Hazel is passionate about the property and construction industry with a strong focus on the development and refurbishment of buildings.
Q Hazel, what made you decide to become a Building Surveyor?
have always held a fascination with buildings and their varying forms throughout the world. Growing up in West London, I spent a lot of my childhood exploring my local area and being captivated by some of the beautiful examples of architecture and design that the city has to offer. Whether it was the leafy villas of Maida Vale, to the regency style buildings of Bayswater, to the quaint workers cottages of Queens Park, every building has an interesting story to tell.
I was unaware of Building Surveying as a career path when I was leaving college, and only sought a career in this field after working within the property industry for several years and learning of the varied role of a surveyor. I do think careers in the construction industry should be more widely promoted to school leavers. There are a variety of pathways to explore and many wonderful, exciting and challenging roles to choose from.
Q. What is the most unexpected discovery you’ve made on a site visit?
Cleverly designed secret rooms in a traditional style Victorian terrace!
Q. What has been your proudest surveying job or project to date?
I have a sense of pride towards all of the surveying jobs I have been involved in. Construction can often be a fairly stressful task, so it is always rewarding when a project is able to run smoothly, I am able to add value to a project and most importantly, the client is pleased with the outcome.
Q. What is your favourite building in the world?
There are so many to choose from, however Whiteleys Shopping Centre in Bayswater is my absolute favourite and somewhere I spent a lot of time exploring whilst growing up. It has seen many changes over the course of its existence since opening in its current location in 1911, and is currently in the process of another major redevelopment which will no doubt be spectacular once it’s completed. I have often expressed my desire to friends and family to live in Whiteleys. The new incarnation of the centre will also feature luxury apartments and a hotel.
Q. Describe EK in 5 words!
Proactive, ambitious, thorough, personable & effective
