Posted 28/09/2022
Tags Earl Kendrick | Chartered Building Surveyors | Block Management | building surveying | building surveyor
Glen is our Associate Director for our EK London team.
He loves a lazy sunday afternoon stroll as we found out during the interview…
Q Glen, what made you decide to become a Building Surveyor?
I’ve always had a keen interest in architecture starting with a family portfolio of a distant relative, a civil engineer responsible many landmark buildings and train and tube stations across London. Such historic buildings included the design of the Towers for Tower Bridge, St Thomas Hospital, rebuild of Waterloo station, various stations on the London Underground between Baker Street and Waterloo and improvements to Somerset House. This began my interest at an early age of the history of London and its buildings. I became a building surveyor to delve deeper into the many stories behind the buildings and landmark buildings and I am now very fortunate to help restore and maintain many of London’s buildings. Walking around London on lazy Sunday afternoon is still one of my favourite things to do, with London you always find something new like mice figurines sitting halfway up a building or an old tavern tucked away.
Q. What is the most unexpected discovery you’ve made on a site visit?
You are never quite sure what you will come across when surveying and have had quite a few “jump scares” in dark basements or loft spaces. The most recent would have to be tip toeing down the basement staircase to find the light switch at the bottom and come face to face with a taxidermy dog that had seen better days!!!!
Q. What has been your proudest surveying job or project to date?
There have been many over the years, residential refurbishments, rooftop developments, new build residential flats and housing and arch viaduct refurbishments. Looking back I would say I am particularly proud of refurbishing residential Victorian houses to their former beauty. This involved conversion of two rows of dilapidated Victorian properties to provide social housing. It was particularly tricky being located within a conservation area and obtaining consent when changing the windows, door and window openings and replacing the roof. Working closely with our client and the Chiswick conservation officers we were able to mutually agree the design changes and choice and colour of materials. Not the easiest of jobs, lots of time and effort by the whole site team but extremely worth it to see the end results.
Q. What is your favourite building in the world?
Any building or bridge in central London, especially when lit by the London lights. I would recommend a trip up The Shard, located near EK’s offices, have a beer or a glass or two of champagne when the sun sets and you can look out across illuminated London.
Q. What types of surveying work do you enjoy the most?
For me I like to interact with people, build relationships and explore London, this means I am always at my happiest running around London visiting my sites and project managing the refurbishment and decoration projects across London for our block management clients. Although zoom meetings are a great means to stay in touch, a face to face meeting really helps maintaining the close relationships with our clients and contractors. I also enjoy problem solving which is another reason I visit site regularly to work through and find solutions for issues that occur once on site. Every job always manages to throw up something new which we can get stuck into solving.
Q. Describe EK in 5 words!
Helpful, Attentive, Responsive, Motivational, client focussed
To get in touch with Glen, send him an email or call the London office on 020 3667 1510.
London Office
T: 020 3667 1510
enquiries@earlkendrick.com
Manchester Office
T: 0161 706 0676
EKAnorth@earlkendrick.com
Brighton Office
T: 01273 974 416
EKAsouth@earlkendrick.com
Birmingham Office
T: 07764 788405
enquiries@earlkendrick.com
Bristol Office
T: 07590 881 621
enquiries@earlkendrick.com
Exeter Office
T: 07590 881 621
enquiries@earlkendrick.com