Construction Business News ME - January 2020

January 2020

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Building the ECC Empire P 6 4 - T h i s m o n t h ' s u n s u n g h e r o i s S a m e r G h a l ay i n i

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// contents January 2020 // Issue #59

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SUBSCRIBE subscriptions@bncpublishing.net PO Box 502511 Dubai, United Arab Emirates P +971 4 4200 506 | F +971 4 4200 196 For all commercial enquiries related to Construction Business News ME contact sales@bncpublishing.net T +971 50 440 2706 All rights reserved Š 2015.

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construction business news me // January 2020 //

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// Editor's note

editor’s note The exciting future for drones Air drones are already beginning to provide solutions to some of the most pressing economic, transport, security, environmental and productivity challenges faced by governments and industry throughout the world, reducing road traffic, easing congestion, saving lives through a reduction in accidents and reducing pollution in our cities. As well as speeding up the delivery of large-scale infrastructure projects, drones are expected to reduce the need for some expensive new major transport infrastructure altogether.

New exciting applications for air drones are being developed daily. Revolutionary approaches are emerging for freight and passenger transportation, with drones providing a cost-effective and environmentally responsible alternative to traditional methods, relieving the burden on our already stretched urban road networks. Further applications in the agricultural, maritime, construction and energy sectors among others,

are already transforming businesses, with virtually all industries and business sectors set to benefit from the Standard-led adoption of rapidly evolving drone technology.

A number of recent reports have attempted to forecast the economic impact of air drones globally. For instance, in its report Drones Reporting for Work, Goldman Sachs has estimated that the size of the global drone industry will reach $100 billion by 2020. Most recently, analysts at Barclays estimate that the global commercial drone market will grow tenfold from $4bn in 2018 to $40bn in five years. They believe the use of drones will result in cost savings of some $100bn. These predictions relate solely to air drones, demonstrating that the economic benefits offered by drone technology are vast, with growth set to accelerate across surface, underwater, air & space, as well as emerging hybrid drone applications.

On the web Keep up to date with all the latest news, features and much more on our website. www.cbnme.com

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// construction business news me // January 2020

Kasun Illankoon Deputy Editor kasun@bncpublishing.net

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// Update An update from around the region

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Projects

Construction of Miral & Warner Bros ‘WB Abu Dhabi Hotel’ 40% complete

Miral and Warner Bros. announced today that the world’s first Warner Bros. branded hotel – The WB Abu Dhabi – is currently in development on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. Set to open in 2021, construction of the USD 112 million hotel is well underway and is now 40% complete The WB Abu Dhabi will be located adjacent to the award-winning Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi theme park and is set to be a major addition to Yas Island’s immersive hospitality and leisure attractions. The hotel will introduce a new international benchmark for hospitality experiences, offering Warner Bros. fans the unique opportunity of staying at a WB themed hotel while visiting the Is12

land’s other award-wining entertainment and leisure attractions.

With a design and concept inspired by the worldfamous Warner Bros. brand, the hotel will offer premium amenities and deliver an elevated hospitality offering through distinctive experiences for leisure and business travelers.

Commenting on the development, H.E. Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Miral, said; “We are excited to announce the development of the world’s first Warner Bros. themed hotel, here on Yas Island.

This is yet another step in our journey to position Yas Island as one of the top global destinations for entertainment, leisure and busi-

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ness. Our partnership with Warner Bros. is a unique collaboration that adds another dimension to the outstanding immersive experiences available on Yas Island.”

Pam Lifford, President of Warner Bros. Global Brands and Experiences, commented; “Following the successful debut of Warner Bros.

World Abu Dhabi, we are thrilled to expand our presence in the region with the studio’s first-ever branded hotel. This new venture will pay tribute to Warner Bros.’ legacy of rich entertainment, offering fans a unique way to experience their favorite brands and characters.”

The WB Abu Dhabi will feature more than 250 rooms over eight levels, with modern décor that celebrates

Warner Bros.’ extensive film and television library.

The property’s contemporary design will also include signature WB restaurants, a premier spa and fitness club, and a shaded rooftop pool where guests can take in Yas Island’s distinctive skyline.

The hotel will provide families with a range of leisure amenities, including a child-friendly pool as well as indoor and outdoor Kid’s Club options. While appealing to families, the hotel will also incorporate all the facilities that a broad spectrum of business and leisure guests could need, including a large ballroom, a range of high quality and adaptable meeting rooms, and a fully equipped fitness center and beauty parlor.

Appointments

Atkins appoints Cris Dedigama as CEO for the Middle East and Africa

Atkins, a member of the SNCLavalin Group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Cris Dedigama as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Middle East and Africa. Based in the United Arab Emirates, he will lead the business’s end-to-end advisory, design and engineering and project management services under the Atkins Acuity, Atkins and Faithful+Gould brands.

“For more than 50 years, Atkins has played an intewww.cbnme.com

gral role in the Middle East and Africa regional transformation through worldclass projects and global expertise delivered locally,” said Philip Hoare, President, Atkins. “Through his extensive experience in the infrastructure industry and deep knowledge of the region, Cris brings significant qualities which will enable us to continue cementing our business footprint and lead our future growth.”

Cris is a seasoned executive with over 30 years’ experience leading both projects and businesses in the engineering and construction industries. He joined the SNC-Lavalin Group in 2015 as Senior Vice-President, North Africa, Infrastructure, then was appointed Executive Vice President, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Resources in 2017. Throughout his career, Cris has held senior leadership positions

in the Middle East, Asia, India and Australia, with responsibility for the management and operations of several large Engineering and Construction firms, delivering complex projects, and expanding activities in the building, infrastructure, and oil and gas industries.

He holds a master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland.

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// NEWS

Partnership

Marriott International signs agreement with Egypt’s real estate company ‘Landmark Sabbour’ Marriott International announced it has entered into an agreement with Landmark Sabbour to bring the W Brand’s bold design, signature Whatever/Whenever® service and innovative programming to Cairo, underscoring the growing demand for luxury in Egypt. Expected to open in 2024, W Cairo will be situated in 1-Ninety – a 300,000 sqm mixed-use development in the emerging New Cairo district featuring retail space, commercial and residential components.

To be located just 25 kilometres from Cairo International Airport, the new hotel will add its own vibrant W experience to the ultramodern urban landscape of New Cairo. Known for seeking out new/next destinations in buzzworthy markets around the globe, W is poised to welcome guests and locals to the new-build locale as the city’s reputation for ground-breaking design grows as fast as its skyline.

When W Cairo opens in 2024, the hotel will embody W Hotels’ work hard, play hard philosophy with a signature WET Deck (pool deck), AWAY® Spa and FIT ® Fitness Centre alongside 350 stunning rooms and suites. The hotel is also expected to offer multiple food and beverage venues, plenty of spaces to mix and mingle, plus meetings and events space which will include a 500-square-metre 14

Great Room.

“New Cairo is a burgeoning, dynamic lifestyle destination in Cairo, and we are excited to collaborate with Landmark Sabbour to redefine modern luxury in one of the most awe-inspiring travel destinations in the world,” said Alex Kyriakidis, President & Managing Director, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International. “This sign-

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ing not only illustrates our commitment to Egypt but also reinforces the increasing demand for the W Hotels brand in this region and around the globe.”

Eng. Amr Sultan, Managing Director of Landmark Sabbour, added, “We choose to work with those who share our development standards, innovative perception of luxury community building,

and whose objectives align with our own. Our collaboration with Marriot International represents another milestone in our growth; it further demonstrates our commitment to collaborate with industry leaders and stands as a chance to integrate the unique customercentric services of W Hotels into our line of upscale products in 1-Ninety.”

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Contracts

Emrill announces record annual contract wins of over $US167m

Emrill, has announced contract wins and renewals for the past year of over US$167m, setting a new record for the company with an increase of over 23 per cent compared to the previous year.

The announcement follows a string of new contract wins over the course of 2018 and 2019, including 18

Marina Gate, Dubai Hills, Dubai Creek Residences and Downtown Dubai, where Emrill provides integrated facilities management to a diverse range of sectors including residential, commercial, retail and hospitality. During the period, Emrill secured over $44m in new project awards.

Commenting, Emrill CEO,

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Stuart Harrison, said a major factor in Emrill’s success in winning new business was its people. “At every level of the organisation, we are committed to raising regional FM standards and redefining and improving the client experience – one building, one community and one place at a time. We do this by building value

partnerships with our clients, working with them to deliver long-term growth.

“Our commitment to our partners’ success has enabled us to not only win a number of new major projects but also retain existing clients, with over 88 per cent of our new contract wins coming from existing clients.”

Events

7th edition of Autodesk University Middle East reveals futuristic projects

Autodesk University (AU) Middle East returned for its seventh edition, welcoming over 700 architects, designers, engineers and the next generation of technology leaders across the region to experience the Future of Making. The two-day event showcased some of the world’s most advanced projects using world-class emerging technologies within the architecture, engineering and construction space. www.cbnme.com

“The Middle East is going through a revolutionary economic and technological transformation. The region is opening itself to new ideas to explore innovative technologies and prepare itself for future as it fulfils the various national economic diversification goals. The appetite for excellence coupled with rising population and upcoming events like the EXPO 2020 make the Middle East

ripe for massive technology adoption and disruption. As a result, industry players across all sectors – especially construction – must ensure a smooth and proactive transition to latest technologies that facilitate the realisation of economic goals of countries in the region,” said Walter Dopplmair, Vice President at Autodesk.

