Construction Global - December 2017

DAVISREED | WSP | BAHRAIN BAY DEVELOPMENT

w w w.constructionglobal.com

December 2017

THE GREEN

OLYMPICS

TOP10

Construction Companies in Australia Exclusive interview with Guy Barlow, Global Commercial Director

CO$TS – HOW LOW CAN YOU GO?

The source of value

Procurement executives across the globe continue to see the potential they can unlock throughout the supply chain. They understand that business today is about engaging, collaborating, adapting instantly to evolving needs, and finding new sources of value. Getting that value, however, can prove a challenge.

FOREWORD HELLO AND WELCOME to the December edition of Construction Global.

Our cover feature this month looks at productivity in construction.

Aconex’s Global Commercial Director Guy Barlow talks about ‘Connected Cost’, why the days of the spreadsheet should be numbered and how firms can utilise intuitive, cloud-based digital analytics tools with Aconex to streamline document management while mitigating risk and keeping costs down.

This month’s second feature explores how sustainability played a major role in the recent Olympic bids by Paris and Los Angeles.

constructionglobal.com

Our digital reports section also looks at sustainability, with Basefarm discussing Oslo’s new environmentally-friendly data centre, an exclusive look at davisREED Construction’s latest sustainable development in California, and an interview with Karl Luck, Director, Head of Power Systems at WSP, about the company’s innovative data centre cooling system.

We have several other exclusive company insights this month spanning five continents, as well as our list of top 10 Australian construction companies Enjoy the read!

bizclikmedia.com 3

CONTENTS CONTENTS

F E AT U R E S INSIGHT

06

Costs – how low can you go?

36

DavisREED Construction Inc

TECHNOLOGY

16

48

Terracon

The green Olympics

62

Crawford, Murphy & Tilly

Top 10 construction Headlinecompanies for the article in Australia

TOP 10 LIST

24 00

72

Manatee County Utilities

CONTENTS

C O M PA N Y PROFILES

82

Basefarm

USA 36 DavisREED Construction Inc 48 Terracon

92

62 Crawford, Murphy & Tilly 72 Manatee County Utilities

WSP

EUROPE 82 Basefarm

106

92 WSP

Geovert

AUSTRALIA 106 Geovert 116 Digital Realty

MIDDLE EAST 132 Bahrain Bay Development 142 Nassab Contracting

AFRICA 152 Mutipla, Lda

132

164 The Greens

Nassab Contracting

116

Digital Realty

Bahrain Bay Development

152

Mutipla, Lda

142 The Greens

164

INTERVIEW

Co$ts

– how low can you go?

With productivity in construction as low as 30%, Aconex is aiming to buck the trend by offering a total project control solution. Global Commercial Director Guy Barlow talks about Connected Cost, why the days of the spreadsheet should be numbered and how firms can utilise intuitive, cloud-based digital analytics tools with Aconex to streamline document management while mitigating risk and keeping costs down‌ Writ ten by DAN BRIGHTMORE

INTERVIEW

ACONEX HAS BEEN delivering project-wide digital analytics solutions to the construction industry, amongst others, for 17 years. Originating in Australia, and still headquartered there in Melbourne, the company employs a growing global team of 850 delivering more than 16,000 capital projects, serving 70,000 user 8

December 2017

organisations in over 70 countries worldwide while boasting more than $239bn in project value achieved.

Experiencing rapid growth during this time, it has evolved to focus on the document management area of the construction industry in particular, with a Connected Cost project solutions platform currently supplied

“We face the challenge of lowadoption rates with new technologies in the construction industry where in many cases companies are still using outdated legacy tools” – Guy Barlow , Global Commercial Director

to a range of industries, contractors and owners on a variety of projects.

“We face the challenge of lowadoption rates with new technologies in the construction industry where in many cases companies are still using outdated legacy tools,” reveals Guy Barlow, Global Commercial Director for Aconex. “I spent a number of

years with Oracle working on their Primavera business unit so I’m very familiar with this space, because we had a competing product. Now, a lot of those products are built up of old technology, typically legacy on-premise, so the user experience is pretty weak given the prevalence of all the apps we’re so used to. Deploying 9

INTERVIEW the solution, getting it out to the client and running it in a way that can benefit them can be costly and time consuming on these legacy products.”

