GRIMSBY RO-RO IS GO! - Graham

ISSUE 73 

SPRING 2012 

GRAHAM NEWS 

THE HOUSE JOURNAL OF THE GRAHAM GROUP 

GRIMSBY 

RO-RO IS GO! 

Graham Construction 

appointed to design 

and build new roll-on/ 

roll-off terminal 

SHARED CAMPUS BUILD UNDERWAY 

£44m Shared Campus for Inverclyde Council has begun in Port Glasgow 

RCP SPLASHES BACK INTO ACTION 

GRAHAM FM POWER ON IN PORTSMOUTH 

FM deliver planned and reactive M&E to Portsmouth City Council Buildings 

Picture: Artists Impression of Grimsby Riverside Terminal 

Courtesy of ABP 

1

GRAHAM NEWS 

CONTENTS 

EDITORIAL 2 

SCOTTISH ANNIVERSARY 

CELEBRATIONS 

GRIMSBY RO-RO IS GO! 

SHARED CAMPUS BUILD UNDER 

WAY 

ANOTHER LIFFEY BRIDGE 

ENGINEERING IN SHEFFIELD 

KEEPING THE TRAINS ROLLING..... 

MULTI-STOREY START IN 

ABERDEEN 

M80 

RCP SPLASHES BACK INTO 

ACTION 

CONSTRUCTION CREATING 

WAVES 

CLIMATE CHANGE CENTRE 

COMMENCED 

PARTNERING CONTINUES 

WITH NI WATER 

PLACE WON ON WELSH 

FRAMEWORK 

UGADALE HOTEL REOPENS 

WORLD FIRST FOR BURGH 

HALLS 

GRAHAM FM POWER ON IN 

PORTSMOUTH 

EDITORIAL 

Welcome to the 73rd edition of Graham News. 

In this edition we showcase a wide range of civil 

engineering, building and facilities management 

projects from our current portfolio. Our continued 

drive to secure opportunities in sectors where we 

have a demonstrable track record is continuing 

to pay dividends as all parts of the Group are 

successfully securing projects across the UK, 

many of which are featured. 

2 

3 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

12 & 13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

19 

21 

22 

FLASH, BANG, BOOM! 24 

SCOTTISH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS 

The Graham Directors and staff hosted a tenth birthday celebration for Graham in Scotland, in Edinburgh 

Castle, in November. The event, held in the recently refurbished Queen Anne Room set in the heart of 

Edinburgh Castle in Crown Square, saw 200 guests mark this important milestone. 

Michael Graham, Executive Chairman of the Graham Group, welcomed guests to the event celebrating 

10 years of Graham in Scotland. 

He said “In the ten years we have been operating in Scotland, we have been involved in delivering £1billion 

of work across our civil engineering, building, project investment and asset management businesses. As 

you would expect in this time we have established significant roots with regional offices in both Glasgow 

and Edinburgh and we are presently working towards establishing our third major regional base in 

Aberdeen. 

“We now employ over 320 people in Scotland and in this time we’ve taken on more than 100 people 

through our various community benefits programmes. At present, we have almost 40 graduates and 

15 apprentices on our books. 

“We work closely and in partnership with all our clients to ensure local businesses, people and local 

communities benefit directly from our activities, particularly in these challenging economic times. 

“I know that I speak for the entire Graham team when I say that we are tremendously proud of 

our achievements in Scotland and the relationships we have formed. From our very first project, at 

Kirkcudbright in Dumfries & Galloway, we have worked hard to forge strong partnerships with our clients. 

“We firmly believe this is a people business and we work hard to create positive personal relationships with 

all our clients to deliver exactly what we promise to do at the outset of a project. 

“We like to think it is our reputation to get a quality job done and exceed client expectations which have 

helped us grow and I firmly believe it is this focus on building relationships that sets us apart from the 

competition. 

“This ethos of working in partnership extends to our other divisions, which are perhaps not as well known 

but nevertheless are vital elements of our success story in Scotland. For example, our Investment Projects 

team has worked closely with the Scottish Borders Council through the Scottish Borders Education 

Partnership to design, construct and maintain Eyemouth, Berwickshire and Earlston high schools. 

“Some of you from the west of here may be familiar with the work Graham did as part of not only just the 

construction consortium but Graham Highway Management provided TTM services to help deliver the M80 

upgrade between Stepps and Haggs just north of Glasgow. 

“Meanwhile, the Graham FM team has been quietly and efficiently providing hard facilities management 

services for Robert Gordon University, and Environmental Services for both Dumfries & Galloway Council 

and Dumfries & Galloway NHS, East Renfrewshire Council and Scottish Borders Council. 

This success in Scotland would not have been possible if it weren’t for the commitment and abilities of our 

people here, we have been very fortunate that since our first project in Kirkcudbright, we have been able 

to attract a highly skilled, professional, hard working team. The calibre of which I believe is first class and 

I am grateful for the opportunity this evening to pay tribute to them and to our local supply chain who have 

made the past decade in Scotland such a success.” 

Michael closed the formal part of the evening’s proceedings by adding; “I’ll leave you with the pledge that 

while the past 10 years have very much signalled the beginning of our relationship with Scotland, Graham 

will be here for many, many decades still to come. My feelings are very aptly summarised by the words 

of Winston Churchill in 1942, ‘Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, 

perhaps, the end of the beginning.’” 

Looking to the year ahead, the Group remains well 

positioned in what is still a competitive marketplace 

with turnover and profitability levels holding up and 

our forward order book in a healthy state, with just 

under £600m of work secured. All these notable 

achievements are down to the positive, proactive 

and professional attitude of the entire Graham 

team and for that I thank them. I hope you enjoy 

this edition. 

Michael E.J. Graham 

Executive Chairman 

2

GRIMSBY RO-RO IS GO! 

Graham Construction has been awarded the 

contract to design and build a new roll-on/roll 

off (ro-ro) terminal on the River Humber at the 

Associated British Ports’ (ABP) Port of Grimsby. 

The facility will primarily be used for the importation 

of cars from mainland Europe. 

ABP has awarded the contract to Graham 

Construction, who will design and build a new 

250m long approach span jetty, 195m long finger 

pier jetty and an 80m x 30m floating pontoon with 

a 70m linkspan bridge connecting the pontoon 

and approach jetty. ABP’s Port of Grimsby and 

Immingham is the UK’s busiest car-handling port. 

The Grimsby Riverside Terminal, which at £25m 

heralds the largest-ever capital investment by ABP 

in its Port of Grimsby, will significantly increase the 

port’s capacity in its handling of vehicles from key 

customers such as the Volkswagen Group; Toyota; 

Peugeot; Citroen; Bentley and Jaguar Land Rover. 

The civil engineering division of Graham 

Construction has a track record of delivering 

significant marine projects around the UK. This 

includes the recently completed upgrade to 

Kennacraig Ferry Terminal and current projects at 

Tayinloan Ferry Terminal and Fife Energy Park. 

Leo Martin, Director at Graham Construction 

said: “This is great news for Graham. We have 

developed an enviable track record for delivering 

projects in the marine sector and this experience 

has played a major part in winning this contract. 

“We will continue to seek other opportunities to 

deploy this expertise, while delivering this important 

and high profile project for ABP.” 

As part of the Grimsby project, Graham 

Construction will construct the jetties using driven 

steel tubular piles with a mixture of precast and in 

situ concrete decks. The piling will be carried out 

during a three month window from the start of May 

2012 to the end of July. 

The reinforced concrete pontoon will be cast in a 

dry dock before being floated, towed to site and 

installed in position. 

Other elements of the scheme include 150,000m 3 

of dredging, construction of a 12,000m 2 car park 

and associated mechanical and electrical works. 

Work commenced in February and the construction 

programme is scheduled to last 13 months. 

SECOND MULL OF KINTYRE PIER 

over the years against the breakwater and which 

is being carried around the end of the structure 

to be deposited at the bottom of the slipway. The 

recharging of the beach to the north will infill the 

area around the existing pier. 

Following on from the successful Kennacraig 

Pier upgrade, Graham Construction recently got 

underway with the £2.3m refurbishment of the 

Tayinloan Pier and Ferry Berth for Argyle and Bute 

Council. The terminal, which serves the island of 

Giha is located just off the A83, 20 miles north of 

Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre. 

The works, which will be carried out while the 

terminal remains fully operational, will involve a 

combination of refurbishing and improving the 

existing facilities, whilst moving between 70,000 

and 80,000 tonnes of sand from the beach 

south of the pier to an area to the north. This will 

relocate much of the sand which has gathered 

A bridge will be formed in the causeway leading to 

the pier and slipway, to re-establish the long shore 

drift of beach material which will be able to pass 

through the causeway and on up the coast rather 

than gathering against the breakwater. The existing 

slipway is being repaired and widened to accept 

wider vessels and, in particular, the proposed 

new hybrid ferries which are being introduced by 

Calmac on selected west coast routes. 

Finally the old pier to the north of the terminal will 

be removed to allow the movement of sand and 

sediment up the coastline in a northerly direction. 

The 34 week project is due to be completed in 

June 2012 in time for the peak summer tourist 

season. 

