23 minute read
SUSTAINABLITY
EMERGING SHIFTS IN CONSTRUCTION
JOE LABAKY, GENERAL MANAGER OF UAE AND EMERGING MARKETS, AMANA CONTRACTING GROUP, TALKS ABOUT THE EMERGING TRENDS IN CONSTRUCTION AND HOW EXPO 2020 DUBAI IS ENCOURAGING A SHIFT IN SUSTAINABILITY, AGILITY, AND MODULARITY
With its “Connecting minds, creating the future” motto, Expo 2020 is inspiring a future focused on sustainability, opportunity, and mobility. In the construction sector emerging trends as seen at Expo 2020 Dubai could have a long-lasting impact on the industry. AMANA, the leading regional design-build contractor, has a bold, digitally driven strategy to leverage these emerging trends.
Working with their client GAC/PMC EllisDon and Canadian architecture firm, Moriyama & Teshima, for the Canada Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, AMANA as a design-build contractor coordinated different scopes and operational systems with several other companies involved in the project, including the architect of record U+A Architects, Lord Cultural Resources, digital media consultant NGX, exhibition contractor Kubik, structural consultant Thornton Tomasetti, acoustic consultant Valcoustics, and MEP consultant Hatch. The Pavilion is designed and operated to welcome approximately 12,000 visitors daily over the six months of operations.
Joe Labaky, Managing Director of UAE and Emerging Markets, AMANA Contracting Group, said: “The journey to get here has not been without its challenges: including a global pandemic, supply chain issues, increasing prices of construction materials and resourcing issues. Expo 2020 Dubai has reinforced the need for the industry to invest in digital transformation and sustainable technologies to future-proof their businesses. AMANA’s agility, digital expertise and fast-track building capabilities stood us in good stead, enabling project delivery on time. As design build contractor for the Canada pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, it is an exciting time to see AMANA’s capabilities showcased at this world-class event.”
AMANA predicts Expo 2020 Dubai will shape the region’s construction sector in many direct and indirect ways.
Leaning into sustainability Sustainability is a core theme of Expo 2020 Dubai, reflected in the design and construction of its pavilions. Across the GCC, the construction industry is moving to reduce carbon emissions to comply with building codes, amidst surging demand for solar energy, greener and smarter buildings. For AMANA, sustainability has been a key business
goal, achieved through digital tools, standardised manufacturing techniques and processes in construction. The company is strengthening its solar and energy efficiency business to further support the region’s green agenda.
For the Canada Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, AMANA applied several best practices in sustainable design to the construction. After the Expo ends in March 2022, the Canadian pavilion material will be recycled or repurposed locally for future projects. Most of the finishes at the pavilion are made of recycled content, the flooring is made from polished concrete (recyclable content) and internal finishes made from gypsum partitions, among others.
Driving demand for modular construction As the Expo 2020 Dubai projects raced to completion amidst unprecedented challenges, modular construction techniques emerged as a viable solution. Modular construction offers a safer building environment, potentially reducing material waste by up to 30 per cent and improving work safety by up to 70 per cent, as compared to traditional construction. DuPod, an AMANA company, is an innovative modular construction concept that manufactures superior quality utility, wellness, retail, and living pods. DuPod offers a multitude of intelligent modular solutions for developers, architects, and contractors across key markets in the region.
Rejuvenating real estate Expo 2020 Dubai has rejuvenated the UAE’s real estate sector, and the benefits are expected to cascade to all segments of the economy. Expo 2020 Dubai’s legacy infrastructure is expected to support thriving communities, in line with the UAE’s ambitious plans for socio-economic growth over the next 50 years, and new relaxed investment and residency regulations. On the back of these developments, demand for various real estate products, including residential housing, hospitality and schools is expected to increase. With its expertise in modular technology, AMANA is well equipped to deliver certainty, quality and economy for these projects, in the most sustainable way.
SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
AND WHY LIVING IN ONE SHOULDN’T BE A LUXURY
MADHAV DHAR, CO-FOUNDER AND COO, ZĀZEN PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT
As environmental awareness is increasing for people and companies alike, home-buyers are more conscious about reducing their carbon footprint and contributing positively to the environment. The growing impact of global warming, climate change, waste and air pollution have long become impossible to ignore, with experts trying to find more costfriendly ways to go green.
The region is just beginning to give real estate developers incentives to build sustainable developments. But currently, being ‘green conscious’ usually comes at a cost, which no developer will bear alone. That’s why living in sustainable homes currently comes at a premium. Ideally, this shouldn’t be a luxury anymore but a norm for future businesses, property developers and consumers alike.
As an individual or business looking to live more sustainably, as a first step, the type of property you buy or rent, whether as a residence or an office, is a great starting point. Let’s look at residences as a case study. Even though a city like Dubai has a plethora of housing options, from ultra-luxury to affordable, the majority do not cater to living sustainably. Finding buildings or communities that are designed with sustainability at the core, be it in materials used, in the facilities provided or how they manage energy, water and waste, is not easy. A retro-fitting drive to implement sustainable practices in older buildings has not yet been mandated, and operators need to be educated on its benefits, which has also not taken place.
If managing and reducing your carbon footprint is important to you, living in a certified green building is one of the best options to contribute positively. The methodology, materials and technology used to help make substantial reductions in energy consumption and CO2 emissions is incorporated at the design stage of such developments.
Green buildings are integrating eco-friendly concepts into building development and operations, to improve environmental sustainability and foster a greater sense of community. Such developments also provide cost savings to buyers and even to developer operators. For example, a building that uses solar panels to supplement energy usage in common areas will have a lower annual electricity bill and can pass that on to owners via lower annual service charges. Similarly, developers who build to rent also benefit, as the solar panels usually pay for themselves within five to six years of operations, after which it reduces the overall cost of operations for the long term.
The easiest step to ensure you are buying or renting in a sustainable building is to check if it is LEED Green Building Certified (or equivalent), as is ZāZEN One, the first project by ZāZEN Properties. The certification focuses on key components to offer sustainable residences and helps end-users reduce their carbon footprint. Here are three simple ways living in a sustainable building, such as ZāZEN One, can help you reduce your carbon footprint:
Water Management A major factor contributing to the carbon footprint of a home is the amount of energy expended to supply, treat and use its water. Water-oriented strategies significantly reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Through low-flow water fixtures, water-efficient landscaping and drip irrigation systems,
a development can reduce its water consumption in dramatic quantities. For example, ZāZEN One will achieve an approximate 33% annual reduction in water usage.
Waste Management The seven components of the Green Building concept influence and support one another. Responsible waste management is one of the keys to creating an energy-efficient environment. A Construction Waste Management Plan should be developed and incorporated into the tender requirements itself for the contractors to follow, to help efficiently manage the waste-to-landfill output. The building should also incorporate operational waste management strategies such as the installation of Waste Bins on each floor to segregate waste such as paper, small cardboard, metal cans, plastic, glass etc.
Energy Management Everything down to the exterior walls, roof and glazing can be designed to be as efficient as possible, allowing for less heat transfer and therefore requiring less energy for cooling throughout the year. Similarly, efficient HVAC systems and thermostat controls should be considered in the design process. Even simple operational decisions such as using an efficient, low-wattage lighting system and having the exterior and common area lights on motion sensors or timer switches, have a massive impact on the building’s monthly electricity bill.
The carbon footprint of a building can also be reduced by sourcing operational energy through solar panels that have been aesthetically integrated within the development. Depending on the size of the development and number of solar panels used, developers can aim to generate between 100,000 to 500,000 kWh of power annually, amounting to between 10% to 50% of the estimated energy a mid to large size building would likely consume over the same time period.
This creates a win-win situation, allowing for savings of upto AED 500,000 on the building’s annual electricity bill, thereby also reducing the annual service charge for any buyers.
