Mace (construction company)

History

The company was founded by a group of construction and architecture professionals, led by Ian Macpherson, who left Bovis in 1990 hoping to bring in a more collaborative way of working in the traditionally combative construction industry. It prohibited its subcontractors from falsely claiming staff were self-employed.

During 1997, Mace beat Bovis to be appointed as the project and construction manager on British Airways' Waterside headquarters at Heathrow. Other early construction projects undertaken by the company included the London Eye and The Venetian. The firm engaged in PFI projects and post privatisation railway work.

In 2009, Mace contracted to build The Shard, the tallest building in London, at a fixed price. In 2021, it completed a ferris wheel in Dubai nearly twice as tall as the London Eye.

In 2023, Mace's facilities management division was sold in a management buyout. In July 2025 Goldman Sachs acquired a 75% share in Mace's £700m turnover consulting business and it was set to be spun out as a standalone operation with 5,200 global staff. The 2,000-stong construction business will be rebranded in 2026.

Operations

Mace's activities include:

• programme and project management advice
• cost consultancy
• construction

Mace's programme management activities have included advising on the Metrolinx transit system for the Government of Ontario, and, as part of a team with Arcadis, advising on a new railway tunnel in New York.

Major projects

Major projects involving Mace have included:

• The London Eye (2000)
• The Venetian (2007)
• The Emirates Air Line (2012)
• The Shard (2012)
• Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (2019)
• NHS Nightingale Hospital London (2020)

References

References

1. "Annual Report and Accounts 2022". Mace.
2. "Our Story". Mace.
3. Marshall, Jordan. (15 July 2019). "Mace co-founder dies".
4. Coates, John. (3 April 1997). "Main contractors to make compliance with the current crackdown on bogus self-employment a condition of contracts Big firms back PAYE drive".
5. (20 May 1993). "Mace swings for BA".
6. (November 2000). "The Wheel: The British Airways London Eye".
7. "The Venetian Hotel and Resort, Macau". Mace Group.
8. Warner, Brian. (9 November 1995). "Treasury bid list whittled down to two contenders".
9. (26 November 1998). "Mace PFI triumph".
10. (30 April 1998). "On board at Mace".
11. Hayman, Allister. (3 August 2012). "The Man Who Scaled The Shard".
12. Dunton, Jim. (5 October 2021). "Mace completes work on record-breaking Dubai Ferris wheel".
13. Gayne, Daniel. (2 November 2023). "Mace to focus on construction and consultancy work after sale of FM business".
14. (23 July 2025). "Goldman Sachs moves in to take majority stake in Mace’s consulting business". Building.
15. (24 July 2025). "Mace sells consulting business to Goldman Sachs". Construction Enquirer.
16. (19 January 2026). "Mace name set to disappear from contracting under rebrand as Consult sale to Goldman Sachs due to complete next month". Building.
17. "Additional Services". Mace.
18. Rogers, Dave. (2 March 2022). "Mace team wins programme delivery role on Canadian metro scheme".
19. (29 February 2024). "Mace JV to manage $16bn New York tunnel project".
20. (8 March 2002). "London Eye project manager leaves Mace". Building.
21. "Venetian Macau Hotel Tower". The Skyscraper Center.
22. (28 June 2012). "In Pictures: Mace hopes Thames cable car will lead to more TfL work". Construction News.
23. "The Shard". The Skyscraper Center.
24. Wilson, Robyn. (21 November 2015). "New Spurs stadium construction partner contract goes to Mace". Construction News.
25. Rogers, Dave. "Industry races to complete NHS Nightingale hospital in record time".