Temple talk attracts wide support

MEMBERS of the Midlands construction community received an insight into how Leamington’s £9m Gurdwara Sahib temple was built during an event organised by Wright Hassell solicitors.

Around 70 people gathered at the temple, in Queensway, to learn about the construction project, which was conceived in 1999. Construction started in 2008 and it was finally opened last October.

The event featured talks from Dr Gurdev Singh – the man behind the concept – Phillida Turrell, of architects MCP Partnership, Harnam Ghatuara, of structural engineers GCA, and James Button of quantity surveyors Starkey Button.

Matthew Phipps, a member of Wright Hassall’s construction & engineering team which advised the Gurdwara’s builders, AC Lloyd, on the project, said the event had been fascinating.

“The Gurdwara has been one of Leamington’s biggest and most exciting developments in the last decade and it is an absolutely stunning temple,” Mr Phipps said.

“It was very interesting to hear from Gurdev, who explained how this project went from his initial dream and drawings to the impressive landmark we see today.

“The sheer size of the building obviously creates unique challenges. For instance, we heard how the whole development had to be moved forward by a metre due to the location of a major sewage pipe.  This itself presented the engineers and architect with a fresh set of challenges.”

The Gurdwara was consecrated in October and primarily serves the 4,000 strong Sikh community in Leamington, Warwick and Kenilworth area.

This event was organised as part of Wright Hassall’s series of Construction Law Bytes seminars, which focus on different aspects of the construction industry and take place monthly.