ZāZEN One is Trakhees LEED Green building certified and from a holistic perspective, by implementing the strategy above, it will annually save an estimated 440 metric tonnes in CO2 emissions.
Implementing sustainable practices from the get-go will play a big role in an organization’s environmental, social and economic impact. This will also help create more communitycentric developments in Dubai that are sustainable and add value to the real estate landscape for future generations, in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.
At ZāZEN Properties, we are committed to this cause and aim to add value to the city’s landscape through our design, quality, community and sustainable mindset.
IMPORTANCE OF SMART REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS
AL RUWAD REAL ESTATE ENDORSES THE IMPORTANCE OF SMART REAL ESTATE INVESTMENTS IN THE UAE AS FOUNDER & CEO ISMAIL AL HAMMADI RE-AFFIRMS THE NECESSITY OF ADOPTING ADVANCED DIGITAL SOLUTIONS AND SMART HOMES
Al Ruwad Real Estate, a company specialized in real estate marketing and consultancy in Dubai, emphasized the importance of smart real estate investments in the UAE during an awareness-raising session organized virtually by the Innovation Experts Real Estate Institution (IEREI) on Thursday, October 14th, via remote video conference, and attended by a large number of real estate experts and stakeholders.
Founder and CEO of Al Ruwad Real Estate, Ismail Al Hammadi, shed light on the importance of smart real estate investments, highlighting the multitude of trends and forms of investments in current times. He also noted that it is crucial to make all forms of real estate investments available to everyone, so that individuals can start easily with a small budget and then expand their investment to profit gradually, pointing out that it depends on willingness to invest, having the necessary knowledge of challenges, and being ready to overcome them.
Al Hammadi explained that “smart investment” means finding the suitable real estate property to maintain capital value with the capacity to double in the future, while assessing market conditions carefully to select the right investment in a timely and systematic manner. He also stressed the necessity of being fully aware of resources and long-term and short-term objectives, coming up with a clear assessment of each individual’s risk tolerance, and projecting an approximate return on the investment.
The virtual session also touched on the success factors of real estate investments, which include the area and general field of the investment, the location of the property, the view around it, the population distribution in the neighborhood, the reputation of the developer, the general status of the economy, accessibility, real estate prices in the area, facilities, luxuries and future market orientation.
Expanding on the subject of real estate future market orientation, Al Hammadi emphasized that the Emirati real estate market is seeing new trends that investors need to be aware of in order to keep pace with the future. The most important of these are alternative categories that are now under demand, which call for a change in the pattern of real estate units on the market and dictate a move towards an increase in asset management and a new formulation of residential complexes and hotel units. There is also increased demand for green spaces, a general attention to individuals’ wellbeing with the urban renewal of residential areas, and the adoption of digital solutions in the move to building smarter homes.
As founder and CEO of Al Ruwad Real Estate, Ismail Al Hammadi has made many contributions to real estate discussion sessions through numerous lectures and remote sessions aimed at raising awareness and providing valuable real estate insights to the community.
NAVIGATING THROUGH NEW POSSIBILITIES IN A DIGITAL WORLD IN CONVERSATION WITH NAJI ATALLAH, HEAD OF CONSTRUCTION AND MANUFACTURING, AUTODESK
Autodesk University 2021 “Autodesk University 2021 is a global learning experience specifically designed for experts within the fields of architecture, engineering, construction, product design, manufacturing, media, and entertainment – all leveraging Autodesk technologies to explore the new possibilities and advance their respective industries.
This year’s Autodesk University is a unique and timely experience, introducing industry professionals to actionable learning insights from experts in their fields and creative, collaborative digital solutions as they look to reshape their sectors for a successful post-Covid-19 economic recovery.”
Goals and Objectives in 2021 “This year presented numerous challenges to the industry owing to the global pandemic. We worked closely with our customers to navigate this challenging environment and have witnessed steady progress and expansion of our business in 2021. As a testament to this growth and our strong commitment to the market, we launched our e-store in the Middle East in 2021, which would significantly ease access to the best design and engineering software for our customers in the region. In 2021, digital transformation has emerged as a key requirement for many of our customers and Autodesk is very well positioned to help businesses in the region. In addition, we see an opportunity in cloud-based technologies as the industry looks to digitally transform its businesses.”
