Project Manager who oversaw construction of Exeter’s flagship leisure centre, receives top award

The project manager of Exeter’s St Sidwell’s Point Leisure Centre has been crowned the Construction Manager of the Year in recognition of his work on the development.

Joe O’Connell, from Exmouth, who works for Kier Construction, was named the winner of the Public and Leisure category at this year’s Chartered Institute of Building’s prestigious CIOB Awards, where he was also selected as the coveted Construction Manager of the Year. Joe’s project team were also winners on the night in the Team of the Year category.

Joe was chosen following his management of the St Sidwell’s Point project, which opened in April this year and was the first ultra-low carbon leisure centre in the UK. Its design means its energy costs are around 70 per cent less than a more traditional leisure centre. The CIOB judges singled out Joe for his management of the large-scale project in a challenging city centre location.

He was presented with his award by TV and radio presenter, Anita Rani at the CIOB Awards ceremony in London on September 28.

Joe said: “Winning the coveted title of CIOB Construction Manager of the Year is a career high and I am delighted to have been chosen for the industry's most prestigious award.”

Joe lives in Exmouth, Devon his home for 22 years, he was brought up in Weston-Super-Mare and moved to West London at 18 where he first joined the construction industry as a 'hod' carrier. He went on to train as a site engineer and progressed through the management ranks to a Senior Projects Manager. Over the years he has delivered projects in a range of sectors including education and leisure. Joe is a family man, married to wife Jane who was delighted to see him go up to the stage three times to receive the highly acclaimed industry awards and the overall title of construction manager of the year. Joe has four children, and his son has followed his footsteps into the construction industry, working as a site manager and now setting up his own business specialising in solar energy. Joe enjoys supporting people in developing their careers in the industry sharing his own experience as a mentor to the teams that he leads.

The CIOB Awards, formerly the Construction Manager of the Year Awards, first started in 1978 and celebrate the individuals behind construction projects of all sizes including residential buildings as well as those used for education, business, healthcare and leisure. They have provided a springboard for many careers with winners having gone on to work on iconic landmarks like Canary Wharf and The Shard.

Caroline Gumble, CEO at CIOB, said: “I’ve been impressed with the high standards of all this year’s finalists, but Joe is very much a worthy winner of the Construction Manager of the Year Award. He has demonstrated strong leadership to deliver a large project, which will provide social and health benefits to thousands of people in and around Exeter for years to come. Our congratulations go to him on a job very well done.”

Exeter City Council Leader Phil Bialyk said: “St Sidwell’s Point has continued to win awards since it was built, so these latest accolades for its construction excellence come as no surprise.

“I am absolutely delighted for the team at Kier, under the management of Joe O’Connell, to receive these latest awards for creating the UK’s first Passivhaus leisure centre here in Exeter.

“St Sidwell’s Point has proved hugely popular with residents since it opened - it really is a top-quality facility and a fantastic addition to our leisure offer in Exeter.”