3

GRAHAM NEWS 

SECOND PHASE SECURED 

Following hot on the heels of the completion of the 

Centre for Excellence in Palliative Care Education 

at St. Columba’s Hospice, Graham Construction 

has successfully secured the contract to construct 

the second phase of the rebuilding of St. 

Columba’s Hospice in Granton, Edinburgh. 

The £13.3m, 24 month project will see St. 

Columba’s Hospice completely rebuilt to create a 

state-of-the-art, specialist palliative care facility. 

A new 30 bed in-patient unit will be constructed 

on two floors, creating bright, spacious and 

modern facilities for patients and families. The 

improvements to the in-patient unit will include 

modern patient rooms that are designed to look 

and feel like real bedrooms, with features to 

conceal medical equipment and support wellbeing 

and relaxation. More privacy for patients will 

be created along with a greater flexibility for 

admissions, by redeveloping the in-patient unit 

to accommodate 18 single rooms and four three 

bed rooms. These larger and better equipped 

patient rooms will all benefit from en-suite shower 

facilities, access to the outdoors and the latest 

moving and handling equipment. Improved facilities 

for families will be constructed, with space in 

all single rooms for families to stay overnight, 

more family rooms and a new coffee room for 

patients and their visiting family and friends. This 

reorganisation will allow the catering, laundry and 

maintenance facilities to be relocated underneath 

the in-patient unit, which will improve the efficient 

running of the Hospice. 

The Day Hospice will move to a newly refurbished 

space to suit the needs of a changing care 

service and provide more space for providing 

complementary therapies for patients and families, 

including therapeutic massage, reiki, Indian head 

massage and cranio-sacral therapy. A new cafe 

facility for patients and visitors with larger windows 

to provide even better views of the beautiful Firth 

of Forth, will be provided along with more areas for 

patients and families to have quiet and reflective 

time. 

A brand new Columba Room will be created 

- a spiritual space for people of all faiths and 

of no faith to come for relaxation, calm and 

contemplation. The Columba Room will have a 

large picture window overlooking the beautiful 

views of the Firth of Forth. This is where the ‘Time 

of Remembrance’ will be held for families to come 

and remember loved ones in an atmosphere of 

peace and calm. 

The gardens will also be landscaped to allow 

patients to get outside more easily in their beds, 

and they will also be much more wheelchair 

friendly. The new gardens have also been designed 

to attract birds and butterflies and create different 

scents and textures. 

A state-of-the-art kitchen will be created, which 

has been designed to facilitate production of a 

wider range of quality home cooked meals for 

patients. The new kitchen will also make it easier 

for the chefs to meet the needs of patients with 

limited appetites and special dietary requirements. 

Administration departments will be designed to 

allow for more effective and integrated working 

among teams. 

Images courtesy of Jane Darbyshire and David 

Kendall Architects 

4

SHARED CAMPUS BUILD UNDER WAY 

Graham Construction’s work to build Inverclyde 

Council’s new £44m shared campus has begun in 

Port Glasgow. 

The Slaemuir complex will become the new home 

for Port Glasgow High School and St Stephen’s 

High School as well as a new Additional Support 

Needs (ASN) School to replace Glenburn and 

Lilybank schools. 

Port Glasgow High and St Stephen’s high will have 

their own distinct entrances allowing their individual 

identities and ethos to be retained. Each school will 

have its own foyer area leading to its own teaching 

spaces however the foyers will have direct access 

to a shared ‘agora’ or social hub of the campus. 

Graham Construction has a significant track record 

in building new schools around Scotland and is 

currently working on the £25m Coltness High 

School in Lanarkshire and the £11.9m Aviemore 

community school in the Highlands, among others. 

Michael Graham, Executive Chairman at Graham 

said: “The new shared campus at Port Glasgow is 

one of the most significant education projects we 

have ever been involved in. 

“We have assembled a highly skilled, locally 

sourced team to work on this job and we are 

looking forward to starting construction on the site 

in earnest. 

“This will be a unique, showpiece structure when it 

is completed in 2013 and Graham Construction is 

tremendously proud to be playing a part in such an 

iconic, keenly anticipated facility.” 

Education and Lifelong Learning Convener, 

Councillor Terry Loughran, said: “This is an exciting 

day for Inverclyde and especially Port Glasgow. 

Years of consultation and planning have come 

together and it is fantastic to see construction of 

the new campus underway. When it is completed 

in summer 2013 it will be a centre of educational 

excellence and a prized asset for the local 

community. The new Enterprise Centre will also 

offer opportunities for adults.” 

The agora also connects with the ASN school 

and provides access to all shared facilities. These 

include an art, music, science and technology 

block, a shared sports block and a shared drama 

performing arts area linked to the assembly hall. 

The new single storey ASN school will be made 

up of nursery, primary and secondary blocks for 

both moderate and complex learning difficulties. 

Classrooms for pupils with moderate learning 

difficulties are closest to the agora of the campus 

allowing ease of access to the mainstream 

curriculum of the secondary schools. The ASN 

school will also have a hydrotherapy pool as part of 

a suite of therapy facilities and the dining facility is 

situated close to the main school dining area. 

Leisure facilities include a Multi Use Games 

Area (MUGA), fully equipped fitness suite and 

gymnasium and two all weather pitches. These will 

be available for community use. The ASN school 

will have a play area and its own smaller MUGA. 

Pupils along with Michael Graham, executive chairman, Graham; Councillor Stephen McCabe, Inverclyde 

Council Leader; Councillor Terry Loughran, Education and Lifelong Learning Convener 

5

GRAHAM NEWS 

OLD TOWN HALL RESTORATION 

Graham Construction has secured a major 

project in Wales with the award of a £5.6m 

contract to repair and transform the 

Grade II* listed Old Town Hall into a vibrant 

new cultural and creative industries centre in 

Merthyr Tydfil. 

The project for client, Merthyr Tydfil Housing 

Association (MTHA), will see the Old Town Hall, 

located within the Pontmorlais Heritage Quarter, 

be fully restored after lying derelict for over 10 

years. 

Built in 1896, the Old Town Hall was designed to 

house the town’s civic functions and law courts, 

and was once a focal point for political life in 

Merthyr Tydfil. When the council relocated to 

Merthyr’s civic centre in the late 1980’s, the Town 

Hall was used as a nightclub until 2002. It has also 

featured in an episode of the popular BBC sci-fi 

drama, Torchwood. 

The project, which has received funding from 

the Welsh government, heritage body Cadw, 

Heritage Lottery Fund in Wales and Merthyr Tydfil 

council, involves the restoration of the building 

and adaption of the interior into a new culture 

and creative industries centre whilst retaining the 

building’s unique character and celebrating Merthyr 

Tydfil’s rich heritage. 

Over 100 local volunteers are expected to get 

involved in running events, heritage activities and 

workshops at the centre. Local people will also 

be able to get involved in making decisions about 

the Old Town Hall at a number of different levels, 

including a planned Youth Heritage Board. 

Educational spaces will be created to provide 

facilities contributing to the new Learning Quarter 

in the area, with Merthyr Tydfil College already 

committed to delivering media and performing arts 

programmes at the centre. 

ANOTHER LIFFEY BRIDGE 

Work recently got underway on another Graham 

Construction bridge across the River Liffey in 

Dublin. Following on from the award winning 

Samuel Beckett Bridge, Dublin City Council have 

awarded a €6m contract to Graham Construction 

to build another new bridge in Dublin City Centre, 

just downstream of O’Connell Bridge. 

The Marlborough Street Bridge will be a public 

transport, cycle and pedestrian bridge linking 

Marlborough Street and Eden Quay on the north 

side of the Liffey to Hawkins Street and Burgh 

Quay on the south side. 

The bridge will carry buses and the Luas at this 

critical location across the Liffey. It will have 

cycleways and generous footpaths that will open 

Marlborough Street and Hawkins Street to greater 

footfall, prospective development and create a 

new north-south link from Abbey Street to Pearse 

Street. The bridge will also carry diverted bus and 

taxi traffic during the construction of Metro North 

and when the proposed Luas Line BXD (which will 

link the existing Red & Green Lines) is developed, 

it will carry the southbound track across the Liffey. 

The 26m wide and 48m long bridge will have 

an elegant contemporary design with a slender, 

single span, smooth concrete structure, with the 

underside of the bridge being designed to be as 

high above the water as possible so that river 

traffic is not impeded. The project is scheduled to 

take 18 months to complete. 

6

SPADEWORK GOES INTO NEW POOL 

The first sod was cut at the site of Kirkcaldy’s 

new swimming pool complex by the councillors at 

the heart of the project - Brian Goodall, chairman 

of Fife Council’s Housing and Communities 

Committee and Alice Soper, chairman of 

Kirkcaldy Area Committee – along with Michael 

Graham, executive chairman of Graham and 

Bert McCulloch, contracts director of Graham 

Construction. 

The £15m Esplanade project is one of three in 

Fife to be built as part of the Future of Leisure 

initiative and the second Graham Construction 

have won, previously securing the contract to 

construct the new sports and leisure centre 

in Glenrothes. The project, which is due to be 

completed in summer 2013 and will offer both 

swimming and dry side facilities. 

Features will include a six lane 25m swimming 

pool with poolside spectating for over 90 people, 

a 16.6m x 8m training pool with movable floor 

and a modern wet side change area with adjoining 

health suite. New dry side facilities will include 

a four badminton court sports hall, purpose built 

aerobics studio, play centre, gym with 60 stations 

and a café. 