This year, AU Middle East’s theme is centered

around the ‘Future of Making’, driven by its overarching philosophy of ‘building more, better, with less’.

Throughout the event, attendees saw how their peers are using emerging technologies like generative design, augmented and virtual reality, robotics and additive manufacturing, and received insights into how these technologies are shaping a new future for the construction industry.

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// Opinion

Legal Landscape Joanne Strain, Partner at international law firm King & Wood Mallesons, discusses how the UAE legal landscape is preparing for the technological construction sites of the future As Dubai strives to become the world’s smartest city, industries have no choice but to embrace change and take a more innovative approach to projects.

Advanced technology solutions are being adopted to drive efficiency and the acceleration of digitisation has not escaped the Gulf’s construction sites.

While this era of innovation is vital to the growth of a diversified economy, the fast pace of innovation on the mega projects in the region has placed new demands on the UAE’s legal infrastructure, requiring enhanced streamlined systems, with specialist expertise for handling complex disputes for the wide range of new technical issues arising.

The traditional avenues available to parties looking to make a claim in this sector are the onshore Dubai Courts, the DIFC Courts, and arbitration.

Given the international nature of the construction sector in the UAE, where international contractors and designers typically collaborate by way of consortia and joint venture arrangements, it is not unusual for parties to elect for dispute resolution forums, which allow for claims to proceed in English, as opposed to the onshore Dubai Courts, which hear claims exclusively in Arabic.

In this respect, historically, arbitration has proved a popular choice for the resolution of major construction disputes, where parties can choose English as the preferred language of the dispute. In arbitral disputes, the parties will typically nominate arbitrators, often with specialist expertise, the dispute proceeds in private, and the 20

arbitrators issue their decision in the form of a final award.

The arbitration process and its successful conclusion are heavily reliant upon the knowledge and competence of the appointed arbitrators and, despite recent efforts to streamline the arbitral process by the New Federal Arbitration Law, is still perceived by many as a long, drawn out process.

The DIFC Courts exist as an alternative forum to arbitration, where the parties wish to have disputes resolved in an English-speaking forum but by judges in the courts, resulting in a court judgment, instead of by arbitrators in private arbitration, resulting in an award.

As an “opt in” jurisdiction, the DIFC is open to parties from all over the world, all hearings proceed in English and the court rules borrow heavily from the English Civil Procedural Rules.

In September 2017, the DIFC Courts established the Technology and Construction Division (TCD) specifically to hear complex technology and construc-

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tion disputes. The rules of the TCD are industry-specific, borrowing heavily from the rules of the long-established Technology and Construction Court of England & Wales, promising an expedited court process intended to resolve complex construction disputes within twelve months.

The DIFC Court stipulates that only cases genuinely warranting specialist construction expertise will meet the TCD’s criteria, which includes complicated engineering disputes and technology-related cases, such as cybercrime incidents, disputes over the ownership and use of data, and issues relating to emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

The TCD provides a real alternative to arbitration as a forum for dispute resolution, strengthening the region’s legal infrastructure in response to the growing demands of innovation in the construction sector, with potential to significantly impact how construction disputes are heard in the region.

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// Digital

Flood Resilience Bentley Systems city scale ‘Digital Twins’ technology to improve flood resilience. Robert Mankowski, Vice President, Digital Cities, Bentley Systems, Inc. tells us why

Users can visualize and communicate potential risk from flood resilience modeling and simulation in OpenCities Planner

Extreme weather events and rising populations are straining existing (and often inadequate) drainage infrastructure in cities around the world, leading to flooding that damages property and infrastructure, impacts human safety, and weakens economies.

In 2015, the United Nations reported that over the previous decade, floods accounted for 43 percent of all documented natural disasters around the world, affecting 2.3 billion people and causing US$662 billion in damages.

And this number is getting worse. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reports that the number of flooding disasters worldwide almost doubled from 200022

2009 relative to the previous decade.

Climate change—due to its role in extreme weather events and rising seas—is exacerbating flood risks, especially in coastal and low-lying areas.

At the same time, populations in flood zones and the coastal regions continue to increase—worsening an already deadly and costly situation. There are projections that by 2030, around half the people in the world will be living within 100 kilometers of a coastline.

In response to these threats, cities are striving to improve their flood resilience with data-driven planning, development, and operations. Some cities are accomplishing this through the use of digital twins to improve

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the resilience of current infrastructure and to support ongoing development and future planning.

Digital twins A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical asset, process, or system. Digital twins of cities provide accurate and reliable data to city agencies involved in flood risk assessment, preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. They contain information that enables users to perform analysis and make informed decisions for a range of activities, from long-term urban planning to time-critical emergency response.

Digital twins are created from (and

Flood modeling scenarios include many different data types such as hydrometeorological data, GIS, BIM and more

continuously updated with) data from multiple sources, which is what differentiates them from static, 3D models. Also, cities are now taking advantage of cloud services, the IoT, sensors, RFIDs, and smartphones to update digital twins to almost realtime status of city conditions. These updates enable cities to use digital twins to better manage and optimize infrastructure assets.

Creating flood resilience models Creating a digital twin to enable flood resilience entails the integration of city-scale reality modeling, 3D mapping, and flood modeling. The resulting flood resilience model can be used for analysis, simulation, visualization, and communication.

To start, reality modeling and 3D mapping software are used to generate a high-resolution, city-scale 3D reality mesh by using overlapping photos from drones and ground-level imagery, supplemented by laser scans where needed. The reality model/mesh is spatially classified, meaning that the individual buildings, parcels, and other www.cbnme.com

elements of the meshed cityscape are tied to underlying, applicable GIS data. The reality model is also natively engineering-ready, with sufficient resolution and scalability to zoom into an area and perform engineering work directly off the mesh. And crucially, the reality model includes digital terrain data, which is fundamental for any hydrological simulation.

Next, a flood resilience model is created by setting up a computational mesh for the area of interest, be it the whole city or just a fraction of it. This computational mesh is then populated with data used for flood simulations.

Digital terrain data can be taken directly from the reality model to provide accurate surface data for the flood modeling software as well as a visually realistic context for viewing flood simulations. The reality model can also be used to identify streets, pavements, green spaces, trees, and other information required by the flood resilience model. The flooding software uses numerical models to simulate a range of hydraulic and hydrological processes, including rainfall, infiltration, surface

runoff, channel flow, and groundwater flow. This flood resilience model can be integrated with sewer and stormwater network models to dynamically simulate urban stormwater flow and drainage, as well as flooding in coastal areas due to storm surges.

It can also incorporate real-time feeds relating to new meteorological data, current hydrological conditions, and operational statuses from existing infrastructure assets, for example. These feeds might include recent rainfall amounts, current river flow rates, working status of pumps, and so on. And, given the ubiquitous nature of mobile phones and social media, there could even be live feeds documenting localized street and tidal flooding to support flood-related crisis management. The model is continuously refreshed from multiple sources—such as sensors, continuous surveying, or GIS updates—to represent current conditions.

Using flood resilience models Flood resilience models support a wide variety of activities related to the

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// Digital

simulation to test the effectiveness of their proposed mitigation measures.

For ongoing operations and emergency response, agencies can use operational flood models that run continuously to anticipate and mitigate the impact of floods. These operational models are updated with the latest information from observed and forecasted weather conditions, water levels in reservoirs, data from hydrological stations, and radar and satellite images. Bundling this information into a single system and using the flood resilience models allows cities to estimate with accuracy the conditions in the upcoming hours or days. Flood risk mitigation can then be achieved using the information produced by these operational systems to: • Take proactive actions such as increasing the storage capacity in reservoirs by draining them before the flood wave arrives • Take preventive measures such as installing temporary flood protection devices • Transmit early warning messages Flood resilience models that show simulations in the context of city surroundings also help better convey information. Communicating and visually presenting this information in an easily understandable way can help stakeholders make decisions regarding city planning and infrastructure proposals, and also engage citizens for public outreach efforts.

Robert Mankowski, Vice President, Digital Cities, Bentley Systems, Inc.

evaluation, prevention, and response to floods. The models can be used to assess the extent of river or coastal flooding, calculate river conveyance capacity, test infrastructure resilience, or assess current land-use strategies in flood zones.

One of the primary uses of flood models is the simulation of what-if scenarios that show the impact of flooding on homes, properties, streets, and infrastructure. These simulations can be used to determine flooding risks 24

for existing conditions and to evaluate proposed mitigation strategies.

For example, cities can simulate river flow during a flood event and analyze losses based on extent of flooding compared to building data such as property value. With this feedback, planners can use the software’s built-in modeling tools to develop mitigation measures (such as higher levees, increased capacity of a stormwater system, or greater use of green roofs and permeable paving) and rerun the

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Conclusion Digital twins represent a comprehensive environment that supports flood resilience planning, as well as ongoing management and operations of the city infrastructure. And, visually communicating actionable information helps stakeholders make more informed decisions prior to costly design or construction efforts. Digital twins represent a golden opportunity for cities to optimize the performance of municipal infrastructure assets and take proactive steps for flood resilience planning.

