As it just over a year since she joined the company, we’ve asked our Project Manager Sandra James to write a blog letting our customers know more about her role at 3LR, her highlights over the past twelve months as well as what most excites her about the future of the company…
Prior to joining 3LR, I’d never actually worked in what you’d call ‘entertainment lighting’. After gaining a Batchelor of Science Hons degree in Building Surveying, I took the natural path of working as a project manager in the construction industry where I stayed for over twenty years, specialising in commercial property. As a chartered surveyor for JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle), I was lucky enough to work on hundreds of projects across the country, where I’d oversee a building’s early conception through to completion, dealing with all aspects of new build and refurbishment construction. Over the years, I worked on multi-million-pound projects for some incredibly high-profile clients including Hewlett Packard and Dyson to name but a few.
After two decades in that particular sector, I reached the point where I decided to explore new avenues and so left my role at JLL. However, my timing wasn’t ideal as shortly after that saw the outbreak of Covid-19 and we were locked down for the next year or so! That said, it proved to be the perfect opportunity to spend some time with my family and reflect on what I really wanted to do with my career. When things slowly started returning to some normality (or what we’d call the new normal!), I found myself having a conversation with Matt Lloyd and Josh Allen at 3LR. As a company, they were keen to become more active in the construction aspects of their projects; mainly as it would be more beneficial to their customers in the long run. Listening to Matt and Josh speak so passionately about the work they do, I knew this would be a brilliant opportunity and one I was delighted to take.
As Project Manager at 3LR, I oversee a variety of the company’s projects, both in the UK and America. It’s incredibly hands-on, in that I need to gather all the vital information we need on a project, attend client meetings, as well as be a constant form of communication for our clients. Essentially, I’m tasked with having an overview of the entire project, meaning everyone involved from our clients to the manufacturers to our partners can be reassured that there is someone they can always speak to.
As you can imagine, all of this keeps me incredibly busy! A few select highlights from the past year include projects I’m working on in Columbus and in Carolina (which, sadly, I can’t talk about too much yet!). Closer to home, there’s also an incredible new-build residential property that 3LR have designed the lighting for and which I cannot wait to see come into fruition!
Moving forward, I’m looking forward to continuing working on ambitious projects. I’m also keen to ensure that 3LR are actively involved in a project as early as possible i.e. within the initial construction stages (something that will draw on my professional experience). There have been instances previously where we have been brought on later once a building has started to take shape yet if an issue arises with the fabric of a space, this then has implications on the lighting elements and can prevent a building from achieving its full potential. As such, if 3LR is able to integrate within the design team and be part of a project’s origins, then customers are able to draw on our role as specialists throughout the entire process thus hugely benefitting them and, most importantly, their venues.
If you have a project that you feel 3LR can assist with, or whether you’d just like to speak to Sandra for an introductory chat, then please contact her at: [email protected]