ENGINEERING IN SHEFFIELD 

Graham Construction has secured a £12m project 

from client Sheffield University to build the new 

Engineering Graduate School, which will become 

the centre of the faculty’s postgraduate research 

and postgraduate teaching activities. 

It will house collaborative and interdisciplinary 

research groups and has been planned to enable 

the growth of the faculty’s postgraduate offer. 

The project will initially involve the demolition 

of a single storey building at the intersection of 

Broad Lane and Newcastle Street, to make way 

for a seven storey building complex to house the 

Engineering Graduate School. The accommodation 

comprises teaching, research and office space 

totalling 5,355m 2 GIFA over seven storeys for 

post-graduate and post-doctorate cohorts. 

With construction scheduled for completion in mid 

2013, the Engineering Graduate School will be 

the first step in a series of planned improvements 

to buildings and teaching facilities, with the aim 

of extensively remodelling and refurbishing the 

faculty´s estate and creating more teaching space 

for the University. 

In addition to new, purpose-built buildings, the 

University aims to build additional lecture theatres, 

teaching labs and flexible teaching spaces. 

7

GRAHAM NEWS 

KEEPING THE TRAINS ROLLING ... 

Over a six week period of night possessions, 

the Graham Structural Solutions team (GSS) 

conducted repairs to four railway bridges at 

Glarryford, Cullybackey, Crumlin and Finaghy. 

At Finaghy, concrete repairs were required to the 

abutment walls, soffit and beams on the railway 

bridge. This involved the removal of defective 

concrete and exposing corroded rebar. Then it 

was cleaned, primed and hand repaired. The 

permanent formwork on the soffit required the 

use of specialist chemicals to clean and repair the 

exposed reinforced mesh to prevent any further 

deterioration and weakening of the structure. 

This work was delivered as part of a maintenance 

contract that the GSS team have with HMM. 

The other three bridges were maintained as part 

of our Northern Division Term Contract for DRD 

Roads Service. All three bridges are over 100 

years old and were in need of repair to strengthen 

the brick arch and to prevent debris from falling 

onto the railway line or causing an accident. The 

work involved cleaning the arch to remove any 

loose debris, using rail mounted plant, and the use 

of specialist mortar to re-point and strengthen the 

brickwork. 

... AND THE 

TOURIST TRAIL 

OPEN 

ARCHES RESTORED 

During the autumn of 2011, GSS completed the 

task of repairing the inverts of the six arches of the 

historic Randalstown Road Bridge. The project had 

to overcome flash flooding, with the force of the 

river washing away 80 tonnes of sandbags on two 

separate occasions to complete the work within 

the schedule, to budget and to the satisfaction of 

the client. 

Due to the erosion of the sea defence along the 

scenic route of the Antrim coast, GSS has carried 

out remedial work as part of the DRD Roads 

Service Northern Division Term Contract for the 

Maintenance and Improvement of Structures. 

The works included the removal of the weakened 

concrete structure and limestone boulders 

replacing them with a shuttered concrete structure. 

The work also included the improvements of a 

retaining structure by placing grout between the 

existing boulders to strengthen the joints. 

The work will ensure the subsidence will be halted 

and safe access to the Antrim Glens will continue. 

QUEEN ELIZABETH BRIDGE FACELIFT 

Concrete repairs and stone cobbling were required 

to the base of each arch as the river had created 

large scour holes that were undermining the 

abutments. The flow of the river was diverted 

using ton sandbags and any seepage was over 

pumped to leave a dry arch floor. The concrete 

was then placed and a cobbled stone finish to the 

arch invert, the cobble finish was a requirement 

from the Northern Ireland Fisheries to allow resting 

areas for the fish. 

The GSS team have commenced work on a 

contract to refurbish the Queen Elizabeth Bridge 

which crosses the River Lagan in central Belfast. 

Works on the bridge should take three months to 

complete and involve repainting over 2,000 square 

metres of steel beams. 

To accommodate the works, a series of extensive 

scaffold works will be installed and encapsulated 

to contain heat and capture any debris, ensuring 

there is no pollution to the river below. There will 

also be extensive concrete repairs to the inspection 

galleries at either abutment. This will include the 

installation of anodic protection which will help 

prolong the life of the structure. 

8

MOURNE CHALLENGE AT SPELGA DAM 

In February 2012, Graham Structural Solutions 

(GSS) completed a six month contract at Spelga 

Dam in the Mourne Mountains, Co Down. The 

dam was constructed between 1954 and 1957, 

and impounds six hundred million gallons of water 

to supply the Portadown and Banbridge districts. 

However, Northern Ireland Water have had to 

update the structure in order that it met current 

health and safety legislation. 

The most challenging task was to create a tunnel 

through nearly 7m of concrete on the dry side 

of the dam to meet with an inspection gallery 

that runs longitudinally along the east and west 

wings within the confines of the structure’s base. 

Not only did the site team have to find a way 

to create this tunnel without compromising the 

structural integrity of the existing concrete, but 

they had to construct the new tunnel to precise 

dimensions and at the correct level. The tunnel 

was constructed using a combination of hydrodemolition 

and the diamond wire cutting method. 

Further works incorporated the recoating of the 

siphons with cementitious grout to protect the 

overflow spouts from the abrasive action of the 

spilling water and the application of corrosion 

protection to the extraction pipework within the 

four levels of the valve tower at the centre of the 

dam. A new wave deflector was also galvanized 

and installed along the entire length of the dam 

crest and a new roof was fitted to the valve tower 

itself. 

Both the siphons and the wave deflector each 

required complex scaffold design. The wave 

deflector used a ‘hanging’ mobile scaffold which 

could be moved along the dam crest to facilitate 

the fitting of the new steel. The siphon scaffold 

had to cope with simultaneously reaching the 

height of the dam siphons (nearly 24m) and 

meeting the slope of the dam wall. 

MULTI-STOREY START IN ABERDEEN 

Work recently got under way for client, Aberdeen 

Council on a £3.3m contract to carry out major 

repair works to three multi-storey housing 

blocks in the Seaton area of Aberdeen. The 

year long contract on the 16 storey tower blocks 

will involve structural concrete repairs and the 

installation of insulated rainscreen cladding 

and new windows and minor electrical and 

mechanical refurbishment. 

9

GRAHAM NEWS 

M80 NOW IN OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE PHASE 

The first section between Stepps and Mollinsburn 

(the ‘Mollinsburn Bypass’) is approximately 8km of 

new road construction through agricultural land to 

the north of Muirhead, Moodiesburn and Chryston 

- linking with the existing M80 at Stepps and 

rejoining the route of the A80 east of Mollinsburn. 

This bypass enables drivers to travel along a 

stretch of fit for purpose motorway, taking traffic 

off the local community roads. 

Highway Management Construction, the joint 

venture comprising Graham, Farrans and Bilfinger 

Berger has now completed one of Scotland’s 

largest ever road projects, the £320m M80 

contract. 

The DBFO contract to construct 18km of 

motorway was completed in August 2011 and ties 

in with the existing M80 at Junction 2 (Robroyston) 

and north of Haggs. The scheme includes the new 

Moodiesburn Bypass, bypassing the communities 

of Muirhead, Chryston and Moodiesburn, and links 

with the previously upgraded Auchenkilns Junction. 

Welcoming the completion of the new road, 

Transport Minister Keith Brown said: “Completing 

the motorway network between Glasgow and 

Stirling is bringing real benefits to the communities 

and businesses across the central belt and to the 

rest of Scotland with its links to the M74 and the 

wider road network. 

“The new road is also reducing congestion, 

improving reliability and providing a healthier 

environment by reducing vehicle emissions. 

Drivers are already benefitting from the opening 

of the M74 Completion. The completion of this 

important trunk road in central Scotland on time 

and on budget once again provides evidence of 

the Scottish Government’s commitment to deliver 

major infrastructure projects and to work with 

contractors to ensure best value for the public 

purse.” 

Running between Stepps and Haggs the motorway 

has three distinct sections: 

10 

The new motorway over this section provides; a 

dual two-lane carriageway (each 7.3m wide), with 

hardshoulders (3.3m wide), a central reserve 

(4m wide) and roadside verges (a minimum of 

1.5m wide); a new Interchange at Mollinsburn, with 

realigned side roads and three new overbridges; 

and new overbridges and underpasses at Hornshill 

Junction, Drumsack Road, Lindsaybeg Road, 

Strathkelvin Railway Path and Auchengeich Road 

The second section between Mollinsburn to 

Auchenkilns is approximately 2.7km of upgraded 

road along the route of the previous A80, 

extending from Mollinsburn to tie-in to the western 

side of previously upgraded (2005) Auchenkilns 

Junction. 

This section provides; a dual three-lane 

carriageway (each 11m wide) between Mollinsburn 

Interchange and Low Wood and a dual two-lane 

carriageway (each 7.3m wide) between Low Wood 

and Auchenkilns Junction, with hardshoulders 

(3.3m wide, except at existing structures), a 

central reserve (4m wide) and roadside verges 

(a minimum of 1.5m wide); improvements to 

Low Wood Junction; new replacement bridges to 

carry North Road over the M80 and for the new 

motorway to span the Luggie Water; Kirk Place 

Footbridge and the Low Wood North and South 

road bridges are also retained to carry traffic over 

the new motorway. 

