Built environment case study

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Construction gives T5 lift off

T5 at Heathrow

When Heathrow's Terminal 5 opens in March 2008, it will be a new state of the art international gateway to the UK and in its own right the fifth largest airport in Europe. The T5 project is one of the largest construction and infrastructure projects in Europe and RICS member firm EC Harris has a significant role to play. 

EC Harris works closely with other suppliers in driving BAA's requirements to open on time, safely, and within the £4.2 billion budget. Andrew Williamson, 21, is a trainee construction surveyor with EC Harris who works on the project. "I started with EC Harris in September 2004 and T5 is the first project I've been involved in. As a placement year student from university, T5 is great because of the size and complexity of the project and it offers me the prospect to work in an environment that could become the industry norm for future construction projects."

Andrew, who is based on site, confirms that he has revelled in this opportunity. "When I first joined EC Harris it felt like I had been thrown in at the deep end, but I have really enjoyed the challenge of being a member of an integrated team on T5 with a £200 million budget to control. I haven't just been left to do meaningless tasks but feel like I am really playing a part.

The support from EC Harris is there when I need it, and it's not all about the work as they have organised some good social events since I have been here."

T5 is organised into 16 projects, and over 100 sub-projects, with groundbreaking, industry-leading commercial and contractual arrangements in place, so it offers unique opportunities for junior employees like Andrew and more senior people at EC Harris to develop their skills and diversify into other disciplines.

The sheer scale of T5 - combined with the fact that the site is bordered on one side by the two existing runways and terminal buildings of the busiest international airport in the world - means the logistical challenges are unique. All in all, in offering a new international gateway to the UK, T5 really is history in the making.

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Facts

30 million passengers a year

90 million visitors a year

37 million man-hours to build

$4.2 billion budget