I had to take two buses to get to the office, which took over an hour. The office was full of drawing boards and I sat at a little desk in the corner with Mike Perkins, with no computer!
The only engineer to have a computer back then was Terry Fildes. We had a small CAD department upstairs and the admin team had computers as well. Everyone dressed smartly, a shirt and tie was the norm. I found Bill Hannan to be a real character but it was Dave Teale, the electrical associate, who took me under his wing. He looked after me, keeping me busy and encouraging me to progress, he was a real gentleman and a gentle giant.
How has the business changed since you joined?
I have seen massive changes in my time. Seen lots of faces come and go but there remains a core of people who have been here from the start including Andy C who started the same day I did all those years ago.
Everything moves so much quicker than it used to, letters and faxes exchanged over days and weeks have been replaced with emails requiring immediate responses.
Engineers with calculators, hand written letters, and marking up drawings on drawing boards have been replaced by engineers who can use Microsoft Office, 2D and 3D drawing software.
We all seem to handle more projects and get through them faster than in years gone by.
What do you think has been the key to keeping so many long-term clients happy over the years?
We provide a good level of service and are committed to delivering a good job
We work hard to deliver and not afraid to stay a little longer to get the job done
We continually improve our working methods and processes, always refining what we do
Maybe not as refined as some of the bigger practices but we understand buildings and services
We understand the importance of providing early input into the whole building design as it develops, not just MEP, we know which elements of the design must be considered and factored into the design from the start.
What do you think the next ten years holds for Hannan Associates and the industry?
The industry has gone through some significant changes in recent years.
Climate Change, the COVID 19 Pandemic, Wellness and Wellbeing, and Grenfell Tower Fire disaster have all impacted on the way buildings are designed and used.
We are on a path with NZC, there have been huge improvements in building design to reduce carbon emissions and this is set to continue.
Sustainability and the reduction of carbon emissions is the number one consideration on every project.
Building design is constantly changing, building services technologies are improving all the time, it is a great industry to be in.
What are you most proud of in terms of your contribution to the business?
I pride myself on working hard and being someone that can be relied on.
I contribute to the way we do projects and the development of the processes we use.
I appreciate the start I was given at Hannan 25 years ago and thankful to all those that have helped shaped me.
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