The north east section from Auchenkilns to Haggs 

is approximately 7.3km of upgraded road along 

the route of the previous A80 and includes; a 

dual two-lane carriageway (each 7.3m wide), 

with a third lane (climbing lane) on the eastbound 

carriageway between Castlecary and Haggs and 

a third lane (auxiliary lane) on the westbound 

carriageway between Castlecary and Old Inns 

with hardshoulders, a central reserve and roadside 

verges. At Castlecary Viaduct, emergency access 

lanes (3m wide) are provided through adjacent 

arches to which the main carriageways pass 

through; the reconstruction of Glenview Avenue 

Overbridge; Ravenswood Footbridge, Castlecary 

Overbridge, the Forth and Clyde Canal crossing 

and Kilsyth Road Overbridge are all retained; all 

other structures, including three overbridges and 

three pedestrian underpasses have also been 

retained following works to widen these structures 

to carry the new motorway.

WASTE REDUCTION EFFORTS RECOGNISED 

Pictured above, Andrew Cooke, SHEQ director, Graham, receiving a special 

Jury’s Favourite award from Northern Ireland Executive Environment Minister, 

Alex Attwood at the recent European Week for Waste Reduction Awards. 

FOURTH HOME STARTED 

Pictured above, City of Edinburgh Council leader Jenny Dawe, officially 

breaking the ground at the site of the new £7.6m Drumbrae Care Home in a 

ceremony marking the beginning of construction. 

BOOST FOR YOUTH CLUB FUNDS 

DESIGN A DIGGER 

As part of the ongoing community engagement programme within North 

Lanarkshire, Graham Construction recently held a site visit and design 

competition for pupils and teachers of Greenhill and Drumpark Primary Schools. 

Graham Construction has boosted funds at Thurso Youth Club with a donation 

to help fund activities and trips for the junior members of the club. 

ANYONE MISSING A HAT 

THE SICK KIDS FRIENDS FOUNDATION 

Pictured above, Will Guest, corporate fundraiser, The Sick Kids Friends 

Foundation - Edinburgh, receiving a donation cheque from Neil McFarlane, 

regional director, Graham Construction and Paul McBurney, project manager 

Royal Commonwealth Pool, Graham Construction. 

Plastic hard hats are being donated to a wildlife park after helmets became 

the favourite toy of the site’s 58-stone male polar bear. Gifts of the protective 

head wear started arriving at the Highland Wildlife Park after images of Walker 

chewing one appeared online. Head keeper Una Richardson said: “Polar 

bears are naturally very playful animals and Walker is no exception, after two 

days they are ruined so we are delighted to receive donations to keep up the 

supply.” The park is owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland. 

11

GRAHAM NEWS 

12

RCP SPLASHES BACK INTO ACTION 

The Royal Commonwealth Pool (RCP) was 

formally reopened on 20 March 2012 following a 

£37m refurbishment. 

Former Olympic swimming champion, David Wilkie, 

performed the honours, declaring the Grade 

A-listed Edinburgh facility officially open again after 

the two-and-a-half year refurbishment project. 

with City of Edinburgh Council, and we were 

pleased to offer advice on the design of the 

refurbishment and provide £5m of Scottish 

Government and Lottery funding from our Sports 

Facilities Fund. The Royal Commonwealth Pool is 

now the ideal venue to host the diving competition 

when the Commonwealth Games return to 

Scotland in 2014.” 

The RCP will host diving events as part of the 

Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 

British Swimming Squad have selected the facility 

as the venue for their final training camp in July 

2012 ahead of the London Olympics. 

Compered by former Scotland rugby star, Scott 

Hastings, the official reopening event also included 

speeches by the Deputy Lord Provost Rob Munn, 

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon; Louise 

Martin CBE, Chair of sportScotland and Sue 

Bruce, Chief Executive of the City of Edinburgh 

Council. 

There was a synchronised diving display featuring 

Commonwealth Games athlete Grace Reid, who 

was also interviewed poolside by Scott Hastings, 

together with fellow divers James Heatly and his 

grandfather Sir Peter Heatly, who took part in the 

original opening ceremony of the RCP in 1970. 

As part of the ceremony, David Wilkie swam the 

first breadth in the 50m pool alongside 30 children 

who won a competition run in a local newspaper. 

He said: “It is a great privilege to be back at the 

RCP, considering that this is where I did a lot of my 

training when I was a schoolboy in Edinburgh. This 

is also the pool where I won my first international 

cap for Great Britain and won my first major 

international medal at the 1970 Commonwealth 

Games. 

“I have some fond memories of the place. It’s great 

to see the ‘old lady’ reformed in all her old glory 

and to play a part in her reopening.” 

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “With 

five Scots swimmers already qualifying for the 

London Olympics and the 2014 Games less than 

900 days away, there has never been a more 

exciting time for sport in Scotland. 

“The reopening of this spectacular venue, which 

will host the diving competition during the 2014 

Commonwealth Games, marks yet another 

significant milestone in the journey towards 2014. 

This world class facility will encourage participation 

in sport and physical activity locally and support 

elite athletes. The pool will also welcome the GB 

swimming squad for their final training camp 

ahead of the 2012 Olympics raising Edinburgh and 

Scotland’s profile as an outstanding place to stage 

major events.” 

Deputy Lord Provost Rob Munn said: “The RCP’s 

refurbishment has been an incredibly complex 

engineering project. In just four months’ time, the 

pool will play host to the British Swimming squad 

as they make their final training preparations ahead 

of London 2012 Olympic Games. We now know 

that two Edinburgh swimmers will be among them: 

on behalf of the City of Edinburgh, I would like to 

offer heartfelt congratulations to Craig Benson, of 

Warrender Baths Club and Michael Jamieson, of 

the University of Edinburgh, whose success at the 

recent British Gas Swimming Championships 2012 

saw them qualify.” 

Louise Martin, Chair of sportScotland, said: “We 

are delighted to have played our part in bringing 

this exciting project to life. At sportScotland, one 

of our priorities is to promote the positive power 

of sport, and the extensive refurbishment of the 

Royal Commonwealth Pool will provide the people 

of Edinburgh, and further afield, with a world-class 

facility they can really be proud of. Generations 

of Scottish swimmers learned their craft in this 

historic pool and now more swimmers – of all 

ages and abilities – have a fantastic opportunity 

to benefit from all that the revamped pool has to 

offer. 

“sportScotland has a close working relationship 

Edinburgh Leisure Chief Executive John 

Comiskey said: “The wait is finally over and 

Edinburgh Leisure is delighted to welcome back 

our customers, old and new, to the much-loved 

Royal Commonwealth Pool once again. We are 

incredibly proud to be managing this outstanding 

venue on behalf of The City of Edinburgh Council 

and have put in place an exceptional team of 

staff and programme of activities for all ages. We 

are looking forwarding to delivering the highest 

possible customer experience in a safe and 

enjoyable environment to help all of our customers 

get active, stay active and achieve more.” 

Michael Graham, executive chairman, Graham 

said: “Transforming the Royal Commonwealth Pool 

to provide a modern, world-class sports facility 

while protecting the legacy of such a well-loved 

Scottish landmark, has been a showcase project 

for Graham Construction. 

“The extent of the redevelopment coupled with 

the historic nature of the building made this an 

incredibly complex project, but by applying precise 

planning and expertise, Graham Construction is 

incredibly proud to have delivered an outstanding 

facility for Scotland and its sporting stars of the 

future.” 

The new features sported by the revamped RCP 

include: 

• 50m, eight-lane pool for community and 

specialist swimming use with a boom capable 

of subdividing the pool into two areas 

• a re-orientated 25m diving pool up to 5m 

deep with moveable floor which can be used 

for swimming when not in use for diving 

• a dry dive facility including trampoline and 

springboards to allow divers to practise out 

of the pool 

• 25m pool with moveable floor to 

accommodate warm-up provision, swimming 

lessons and informal play utilising pool toys 

• new dry soft play facilities 

• refurbished and expanded gym and fitness 

studios 

• a refurbished and redesigned changing 

village and meeting and conference rooms. 

FACTS AND FIGURES 

• Grade A-listed building 

• £37m refurbishment 

• 1.5 million man hours worked 

• 5.5 million litres of water to fill the pool 

• 380,000 tiles laid 

• 25,000m² floor area 

• 800m² solar panel installed to help heat 

the pool water 

• 821 seats on seating deck 

• 12 days to empty all three pools 

• 55 different subcontractors 

13

GRAHAM NEWS 

CONSTRUCTION CREATING WAVES 

Graham Construction has secured their second 

project in quick succession, for the University of 

Edinburgh. The £3m project, jointly funded by 

the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research 

Council (EPSRC) and the University of Edinburgh, 

involves the construction of ‘The UK All-Waters 

Combined Current and Wave Test Facility’ that will 

allow the testing of wave or tidal current devices at 

scales up to 1:20. 