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// Cover Story

Building the ECC Empire Brothers and CEO’s of Abanos Interior Fit-out and Joinery, Engineering Contracting Company (ECC) and Aurora Real Estate Development – Kamal, Kareem and Cian talk about successfully managing the ECC Empire and how they’ve created a family-feel across the Group ECC Group’s Journey Kamal: ECC was established in 1975 and has grown organically to consist of 10 construction-oriented companies that are vertically integrated. Since our inception, we’ve built our reputation in the market about always putting our projects at the center, ensuring it’s delivered correctly and to the satisfaction of the client by offering a high quality service to all our clients to the best of our ability and operating with the highest standards of professionalism.

Cian: Our Chairman has always allowed all our employees an opportunity to take on board more responsibilities, and it has had a huge impact on how ECC Group has formed over the last 45 years, which is how we have developed our company’s ethos and grown organically. We’ve never been shy to take on challenging and tough projects and that’s sometimes a blessing and a curse as you deal with very difficult projects, but it has enabled us to think innovatively, learn to get around obstacles and diversify our portfolio.

Kareem: Reputation has been the cornerstone for the growth of our companies, and we have strived hard to maintain it every day as emphasized by our Chairman - Mr. Hatem Farah and General Director - Mr. Khodr Aldah. The group of companies is one giant family and all the employees are 26

a part of it. We have created a familyfeel in the company, and we welcome each one of our people to bring ideas to the table on how to improve our processes and weed out inefficiencies.

Managing a Family Business Cian: In my opinion, you cannot operate as a ‘one-man-band’; You must rely on your team and work together to achieve targets and goals. We always encourage our people to take on as much responsibility as possible and not settle comfortably in their roles, find new ways of improving the company and look after it as if it’s their own. This creates ownership and our employees go over and beyond their call of duty to help each other, the company and their team for the betterment of the entire Group, as they see it to be their company.

Kareem: We are keen to be one of the pioneers in the industry and keep up the pace in an economy that’s one of the fastest-growing in the world by investing in cutting-edge technologies and revolutionary practices. Managing the different cultures amongst such a high volume of people – over 9,000 employees across the group – is quite challenging, and we have found different ways to sustain a happy, energetic environment that makes every person who joins our Group feel like an integral part of this

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culturally diverse family.

Kamal: We respect each other, emphasize open and honest conversations and work well as a team. As a family, we work together by recognizing each other’s expertise and as a company, we have the utmost respect and appreciation for all the people who work with us. We are open to change, new ideas and practices that help us with our development.

Uniqueness of ECC Group Kareem: We have always gone the extra mile to advise our clients and provide alternative offers by conducting studies to see how to save on cost without changing the quality of the building. We have done a few design & build (D&B) projects that we are very proud of and are one of the few contractors in the Middle East to successfully execute them. Transparency and proactivity are key, and we have practiced it since our inception by keeping ourselves up-to-date and conducting our due diligence in new building requirements and regulations.

Cian: We get involved in the projects and monitor them closely, which is appreciated by our clients. Being conservative has helped us get through tough times when the market has fluctuated and allowed us to reduce

Hatem Farah, Chairman, ECC Group, Khodr Aldah, General Director, ECC Group, Kamal Farah, CEO of Abanos Interior Fit-out and Joinery, Kareem Farah, CEO of ECC, Cian Farah, CEO of Aurora Real Estate Development. www.cbnme.com

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// Cover Story

the turnover of employees. The company has a family feel which is evident from our high employee retention rate with people being in the company for over 2 decades. We’re not interested in growing or increasing our revenue as fast as possible; what we’re interested in is reputation. Our reputation has always been the #1 priority for us and our focus throughout our years of operation. To achieve this, we only take on a few projects at a time, allowing us to completely focus on each one and deliver a superior product.

Kamal: We keep a positive attitude and make our workspaces an enjoyable environment to work in. As human beings, we like to progress and include everyone in that progress, so they all feel valued and appreciated. We are always keen to innovate and be at the forefront of the industry. Such an endeavor is only successful when everyone is a part of this process and thinks of new ideas to achieve as a team.

Ongoing Projects Kareem: Throughout its history, ECC is proud to have built a diversified portfolio of different projects from residential, commercial, high rise, low rise, parks, schools, hotels and other complex developments in Dubai. These include the Emirates Flight Catering facility (which was the largest catering facility in the world when it was built), Zayed University in Al Ruwayyah (a 100m long atrium covered by a large tensile structure), and Zabeel Park located in the heart of Dubai to name a few from our rich history of completed projects.

More recently, we have handed over the world’s largest 3D printed building – a project that has received the Guinness World Record. Other notable ongoing projects include UNA and Rawda Developments by Nshama, both of which are ahead of schedule, Mirdif Hills development developed by DIRC – one of our largest contracts at AED 1.08 billion; Park ridge comprising 3 towers developed by EMAAR. 28

My partner – Khodr Aldah and I, whom I’ve known for over 48 years share the similar principles which have been the secret to our success – do the best work possible, pay attention to details and look after all our employees.

Hatem Farah A VVIP Palace which is an extremely challenging project, built into the mountains of Fujairah, using the mountain as the foundation and structural elements of the Palace, finished with the highest quality of materials.

This is just to name a few.

Cian: Aurora has recently delivered Lyra (112 apartments) in Al Warsan 4 that has been incredibly successful with 90% units leased in 6 months with no marketing. The project stands out like

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a beacon in the area and what we’re trying to showcase to the market is that it doesn’t matter what segment you’re catering for be it affordable, luxury or mid-range, the quality of materials and design can be of a very high standard which is embodied in Lyra.

Another project of Aurora’s expected to be delivered in Q1 of 2020 is Hyati Avenue (103 apartments and 19 townhouses) – a premium-affordable development in JVC. We’re also working on a project in Downtown Jebel Ali (180 apartments) which will be short-termcorporate-leased apartments/holiday rentals, fully furnished and following a similar model to the Airbnb concept, with the availability of restaurants, coffee shops and other luxury amenities.

Kamal: Abanos is one of the largest and most sophisticated joinery companies in the region operating in a 24,000 m2 manufacturing and warehousing facility. We take pride in all of our projects and this is particularly showcased in the Four Seasons Hotel

Since the seventies of the last century up to this 21st century, ECC has always been at the forefront of innovation, and being particularly interested in challenging projects. This was and is the secret of our successful growth, amidst several local and global downturns, bringing the Group to reach the heights we have today, unmatched by most of our competitors. Few examples of ECC’s achievements are our first steam curing plant in 1977, up until ECC becoming the first contractor in the UAE to be BIM ISO Certified in 2018/19.”

Khodr Aldah in Abu Dhabi, the fit-out works for Dubai Design District, intricate fit-out works for the Etihad Museum and the fit-out of the highest restaurant in the world – At. Mosphere restaurant on level 122 in Burj Khalifa.

More recently, some of the key projects Abanos is currently working on are the Dubai Expo Village 2020 by DWTC (consisting of 9,000 doors, 20,000 kitchen units, and 13,000 wardrobes), the fit-out and joinery of the serviced apartments and public areas for the 5-star Address Residences by Emaar, the mega-residential project Mirdif Hills, Mulberry and Park Ridge by Emaar as well as Rawda and UNA by Nshama.

Vision and Objectives Kareem: To uphold the reputation our www.cbnme.com

Chairman and General Director have built over the last four decades and continue to grow organically. We also want to become the most efficient contracting company in the region by implementing the latest technologies: being at the forefront of BIM – proven by ECC becoming the first BIM ISO Certified Contracting Company in the UAE and in the adoption of Lean Principles in construction. We are also looking to take on more challenging and unique projects to further diversify our portfolio.

Cian: Our primary aim is to continue on the path of innovation, as we have done recently through the implementation of BIM and Lean; technologies and processes that reduce wastage and improve efficiency. We have two new divisions: CoreServ a facil-

ity management company and ECC Renovations, a small-to-medium scale renovation and fit-out company that we’re looking to grow and expand in the coming years.

Kamal: I would like the Group to advance towards digitization and automation in construction and continue building on the legacy that has been established over the last 45 years. All of us love what we do and working with each other, keeping our doors open for ideas and improvements. By doing this we have found that there’s great comradery within the company and people love their work as we are always positively challenging each other to come up with the ‘next best thing’ and to prove that ‘teamwork makes the dream work’.

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// Site Visit

Luxury Remixed Kasun Illankoon caught up with Yahya Alkan, CEO at World of Wonders Real Estate Development, on the new SLS Dubai Hotel and Residences World of Wonders Real Estate Development is a privately-owned developer of integrated communities globally. The company’s vision is to design singular lifestyle experiences for discerning residents in a series of world-class branded destinations in major cities worldwide. With ambitions to be the real estate industry’s pre-eminent choice for investors, operating brands and residents alike, World of Wonders Real Estate Devel-

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opment places a premium on quality and excellence.

Its latest luxury project is on the SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences which is now more than 73% complete, making it on target to reach its handover deadline of Q3 2020.

We caught up with Yahya Alkan, CEO at World of Wonders Real Estate Development, to discuss the project and why the market is craving for more luxury living.

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Market Prospective for Luxury Living 2019 has shown us that the industry still has a strong craving for luxury living. The shift in prices along with latest laws that were introduced in the past year made it favorable for investors and tenants to purchase/rent. The new 10-year residency visa in the UAE could give eligible residents a stronger belonging in the Emirate and drive further property investments. The five-year

Fouad Mashal, CEO of Al Barakah International Investment

retirement visa for property owners in the Emirate could also see more people viewing the UAE as a long-term option.