Autodesk’s Growth “The GCC continues to be a strategic region for Autodesk given the scale and ambition of projects. As a result, Autodesk has increased its investment in the region with people, partners, and a Middle East e-store.”
Construction industry embracing technology “The disruption caused by the pandemic definitely impacted the construction industry and brought to the surface the huge amount of time, money and energy lost to outdated, often
wasteful, construction practices. This resulted in momentum for digital transformation, in a sector that has traditionally been slow to adopt technological innovation. But leveraging this momentum goes beyond just the adoption of advanced technologies. The companies that will be most successful in this endeavour are those that invest time and capital in upskilling their employees. For example, Dubai-based Al Gurg Consultants managed to enable over 90 percent of its office staff to work from home even before the peak of the global pandemic that resulted in workplace disruption. When the pandemic hit, they had already prepared IT systems to accommodate remote working for most of its staff. Digital processes are driving significant change at every level of the labour market. In the construction industry, for example, contractors who previously used paper to track team schedules now use the Autodesk Construction Cloud to gather progress reports in real-time, enabling them to keep projects on track as conditions change.
Autodesk is committed to addressing these challenges and future-skilling the workforce and helping our customers grow. We have launched new career certifications aligned with the needs of the industry and building on the Autodesk Certification Program announced last year at AU. This will help customers to future proof their workforce.
In line with Vision 2040, the Government of the UAE is also playing a proactive role by incentivising digital transformation in the construction industry. Some of the recent initiatives by the leadership such as Vision Projects of 50 and operation 300Bn are surely going to catalyze success and progress.” “THE GCC CONTINUES TO BE A STRATEGIC REGION FOR AUTODESK GIVEN THE SCALE AND AMBITION OF PROJECTS. AS A RESULT, AUTODESK HAS INCREASED ITS INVESTMENT IN THE REGION WITH PEOPLE, PARTNERS, AND A MIDDLE EAST E-STORE.”
New Solution Offering “Even though the regional construction industry has been relatively slow in adopting digital technologies, now more than ever, the potential and scale to deliver efficiency, quality while ensuring worker safety are being recognized by the companies and at Autodesk, we aim to empower our customers to navigate new possibilities in a digital world and support them where they are by working well with existing platforms and workflows, simplifying the use of new tools. > Autodesk Construction Cloud offers a range of flexible cloud-based solutions that combine technologies, connect processes, automate workflows, and unlock valuable insights for customers. > Another emerging trend in the construction industry is harnessing the power of data and analytics. Autodesk is leading this front by taking data analysis and risk prevention to the next level with the predictive ability of Construction IQ. Using machine learning, Construction IQ scans project data and identifies high-risk areas. Whether from the perspective of design, quality, safety, or project controls, Construction IQ helps teams resolve issues on a project before they have a costly or time-consuming impact downstream. > Since we first announced a partnership with Esri in 2017, our teams have worked closely to bridge CAD, BIM, and GIS and deliver product and cloud-connected workflows to our design, construction, and owner customers. The collaboration reached a major milestone with a BIM and GIS cloud collaboration, a new solution that connects our two cloud platforms— ArcGIS Online and Autodesk Construction Cloud—to combine building information modeling (BIM) and geographic information system (GIS) information. Today, our customers can take advantage of this cloud-to-cloud interconnectivity with a new joint solution from Autodesk and Esri that includes both Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro and Esri ArcGIS GeoBIM to enable real-time, web-based application solutions. This new solution enables our customers to design, build, and operate within the context of the real world to ultimately deliver more sustainable and resilient infrastructure. > We have also launched Spacemaker microclimate analysis, a tool enabling real estate developers, urban planners, and architects to quickly evaluate the thermal comfort of outdoor spaces. Using microclimate analysis at the earliest, lower-cost stages of planning reduces the risk of large-scale, high-cost, and high-waste renovations and improvements in the future. > In addition, in order for projects to meet emission reduction targets, we have introduced Total Carbon in beta. Total Carbon combines Revit data with open-source energy analysis and material carbon data, in the cloud, to provide real-time,
accurate, and reliable total carbon analysis. This tool also gives customers the insight they need to create sustainable designs in Revit, making it easier for them to design for environmentally friendly outcomes from the start.”