The unique All-Waters Facility, which is 

programmed to take 60 weeks to complete, will 

be located on the west side of the University’s 

Kings Buildings Campus in Edinburgh. The simple 

framed building with low-cost metal cladding is 

naturally ventilated and has high levels of insulation 

and airtightness. Predicted carbon emissions are 

significantly lower than 2010 building regulations. 

In addition to offices, meeting spaces and a model 

workshop, the main component of the facility 

comprises a 30m diameter and 5m deep tank 

which includes a ring of wave makers and current 

generators, allowing water to be simultaneously 

and independently pumped across the tank, with 

maximum current velocities of 0.8m per second. 

The tank will be able to generate conditions 

corresponding to full scale seas with 28m waves 

and currents of up to 6m per second. 

Waves and currents in the tank can act in any 

combination, in any relative direction across a 

central test area 17m in diameter. A rising tank 

floor and overhead crane will enable installation of 

individual devices, or arrays of wave or tidal current 

generators. 

The facility, once complete, will be able to model 

wave and tidal conditions anywhere in the UK and 

Europe and test marine device prototype scales 

between 1/40th and 1/10th. This will provide the 

ability to simulate, in hours or days, conditions 

that would take years at sea, thereby significantly 

reducing costs to both device designers and 

project developers and decrease time from 

concept to market, so reducing risk to investors 

and insurers. 

RECENTLY HANDED OVER - ROYSTON COMMUNITY CENTRE 

14 9

INTEGRATED HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE CENTRE OPENS 

A new Health and Social Work Centre constructed 

by Graham Construction, which offers a unique 

model of joint services for Barrhead was officially 

opened by Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon MSP 

just before Christmas. 

The new £18m Barrhead Health and Social Care 

Centre brings together health and social work 

services under the one roof for the first time, 

serving some 25,000 local residents in state-ofthe-art, 

fit for purpose facilities. 

The centre is home to three GP practices and 

two dental practices, as well as physiotherapy and 

podiatry services, health visitor and district nursing 

teams along with social work and home care 

services. There will also be a day care centre for 

older people with its own entrance and garden. 

Mental health services for the whole of East 

Renfrewshire will also be offered out of the new 

centre serving 90,000 people. 

Director of the East Renfrewshire CHCP Julie 

Murray said: “The opening of the new Barrhead 

Health and Social Care Centre which will be of 

huge benefit to the local community. This new 

state-of-the-art development will enable people to 

access the services they require more quickly and 

easily regardless of whether these are provided by 

the NHS or council.” 

Chairman of NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde 

Andrew Robertson said: “The new centre is a fine 

example of modern, coordinated health and social 

care providing excellent services in a bright well-lit 

facility which patients and staff can be proud of. 

It will bring significant benefits to the people of 

Barrhead and I’m proud of what we and East 

Renfrewshire Council have achieved in developing 

this project together, to jointly tackle a range of 

health and social work issues in this area.” 

CLIMATE CHANGE CENTRE COMMENCED 

Graham Construction has been awarded a £5.5m 

project by Edinburgh University. The project 

involves remodelling the University’s Old High 

School in High School Yards, to accommodate a 

new centre for research on climate change. 

The Edinburgh Centre on Climate Change (ECCC) 

is a collaborative project between University of 

Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University and 

Heriot-Watt University and will bring together 

experts in law, business, technology and policy 

making. 

Experts will seek to establish the ECCC as a forum 

through which university academics and other 

professionals can work with businesses and local 

government to help develop a low-carbon society. 

Those taking part will help to develop low-carbon 

business ideas in a sector that is worth £8.5billion 

and forecasted to grow to £12billion by 2015. 

The 68 week refit, which is scheduled to open in 

spring 2013 will deliver a forum for collaboration 

and the development of professional skills on all 

matters related to climate change. The awardwinning 

Malcolm Fraser Architects have been 

appointed to design the facility. 

15

GRAHAM NEWS 

PARTNERING CONTINUES WITH NORTHERN IRELAND WATER 

Graham Construction continues to deliver projects 

in partnership with Northern Ireland Water (NIW) 

under both the Integrated Wastewater Framework 

(IWWF) appointment, which is in its eighth year, 

and through stand-alone appointments. Recent 

appointments under the IWWF bring the total value 

of projects we have delivered for Northern Ireland 

Water to over £90m. 

Portavogie Sewage Pumping Station (SPS) 

Work is progressing well on site on this IWWF 

project, with the 7.5km pumping main now 

complete and the 9m diamater caisson shaft 

forming the wet well installed. Construction of the 

superstructure is underway and M&E installation 

is due to commence shortly. Completion is 

anticipated this September. 

Ormeau Park Combined Sewer Overflow 

As part of the framework, we were introduced 

at early contractor stage, and assisted in the 

development of this scheme designed to increase 

the capacity of the existing overloaded combined 

surface water and foul drainage system in the 

Ormeau Road area and improve the water quality 

to the River Lagan and reduce flooding that had 

been occurring. 

Newtownbreda WwTW 

Work at Newtownbreda involved the design and 

construction of a 44,375 Population Equivalent 

Plant which included new anoxic aeration and 

final settlement tanks (FST). The new works 

are now receiving flows, acceptance tests have 

been successfully completed and completion is 

imminent. 

Dunmurry WwTW 

At Dunmurry the project involved the design and 

build of an extension to the existing works, with 

aeration tanks and FSTs, bringing the Population 

Equivalent Plant up to 62,479. The new works are 

receiving flows and acceptance tests are on-going. 

Ballyhalbert Long Sea Outfall 

Work on our fourth long sea outfall for NIW in as 

many years, commenced in December. It involves 

the construction of a 1km, 280mm diameter outfall 

pipe, the vast majority of which is in the sea. Land 

based works are currently being undertaken, with 

marine works having just commenced with more 

favourable spring and summer sea conditions. 

Beechlawn SPS, Hillsborough 

This was a sensitive scheme carried out after 

early contract involvement primarily in the 

school grounds of Beechlawn Primary School in 

Hillsborough. To minimise disruption to the school 

the heavy civil engineering work was carried out 

during school holidays, including the construction 

of an 8m deep, 9m diameter caission. This and 

the remaining works which consisted of a pumping 

station, pipelines and associated works were 

handed over in autumn 2011. 

LORD WEBBER VISITS BEACON ARTS CENTRE 

inclusive focal point for arts activities in Inverclyde 

and beyond.” 

Michael Graham, executive chairman, Graham, 

added; “Graham Construction has been working 

hard to create the steel and concrete frame of The 

Beacon, which features an ensemble of balconies 

and a unique upper circle. The stage area forms 

part of the tower and the curtains will be pulled 

straight upwards to the tallest point of the building, 

standing at 20 metres. 

“Once completed, the theatre will be entirely 

enclosed in glass, with certain elevations being 

internally illuminated to create a striking facade.” 

L-R: Elliott McKelvie, chairman, Greenock Arts Guild Ltd; Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber; Michael Graham, 

executive chairman, Graham 

The Beacon is expected to be one of the finest 

medium-sized arts centres in the UK. It will house 

a 500-seat main auditorium, a 130-seat studio 

theatre, three large rehearsal rooms and a bistro 

with views over the River Clyde. 

Greenock recently hosted musical legend Andrew 

Lloyd-Webber as the composer attended a 

ceremony at the new Beacon Arts Centre, which 

is under construction by Graham Construction at 

East India Harbour. 

16 

Elliott McKelvie, chairman of Greenock Arts Guild 

Ltd said: “The topping out of The Beacon marks 

a hugely important step in a project which has 

taken eight years to develop. We are now at the 

final stages of fulfilling our vision for a vibrant, 

Its objectives include working with young people 

from socially challenged backgrounds, broadening 

participation in the arts and developing the 

employment prospects of people who have 

suffered mental health problems.

PLACE WON ON WELSH FRAMEWORK 

Dwr Cymru Welsh Water has named Graham 

Construction as one of the contractors awarded 

the Major Civil Engineering Framework to design 

and build major civil engineering projects across 

both North (Lot 1) and South East Wales (Lot 2). 

The contract commenced in February of this year 

and will run for a period of four years with the 

option to extend annually for a further two years. 

The full scheme has a value of £170m and all 

works awarded from within this framework will be 

subject to mini-competitions. 

Each Lot will comprise distinct work activities 

including: 

• General civil engineering works including; 

construction of water and waste water 

treatment works, tanks pumping stations 

and other DCC assets, concrete works, 

excavations in all types of rural and urban 

settings and full reinstatement to HAUC and 

NRSWA regulations 

• Sewer and non-pressurised water pipelines, 

construction and renewal within the boundary 

of water and waste water treatment works 

and pumping stations 

• Gravity sewer works including; on-line or 

off-line replacement of gravity sewers, river/ 

sea outfalls and installation via open cut 

construction. 

CORE WIN IN STOKE! 

Graham Construction has secured a £3.3m 

project in the West Midlands for Stoke-on-Trent 

City Council. The project involves the construction 

of Phase four of the new demonstration and 

learning facility, the Centre of Refurbishment 

Excellence (CoRE), on a former Victorian pottery 

works in Stoke-on-Trent. 

CoRE is a partnership between private industry, 

Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Stoke College and 

the Building Research Establishment that will 

bring together the UK’s training and technologies 

to demonstrate best practice in sustainable 

refurbishment and retrofitting. It will provide a new 

build college, conference area and demonstration 

space and will be a virtual hub and knowledge 

platform, bringing together all stakeholders in the 

retrofit community, including a UK skills alliance. 