This is of course strong developments and policies that are put in place for the best interest of everyone. As we step into 2020, the upcoming Expo 2020 is also expected to have a positive impact on the Dubai property market.

With increasing levels of properties being purchased and favorable policies encouraging investors to think more long term in Dubai, chances are the property market will see further growth.

Features of SLS Dubai Hotels & Residences Located in Dubai’s Downtown district, SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences is a 75-storey tower that boasts one of the most diverse selections of residential apartments in the UAE. The luxurious high-rise is home to a total of 946 units comprised of 254 uniquely designed hotel rooms, 321 hotel apartments and 371 branded residences.

The tower’s luxuriously designed residential units include spacious studios, three kinds of contemporary one-bed 'apartments, large two-bed lofts and grand two-bed duplexes.

A key component to the tower’s unique offering is the SLS brand experience that will be available to residents, hotel guests and members of the public who are visiting the ‘The Crown’ lifestyle and entertainment concept. Purveyors of extraordinary and luxurious living and lifestyle experiences, It has delivered a sumptuous mix of culinary artistry, theatrical interiors, sensational design and unexpected features of the highest quality throughout SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences. SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences’ renowned commitment to high design and easy living style will provide all homeowners, tenants and guests with a magical collection of services and experiences – the landmark tower is the ultimate destination to play, dine, live, love and find inspiration.

The construction of SLS Dubai Hotel www.cbnme.com

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// Site visit

& Residences enjoys support from acclaimed architecture company AEDAS, interior design by Dubai-based Paul Bishop Design, with essential construction work and services provided by Gunal Construction, along with the best and most experienced suppliers and sub-contracting companies.

As the focus of the project is on lifestyle, the design of the tower takes inspiration from the module of classic Oriel architecture, a distinct aspect of mid-century classic architecture. To ensure a breathtaking view is offered 32

across all areas of the building, the units are rotated by 45 degrees in four different angles.

Designed to appeal to a wide range from the public, including single young professionals, couples and families, as well as investors looking to enter the UAE property market, the units boast impressive dimensions as well as fully integrated appliances. Representing the pinnacle of creative vision, the tower features a diverse range of luxurious fixtures, fittings and amenities delivered by the world’s best companies.

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The hotel incorporates design cues that is renowned by the global hotel brand globally that extends through every part of the visitors’ stay. Also, every apartment in the SLS Dubai Residences comes with bespoke, European-made fixtures and fittings as standard. These include kitchen sinks by Franke of Germany and sanitary wares by Villeroy & Boch. The full range of in-built kitchen appliances, including dishwasher, double-door refrigerator with freezer, electric hob, oven and washing machine and dryer, are by Electrolux.

All bathrooms feature rainfall showers and furnishings by Italian brand Gessi, while Italian porcelain ceramic tiles by Lea cover the floor of each apartment. The use of high-end equipment extends to the state-of-the-art gym and fitness facilities, which boast the latest workout machines by leading Italian brand Technogym.

SLS brand in Dubai By bringing the SLS brand to Dubai, we have added a twist on luxury. Such a 360-degree lifestyle and entertainment www.cbnme.com

brand was missing in Dubai and the offerings are truly unique. Luxury is a concept, it is not something tangible.

The SLS brand will change the dynamics of the hospitality and residential sector.

For those who invested in the residences section of the project, the breakdown is the following: Half of all owners hail from China, with Emiratis making up 15%, Saudis 12%, Indians 8% and the remaining 15% a mix including Australians, Britons, Pakistanis, Lebanese and South African nationals.

As one of the tallest hotels and

residences in Dubai, we’re proud to be bringing a complete new concept of luxury living and boutique hospitality.

SLS Dubai Hotel & Residences is set to become a key landmark in Dubai.

From its architectural intelligence, signature brands and lifestyle attributes – we’re expecting it to have a strong presence and it to be a main attraction for visitors and tenants alike. As we approach the completion of the project, we are looking forward to offering the market a one-stop destination for all their leisure cravings.

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// Feature

They think, ideate, and create something magnificent. This can be a house, a park, a fancy hotel, a mall, a township, or just anything that impacts space we live in and are surrounded by. Construction Business News Middle East presents ‘Creative 30’ that includes the most celebrated, influential, and powerful designers and architects in the region who’re continuously working towards a better world

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Isabel Pintado

Senior Vice President, Africa, China, Middle East, Thailand Regional Managing Director, Bangkok, Dubai, Shanghai, Wilson Associates

The Duck Hook at Dubai Hills Golf Club

Isabel Pintado is one of the most influential names in the design industry.

She epitomises a style of harmonious natural and contemporary elements.

With an invaluable familiarity of the region’s culture and business landscape, she generates opportunities for Wilson’s global design studios, having more than two decades of experience in the business, with nearly 20 years of which she has spent living in the Middle East.

The team is currently working on numerous projects in the hospitality, F&B, and residential sectors. To name a few: The Westin Hotel & Resort in Ras Al Khaimah; Marsa Al Arab in Dubai, a renovation of Pai Thai at Al Qasr Resort, MGM Hotel as part of The Island project, refurbishment of the Palace Hotel Downtown, a famous nightclub in Ho Chi Minh City, CHILL Sky Bar as well as an exclusive boutique luxury spa in Abu Dhabi, among others.

Pintado kindles her creativity by trekking in the mountains, camping in the desert, and hosting dinner parties for friends. Much of her inspiration is found through her love for travelling, watching people on the street, and visiting exhibitions by an eclectic roster of artists and designers. www.cbnme.com

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Dubai College

Jason Burnside Partner, Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ) Jason Burnside is a highly successful architect and specialises in the education sector delivering projects that are not only aesthetically pleasing but are also highly functional. Examples of his most recent work can be seen in the Dubai College with the completion of the new reception building and refurbishment of the D block, previously the administration building, as well as the addition of a 140seat lecture hall on the campus site.

Burnside’s desire to create great ar36

chitecture is clear to see within his vast experience which ranges from concept through to award-winning built projects and, as one of the longestserving architects in the firm, he has designed and delivered some of GAJ’s high profile projects including Serenia Residences on The Palm Jumeirah, Mysk Al Mouj in Muscat, and Emirates International School, Dubai.

Burnside was made a partner at GAJ in 2008 and has led the design of more than 20 schools in the region

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since taking over the role of an educational specialist in 2011. As a team leader, he aims to deliver holistic projects that are highly functional, energy-efficient, and engaging. He is currently working on a number of different projects including the new Citizen’s School in Dubai, the Arcadia Secondary School also in Dubai and the ISG School in Saudi Arabia as well as the new SPACE (sports and performing arts centre of excellence) at Dubai College.

Joe Tabet

Founder/Managing Director, JT+Partners Joe Tabet is a multi-award-winning architect with over 20 years of extensive experience in worldwide architecture, construction industry, masterplanning, and urban design. Tabet successfully maintains JT+Partners as a world-renown consultant since its establishment in 2015. The firm has delivered iconic, environmental and socially sustainable projects globally from Morocco to Seychelles, Lebanon, India, Sri-Lanka, Angola, Cameroon, Zanzibar, Egypt, Portugal, Montenegro, North/East/Central Africa, KSA, UAE, spanning residential, hospitality, commercial, mixed-use, masterplan developments.

Fervently believing his staff is key and future partner in ensuring JT+P’s continuing success, Tabet supports and challenges his staff, driving them to achieve their objectives. A firm supporter of gender balance and empowering women, Tabet evaluates his male/female staff based on work performance and earned merits, providing the same opportunities/motiva-

tions for career growth/development.

Proactive in full commitments to CSR, Tabet is passionate on raising awareness on sociable/sustainable communities, giving his staff good The Atoll Resort, Abu Dhabi

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health/ financial benefits, fostering future generation, conducting business ethically and fairly and supporting worthy causes.

From his ongoing portfolio, the Ritz Carlton Saadiyat and the five-star Atoll Resort in Abu Dhabi both expected to start operation in 2022. Lately, as the lead design consultant for a 378ha development in Zanzibar, the work started on the first phase including the overall masterplan concept as well as one of the five-star hotels. From the under construction and completed projects spread across the UAE and overseas some of the noteworthy projects are— the 219 keys Premier Inn hotel in Dubai, three residential buildings on Al Raha Beach in Abu Dhabi, the first 515 keys Hampton by Hilton resort and the Hillside private residence in Ras Al Khaimah, the 84ha One World master plan in Lucknow India, the Cove boutique resort in the Seychelles, and the five-star Red Sea Island Resort in Egypt.

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Janus Rostock

Vice President, Middle East & Africa, Practice Lead Design + Planning & Economics, Head of Concept Architecture, AECOM

For the Dubai Harbour project, Janus Rostock and his team at AECOM developed the master plan

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Janus Rostock is an award-winning architect, urban designer, and master planner who has led and delivered multiple high-profile projects across several continents over the last +23 years. He specialises in large-scale, complex multidisciplinary projects, and master plans with a human-centric design approach.

Having received his M.Arch from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture, Copenhagen, following a year at l’Ecole d’Architecture de Paris Belleville, Paris, Rostock worked for Henning Larsen Architects and KHR. He moved to Dubai and joined Atkins in 2006, where he was part of the team delivering the Dubai Promenade and Cape Town Waterfront master plan. In 2008, he moved back to Denmark to start up Atkins’ architecture and design department in Copenhagen. He returned to the UAE in 2011 where he led the design of Dubai Opera and the Opera District, KIFAF, Prince Sultan Cultural Centre, and Qiddiya, to name a few.