It’s a challenge Barlow is well placed to take on. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, he was brought on board at Aconex to market and normalise its project controls solution Connected Cost. Though that solution has only been in market for less than a year, it has a great heritage.

Barlow explains the IP was purchased from an existing project controls company and replatformed: “When

“We’re seeing a huge spend in countries like China they’re building something like 75 new airports in the next decade” – Guy Barlow , Global Commercial Director 10

December 2017

we listened to our clients, they told us they wanted a document management solution that could weave in cost so they could capture all the financial data on projects. We brought over the whole engineering team with it and retained that core to service 28 clients around the world in a number of different industries where it can improve the performance on projects.”

The Aconex Connected Cost controls solution is a SaaS (Software as a Service) cloud-based offering which can be up and running in a few hours following a period of bespoke training tailored to meet a client’s needs. “The advantage we have as a company that’s always been in the cloud, is the amazing data sets on the construction industry we can utilise to help our clients learn from previous projects around the world,” says Barlow proudly. “It’s a nice value add to them that we can provide these analytics on what makes for a successful project via such a highly intuitive platform.”

“We’ve been building stuff for thousands of years – from the first pyramid to the Shard there have always been cost-overruns and delays, right?” jokes Barlow. The

Example of Aconex’s software suite problem he highlights is significant.

“We’re often locked into ways that just don’t work or are not innovative.

This industry is one of the slowest to adopt because it’s just been around so long. It’s not like IT, always looking for new and innovative ways to be better.

The productivity rates are really low in construction (30-50%) but digitisation is being adopted faster now than ever before. In our own way, we’re trying to get the industry to move forward

but the reality is a lot of people still run their business on spreadsheets which is not really a good way to run a multi-billion-dollar project.”

It’s billion-dollar projects working with customers like global infrastructure experts AECOM that have helped Aconex forge a formidable reputation. Helping to deliver a high-profile government contract on Boston’s Green Line rail extension, Aconex provided 11

INTERVIEW

project controls for the tracking and reporting of 400 certifiable elements in 12 different disciplines across seven contracts, featuring up to 7,000 drawings per contract and with more than 500 common specifications. “I would use Aconex for every project I have going forward,” says AECOM Vice President Roger Gagnier, praising Aconex for a complete solution that encompasses budget and forecasting, progress and performance, programme 12

December 2017

management, contract administration and payment applications.

Barlow notes a significant move across the industry to gigaprojects like these with many now costing in excess of $50bn. “If we continue to manage projects like these the way we’ve done in the past, the failure rates will increase. We want to show businesses there is a way to escape the low margin, high risk cycle. There’s a need for the industry to continue to look at tech as a way

“You’re talking about building another London in five years, but London’s been 2,000 in the making” – Guy Barlow, Global Commercial Director

to innovate and our Connected Cost solution can be part of that,” he maintains. The company gave the first UK presentation of its latest tech at London’s Project Controls Expo last November. While appreciating that the more exciting areas of development in the construction industry around BIM and AR can really aid efficiency, Barlow believes that a strong project controls solution underpinning innovation can help deliver long term. “Risk management is not that

sexy but managing money on these projects is pretty damn important!”

Warming to this theme, Barlow jokes: “I remember when a billion dollars was a lot of money.” Now, with multi-billion projects commonplace Barlow looks to the east for the next wave of business. “We’re seeing a huge spend in countries like China – they’re building something like 75 new airports in the next decade.

They’re planning projects which will cost anything up to $90bn. Even in 13

INTERVIEW

Aconex Connected Cost

Australia when you look at the LNG (liquified natural gas) projects they’re spending around $50bn. We’re seeing increase in dollar value which is a proxy for complexity – the bigger the project, the riskier and more challenging it can be. If we continue to see business done the way it currently is, on spreadsheets, you’re only going to see a higher number of errors, cost overruns and increased political and regulatory backlash as a result of that,” warns Barlow, who says Aconex is well placed to mitigate these risks. “If these projects around the world grow in size and scope, it really is going to be a wake-up call to get the technology 14

December 2017

and processes right in order to avoid what could be very dangerous and politically significant failures.”

Barlow views the growth in capital projects in Asia (Aconex is working on an $18.5bn project with the Hong Kong Airport Authority), where the territory is “nation building”, as particularly exciting. “When they build a smart city, it’s got to have airports, rail, roads, power, vertical buildings… You’re talking about building another London in five years, but London’s been 2,000 in the making. It’s a big market for us, but Europe and the US are thriving too with HS2 in the UK and existing infrastructures are being upgraded.”