Located on the old Enson Works site in the 

Longton area of Stoke-on-Trent and containing 

three dilapidated grade II listed bottle kilns 

structures, the work being carried out in Phase 

four will include the conversion and fit out of 

conference facilities, demonstrator space and 

training workshops plus the rebuilding of the 

demolished American Hotel building to create 

more demonstrator space. 

Also included is the construction of a new 

‘hub’ building which provides a reception area, 

administration offices and an access stair to link 

the Enson works and the American Hotel. 

17

MSP STARTS NUCLEAR JOB 

and knocking down a redundant site like Dounreay 

generates significant quantities of radioactive 

waste. This facility provides us with a safe disposal 

route for much of that waste. It is the culmination 

of a decade of work to identify the best option 

for looking after this type of waste and obtain the 

necessary planning consents.” 

The Graham Construction civil engineering team 

has started working on a series of underground 

vaults that will house up to a quarter of a million 

tonnes of low-level radioactive waste arising 

from the gradual demolition of Dounreay. The 

new facility is the first of its type to be built in 

Scotland and the first ever to be granted planning 

permission. 

In a £13m contract, Graham Construction is 

expected to take two years to construct the 

first two of up to six vaults, creating up to 100 

construction jobs. Subject to regulatory clearance, 

waste disposal is due to begin in 2014. 

Nigel Lowe, NDA’s director for Dounreay, said: 

“Dounreay was at the forefront of the country’s 

reactor programme when it was first built. Today, 

as the site opens a new chapter in its history, it 

is again at the forefront as exemplified by this 

low-level waste construction project. This facility 

will ensure the material is safely and securely 

looked after well into the future, utilising modern 

standards and technologies.” 

Audrey Cooper, Senior Project Manager at 

Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd, said: “Cleaning out 

Low-level waste (LLW) typically consists of debris 

such as metal, plastics and rags contaminated 

during the clean-out and demolition of facilities 

where radioactive materials were handled. By 

volume, LLW represents more than 80% of 

all radioactive waste generated by Dounreay’s 

demolition. By radiological hazard, however, it 

represents less than 0.01%. 

The waste will be collected in 200 litre drums, 

which are compressed to a fifth of their size and 

placed inside half-height shipping containers. 

These containers will be filled with grout to make 

them ready for disposal. 

Each vault covers an area the size of a football 

pitch and is 20m deep. An agricultural-style 

building will be built to provide cover during its 

operation, before each is finally backfilled with 

grout and capped. 

The last disposals are expected to occur sometime 

in the next decade. After capping, it will be 

monitored for 300 years, by which stage 95% of 

the radioactivity will have decayed. 

OUT AND ABOUT IN DOUNREAY 

The Graham Construction team working at 

Dounreay joined other local businesses to help 

youngsters in the Castletown area with the 

creation of an exciting new eco-garden project at 

the village school. 

The project – Castletown Peedie Green Fingers 

– was the idea of Castletown Playgroup and 

Toddlers, but will benefit all who attend Castletown 

Primary and Nursery, and North of Scotland 

Childcare Association (NOSCA). 

Playgroup leader Joan Calder said: “The garden 

is a great resource for allowing the children to 

have fun exploring the outdoors. It opens up lots 

of opportunities for teaching young children about 

the world around them and encourages them to 

respect the environment.” 

The garden includes raised beds and borders 

for growing fruit, vegetables and flowers. It also 

boasts a bird-feeding area, mini-beast village, 

composting facilities and a picnic area. 

The group was overwhelmed by the support it 

received from local businesses who all supported 

the project, either with provision of free workforce 

or assistance with materials. 

FULL OF ENERGY 

18 

Work recently commenced on a £4m design and 

construct contract by Scottish Enterprise for repair 

works to Quayside two at Fife Energy Park. 

The Energy Park is a state-of-the-art hub for the 

renewable energy sector that aims to turn Fife into 

a world-leading centre for developing renewable 

energy technologies, particularly in marine energy 

and offshore wind. 

The scope of the contract, scheduled to be 

completed by October, includes the construction of 

a new piled quay wall and concrete hard standings 

for loading and uploading barges at Fife Energy 

Park. Works to anchor the new wall are required 

along with piling to support the new concrete hard 

standings.

UGADALE HOTEL REOPENS 

With the construction contract finished on time by 

Graham Construction, The Village at Machrihanish 

Dunes officially re-opened the historic Ugadale 

Hotel in Machrihanish on Saturday, 25 February 

2012. Their Graces, the Duke and Duchess of 

Argyll, along with David Southworth, President and 

CEO of Southworth Development LLC, were on 

hand to open the doors of this famed hotel with a 

private luncheon and ribbon-cutting ceremony. 

Once regarded as the pinnacle of luxury 

accommodation in the west of Scotland when it 

was alternately known as The Ugadale Arms Hotel 

and The Machrihanish Hotel, The Ugadale Hotel is 

again welcoming visitors following a year of careful 

restoration work. It is the first time the hotel has 

welcomed guests in more than 30 years. 

The new Ugadale Hotel offers 22 luxurious guest 

rooms and suites, many overlooking the Atlantic 

and famed Machrihanish Golf Club. It features a 

restaurant and bar called The Kintyre Club, the fullservice 

Serenity Spa and a fitness centre. 

“The Ugadale Hotel in Machrihanish is the newest 

of luxury accommodations offered at The Village 

at Machrihanish Dunes,” said David Southworth, 

President and CEO of Southworth Development 

LLC. “We are thrilled with the results of the 

painstaking restoration process and look forward 

to celebrating the return of this iconic, turn-of-thecentury 

hotel, which will bring a new standard of 

accommodation to the region.” 

Complementing the historic charm of the hotel 

is the The Kintyre Club, a warm and inviting 

restaurant and bar in a private club setting offering 

inspired dining and spirited good times that takes 

its name from the organization formed in 1825. 

Then, a group of twelve altruistic Scottish 

businessmen with roots in the Kintyre region 

banded together with the aim of assisting those in 

need in the Kintyre community – a charitable effort 

that the new club will continue. The Kintyre Club is 

a private dining area reserved for hotel guests and 

club members, with all proceeds from membership 

dues distributed to Kintyre-area charities. 

With style and architecture that echoes its historic 

past, The Ugadale provides guests with modern 

luxuries in each of its spacious and comfortable 

suites and rooms. These finely-appointed spaces 

feature rich walnut wood and antique brass 

highlights, along with traditional Scottish elements. 

The new Serenity Spa offers weary travellers, as 

well as local residents, high-quality spa services 

and treatments, including facials, body treatments, 

sport and full body massages, manicures and 

pedicures. Serenity Spa features top-of-the-line 

Decleor Paris products. 

Located on the ground floor of the hotel is 

a fitness centre with state-of-the-art fitness 

equipment and stunning views of the Atlantic 

Ocean from its windows. 

The Royal Hotel, the second historic hotel that is currently being restored by Graham Construction for 

client Southworth, will offer in-town accommodations for guests of the Village at Machrihanish Dunes 

at its location overlooking Campbeltown Harbour. It will feature 23 elegant rooms, a gourmet restaurant 

and a lively waterfront pub. The Royal Hotel is scheduled to open early May 2012. 

19

GRAHAM NEWS 

FIFE HITS 50! 

A project, which provides invaluable support for 

Fife residents seeking employment, is celebrating 

placing its 50th client in a job since July 2011. 

Kingdom Housing Association Ltd’s, Fife Works 

Project, is delivering the Opportunities Fife 

Employer Programme in partnership with Fife 

Council, and aims to bring together unemployed 

individuals in the area with local employers. 

Amanda Wright, from Dunfermline, became the 

50th client to find work since July 2011 and 

is now working as community liaison officer at 

Graham Construction’s base in Glenrothes. 

Graham Construction successfully secured 

the contract to build the Glenrothes Leisure 

Centre and worked with Fife Council to devise a 

community benefit plan centred around increasing 

employment opportunities for local residents. 

Joanne Aitken of Kingdom Housing Association, 

who is the Senior Development Worker for the 

Fife Works Project, said: “In the current economic 

climate, it is encouraging that employers continue 

to recruit for opportunities such as these. Amanda 

is thrilled to have been selected for this position.” 

Amanda, mum to Andrew and Ross was forced to 

give up her job in finance when her late husband 

Graeme was tragically diagnosed with leukaemia. 

He died in 1998. 

She said: “I am one of those people that just has 

to be active all of the time, so I love getting up and 

going to my work in the morning. It’s a very busy 

job but that’s what I thrive on and I especially enjoy 

the opportunity to work with so many different 

groups within the community.” 

Amanda oversees administration on site at 

Glenrothes as well as managing all community 

engagement activity for Graham Construction in 

the area. With Graham Construction now on site 

in neighbouring Kirkcaldy as well, Amanda’s role is 

more important than ever. Within her role, Amanda 

has continued to work closely with Fife Works and 

helped other local individuals find employment with 

Graham Construction. As part of the construction 

firm’s community benefits pledge, five previously 

unemployed local people are now working on site 

Amanda Wright, community liaison officer, Graham Construction 

and further job opportunities are planned for the 

future, including two apprentice positions during 

the later stages of the project. 