Since joining AECOM in July 2018, Rostock has grown the firm’s almost 100 strong master planning, urban design, and landscape practice, which is focussed on solving the region’s most complex challenges and designing solutions that help people and communities thrive. Rostock and his team are currently involved in several of the regions highest profile projects including, the masterplan and public realm design for Dubai Expo 2020, Dubai Harbour, NEOM, Diplomatic Quarter, Riyadh TOD, and Riyadh Complete Communities.

Rostock has accumulated extensive international experience as the lead concept designer on projects in the U.A.E, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Syria, Iran, India, Azerbaijan, Angola, Kenya, South Africa, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. He is a founding board member of the Danish Green Building Council and a board member of The Danish Management Society (VL-94) MENA.

Ignacio Gomez Design Director—Middle East, Aedas With over 16 years of professional experience in architecture, Ignacio Gomez has been responsible for project design and management, specialising in master planning, hotel and leisure, residential and cultural projects across the Middle East. With over 17 years experience as an architect, since relocating to the Middle East in 2006, Gomez has established himself as a significant design architect in the region with a growing portfolio of projects recognised for their excellence Gomez completed his Master of Architecture and Engineering with Honors in Polytechnic University of Madrid, ETSAM and a postgraduate programme in Museography and Exhibition Spaces at Foundation Antonio Camuùas, Centro Superior de Arquitectura, Madrid, Spain. Prior to joining Aedas, he worked for Godwin Austen Johnson as partner and design director.

Over the past few years, Gomez has been responsible for many key projects and as a design director at Aedas and in his previous practice, he is responsible for establishing the overall design direction in the region.

ENOC Expo 2020, the First LEED Platinum petrol station in the world

www.cbnme.com

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Paul Bishop

Owner and Founder, Bishop Design Paul Bishop is one of the most celebrated designers in the region. Possessing an unprecedented wealth of experience over 23 years, Bishop has established himself as an unstoppable force in the interior design industry.

Bishop has achieved a Master’s in Interior Architecture from Manchester University and two bachelors; one in interior design from Kingston University and one in furniture and product design from Brighton School of Art. He founded Bishop Design by Paul Bishop in 2004 and he is the innovative powerhouse behind the studios latest projects including the revolutionary dining destination Torno Subito for world’s best chef Massimo Bottura, Wavehouse for Atlantis and hospitality leaders Solutions Leisure, Buddha Bar in Mauritius as well as the firm’s first hotel opening Studio One. Currently working on 30+ projects across the globe, Bishop is contributing his tireless efforts and versatility to projects including a dynamic F&B concept for Jumeirah in the magnificent Al Qasr Hotel, six hospitality venues in Mauritius, three developments in India, plus latest dining offering to the W Hotel in Paris.

Torno Subito

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Joakim De Rham CEO and Founder, Swiss Bureau Interior Design With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Joakim De Rham is one of the most influential design leaders in this region. After graduating from Ecole d'Architecture Athenaeum Lausanne in 1996, he moved to Sao Paulo and shifted to pursue a career in interior architecture, where he worked with one of the most influential interior designers in Brazil, Sig Bergamin. It is here that Rham refined his craft and fell in love with the industry. Coming back to Switzerland inspired, Rham ignited the flame of a lifelong vision and created his own interior design company with his partner, Siavosh Adeli. In 2003, he moved to Dubai to establish his second design company, Swiss Bureau.

One of his most significant projects to date is the design refurbishment of the "Room of The Emirates" in the United Nations in Geneva, which has honourably received numerous awards and nominations. He is currently working on an exciting series of confidential projects within the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, and more.

Pallavi Dean

Founder and Creative Director, Roar Pallavi Dean is the founder and creative director at Roar. A former professor of interior design at the American University of Sharjah, Dean strives to implement the latest theoretical and practical research into the firm’s designs. The flagship projects include the Delano Dubai hotel, UAE offices for media firm Edelman, and The Nursery of the Future for the UAE Prime Minister’s Office.

Dean collaborated with Artemide to launch ‘Interweave’ an interactive lighting system for this year’s Euro Luce in Milan. Most exciting of all, the design firm is also collaborating with psychologist Briar Jacques on a piece of detailed research into workplace usage and design in the Middle East. It’s under wraps at the moment but will be unveiled very soon. www.cbnme.com

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Rabih Geha Founder, Rabih Geha Architects

BAU

Images D'Orient

UEnergy Health Club

Rabih Geha is a Lebanese architect and founder Beirut-based practice Rabih Geha Architects. After completing his BA in Architecture at the American University of Beirut, Geha travelled to Paris where he gained a master’s degree in architecture and design from l’École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle (ENSCI).

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After leaving ENSCI he worked with Rudy Ricciotti in Marseilles and Odile Decq in Paris. In 2006, Geha returned to Beirut and launched an experimentdriven and research-oriented workshop at l’Académie Libanaise des Beaux- Arts, where he still mentors Lebanon’s next generation of architects to this day. With Geha’s guidance, students have taken

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home several honours. Simultaneous to his teaching work, in 2006, Geha opened his design firm—Rabih Geha Architects. Their projects are diverse in terms of sectors and include works in Lebanon, Nigeria and KSA. Some of their award-winning projects include clubs ‘BAU’ and ‘2Weeks’, and the retail ‘Images d’Orient’ flagship in Beirut.

Kerem Cengiz

Managing Director—MENA, LWK+PARTNERS Within a culturally dynamic global practise, Kerem Cengiz is part of a leadership group evolving LWK+PARTNERS from a 34 years old, hong kong rooted architectural practice, into a globally integrated design studio and has led the MENA operations since it’s established in Dubai in 2018.

Cengiz brings over 20 years of awardwinning international experience across all aspects of design, real estate development, project, and design management as managing director.

Cengiz’s outstanding work and leadership have helped him secure many significant and high-profile projects across the UAE, GCC, and MENA region against other globally recognised international practices. This has earned Cengiz and the teams he’s led , the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Business Award for Innovation in 2017, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade in Hanging Garden Bridge (Sky Garden)

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2009, and two category wins at Cityscape Global 2019, in Dubai.

His global exposure brings skills required to lead this important period of the practices’ history, guide and mentor his team, secure and deliver major projects, develop pipelines of work, often with complex stakeholder and partnership relationships, leading the design and delivery of significant, high-quality designs, and developments ranging across all major sectors of the industry.

Cengiz believes that architecture as a discipline is going through a very interesting phase in this part of the middle east, transitioning from the purely commercial developer-led design industry to more focussed components like the public realm consideration and sustainability being given equal importance.

He thinks this is the right time to develop opportunities across the MENA region, as the built environment is taking a new direction. construction business news me // January 2020 //

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Jesper Godsk Founder, LW Design

In 1999, Jesper Godsk founded LW Design with a stroke of inspiration. The design firm has completed 20 years. Godsk has developed over a hundred hospitality projects from the ground up. During its time in the industry, LW Design has concluded multiple successful interiors projects. According to Godsk, the design would be nothing without imagination and a drive to reach for the stars, but at the same time, embodying a creative idea requires a balance between comprehension and practicality.

The LW Design team consistently evaluates whether the end product aligns with the initial concept because the design is about the people who will use it.

The firm holds an impressive clientele and a massive portfolio including over 200 restaurants and 60 hotels. The Accor Group, Al Futtaim Group, Dubai Airport, Emaar properties, and Emirates Airlines are just a few names among countless others.

Chris Barnes

Owner and Founder, Broadway Interiors Starting his career as a construction project manager in the UK, Chris Barnes achieved MCIOB qualification in 1991, before moving to Dubai to expand his creative abilities.

Barnes continues to make an impact in the F&B sector, refurbishing five restaurants for Le Meridien Hotel and Conference Centre with Bebemos, and Beef Bistro listed in the top 20 restaurants in Dubai on Trip Advisor. His latest design for industry leaders Solutions Leisure ‘District Bar, Lounge and Bistro’ was recently launched in JBR, together with the iconic, multi-award-winning LSB and Asia Asia brands in Russia. His Black Tap craft burger restaurant designs are now present in six countries across the GCC and Europe with more outlets in the pipeline!

The firm’s commercial portfolio this year lists high profile public projects such as the Dubai Technology Entrepreneur Centre, DEWA Academy, and government projects in KSA. 44

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Shaun Killa Design Partner, Killa Design

Shaun Killa is an award-winning architect with international experience spanning over 25 years. Throughout his career, Shaun has focussed his design philosophy on sustainability, with an emphasis on innovative low carbon buildings with unique structures, challenging the norms of designing recognisable projects.

Killa is a RIBA Affiliated member and participates as part of the advisory committee for University of Sharjah’s School of Architecture, Dubai School of Architecture, and British University in Dubai (BUiD) for the Masters in Environmental Design Program (MSc).

During his time as director of ar-

chitecture at Atkins Middle East, Killa worked on several high-rise commissions such as the Bahrain World Trade Centre, the world’s first large-scale integration of wind turbines into a building, which contributed to the green building movement in the Middle East.

