a range of disabilities. 

involved in the 

The standard of care they receive 

initiative, equipping 

has significantly improved, thanks 

them with the skills 

to a training initiative introduced by 

and experience to run 

F.R.O.D.O. – the Foundation for the 

training workshops 

Relief of Disabled Orphans. 

for their peers. Three 

people from each of 

techniques. It took a mentality 

With the full support of the Romanian 

Romania’s 41 counties will receive 

change and we are very thankful for 

authorities, the UK charity is 

training, enabling the programme to 

the tools you have given us.” 

implementing an ‘institutional 

become self-sustaining. 

transformation’ programme, CARIS, 

The Halcrow Foundation has 

to deliver dramatic improvements 

“CARIS changed our mentality,” said 

supported F.R.O.D.O. since 2008, with 

to the lives of disabled children in 

Tatiana, one of the carers who took 

funding totalling £69,500. 

the country’s state orphanages – 

part in the pilot 

much of which was previously spent 

stage, in her 

restrained in their beds. 

post-course 

Developed and implemented 

by F.R.O.D.O, CARIS introduces 

stimulation and sensory exercises 

to help children in care reach their 

full potential. In 2010 a £30,000 

Halcrow Foundation grant funded 

the pilot stage of the structured 

feedback. “All 

we wanted was 

a change in the 

children but it 

only came when 

we learned and 

implemented 

all these 

click to watch 

L-r: Mihaela Udroiu, Gabi Ivascu and Elena Stanciu 

Halcrow’s Romanian team is right behind the cause. 

A fundraising week organised by co-sponsor Gabi 

Ivascu – held between 31 October and 4 November 

– netted over £200. 

“I am delighted with the efforts of the Romanian 

team to support this fundraising activity,” said Gabi. 

“All our local offices got involved which is really 

appreciated. CARIS is about changing mentalities 

and supporting carers which will ultimately improve 

the lives of children in need.” 



meet the 

sound 

engineer 

Music-mad Stephen Bilby’s got two strings to his bow 

Mention Motown and most people think of 

1960s Detroit. But in the 70s and 80s another 

great ‘motor city’ set the world rocking. In just 

a few years Birmingham, home to the UK’s car business, 

became a veritable mass assembly line of world famous 

rock names. 

Black Sabbath, ELO, The Move, Joan Armatrading, Duran 

Duran, UB40 and Slade and, lately, Jamelia, have all 

rumbled down the Brummie musical production line 

and on to fame and fortune. So, when Halcrow engineer 

Stephen Bilby stepped out onto the Glastonbury stage 

for the first time with his band Young Runaways, he was 

following in a proud tradition. 

“I’ve been playing music since I was 11,” said Stephen, 

who works in the Birmingham office. “I’ve played 

keyboards, bass guitar and brass in loads of bands over 

the years, but my main instruments in this band are keys 

and trombone.” 

Young Runaways – named after a James Taylor song – is 

currently six strong. Like most bands it’s had many a 

change in its personnel and musical orientation since it 

first formed five years ago. Its current genre, according to 

Stephen, is “half rock, half orchestra”. 

“We never really had a big break,” said Stephen. “There 

were just a lot of small steps, one after another.” 

“I still really enjoy working 

as an engineer” 

In 2008, the band took their first step in front of a 

wider audience when they mounted the stage at one of 

the world’s most prestigious musical showcases, the 

Glastonbury Festival. 

“Unfortunately, Glastonbury wasn’t all that great,” 

Stephen admitted. “Half the band was ill and the sound 

system was terrible. We weren’t too upset, though. 

We’ve all been playing music long enough to know that 

doing anything musically consists of a steady stream 

of setbacks and disappointments. The trick is to never 

expect things to go well.” 

Undaunted by their Glastonbury experience, the band kept 

plugging on. “A couple of years ago, some of our tracks 

were played on BBC West Midlands,” Stephen said. 