Amanda has also had a pivotal role in the 

relationship between Graham Construction and 

the nearby Adam Smith College – from where 

assistant site manager Robert Hutchinson 

graduated last year – co-ordinating site visits for 

current students. 

Working closely with lecturers from the Institute of 

Engineering, Construction and Technical Services, 

several class tours of the site have been provided, 

offering valuable practical experience to those 

considering a career in construction. One visit 

focused on the logistics of how to set up a site 

for maximum safety and efficiency while another 

allowed students to supervise concrete pours and 

the creation of a drainage system. 

Stewart Ferguson, project manager for Graham 

Construction Glenrothes site, said: “Amanda is 

exactly what we were looking for in a liaison officer. 

Graham Construction is committed to making 

a positive impact within the area and Amanda’s 

enthusiasm and people skills continue to enhance 

the site’s relationship with the local community.” 

Amanda added: “It’s great that my job allows me 

to give something back to the community and help 

others that were in a similar situation to me before 

I started with Graham Construction. 

“The staff at Fife Works were really helpful. They 

helped me fine tune my CV and prepare for 

interviews. A lot of people think if you are a mum 

returning to work there is no help out there – but 

that’s not true. Fife Works is definitely the group 

they should call.” 

20

WORLD FIRST FOR BURGH HALLS 

Stained glass is an ancient art form that stretches 

back hundreds of years. At Maryhill Burgh Halls, 

it has been brought fully up to date with the 

installation of the world’s first ever interactive 

stained glass windows. Scan the 2D barcode in 

the new windows with your smartphone, and you’ll 

be automatically taken to a webpage explaining the 

designs and giving information about the glass. 

When the Maryhill Burgh Halls were opened in 

1878, pride of place in the main hall were twenty 

large stained glass panels, representing the many 

varied trades and industries of Maryhill. They were 

designed by the artist Stephen Adam and have 

become known as the crown jewels of Maryhill. 

From boatbuilders to linen bleachers, joiners 

to soldiers and iron moulders to railwaymen, 

the panels give a fantastic record of what was 

important to the area in 1878. However, modern 

Maryhill is very different to the Maryhill of 1878 

and the Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust wanted to 

create some new stained glass windows to record 

what is important in the area today and to give the 

restoration project a lasting legacy. 

Artists Alec Galloway and Margo Winning were 

commissioned to design and produce a new set of 

stained glass windows for the Maryhill Burgh Halls. 

Around 250 local people - ranging in age from 

six to well over 65! - got involved in the process, 

learning about the techniques involved in stained 

glass making, creating their own stained glass and, 

crucially, having their say as to the kinds of things 

the new windows should depict. 

Each of the individual windows involves one key 

signature image and a range of smaller images and 

details, to create a collage effect and incorporate 

as many of the specific suggestions received as 

possible. 

The ten ‘themes’ of the new windows are; 

• Education - featuring Primary 7 children from 

a local school 

• Culture - featuring Maryhill-born Turner prize 

winners Douglas Gordon & Susan Philipsz 

• Social Heritage - featuring Jaconelli’s cafe 

• Heavy Trades - featuring the Maryhill canal 

and locks 

• Workers - featuring the Bryant & May match 

factory 

• Space Age - featuring a local company that 

makes satellites 

• Youth - featuring a local youth club 

• Sport and Leisure - featuring the Maryhill 

Harriers running club and two local football 

teams 

• Regeneration - featuring the Burgh Halls itself 

and the silver key that opened it in 1878 

• Diversity - featuring some of the many 

different cultures now making up Maryhill 

21

GRAHAM NEWS 

CRIME CAMPUS HANDED OVER 

Graham Construction has met its target to deliver 

the critical heart of the new multi-million pound 

Scottish Crime Campus at Gartcosh. 

The £82m facility seeks to bring together the full 

range of Scotland’s crime-busting organisations 

including The Serious Organised Crime Agency, 

The Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement 

Agency, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, 

The Crown Office Procurator Fiscal’s Services and 

The Scottish Police Services Authority Forensic 

Services. 

Graham Construction was responsible for the 

second phase of the three stage project, which 

involved building the core and shell of the facility. 

The first phase of the crime campus to provide 

utilities supplies, lighting, CCTV, car parking, roads 

and security measures was completed in early 

2011 before Graham Construction started on site. 

The main building will primarily provide specialised, 

flexible office accommodation as well as forensic 

science laboratories and additional support 

facilities. 

The concrete frame four storey, four block 

structure is arranged around a central atrium 

with a cross route providing controlled access 

on both sides. This connecting bridge element is 

intended to reflect the connecting strands of DNA, 

highlighting the importance of DNA research in 

crime detection. Pre-cast finished concrete panels 

and glass curtain walling were used to boost the 

natural light available inside the building, while 

an air-cushioned ETFE polymer roof gives extra 

strength and corrosion resistance. 

Graham Construction completed the job within 54 

weeks – a remarkable achievement considering 

the complexity of the job. 

The project also created new jobs and Graham 

Construction had 115 people working on the site 

during the peak construction period. 

Following fit out of the interior of the building, 

the Scottish Crime Campus will provide 

accommodation for up to 1,200 people and is 

expected to be fully operational by autumn 2013. 

Subject to contract, the first agency is expected 

to move into the campus by the end of 2012. 

This plan takes account of the demands placed 

on some of the agencies as a result of their 

involvement with security for this year’s Olympic 

Games in London. 

GRAHAM FM POWER ON IN PORTSMOUTH 

Graham FM recently fought off competition to 

win a contract to deliver planned and reactive 

mechanical and electrical repairs to all Portsmouth 

City Council Buildings. The contract will run 

for a period of five years and will include major 

installations, under the council’s framework 

contract, for 200 council buildings. 

The contract will also allow a further 19 councils, 

the University of Portsmouth, NHS Portsmouth 

and Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust to procure 

the mechanical and electrical services provided by 

Graham FM. 

This is the second contract awarded to Graham 

FM by Portsmouth City council. Earlier in the year 

Graham Environmental Services (GES) won the 

contract to provide legionella and water hygiene 

services to all council buildings. 

As a result of this latest success, plans are well 

progressed to open a new office in the region. 

22

GRAHAM FM KEEP THEIR COOL 

Graham Asset Management successfully 

demonstrated how their services complement each 

other during the replacement of the chiller plant at 

Capital House in Belfast recently. 

Graham FM currently provides hard FM and 

maintenance solutions including targeted planned 

maintenance service for critical items of plant 

and machinery at Capital House for client, the 

Northern Ireland Housing Executive. During routine 

maintenance, the FM team identified the need 

to replace one of the two chillers servicing the 

building, as it was beyond economical repair. 

GES have recently commenced a comprehensive 

legionella control and monitoring contract for 

Lancashire County Council to ensure ongoing 

compliance with the approved Code of Practice 

L8, that will necessitate work on over 800 varied 

properties across the north-west of England. 

This challenging project involved working closely 

with HMM and closing the busy city centre 

thoroughfare on a Sunday morning, removing the 

old chiller off Capital House’s roof and replacing it 

with a new Ciat chiller unit, weighing five and half 

tonnes. 

While carrying out the work the Graham FM team 

built a further enhancement into the system by 

linking the new and existing chiller systems with 

six inch galvanised Victaulic pipe work which 

would enable both systems to use one chiller if for 

any reason the other would fail. The Graham FM 

electricians then installed and up-graded all the 

controls and electrical equipment to suit the new 

chiller and successfully joined the two systems to 

ensure the chillers were fully up and running for 

the start of the working week. 

Graham FM has been awarded a Mechanical 

Maintenance contract for Hammersmith and 

Fulham. This is their second contract with the 

council and is of significant strategic importance 

to the group in developing our presence within 

London and the south-east of England. 

RINGING THE BELLS OF CHANGE 

Hot on the heels of completing Translink’s ‘Invest 

to Save Project’, which involved the replacement 

and upgrade of the existing lighting and controls 

system at 35 Translink locations with the latest in 

efficient lighting systems, Graham FM has secured 

a further £1m contract with Translink. 

Graham FM will be providing, installing and 

commissioning replacement fire alarm systems 

for over 90 key sites in Northern Ireland which 

will include administrative facilities, train and bus 

stations, workshops and garages. 

The project will involve the installation of Honeywell 

Notifier addressable fire alarm systems with some 

buildings having the latest Smart 4 technology 

installed for the first time in NI. Smart 4 is a 

combined smoke, heat, carbon monoxide and 

infrared detector which is designed to minimise 

false alarm activations and associated downtime, 

particularly in maintenance workshops and 

garages. 

The contract has a challenging 20 week 

programme involving up to 20 Graham FM 

electricians working shifts to meet Translink’s 

deadline and once all the installations have been 

completed Graham FM will provide one year’s 

maintenance of the systems. 

EVOLVING TO SUSTAIN 

Last year, to fully integrate continuous 

improvement into activities across the Group, a 

business improvement programme was launched. 

Continuous improvement means knowing our 

industry, keeping up to date with standards, 

specifications and emerging technologies and it 

means ensuring that the skills of our people match 

new developments within the industry to ensure 

that our clients can, with confidence, assume that 

an innovative solution is synonymous with the 

Graham brand. 