He co-founded Killa Design office in 2015, where he worked on signature projects, including the awardwinning designs for the Museum of the Future and SRG Tower, the Address Jumeirah Gate Hotel, a W hotel in India, Vida hotel in Marina, Aykon Twin Towers, and the Office of the Future, the first occupied printed building in the world.

Mustafa Khamash Managing Director, Kart Group Mustafa Khamash has worked with renowned architects such as Zaha Hadid for the Architectural Biennale of Venice and Scandinavian Pavilion projects, as well as Philippe Starck for his private residence, consolidating his solid international experience in the luxury interior design industry.

In 2004, Khamash founded Kart Group, a Dubai-based luxury interior design atelier and a fine modern furniture importer for homes and offices.

Passionate about art and sculpture, Khamash has been executed bespoke commissions for prestigious clients, most notable of which is Vision | Mission, a stunning mise en abyme installation inspired by Dubai’s visionary leaders: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his son HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed Al Maktoum, which occupies prime position in Dubai Design District. www.cbnme.com

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Sneha Divias Founder, Sneha Divias Atelier

Sneha Divias is known for her consistency and sophisticated style in a sea of changing trends. After earning her Master's Degree in Architecture from the Lusiada University of Porto, Divias completed a series of architectural courses at the Delft University of Technology and Istanbul Technical University. Later on, she attended New York University to specialise in interior design. Then, Divias started practising in Lisbon and Dubai prior to establishing her own Atelier in Dubai.

Portuguese-born Divias holds quite the impressive portfolio, from luxurious villas to hospitality projects, such as the Banyan Tree Residences and Dubai Holding Offices from boutique hotels to creative spaces like OliOli and White & the Bear, Sneha has done it all. There are many upcoming projects that she has in store as well such as a Nursery in Abu Dhabi, a Villa in Saudi Arabia, a penthouse in Dubai, a multipurpose room and reading area for Warehouse 421, and more.

Jennie Binchy Design Director, Binchy and Binchy ARB, RIBA chartered UK architect, and Bartlett graduate Jennie Binchy began her career working for environmental and urban engineers in London and Hong Kong. She then specialised in education design under Gollifer Langston Architects, winning a RIBA Award before moving to Dubai in 2008.

Hands-on, with an eye for details, material exploration, and a passion for developing each project uniquely regardless of size or genre, Jennie Binchy co-founded Binchy and Binchy a boutique architecture and interiors studio in 2015.

Recently, Binchy and Binchy showcased a series of collectable art pieces at Downtown Design 2019, named ‘Ten Tables’ and symbolise the design philosophies of Binchy’s ongoing projects.

Current projects include an extensive Training Centre complex and hotel in Oman, a chain of French/Arabic Bistros in Dubai due to open in January 2020, an Aviation Training Centre opening November 2019, in addition to a luxury private residence and several confidential projects.

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David Lessard Partner and Design Director, H+A

David Lessard’s portfolio includes notable works with internationally acclaimed firms such as Perkins+Will, Allied Works, and Rafael Vinoly Architects. Having been based in Dubai for over a decade Lessard has actively contributed to the realisation of several award-winning buildings from concept design through to construction completion with a diverse typology of projects located across the region and beyond.

Lessard’s design ethos adheres to a philosophy that form and material are a direct response to context, culture and environment. Understanding the

local vernacular and respect for the human scale are essential undertones to his design thinking.

He believes design can create opportunities for well-being in all senses of the term - enhancing the way we work, live and play through thoughtful designs that are relevant, creative and fit for their intended purpose.

Lessard has held a seat on the AIA Middle East Chapter Board of Directors. As Membership Director he has contributed to the growth of the regional chapter, which in his tenure has become the largest international chapter worldwide.

Jonathan Ashmore Founder and Director, ANARCHITECT With over a decade of professional experience working for internationally acclaimed Architectural practices in Europe and the Middle-East, British chartered architect Jonathan Ashmore founded design practice ANARCHITECT. A post-graduate of the renowned Bartlett School of Architecture in London, Jonathan is an elected member of the RIBA Gulf Chapter and a British Council Cultural Excellence Fellowship Mentor.

Ashmore is also an active design critic and regular architectural speaker across a variety of professional platforms and international academic institutions. His diverse portfolio of built work spans residential, leisure, hospitality, workplace and cultural projects of which several have received international design awards with work regularly published around the world in the global design press. www.cbnme.com

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Yahya Kaddoura Lead Design Architect, Atkins

Dubai – kifaf 2 Residential Towers

Yahya Kaddoura has delivered a wide scale of projects in the Middle East, ranging from master planning and urban design to architecture with a wide range of functionality: hospitality, com48

mercial, and residential, since 2013.

Kaddoura is currently working on the design and delivering of the Emaar x Elie Saab residential tower, which will be soon occupying the

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marina skyline. In addition, he has worked with Meraas on the iconic Blue Water (Caesar Palace Serviced apartments), and Wasl (on both plots of Kifaf Development), exceeding the client’s expectations in delivering the first plot, which helped to win the two adjacent plots.

Kaddoura’s passion for learning and non-stop research in the field reflects a continual path of personal and intellectual development. One of the researches and experimenting in architecture tackles sustainability in efficient design spaces and dual-functions through kinetic and adaptive architecture, e.g. a theatre, transforming to an exhibition /event hall (similarly used in Dubai Opera house). The research is done to understand and develop the schematics and structural features of what would become the X MOSQUE, which would expand or contract to adjust the size according to a number of people in it.

Emma Stinson

Co-Founder and Creative Director, Studio Em Sharjah-born Emma Stinson is one of the most recognisable faces in the industry.

As co-founder and creative director of Studio EM, Emma Stinson has designed projects for many of the regions leading F&B and retail brands, including international heavyweights such as Michelin star chefs, Marco Pierre White and Vineet Bhatia. Having started Studio EM in 2011 at a young age, Stinson leads the way in the pioneering movement of the Boutique

interior design practices in the region with Studio EM firmly establishing themselves as one of the leading boutique firms in the region.

Having worked in the UAE for the last 15 years, 2019, saw Stinson and Studio EM move heavily into Saudi Arabia with seven new restaurants coming up, a cultural centre, a new gym complex, and retail outlets all planned within KSA during the next few months.

Michael Magill Managing Director/Creative Director, RSP Michael Magill trained in the UK where he worked for a prestigious architectural practice in London.

The Royal Institute of British Architects awarded Michael’s design of the Downe Hospital in Ireland as the Best Regional Building in 2011.

Prior to joining RSP, Magill was employed in a number of high profile international architectural practices and led design teams, which have won numerous international architectural competitions. Michael Magill opened RSP Dubai branch in 2009, and has since then expanded an initial design team of nine to over 70 professional staff today.

RSP boasts of 1,300 professionals making it one of the largest architectural practice in the world with its international headquarters in Sinwww.cbnme.com

gapore and 12 design hubs globally.

Some of the award-winning projects include Al Rajhi Bank Headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Khalifa University Campus in Abu Dhabi; Nakheel Mall and Palm Tower on the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai.

Other notable projects that Michael has led in the past two years include a large high-end mixed-use development with waterfront resorts, residential communities and a fashion institute in the east coast of Sri Lanka, a 30-storey hotel tower in Manchester, a highly exclusive and first of its kind 85-key wellness and rejuvenation centre in UAE, master plan of a 45-acre hotel resort project in Northern India and a newly awarded residential Marina village in Abu Dhabi. construction business news me // January 2020 //

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Indu Varanasi

Richard Fenne

Founder and Design Director, IRD

Principal and Regional Executive Chair, Woods Bagot Middle East

Boran Agoston

Design Director, SIE Consultants (SIEC)

Born and brought up in India, Indu Varanasi discovered her ability to meet aesthetic design with function.

Varanasi has a degree in Architecture from JNTU in Hyderabad and a Master’s Degree in Design and Architecture from SPA, New Delhi in 1993.

Starting her career in architectural practices in India and Dubai, she discovered her love for the ‘detail’ and the finer aspects of design and gravitated towards interior architecture. Under her leadership, the company’s design portfolio has grown from Interior Architecture to Public Space design and customization of FF&E. She is also doing some international projects spanning Tanzania and Saudi. Some of her successful projects from the region include Dewa auditorium, Amity university, and Novo Cinemas.

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Boran Agoston graduated from Sarajevo University with a Master of Science in Architecture. He is an Affiliate Member of the Australian Institute of Architects with 35 years of international experience.

Agoston worked on the prestigious Dubai Metro project while he was working for Aedas. Boran later joined RMJM as a managing director and design director in 2013. He then helped form SIEC as design director in November 2014, where he played a pivotal role in establishing a six-person company that now has over 100 employees. The list of projects Boran was involved in while at SIEC is extensive and includes the Baniyas Point Hotel, Pulse Town Homes, SZR Tower, SZR 21 Show Room, Saadiyat Island Resort, The Pulse Gate Mall amongst others.

His design approach is based on an architecture that has a modern sense of both tranquillity and spatial continuity.

// construction business news me // January 2020

Richard Fenne is a RIBA and ARB registered architect. He also holds a position on the Woods Bagot Strategy Council, a global group that develops the overall strategic direction for the business. His professional experience of over 18 years ranges from inception to completion of developments covering a multitude of sectors including cultural, civic, mixeduse, workplace, hospitality and education. Since joining Woods Bagot Middle East studios in early 2011, Fenne had led some significant and notable projects including the multi-award-winning IRENA HQ building and Etihad Eco Residences in Masdar City and Shams Meera, an innovative mid-market residential development in Abu Dhabi. One of Fenne’s current major projects is the Dubai Exhibition Centre development, which will be the UAE’s leading exhibition venue and the main venue of Expo 2020 Dubai.

