provides you with a blueprint to assist in building your personal and business reputation. In this book, I introduce the Seven Principles for Running a Successful Project. They are demonstrated and discussed by using the London 2012 Olympic Stadium as an excellent example of how they were applied successfully. Also included are examples of other construction projects where I have implemented these principles.
Super Structures Associates Limited
Derek has worked for a broad range of engineering consultants in South Africa and the UK, with consultants in the UK such as Watermans, Capita Symonds as well as smaller niche consultants such as Jan Bobrowski & Partners and NRM Consultants. It was while at Jan Bobrowski & Partners and NRM Bobrowski that Derek worked on a broad range of sports and leisure projects including football stands and racecourse stands. NRM Bobrowski was sold to Capita Symonds in 2008, and it is while working at these firms where Derek was involved with the London 2012 Olympic Stadium.
Derek Mason is a highly respected and successful engineer and businessman who writes with experience and authority about the Olympic stadium project in which he was intimately involved. The stadium was a business as well as an aesthetic success and this book helpfully draws out the broader lessons which others can learn from.
Will It Stand Up? is a unique insight into the technical prowess and in-depth technical intelligence that goes on behind the scenes of large construction projects such as the Olympic Stadium. Many of the processes Derek discusses are transferable to smaller projects and business and will be useful for switched-on managers to help guide them.
In Will It Stand Up?, Derek describes the seven principles to running a successful project that I have seen him apply throughout his career in projects of various sizes and complexities with great success. At the heart of all seven principles, and the key to achieving them, is good communication. Without good communication you probably won’t even get to agree the first principle. However, focus on the communication and, as this book shows, the seven principles work when applied to projects from small domestic ones to projects in excess of £50 million. This book will help the reader understand these seven principles and how to apply them to their projects to achieve the success they desire.
Super Structures Associates are consultant structural engineers based in Twickenham who develop
Our clients are typically niche architects, construction firms/ developers or property owners in SW London or the Surrey borders.
Derek Mason of Super Structure Associates has just helped us on a basement construction project for our house in Fulham. We couldn’t speak more highly of his services – responsive, creative, flexible, and always happy to give his time to talk us through any structural detail of the project we were worried about, explaining the different approaches that could be taken to achieve the result we wanted. Derek’s calm, reassuring presence and practical, no nonsense approach gave us great comfort that our house was being built on solid foundations. If we were to do a similar project, we would use SSA again tomorrow. James and Deirdre, Fulham.
I have known and worked with Derek Mason for the last five years and Super Structures Associates have worked very successfully on four of our recent projects. They proved to be innovative, proactive and totally professional in their approach. Derek’s enthusiastic approach to problem solving helped us achieve the most effective and economical solution for each project as his vast experience of so many different types of projects enables him to propose various alternatives to suit the method of construction, which results in an economical yet bespoke solution for the project. So if you want to try someone different that can easily work with you to achieve your goals, contact Derek Mason, as I would highly recommend him for any project.
Derek was highly recommended to us and at very short notice provided us with invaluable advice. He has a very positive and professional attitude, with an ability to identify and resolve issues in a timely and practical manner.
Derek Mason of Super Structures Associates has been vital to the success of our house refurbishment. He created a structural design that cleverly maximized our living space both on the ground floor and in the loft, perfectly meeting our expectations. As structural problems were uncovered in our Edwardian house throughout the build, he was quickly on site to inspect and advise on the solutions. Derek took the time to make sure we understood exactly what the building process entailed at the beginning and regularly followed up the progress during the course of work on site. If I undertake any form of structural work in the future, I will certainly be calling on the services of Super Structures Associates.
We have worked with Derek Mason of Super Structures Associates on a project in Richmond, Surrey and found the initial design to be practical and cost effective. When we encountered problems with the existing structure, Derek’s fast, proactive approach ensured minimal delay and provided information which was clear and concise. Super Structures Associates were always available to discuss elements of design and when required to visit site to look at problems were quick to respond. We found them a pleasure to work with and would be happy to work with them again. We would highly recommend them for your project.
While buying our house, we discovered at 11am one Friday that we needed an urgent opinion from a structural engineer. After a recommendation, I called SSA who were able to go out that afternoon. Not only that, Derek called later that night to confirm all was well (and therefore we could relax knowing our purchase could proceed) and we received the full written report by the end of the weekend. It was wonderful to receive such fabulous service at a very stressful time. Would highly recommend their services.