Fusion 360 & Autodesk Construction Cloud “Autodesk is committed to connecting office and field teams and through Autodesk Construction Cloud, it has enabled easier collaboration from a single source of truth. Our newest developments are another milestone for connected construction. We have recently announced powerful new capabilities across Autodesk Construction Cloud and an expansion of its partner ecosystem, delivering new ways for construction teams to connect their workflows on one platform. > Project teams can now also integrate construction data from over 200 partners on Autodesk Construction Cloud leveraging Partner Cards and APIs, including Forge APIs, to deliver strong and meaningful integrations for customers who want to simplify data management and boost their ability to make more informed project decisions. > Advancements to Autodesk Build, including a new Schedule management tool, further connect office and field teams and data across the construction lifecycle. Additionally, Schedule integrates with the Cost tool in Autodesk Build to simplify budgeting and planning for schedule-related expenses including general conditions such as material handling and clean-up. The Schedule and Cost integration delivers projectlevel data analyses, enabling teams to accurately forecast cash flow. > Autodesk Build now also boosts Pype AutoSpecs which automatically generates submittal logs to deliver efficiency, automation, and accuracy to the submittal process. Its integration with Autodesk Build enables teams to transfer draft submittals and entire logs directly and seamlessly into their project management base for simplified submittal management.
To continue Autodesk Construction Cloud’s momentum, additional capabilities coming to Autodesk Build include: > Progress Tracking – Teams can track the percentage of work completed on their projects and quantify the materials installed to update plans accordingly; > Work Plan – A new collaborative space, based on BIM 360 Plan, where teams can build their roadmaps, track commitments, manage constraints and view progress towards key performance metrics; > Closeout – Automation of handover document collection and review workflows, supporting project lifecycle data management in Autodesk Construction Cloud; > Bridge – New collaboration capability that lets teams share key project data between firms without having to share an entire project, and gives each team agency over their own project data archive.
Fusion 360 is cloud-based 3D modeling, bringing CAD, CAM, and CAE together in the cloud. It’s an integrated, connected, and accessible platform built for the new ways that products are being designed and made. The software combines industrial and mechanical design, collaboration, and machining in a single package. It enables fast and easy exploration of design ideas for makers with an integrated concept-to-production platform.”
HOW UAE FM COMMUNITY
CONTRIBUTES TO AND BENEFITS FROM EXPO 2020 SUCCESS
by AMIT MADAN, SENIOR BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER, SERVEU
An international event as massive as the ongoing Expo 2020 Dubai, requires holistic and integrated facilities management (FM) solutions. State of the art Facility Management services are imperative to maintain a safe working environment for the event’s participants and visitors. They are vital for the upkeep of the facilities even after the Expo’s conclusion.
As Dubai is hosting the first ever world expo in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, the next six months, will bring approximately 25 million visitors from every corner of the world to visit the 192 pavilions of the participating nations. FM companies have a major role to play in delivering a memorable experience to all exhibitors and visitors and fostering international partnerships.
In the case of, ServeU, we have been selected by some key participants to provide them total FM and HR staffing solutions. Our Exo journey began in 2019 when we won our first HR and Operations contract for the UK pavilion.
The list of our clients has only increased manifold thereafter. Apart from the UK pavilion, we have also become the FM partner for countries such as Italy, Belarus, Kuwait, Hungary, South Africa, El Salvador, Venezuela, Monaco, and Lebanon, and institutions such as the UAE University.