Work on existing infrastructure projects like the M25 in the UK demonstrates the ability of Aconex to bring continuity and stability.

Announced in the summer of 2017, Aconex partnered with Connect Plus to strengthen the highway asset care of one of the longest city bypass routes in the world (188km), used by more than 200,000 vehicles each day, helping to fulfil NEC3 Engineering and Construction Contract projects ranging in value up to £10m.

“With Aconex, we will extend collaboration deeper into the contractor environment and use the platform for day-to-day

communications with stakeholders, including monthly reports of key performance indicators (KPIs) to our community,” says Simon Wilkinson, Commercial Manager for the M25 programme at Connect Plus. “The contractors will have vertically integrated views of all their projects through a live dashboard and be able to control access to their data in a secure environment. They can also mine their data to improve productivity and quality while controlling costs.

Innovation is at the forefront of everything we do, and the Aconex platform will take us to the next level in empowering our community.”

15

TECHNOLOGY

The green Olympics

With both Paris 2024 and LA 2028 embracing the key message from the International Olympics Committee, that a clear and demonstrable legacy is crucial to future candidate bids, we look at how sustainability will play a pivotal role in the hosting responsibilities of each city Written by MARK SPENCE

TECHNOLOGY FOLLOWING THE RECOMMENDATIONS contained in Agenda 2020 by the IOC, and its request that candidate cities must present projects closely adhering to their long-term social, financial and environmental planning needs, now, more than ever, ‘greenness’ will be a vital cornerstone of any winning Olympic bid. With this in mind, what new measures, techniques and approaches can we expect to see implemented from the 2024 cycle onwards?

The history of the Olympics is littered with what could be considered failures. Ghost town Olympic villages, redundant stadiums and a sheer lack of concrete evidence of genuine sustainability from previous Games, highlight some of the issues endured by previous hosts. It’s hardly surprising then that Boston, Budapest, Rome and Hamburg all pulled their bids for the 2024 games midrace, fearing high costs and local opposition.

So, what will Paris and LA do differently?

The Paris masterplan “For us it is quite simple. Our vision is the most sustainable Games ever,” Paris bid co-Chair and member of the IOC’s Sustainability and Legacy Commission, Tony Estanguet, told the South China Morning Post in January. “We will also have low carbon installations for the rare venues we have to build and we will use specific materials to reduce the overall carbon footprint.” These claims are backed up by the Paris committee’s aims in their project program including: 18

December 2017

• 100% bio-based materials • 100%green energy during the Games • Over 26 hectares of biodiversity created on the Olympic sites in Seine-Saint-Denis In addition, architects, Populous and engineers, Egis, will mastermind the construction of 38 Olympic and Paralympic venues across Paris.

Their masterplan will involve the use of a number of existing buildings in the city and see temporary venues installed in some of the capital’s most famous attractions. The Eiffel Tower and ChampsÉlysées as well as the aforementioned River Seine will all become backdrops for events.

Central to the winning Paris bid is the idea of using existing infrastructure, more specifically, venues and temporary structures. Indeed, the only new major construction will be an aquatics centre. Crucially, these ambitions are echoed by the LA 2028 committee’s proposals.

Radical reuse LA 2028 has delivered a comprehensive sustainability program built on the concept of ‘radical reuse’. Essentially this idea focuses on the use of LA’s existing world-class venues, rather than creating any new permanent structures.

Executive Director of Sustainability and Legacy, Brence Culp, told Global Construction: “Radical reuse is the core principle of the LA 2028 Sustainability Program. It refers to LA 2028’s plan that requires no new permanent construction.

19

“In May, the LA Memorial Coliseum (the proposed track and field venue) was officially classed as a ‘zero waste’ sports venue” – Tony Estanguet, Paris bid co-Chair and member of the IOC’s Sustainability and Legacy Commission Every facility of our Games Plan, from sports venues, to the Olympic Village at UCLA, to the Media Village and other media facilities at the University of Southern California (USC), already exists, will exist independently of the Games, or will be temporary. This approach allows LA 2028 to avoid the environmental and carbon impact 20

December 2017

of the large construction projects typically associated with the Games.”