Sotirios Tsoulos

Laila AlYousuf

Design Director, RMJM Dubai

With extensive experiences in Scotland, Austria, Greece, UAE, Malaysia, and Turkey, Sotiris Tsoulos is the design director of RMJM Dubai.

Tsoulos combines on-site knowledge and experience with the contemporary architectural principles of sustainable design, human scale and understanding of the Urban environment. He is a supporter of simple architecture, economical design in every respect and modularity. His portfolio ranges from large-scale urban projects and Olympic Games arenas to archaeology, office buildings, hotels and housing.

His experience includes designs for developments in numerous cities across Europe, Asia, and Middle East.

Design Director and Partner, SAY Studio

Laila Al-Yousuf has spent many years within the design industry while working for global design practice, Perkins + Will, and has been recognised previously for her exceptional work, having designed for Google, Adidas, Ford and IBM. Finally realizing her dream of starting her own design practice, SAY Studio, with business partner Matthew Sexton in June 2018. As the design director and partner of this new, dynamic firm, she has led the team to some landmark wins such as PwC, Natixis and Facebook to name a few.

Firas Alsahin

Co-Founder and Design Director, 4SPACE One of the most-recognised faces in the F&B design industry, Firas Alsahin is a fully accredited SBID (Society of British and International Design) professional. As a co-founder of 4SPACE, Alsahin never stopped achieving his goals. His passion for design resonates to all his projects in the field of F&B, Retail, and Hospitality sector.

He always considers his designs to be futuristic, minimalist, functional, sustainable, and social. Some of his recent projects include Charcoal Garden in Shatha Tower Media City, Kava & Chai outlets in Mall of the Emirates and DIFC, Al Dawr Al Masry in Jeddah, Tutus Kurniati, a retail project in Nakheel Mall, amongst others.

www.cbnme.com

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// Feature

Carla Conte

Asmaa Said

Creative Director/Founder, Brand Creative

Associate Director, Stickman Tribe

Ellen Søhoel

Founder and Director, XBD Collective

Carla Conte is considered a retail and environmental branding specialist with experience in designing shopping centres, retail destinations, beauty, wellness and fashion brands, food experiences and cinemas. Conte’s instinctive yet highly strategic design expertise is the major force behind the work she has produced in North America, Latin America, the UK, Asia and presently the Middle East.

Having worked over a decade for one of North America’s top branding agencies, Carla’s experience in the field is truly one that spans the globe and shows impressive variety in terms of project scale and type. In 2011, she founded Brand Creative which platforms multi-disciplinary design thinking and currently has a team of 18 designers across three countries.

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Ellen Søhoel is the founder and director of the XBD Collective, which is comprised of several sub-divisions including ‘XBD Interior’, ‘XBD Architecture’ and ‘Bishop Design Residential’ which was an extension of previously co-founded brand ‘Bishop Design LLC’, originally established in 2004.

Now with the latest addition of ‘XBD Collective London’, Søhoel continues to create customised signature interior designs both regionally and internationally to a wide variety of brands, businesses, and private clientele.

Originally hailing from Oslo, Norway, Søhoel holds qualifications in Marketing and Business Development, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design. After moving to the UAE in 2003, and now with 16 years of expertise, the Norwegian designer has completed hundreds of projects across all sectors and designed for some of the most prominent names in hospitality, residential and commercial design such as ‘Emaar’, ‘W Hotel’, ‘The Fairmont Hotel’ and ‘Dubai Properties’, to name a few.

// construction business news me // January 2020

Asmaa Said is the associate director of boutique design firm, Stickman Tribe.

Said runs Dubai’s multi-disciplinary office, working on signature projects globally in over 10 countries and 23 cities. At Stickman, she has worked with some of the world’s most reputable operators and developers such as Marriott, Shangri-La, Accor, Starwood, FRHI, and Hyatt to name a few. Leading a team of 15 designers and architects in Dubai, over the past 12 months alone, she has delivered high-profile projects such as Waldorf Astoria Maldives, Mercedes me Chengdu, Shangri-La Oman renovation, Hyatt Place Xián, The Ritz-Carlton F&B, and Conrad Hilton Kuala Lumpur F&B. Said is currently working on a multitude of exciting projects including a full scope hotel in Seychelles and a unique standalone brewery, Pirate Life, scheduled to open in 2020, in Perth, Australia.

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// Sustainability

Jubail Island – Inspired by Nature Sprawled across 4,000 hectares of mangrove forests and coastal estuaries with more than 30 km of waterfront, Jubail Island will be home to 6 distinct village communities, with deliberately bespoke, breathtakingly picturesque residential areas and community facilities

Launched by Jubail Island Investment Company (JIIC), Jubail Island is located between Yas Island and Saadiyat Island.

Poised to become Abu Dhabi’s leading sanctuary designed to appeal to wellness and nature enthusiasts.

Set to feature six investment zone villages – Marafaa Al Jubail, Nad Al Dhabi, Seef Al Jubail, Ain Al Maha, Souk Al Jubail and Bed’a Al Jubail, Jubail Island is strategically located between Yas Island, Saadiyat Island, and Abu Dhabi city.

The villages will boast its own identity and elegant design, Jubail Island will offer residents a choice of luxurious, elegantly designed villas apart54

ments and townhouses, all meticulously strewn ample-distances apart, to allow for optimum privacy and comfort.

With a Pearl Rating from Abu Dhabi’s Estidama certification system, the project is also set to significantly enhance the island’s natural ecosystem through planting new mangrove forests, as well as adding extensive canals and other new marine habitats that will be home to migratory birds, fish populations, sea turtles, and gazelles.

The development will also boast generous outdoor areas and include parks, hiking paths, kayaking stations and cycling routes for nature lovers and water sports enthusiasts.

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During the announcement of the launch, Hamad Rashid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of JIIC’s Board of Directors, mentioned what the inspiration was behing the project: “The launch of Jubail Island is inspired by the founding father of the UAE, late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and his abiding love for nature and its preservation.”

He further added, “This prestigious project has commenced with the blessing of Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

We are keen to safeguard this important real estate area of Abu Dhabi city

through preserving the environment and creating residential, commercial as well as recreational spaces aligned with the island’s natural appeal and its importance to the real estate market in Abu Dhabi city.”

Over the past 12 months Jubail Island Investment Company have made several announcements which gives us a peek into how the project is progressing along.

Enabling Works Commence on Jubail Island The company announced the appointment of Gulf Contractors Company (GCC) to commence enabling works www.cbnme.com

for the AED5 billion Jubail Island that was recently launched in Abu Dhabi.

Enabling works are scheduled for completion in January 2020.

Enabling works are generally associated with large-scale land development projects and entail major earthworks and grading of the site, ahead of the installation of infrastructure such as roads, utilities, and other facilities. For this significant contract, over 2.5 million cubic metres of material will be excavated and placed to create the formation level for over 40 kilometres of roadways and more than 800 residential properties.

In developing the grading plan for the community, the design team opti-

mised the distinctive and unique features of the site, such as the hills at the North and West ends of the development to enhance the overall character of the property, as well as maximise expansive views of the waterfront and downtown skyline.

Mounir Haidar, Managing Director of JIIC, said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of the contractor for enabling works which are slated for completion in early 2020.

“Offering housing, commercial, leisure and freehold investment opportunities for Emiratis and expatriates is a central planning element for Jubail Island and today’s announcement con-

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// Sustainability

firms the timely delivery of the newly launched project in conformity with leading construction and environmental standards.”

AED50+ Million Marine Works Contract Awarded Jubail Island Investment Company (JIIC) has awarded an AED50+ million marine works contract for Jubail Island to National Marine Dredging Company.

Works on the eight-month-long marine channel package have already started. The scope comprises more than seven kilometres of widening and enhancing existing waterways designed to improve overall waterfront living experience, restore water circulation to previously stressed mangrove forests and to support the propagation of new forests. The contract also includes the planting of thousands of new mangrove trees.

Upon completion, the marine works will enhance the natural waterfront surrounding Jubail Island, dramatically improving the experience for residents and visitors and, most importantly will 56

enhance environmental biodiversity of Jubail Island.

Speaking on the occasion, Richard Russell, Chief Operations Officer of Lead Development – the development management firm overseeing Jubail Island, said: “With enabling and marine works having commenced on the island, we are well on track to hand over plots as early as mid-2021. The timely delivery of this showcase project as per the highest construction and environmental standards is our utmost priority.”

He added: “Abu Dhabi government has taken proactive steps to support local biodiversity and protect the environment against the effects of climate change through rehabilitating existing mangrove areas. On Jubail Island, we will spare no effort to ensure that our marine works bolster this national objective through safeguarding this pristine ecosystem.

First Infrastructure Works Projects Commences Gulf Contractors Company (GCC) were awarded an AED80+ million infrastruc-

// construction business news me // January 2020

ture works contract for Jubail Island.

Works on the 18-month-long first infrastructure package have commenced on two of the six villages that are part of the AED5 billion project – Marfaa Al Jubail and Souk Al Jubail.