All in all, we have won separate six-month FM contracts worth AED 30 million combined across
19 pavilions. We support operations through our Front of House (FOH) and Back of House (BOH) staffing services. Other solutions include cleaning; security; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP); driver and porter services; landscaping; laundry; pest control; and on-call services.
Our 300 staff are currently serving a total area of 30,000 square meters during the event. Further, to ensure that we meet our obligations effectively, we have collaborated with premier organizations such as Italy-based Beyond Limits, which specializes in project management and operations for global events; training provider Talents UAE; and THA staffing, which specializes in temporary staffing and flexible HR solutions. We have also been given the opportunity to work with the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE), helping us, among others, to raise the bar higher in terms of promoting workers’ welfare in the FM industry.
Our latest string of FM projects has placed us in a position to contribute to the success of both our partnerships and the entire Expo. Our partnerships have enabled us to showcase our technology- and innovation-driven services to the world and shed light on how our solutions can help advance the sustainable development goals of Dubai and the UAE.
Speaking of sustainability, ServeU is the first FM company to use E-Bus, one of the first in the UAE, at the Expo site. We have also deployed our E-Cart to support our operations during the sixmonth event. In addition, true to our sustainability commitment, all ServeU staff possess NFC business cards in line with Dubai’s paperless strategy.
Expo 2020, is undoubtedly a major growth industry driver, bringing many great benefits to the local FM community. Apart from the new business it brings, it also accelerates s exposure to advanced FM infrastructure, boosts the capabilities of local FM players to handle big global events, and enhances the quality of the delivery of FM services.
We have been fortunate to learn and grow more as an organization during the prestigious exposition. Post-Expo, we will not be surprised to witness the rise of new and innovative FM business models and strategies as a result of the industry’s participation in the event. A transformation in the industry’s landscape will bring growth to the UAE and make a difference to the country’s overall progress.
IMPLEMENTING THE GLOBAL STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE
THE FITOUT ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF FIT-OUT WORKS FOR PAVILIONS, STORES, AND RESTAURANTS AT EXPO 2020 SITE
The FITOUT, one of the leading providers of total interior solutions, has fulfilled worldclass fit-out works for two pavilions, 10 stores, and multiple restaurants at the Expo 2020 site in a short span of three to four months. The projects completed according to the highest standards reflect the company’s unwavering commitment to innovation and quality.
Implementing the global standards of excellence, the FITOUT delivered manufacturing, fit-out contracting, design and build, and project management services weeks ahead of the official grand opening of the international Expo 2020 Dubai in October this year.
It provided its interior solutions to the Mobility Pavilion, named Alif, one of the thematic pavilions at the Expo that showcases mobility’s role in human progress; Zoom, the UAE’s leading operator of convenience stores whose outlets are located in all districts and arrival plaza of the Expo site; a luxurious indoor cafe; and popular food halls and other local gems.
Sherif Nagy, General Manager of the FITOUT, said: “In all our projects, we have been consistently exceeding the expectations of our clients. We credit this to our unique operating model and the dedication of our experienced design and management teams. These factors combined with our ability to manage time, cost, and quality give us an edge over our competitors and, for the Expo, have allowed us to finish the fit-out works required by our clients within a short period.”
“We applied extra care in delivering the projects, recognizing that the Expo is a once-in-a-lifetime event not only for our clients but for the entire UAE as well. From design to execution to delivery and completion, every stage of our efforts was done in compliance with internationally recognized benchmarks. In terms of sustainability, we were also not remiss in our commitment to follow key environmental requirements,” Nagy added.
The FITOUT holds various international accreditations, including ISO 9001 (Quality Management System), ISO 14001 (Environment Management System), ISO 45001 (Health & Safety Management System), and FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certificates. In line with the FITOUT’s commitment to green and sustainable construction, it has rolled out several initiatives such as environmental awareness training programs, waste management, sustainable procurement, energy and water conservation, worker welfare, digital transformation, and risk management and internal control.