Given that LA won’t be building any new permanent venues, housing or infrastructure, what are the key benefits, with reference to construction? Culp said: “Largescale construction projects are typically the costliest, highest risk and most unpredictable aspects of delivering an Olympic and Paralympic Games. LA 2028 will be low-risk, fiscally responsible and sustainable Games thanks to the ‘radical reuse’ principle. Avoiding the headaches of unpredictable construction projects will allow us to focus on ways of revolutionising the Games experience.”

Some of the LA venues have already stepped up their green credentials. In May, the LA Memorial Coliseum (the proposed track and field venue) was officially classed as a ‘zero waste’ sports venue. Industry standards define zero-waste as recycling, composting or repurposing at least 90% of waste materials. The 93-year-old, 90,000 seat stadium will also undergo a $270 million privately-funded upgrade in time for the 2019 college football season.

85%

The Paris committee have set themselves a lofty target of housing 85% of athletes within 30 minutes of their competition venues in an effort to reduce their travel-related footprint LA 2028 are now working with USC, the Memorial Coliseum operator, to incorporate innovative, impactful green strategies including implementing measures such as 150 ‘eco station’ recycling sites at the Coliseum and on-site waste compactors.

Even when the original announcement of the formation of LA’s Sustainability and Legacy Committee was made at the existing multisport StubHub Center – the bid team’s designated ‘Green Sports Park’ – the event was powered exclusively by

the Center’s energy storage system using a previously installed Tesla battery. The StubHub Center also promises robust water efficiency strategies, an onsite garden including a chicken coop and greenhouse to produce fruit and vegetables for the athletes, beehives and onsite solar.

More than just a spectacle Unpredictable cost outlays and expensive construction overruns have caused many host cities major headaches in recent years. Just ask 21

TECHNOLOGY

Accenture identified four key takeaways for businesses planning transformation: • Transform the core business to provide fuel for growth by identifying what’s needed to stay viable and increase profits.

• Grow the core business to fuel growth in the incumbent business model by identifying what’s needed to drive top-line growth.

• Grow the business by identifying potential new directions and removing obsolete business services.

• Manage the pivot to get the timing, scale and scope of required investments right.

22

December 2017

“LA 2028 has also participated in more than 30 public meetings across the city, providing valuable public conversations and feedback on our sustainability approach” – Tony Estanguet, Paris bid co-Chair and member of the IOC’s Sustainability and Legacy Commission

London and Sochi. One of the most problematic areas is that of building specialised sports facilities in a venue large enough to host an event of this magnitude. Sydney, Athens and Beijing all inherited hefty operational maintenance bills for a series of fixed venues that are now barely used.

The Paris and LA approach is hoping to address these issues.

Extrapolating on the value of sustainability and the amount of work that went into formulating the winning bid, Culp said: “LA 2028’s sustainable approach was the result of engagement with its Sustainability and Legacy Committee – 50+ multi-disciplinary thought leaders, government agencies and

environmental organisations, including World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy and Natural Resources Defense Council. LA 2028’s sustainability approach has already been recognised and endorsed by the California Air Resources Board, California’s clean air agency.

“LA 2028 has also participated in more than 30 public meetings across the city, providing valuable public conversations and feedback on our sustainability approach.”

Now, all that remains to be seen is whether or not Paris and LA have found a genuinely viable solution to the sustainability issues experienced by previous host cities, as well as leading the way for future winning bids.

23

TOP 10

TOP 10 CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES

IN AUSTRALIA

Construction Global takes a look at the biggest construction companies in Australia, which iseekplant.com has listed based on the number of non-residential contracts they were awarded in the country between 2015-16.

Written by OLIVIA MINNOCK

TOP 10

10 BGC (Buckeridge Group of Companies) is a family-owned group which began as a property developer in the 1960s and is now one of the top privately-owned companies in Australia by turnover. The BGC Construction arm was set up in 1994 to meet “growing demand for commercial building construction in Western Australia,� and since then

26

December 2017

has worked on projects spanning the whole country. Projects have included the award-winning Perth Arena. The BGC Group as a whole also includes BGC Contracting which deals with mining and civil construction. In 201516, BGC Construction was awarded non-residential Australian contracts totalling $1.3bn.

