Getting the job done

EU infrastructure meets Mott MacDonald's MD of Buildings and Structures, Mike Barker, to talk about why managing large projects requires a unique blend of vision and experience.

Mike Barker rolls his eyes and looks to the heavens. “Talk about bureaucracy,” he sighs with mock exasperation, waving his hand over the plans in front of him. “It’s a nightmare!” He’s talking about one of Mott MacDonald’s newest (and most controversial) projects, the proposed Maze Stadium in Northern Ireland. The build aims to bring together Gaelic athletics, soccer and rugby in one world-class 21st century shared facility and put Northern Ireland on the map for hosting major international events; as lead consultant, his company is expected to project manage the build from start to finish. But as Barker is only too well aware, managing projects with a political dimension can be a challenging experience.

To date, progress has been far from smooth. Quite apart from the problems inherent in dealing with three different sporting administrations and the red tape involved in gaining consensus from multiple clients, there have also been community-based issues regarding the proposed site for the stadium: that of Belfast’s notorious former Maze Prison, where 10 hunger strikers died in 1981 during the Troubles. Such a complex back-story would deter more than most, but Barker remains enthused by the project and the opportunities it offers. “ It’s hit...