Sports & Leisure

Work on the new John Gray High School was stopped in 2012 because of the financial crisis, with only the external shell of the new gymnasium completed.

Designed by OA+D Architects, in conjunction with their international partner Cannon Design, Chicago the 34,442 Sq. Ft. facility is a multipurpose sports hall and hurricane shelter.

The contract was let to McAlpine following a traditional procurement route and was delivered on time and within 3% of its target budget.

Kevin Drysdale was the Quantity Surveyor throughout the project, and in partnership with the Client's internal project manager he helped develop a robust financial risk model (based upon Monte Carlo simulation) and an Earned Value Analysis report that were used on a monthly basis to measure the project's schedule and cost performance. These two tools would be further developed for the main John Gray High School project itself.

Designed by BDCL, the 25m swimming pool on the Brac was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in 2019.  Conceived as a key part of an overall master plan to create a centre of sporting excellence on The Brac the 25m training pool fully complies with FINA regulations governing the design and construction of short course competition and training pools.

With an academic background in the design economics of swimming pools for both competition and leisure Kevin Drysdale was ideally qualified to provide the cost management advice for this project.

Designed by Christopher J Blackburn, the project involved a new leisure centre extension to Jesmond Swimming Pool in Newcastle upon Tyne.

This modernist design provides a gym and treatment room and yet blends well with the existing 1930’s pool. 

The leisure pod is fitted with the latest equipment and is now being much used by the local community. The extension was opened by Paralympic gold medallist Joseph Craig and was featured in the February 2013 edition of UK Construction magazine.

Kevin Drysdale provided the architect with cost consultant support.

Opened in 1988 by Princess Diana The Splash was a leisure centre in Sheringham, with a beach-style pool and wave machine. It was was the first major commission by the renowned British Architect Will Alsop.

The centre was designed and developed on the basis of a public private partnership, and we acted for the design build developer as their cost management a consultant.

Remembering  Will Alsop (1947 - 2018) - "Will was a true original, always full of ideas and energy."

Kevin Drysdale was appointed by the Magpie Group to develop robust cost models for the proposed future expansion of St James Park, the home ground of Newcastle United Football Club.

The consortium planned to almost double the capacity of the ground and provide a roof using an innovative arch suspension system.

Whilst considerable work went into the masterplan the project was ultimately shelved when one of the principal members of the Magpie Group, Sir John Hall, purchased the football club from the incumbent directors.

However, not many people get the opportunity to work on such a high profile and ambitious plan and the experience gained from it was immeasurable.