09 ADCO delivers projects across Australia. Since its establishment in 1972, it has completed over 3,500 projects valued at over $10bn. ADCO directly employs 580 people and has been rated among the top 50 private companies in Australia. Its clients include federal, state and local government agencies as well as private companies. The company is run by joint chairpersons Bob Hill and

Story of Zambrero Judy Brinsmead. In 2015-16, ADCO was awarded $1.34bn worth of nonresidential Australian contracts. The projects currently under construction are reportedly worth a total of $2bn and these include Smithfield Cinemas and Entertainment Leisure Precinct in New South Wales, as well as the redevelopment of Shepperton Law Courts in Victoria.

27

TOP 10

08 Fulton Hogan Pty Ltd has been around for over 80 years, and currently employs over 6,900 people.

It works in various sectors including transport, mining, water, energy, civil construction and land development infrastructure and operates across New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific. Under CEO Nick Miller, the

28

December 2017

Fulton Hogan Bay of Plenty - New Bitumen Tanker

company was awarded $1.54bn in non-residential Australian contracts from 2015-16. Current projects include the White Rock Wind Farm for Goldwind Australia, set to be completed in 2018. In 2016, Fulton Hogan completed the $1.46mn Perth Airport project.

Our Sustainability Pathway - The future is what we make it

07 John Holland operates across Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, and has been involved in projects in every state and territory in Australia.

Having been founded by its namesake Sir John Holland in 1948, the company was taken over in 1991 by Heytesbury Pty Ltd and in 2000, Leighton holdings acquired majority shares. Then, in April 2015, it was purchased by its current parent company CCCI, the

overseas investment arm of CCCC (China Communications Construction Company Limited). John Holland was awarded $1.57bn worth of nonresidential contracts in Australia for 2015-16 and its largest contract to date was the $2.5bn EastLink, Australia’s largest road infrastructure project, which it was awarded as part of a joint venture with Theiss.

29

TOP 10

Nexus Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Fly Through | ACCIONA

06 Nexus Infrastructure is a consortium of companies including Plenary, Cintra and Acciona which have come together to design, construct and operate the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing which will re-route heavy traffic to ease congestion around the Queensland settlement. This project alone appears responsible for Nexus’ placing on the list, having been

30

December 2017

funded by a joint 80:20 split funding arrangement between the Australian and Queensland Governments, which are in a public-private partnership with Nexus. Nexus’ Construction joint venture with Acciona and Ferrovial will be responsible for designing and constructing the crossing, with a 25-year operation and maintenance contract also having been awarded to Nexus.

Probuild National Profile

05 Since beginning in 1987, ProBuild now has over 1,300 employees. It provides end-to-end service across project delivery, construction planning and management. The Group Managing Director, Simon Gray, brings 30 years of construction leadership experience to the company, which in 2015-16 was awarded $2.38bn worth of projects.

Current projects under construction include the expansion of the

Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre at South Wharf, Victoria, which will expand by 20 sq km to include a 150-space multi-storey carpark. Aside from the non-residential projects cited by iseekplant’s list, ProBuild is also working on Sydney’s tallest ever residential tower, which will be made up of 479 apartments, and reach 67 storeys (235m) in height.

31

TOP 10

04 In 2015-16, Hutchinson Builders was awarded $3.26bn worth of nonresidential contracts in Australia.

Known colloquially and even in part of its branding as “Hutchies”, Australia’s largest privately-owned construction company has been building since 1912. Under Chairman Scott Hutchinson, the business currently employs 1,500 people and works on

32

December 2017

an average of 250 projects every year with an average value of $22mn. Most recently, Hutchies was selected to build stages two and three of Global Switch’s Sydney East Data Centre – upon completion, the centre is set to meet the data requirements of Global Switch customers for the next 20 years.

North West Construction Hub

03 Laing O’Rourke is a privatelyowned, internationally-focussed engineering enterprise. It operates an integrated business model which covers engineering, construction and asset management. John Laing founded a construction business in 1848 which rose to fame in 1919 by building houses for WWI veterans, and in 1956 it completed the world’s first commercial-grade electricitygenerating nuclear power station.

In 1978, R O’Rourke and Son was founded and expanded from a

concrete specialist to an international construction and engineering business which went on to work on London’s Canary Wharf development in 1990, delivering among others the Citigroup building. In 2001, the two companies amalgamated and have since worked on the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic park.

