Construction of the facilities for the 2012 London Olympics received recognition in the queen’s birthday honours list at the weekend, with the designer of the swimming pool building among a handful to get a gong.

Above: London Aquatics Centre, designed by Dame Zaha Hadid

The Aquatics Centre architect Zaha Hadid becomes Dame Zaha, for services to architecture.

Labour MP Tessa Jowell, who was responsible within the previous government for London’s bid and the delivery of the Games from 2005 to 2010, is also made a dame.

There were also OBEs for:Ian Galloway, programme director and CEO of CLM Delivery Partner which project managed the build for the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA); Simon Wright, the ODA’s director of infrastructure and utilities; and for ODA health & safety chief Lawrence Waterman.

Martyn Lass, enabling works project manager for London 2012 at engineer Atkins, was awarded an MBE.

Lorraine Baldry, chair of the ODA’s planning committee, got an OBE, as did Jerome Frost, the ODA’s former head of design and regeneration. Loraine Martins, formerly the ODA’s head of equality, inclusion, employment and skills, got an MBE.

ODA chairman Sir John Armitt paid tribute to his staff and board member honoured by the queen: “This is a reflection of the terrific work done by so many people to turn the London 2012 dream into reality – an Olympic Park that will host the world’s best athletes this summer, then be transformed into a new district for London, in one of the UK’s most deprived areas. The stunning sports venues are at the heart of a regeneration project that will leave a legacy for generations to come – all achieved with an impressive health and safety record and involving all sections of the community.”

Other construction industry figures to be recognised in the birthday honours included BRE chief executive Peter Bonfield, who got an OBE for services to research and innovation in the construction industry, and Milica Kitson, chief executive of Constructing Excellence in  Wales, who also got an OBE.

There were also OBEs for Alison Perry, managing director of Liverpool-based Triangle Builders and chair of the National Federation of Builders, and for Dr Bhaskar Sengupta, reader in civil engineering at Queen's University Belfast.

Wessex Water chairman Colin Skellet, Leicestershire County Council environment and transport director Matthew Lugg and HSE HM principal inspector of health and safety Philip Papard were also awarded OBEs.

There were MBEs for Robert Hegan, for services to economic development and to the construction industry in Northern Ireland, and to Dr Lori McElroy, director of Sust, for services to sustainable building design.

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