With overall infrastructure works on Jubail Island amounting to approximately AED600 million, JIIC confirmed that to date a total of AED120 million in infrastructure contracts have been approved.

The GCC contract scope comprises the construction of a three-kilometre public loop road circling around Souk Al Jubail to provide road connectivity and access to the neighbouring villages, and the construction of five kilometres of internal roads in Marfaa Al Jubail.

Works also cover utility infrastructure development, including electricity, water, sewage, irrigation, telecom and gas networks, as well as street lighting.

Mounir Haidar said: “Following the completion of the enabling works, we are delighted to confirm the start of phase one of infrastructure works on Jubail Island, demonstrating our commitment to on-time delivery of plots as early as Q3 2021.”

He added: “Due to our notable industry experience, coupled with the highest quality and construction standards, Jubail Island is well on track to emerge as the most desirable community in Abu Dhabi and will present an attractive investment opportunity for those with a keen eye for a quality portfolio. Upon completion, the 400-hectare island will offer a unique natural setting in an unusually lowdensity community, surrounded by a wildlife conservation area.”

Once complete, the Jubail Mangrove Park will feature a host of facilities, including kayaking stations, a boardwalk with interactive educational lessons, and a play area for children, viewing terraces for visitors to enjoy the stunning natural scenery, and a visitor’s centre that aims to raise awareness about mangrove trees and their environmental significance.

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// Machinery

Doosan Infracore Demonstrates Unmanned and Automated Construction Site Solutions Doosan Infracore unveiled ‘Concept-X’ at its Proving Grounds in Boryeong City, Korea, with more than 200 people in attendance including National Assemblymen, the Mayor of Boryeong City, business executives from Bosch, ASI, LG U+ and PoteNit related to the development of Concept-X, representatives of government agencies and scholars from various academic institutions.

Concept-X is a comprehensive control solution that can be used to survey worksite topography via 3D drone scanning, establish operational plans based on the topographical data, and operate construction equipment such as excavators and wheel loaders without human intervention. In short, Concept-X realizes the construction site of the future by having all dangerous construction work performed solely by equipment, leaving human personnel free to concentrate on more sophisticated analysis and management tasks.

Concept-X comprises a wide range of cutting-edge Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as image recognition, cognitive/ control technologies, autonomous driving technologies, 5G remote control, 3D drone surveys and accurate 58

workload estimation and assignment, together with failure prediction technologies.

The new technologies introduced during the DI demonstration included a technology designed to create three-dimensional worksite maps with dronesurveyed data; a technology enabling construction equipment such as excavators and wheel loaders to perform optimized unmanned operations according to any site situation; and a technology that makes real-time monitoring of work progress possible through the X-Center’s comprehensive control solution.

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Doosan Infracore asserts that the solution will boost productivity and economic feasibility significantly by reducing the time and costs required for construction equipment operations, while introducing a revolutionary improvement to the issue of construction worksite safety. Doosan Infracore plans to commercialize Concept-X by 2025.

Pending its commercialization, Doosan Infracore will introduce each of the above mentioned technologies – including drone surveying, cutting-edge data analysis, and unmanned construction equipment operations

and control – individually as soon as they have been fully verified.

“Concept-X is not just an unmanned technology: Rather, it integrates multiple state-of-the-art technologies that can respond immediately to all and any of the changes that may arise at construction sites simultaneously,” declared Doosan Infracore President & CEO, Dongyoun Sohn.

“It will become a humancentred technology that not only brings about remarkable improvements in economics and safety but also creates more jobs in hightech industries.”

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// Machinery

Wirtgen Autopilot 2.0 Significantly Speeds up Concrete Paving Projects Talley & Armstrong, Inc., based in Henrico, Virginia, had already equipped its Wirtgen slipform paver SP 15i with the first version of the AutoPilot, and relied on the system when using the machine.

The AutoPilot 2.0, which is compatible with Wirtgen’s SP 15i und SP 25i slipform pavers, eliminates the need to measure, mount, and remove stringlines. In addition, the ground crew can do their job without the stringlines constantly getting in the way. The 3D system is suitable for paving concrete safety barriers, curbs, gutter profiles, or traffic islands, for example, but also for road surfaces with a width of up to 3.5 m using the inset method and 2.5 m using the offset method.

Stringless Precise Paving AutoPilot 2.0 of Curb with Paving Cuts Costs Rain Gutter Clay Armstrong believes in lean structures and operates the company’s SP 15i himself.

In his eyes, stringless paving with the AutoPilot 2.0 system saves an enormous amount of time. “Stringless paving has many advantages,” explains Armstrong. “First of all, you eliminate all the work involved in setting up the stringlines. Another factor are the costs saved from no longer having to purchase the wire and the support arms.”

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During a Talley & Armstrong project in Westerleigh Estates, a new residential development in Moseley, Virginia, the company used a 75-centimeter-wide curb/ gutter form that produced a rain gutter 60 centimeters wide in combination with a curb about 15 centimeters wide and 33 centimeters high. The relatively stiff concrete with a slump of 5 cm had a 28-day strength of 30-35 N/mm². Paving was carried out on a sub-base of gravel with a maximum grain size of 2.5 cm. The concrete mix contained a viscosity improver and a small amount of setting retarder in the event of delays in concrete delivery.

// construction business news me // January 2020

The 3D control system includes a tablet that both controls the machine and is attached to the Field Rover survey pole. Two GPS receivers mounted on the machine communicate with a GPS reference station at the job site. The global navigation satellite system (GNSS) controls the steering and transverse tilt of the slipform paver fully automatically. In combination with an ultrasonic sensor or a robot-controlled total station, it also precisely controls the machine height.

Sensors on the machine take highly accurate readings during the paving process. These systems constantly compare the target and actual values of the paving parameters. If a digital threedimensional terrain model is not available for a project, the Wirtgen Field Rover can be used to generate a new digital data model directly on site.

Existing machines can easily be upgraded with AutoPilot 2.0.

J a n u a ry 2020

Unsung Hero

G h a l ay i n i We talked to Samer Ghalayini, Senior Marketing Specialist, Al Kifah Construction Solution Division about his role and how he is helping contribute to Al Khifah’s success Goals and Objectives A resourceful individual with a proven record of accomplishment in implementing successful marketing strategies, boosting organic traffic, and improving search rankings seeks a position of Marketing Director at my company to maximize brand awareness and revenue through integrated marketing communications.

Positioning Al Kifah as Market Leaders Our department helps in positioning Al Kifah as one of the market leaders, by differentiating our brand from others through offering our customers affordable prices, top quality readymix concrete products, on time delivery as well as responding and solving their queries in a very short time.

Recently our department created a new products “Green Concrete� and offer it to our client the contractors companies as well as Saudi Aramco, in which they were impressed by the use of Green Concrete. It consists of a natural pozzolanic material that is used as both a replacement for the cement and an enhancer for the concrete specifications (higher strength, lower head of hydration and lower cement content).

Attributes My strongest attribute is my determination. I take on every challenge headon and do what I need to accomplish my goals, even when the challenge is difficult. Every time I was given a new challenge at my job, whether it was leading my first team project or meeting a quick deadline, I always enjoyed stepping up and demonstrating my skill at that new task. www.cbnme.com

In my current role, I generated new revenue opportunities for sales personnel, coordinated all direct mail campaigns for execution and produce timely and accurate client promotional event marketing, utilizing all checklist and quality assurance tools, ensuring accuracy and timely launch of campaigns Importance of teamwork Teamwork is important as I do my research and make strategic decisions based on external resources as well as cross company personnel. Therefore, I bring my teamwork to perfection resulting in product development, marketing

initiatives, promotion, and advertising.

In my last position, I was part of running a marketing campaign about our new product technology and its functions. We all worked together to plan and manage the implementation schedule, to provide customer training, and to ensure a smooth transition for our customers. Our team always completed our projects ahead of schedule with very positive reviews from our clients.

Our ability to communicate effectively was what made us such a good team.

People expressed concerns clearly and openly, so we resolved issues as soon as they arose.

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// Save the date

Save the date Mark your calendar

January

13-16

January

19-22

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Smart Cities Expo & Forum Abu Dhabi, UAE The Smart Cities Forum will discuss master planning, methods to reduce a city's carbon footprint, integrating water and energy efficiency into architectural design, the technologies that underpin smart cities and smart infrastructure, and much more around the future of our built environment.

Pacific Rim Real Estate Society Annual Conference Canberra, Australia The Pacific Rim Real Estate Society Annual Conference will provide the attendees with the opportunity to gain insights relating to topics such as Housing Markets, Economics and Policy, Green Buildings & Environmental Policies, Corporate Real Estate, Asset, Property & Facility Management, IT and Real Estate, International Real Estate, Marketing & Communication in Property.

// construction business news me // January 2020

January

21-23

January

29-30

NAHB International Builders' Show Las Vegas, USA The NAHB International Builders' Show (IBS) is the largest annual light construction show in the world, an exciting range of building materials, construction equipment, pipes and fittings, electrical fittings, heating and cooling systems, door and window accessories, security systems, home furnishing products, sanitary ware, kitchen tools and modular fittings, sustainable solutions for home improvement, garden and landscaping products and more.

German Commercial Real Estate Congress Berlin, Germany The German Commercial Real Estate Congress features a personal exchange with the most important industry representatives, very high dealer share among congress visitors, time for networking and face-to-face encounters, highcaliber lectures and relevant panel discussions, and much more.

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