Young Runaways 

The band’s music is available on Spotify and iTunes 

Click here to watch the Peugeot commercial 

“The DJ passed the tracks to another DJ at BBC6 Music 

and eventually they made their way to Janice Long at 

Radio 2. She played a few of them and then asked us in to 

do a live session.” 

Following this exposure, interest in the band suddenly 

picked up. Their distinctive sound won favourable reviews, 

building a positive buzz, until they were talent spotted by a 

Peugeot media production team. 

Earlier this year things shifted into a higher gear as the 

band – and their music – took a starring role in an ad for 

the new Peugeot 107 and 207. “We filmed the video at a 

beach near Bristol,” said Stephen. “It was great fun but 

we were filming for 12 hours in a single day which was 

pretty tiring. At one point we nearly crashed the cars into 

each other which would have been pretty bad as they were 

both brand new with only 100 miles on the clock.” 

With Glasto, a video and a growing fan base to their name, 

most young musicians would now have their eyes firmly 

set on greater glories and a full-time rockstar lifestyle. 

Not Stephen, though. 

“I still enjoy 

working 

as an 

engineer,” 

he said. “I studied music at 

university for a year and got 

really bored. I switched to 

engineering instead, which 

seemed more useful. 

“I know quite a few people 

who’ve become full-time 

musicians. It sounds 

like it should be a great 

life but the money is 

unreliable, the job 

Take 46... the band on location for the Peugeot shoot 

Stephen at the Radio 2 live session 

security is nonexistent and, for the most 

part, it’s quite repetitive and uneventful. 

“When it turns into something you have to do, you start 

enjoying it much less. Two or three hours a day of music 

is about right for me. After that, I’m happy to get back to 

the day job!” 



Making a song 

and dance 

Theatre junkie Eddie McDowell shares 

his passion for performance 

His name was Rico, he wore 

a diamond… 

And when he wasn’t treading the 

boards, he was an engineer from 

Edinburgh who specialised in 

asset management. 

Many a would-be thespian has 

fallen in love with the lure of 

footlights and greasepaint down 

the years. But few are as besotted 

as Eddie McDowell. 

In November, Eddie was simultaneously 

involved in three different amateur 

productions. One minute he was 

swaggering the stage as big-shouldered 

gangster Rico in Copacabana, the next 

he was feverishly learning his lines for 

the role of King Creon in Antigone. In 

spare moments, he was flexing his vocal 

chords for a singing role in Carousel. 

Back in his student days, Eddie was to be found belting out songs with his band 

Kettlefish. With dreams of rock’n’roll stardom now gathering dust in the attic, amateur 

dramatics literally provided a stage for his performing skills. 

“I got bitten by the acting bug about ten years ago and never looked back,” he said. “I 

started off doing just one show per year but now I find myself doing three or four at the 

same time. Because they frequently overlap, my evenings can become pretty hectic. 

“I am involved with several theatre groups but because most tend to put on just one 

show a year I have to move around to keep my appetite satisfied. I guess you could say 

I’m hooked – I get a huge adrenalin rush from performing in front of a live audience, but 

I also love the rehearsal process.” 

With theatrical zeal coursing through his veins, turning 

professional seems like the next logical step. Alas, 

domestic commitments, and the insecurity of a life on 

stage, have lowered the curtain on that dream. 

Enter, stage right: Eddie (second from left) raises 

the roof with the cast from Copacabana 

“There’re still plenty of challenges to be had in 

amateur productions and the standard of production 

is very high,” he said. “I’ve got my heart set on one of 

the two key roles in Jesus Christ Superstar – Jesus 

or Judas. I don’t mind which one it is – they’re both 

great singing parts.” 



Prepare 

for launch 

Halcrow's 

performance review 

process begins 

3 January 2012 

Are you 

ready? 

The performance managment programme 

is critical to your career development and 

Halcrow's ongoing success. 

To make sure you're prepared, follow 

the step-by-step process on 

halnet/staff/performancemanagement/ 

A CH2M HILL COMPANY 

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