Murnaghan, and invested in an ambitious business 

improvement programme, G-evolution, which 

should leave us better placed to deliver better 

product and better service for our clients. 

The current focus on the G-evolution programme 

is our people. We know from our recent Employee 

Engagement Survey that Graham people are highly 

motivated, loyal and mostly satisfied. To harness 

this and help raise performance to the next level 

we need to ensure effective engagement of 

employees at all levels in the business. 

want business improvement to be everyone’s 

responsibility. 

We know that people who are challenged without 

being stressed, who are confident because they 

are competent, who are rewarded fairly and feel 

respected will be more satisfied and will deliver 

productively for us, which in turn delivers best 

value to our clients and ultimately sustains our 

business. 

We reviewed our approach to Performance 

Management and as a result we appointed 

a Business Improvement Manager, Emer 

To this end, from November 2011 we have 

embarked upon a series of workshops to 

engage every individual in our organisation. We 

23

GRAHAM GRAHAM NEWS 

NEWS 

HARD FLASH, HAT HAT BANG, TOUR 

BOOM! 

FOR FOR SOUTH BELFAST GROUP 

The National Trust 2012 Science Show, hosted by 

Lagan College, amazed children and adults alike 

with workshops and hands on activity from Graham 

Construction, the National Trust and Armagh 

Planetarium. 

Over 400 visitors marvelled at the amazing show 

in the StarDome portable Planetarium, with a 

presenter from the Armagh Planetarium. Budding 

geologists were inspired by National Trust’s 

Geology Rocks, with the Divis and Black Mountain 

Warden. Other workshops included Go Potty about 

Planting, Buzzing with a Gardener and meeting 

with a traditional Spade Maker. 

organised challenges to design and create a 

structure out of 40 pieces of spaghetti and six 

marshmallows that would support a heavy duty 

off road vehicle for at least one minute. The team 

also displayed some of the more unusual materials 

being used on the new College to explain the 

building process. 

Angela Watson, from the National Trust said, 

“This is the first time we have held an event of 

this nature and we are delighted to be working in 

partnership with the local community, in particular 

with Lagan College, Armagh Planetarium and 

Graham Construction, who are all keen in getting 

kids interested in Science.” 

The Lagan College Science Department laid on 

FM’s FM’s Alistair Alistair McCullough. 

sessions with lots of flashes, bangs and explosive Nuala Griffiths, community liaison officer, Graham 

fun for all the family. 

Construction added, “Graham Construction is 

Graham Graham FM Apprentice FM Apprentice Plumber, Plumber, Alistair Alistair 

pleased to support this very worthwhile event to 

McCullough, was was the deserved the deserved recipient recipient of a of a 

Not to be outdone the Graham Construction team, help create more awareness on the importance of 

top accolade top accolade from from SERC SERC at the at College’s the College’s recent recent 

Translink currently Translink and building Graham and Graham the Construction new £24m recently Lagan recently College, the visit science the visit was in was an the important working important part world.” part of the of liaison the liaison Excellent Excellent Award Award Ceremony. Ceremony. The The SERC SERC Excellence Excellence 

welcomed welcomed a group a group of local of local children children and and programme with with the local the local community. 

Awards Awards Ceremony Ceremony took took place place at the at SERC the SERC 

representatives from from Morton Morton Community Centre Centre to to 

SALTIRE COMMENDATION AWARD 

Downpatrick Campus Campus and was and was presided presided over over by by 

the construction the site of site the of new the new train train maintenance 

“We “We are delighted are delighted to provide to provide Morton Morton Community 

SERC SERC Governor, Governor, Jack Jack Ferris. Ferris. 

facility facility in Adelaide, in Adelaide, South South Belfast. Belfast. 

Centre Centre with with this special this special site visit site Graham visit as part as part of Construction our of our was awarded a Saltire Commendation Award for work on 

ongoing ongoing community community liaison. liaison. We want Foulertoun We want deliver to Arches, deliver key key North Almost Ayrshire. Almost forty forty awards awards were were presented presented to students to students 

The The group group was was given given a ‘hard a ‘hard hat’ hat’ tour tour of the of site the site safety safety messages messages relating relating to construction to sites sites and and on a on night a night that that recognized recognized excellence, commitment 

and viewed and viewed plans plans for the for new the new facility facility that that will will give give local local young young people people the opportunity the This was to a see high to the see profile the event and dedication and which dedication gained to education great to education coverage and personal and and personal was attended 

provide provide engineering workshops, a train a train wash, wash, heavy heavy plant plant and machinery and machinery used used by during many during this clients major this major and consultants development. 

and notably the ICE President, Peter 

fuelling fuelling and train and train stabilizing stabilizing facilities facilities for a for new a new fleet fleet project. project. 

Hansford. This is our second Saltire award, the first awarded five years ago for 

of 20 of Class 20 Class 4000 4000 Translink Translink NI Railways NI Railways trains trains 

Stobcross On-ramp, Kingston During During Bridge, the ceremony, the Glasgow. ceremony, Alistair Alistair was was presented presented with with 

currently currently being being delivered. delivered. 

“We “We especially especially want want to highlight to highlight the dangers the dangers a SERC a SERC Excellence Excellence Award Award for Commitment for and and 

of playing of playing and in around and around construction The commendation sites sites and and reads; Performance ‘This commendation and named and named is “Apprentice given to recognize of the of Year”. the Year”. 

Speaking Speaking at Adelaide, at Adelaide, Nuala Nuala Griffiths, Griffiths, Community 

demonstrate the procedures the that effort that are in are and place in co-operation place to to The of client, The award award contractor, is an is ongoing an designer ongoing testament testament and community. to his to ongoing his From ongoing 

Liaison Liaison Officer, Officer, Graham Graham Construction said said that that ensure ensure the health the health and safety and safety of the the of general project’s the general public.” inception, public.” when attitude attitude the to structural work to work and form studies. and was studies. decided by open public 

consultation, through the tender and construction partnering approach adopted 

by all parties and the involvement of local school children in the naming and 

opening of the bridge, this was truly a successful project’. 

SPAGMALL CHALLENGE 

A - Z OF LEARNING 

THE THE APPRENTICE 

It’s not It’s just not Lord just Lord Alan Alan Sugar Sugar who who has a has knack a knack for for 

hiring hiring the best the best Apprentices, as proven as proven by Graham by Graham 

IAESTE STUDENT 

EXCHANGE 

Formerly known as BSEC, Building Future Education is marketed as the Davis Pictured Davis Priede, Priede, above from from Latvia, is Maplefields Latvia, has recently has Special recently joined Educational joined our our 

UK’s only focused conference and exhibition for the finance, procurement, team Needs team on the on school Translink the Translink Corby. Project Project For at a Adelaide, selection at Adelaide, Belfast, of our Belfast, 

design, construction and furnishing of education buildings. 

as part past part of and the of current IAESTE the IAESTE education exchange exchange works programme check out which our which 

Emer Emer Munaghan, Business Business Improvement Manager, Manager, would would support support a heavy heavy duty duty “off road” “off road” vehicle vehicle for at for at is organized schools is organized by experience Queen’s by Queen’s at University, www.graham.co.uk/ 

University, Belfast Belfast and and 

Graham Graham Construction recently recently visited visited Lagan Lagan least least one one minute. minute. 

Stephen Long, design director, Graham Construction, will be speaking supported 

College to set a challenge for the students in 

BFE2012 

supported by Graham by Graham annually. annually. 

College to set a challenge for the students in 

efforts efforts to encourage to encourage them them to consider to consider 

at 

a career 

BFE 

a career 

UK 

in 

alongside 

in 

some of the most influential commentators on the 

The The event event was was a great a great success success and best and best summed summed 

government’s policy towards schools’ investment in educational spaces. Pictured Pictured above above is Davis Davis Priede Priede alongside alongside Sheelagh Sheelagh 

engineering. 

up by up Mairead by Mairead “I enjoyed “I enjoyed learning learning about about Civil Civil 

Dornan, VISIT Dornan, Graduate Graduate Development GRAHAM Manager, Manager, Graham AT Graham 

Engineering as I didn’t as I didn’t know know how how important important it was it was 

Some Some forty-three forty-three Year Year 10 Maths 10 Maths students students For FREE worked worked entry to the exhibition log on the website www.buildingschools. Construction, at a at recent a recent event event held held at Stormont at Stormont 

in our in lives. our lives. It was It was fun. fun. We had We to had make to make a tower a tower 

in groups in groups to design to design and create and create a structure a structure co.ukout of out of 

Estate, BFE Estate, Belfast Belfast to UK mark to mark the - commencement the STAND of this 41 of this 

out of out pasta of pasta and marshmallows.” 

and 40 pieces 40 pieces of Spaghetti of Spaghetti and 16 and Marshmallows 16 that that 

year’s year’s programme. 

This brochure This brochure is made is from made 100% 

from 100% 

recycled recycled post consumer post consumer waste, waste, certified 

certified 

by the by Forest the Forest Stewardship Stewardship Council Council with 

with 

excellent excellent environmental environmental credentials. 

credentials. 

www.graham.co.uk 

info@graham.co.uk 

20 24 20

GRIMSBY RO-RO IS GO! - Graham

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?