Career Profiles
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Alexandra McCrow Associate |
I joined Gardiner & Theobald at their Head Office in June 1996 as an undergraduate as part of my sandwich degree. I undertook the role of Assistant Surveyor as part of a team involved in a range of different projects. I started my year-out assisting with the cost planning of a large mixed-use commercial scheme in Knightsbridge. I was given the responsibility of cost planning the fitting out of the residential part of the project under the guidance of the Senior Surveyor. I also became involved in the early stages of the Refurbishment and Extension of Dulwich Picture Gallery, assisting the team in the preparation of an application for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund. I was able to undertake the first year of the APC during my sandwich placement.
I returned to university in the following September for my final year, during which I was offered a permanent position at Gardiner & Theobald following successful completion of my degree. I returned to G&T in July 1998 and rejoined the same team as an assistant surveyor and commenced the second year of the APC. Fortunately for me The Dulwich Picture Gallery project was subject to lottery funding assessment during my final year and the project was halted during that time. The grant was awarded eight months later at the same time I re-convened my position at the practice. I worked on the project from inception to completion in early 2000, where I got to meet the Queen as part of the grand opening. During that time I progressed from Assistant Surveyor to Project Surveyor having passed the APC in late 1999.
Since qualifying I have been responsible for the cost management of a range of different projects. After completing the Dulwich Picture Gallery Project I went on to become involved in other arts and heritage type projects such as the refurbishment and extension of the Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, the refurbishment of The Clock Museum at Guildhall, London and the early feasibility stages of the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. I have also gained experience in the education, commercial and residential sectors having undertaken a number of legal practice fit outs, a new build secondary school project and some social housing schemes in central London.
In 2002 I began my involvement in the refurbishment of an existing Victorian warehouse, located in Clerkenwell, into a 60-bedroom boutique style hotel. The project comprised a number of unique features, such as borehole water-cooling, as well as a beautiful high quality fit out. The hotel opened in early 2004 and has since won a number of prestigious design awards.
During the same period I began managing two graduates and acting as their supervisor for the APC. Together we have been able to undertake a range of interesting projects of varying sizes. At the end of 2003 I was promoted to Associate and at present I continue to manage a small team providing cost management services on a new build Learning Village, a Grade I listed golf club refurbishment, the redevelopment of a national museum and the fitting out of office space for lawyers in the City.