Under current CEO Ray O’Rourke, the company was awarded $5.3bn worth of non-residential contracts in Australia in 2015-16, and currently employs 15,234 people.

33

TOP 10

02

Harpley Project Update November 2017

Lendlease is an international property and infrastructure group operating in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Americas. It was founded in Sydney in 1958 by a Dutch immigrant, Dick Dusseldorf. Today, Lendlease’s headquarters remain in Sydney but it employs 12,000 people around the world with regional head offices in New York, Singapore and London. The company expanded to the US in 1970 and is currently under the leadership of CEO Steve McCann, who assumed the position in 2008. Major regeneration projects carried out

by Lendlease have included Elephant & Castle in London, Victoria Harbour in Melbourne and Riverline in Chicago. In total, Lendlease was awarded $6.57bn worth of non-residential Australian contracts in 2015-16.

34

December 2017

C O N S T R U C T I O N C O M PA N I E S I N A U S T R A L I A

01

CPB - FMBH Level Crossing Removal Project

CPB Contractors Pty Ltd is the construction company of the CIMIC (Construction, Infrastructure, Mining and Concessions) Group, formerly known as Leighton Holdings. It has 23,000 employees working across Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Asia. In 2015-16 it was awarded $13.59bn worth of non-residential construction contracts in Australia. Some iconic projects CPB is currently working on include Sydney’s Northern Beach Hospital for Healthscope Ltd, and the New Royal Adelaide Hospital, which is said to be the biggest infrastructure project in South Australia. CPB’s current Managing Director is Juan Santamaria.

35

T CREA IVE

CONSTRUCTION

IN CALIFORNIA Written by Fran Roberts Produced by Tom Venturo

DAVISREED CONSTRUCTION

davisREED Construction is helping one local resort leverage on the high demand for hotel use in Napa Valley by building a new 145-guestroom complex, due to be opened in 2018

“W

e operate in most of California’s premium resort and commercial hubs, including San Diego, our corporate headquarters, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento and Lake Tahoe,” observes Derek Davis, President of davisREED Construction.

Just one of many examples is a well-known resort and spa project that davisREED Construction is currently building in California’s wine country. The project will complement the existing resort and spa by

38

December 2017

introducing new amenities that guests and residents can enjoy, including wine tasting rooms, an expansive event lawn for social gatherings and concerts, a demonstration kitchen, and boutique market.

It is the largest project in Sonoma County today, and it renders davisREED well positioned to service

USA

“We operate in most of California’s premium resort and commercial hubs, including San Diego” – Derek Davis, President of davisREED Construction

other similar projects for many decades to come. The project, a four-story structure, will feature 145 guest rooms inclusive of 39 suites, an outdoor pool area, and a food and wine village. Financed by the resort’s owner, the project is worth approximately US$64mn to davisREED Construction.

“The property is really a wine resort. It is a 155,000 sq ft, fourstory structure. The ground floor will be public spaces with three floors above that are guestrooms,” advises Bill Lonigan, davisREED’s Project Manager. “It has a unique California wine country, old European look to it with the stucco and the stonework.”

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

39

CA License # 934181

Performance & Quality – Build It Before We Get There

With offices serving Northern and Southern California

www.ironmechanical.com

SEE OUR PORTFOLIO

To make your next project a success, please contact Iron Mechanical at (916) 341-3530.

“Martin’s Steel Works built its reputation on excellence in fabrication and erecting, with a constant focus on serving our customers.”

We pride ourselves with being dependable, delivering quality, and safe service.

Our capabilities include: seismic retrofit, structural steel, architectural & ornamental, stairs, railings and misc. metals.

Learn More

7260 Lewis Road, Suite B, Vacaville, CA 95687 P: 707-678-6120 E: Bids@MartinsSteelWorks.com w w w .Ma rti n sSte e l Works.c om

USA

davisREED was proud to be one of San Diego’s fastest growing private companies, ranking number 8 by the San Diego Business Journal

Concrete progress With the expansion due to be opened to the public in summer 2018, construction work commenced onsite in September 2016. “The construction process began with levelling a site of 9.3 acres. Once the site was levelled, it was a matter of engineering layout, digging of foundations and pouring the slab-on-grade so that we could begin to pour the cone columns and sheer walls to the second floor, which is a concrete 14-inch podium deck,” comments Lonigan.

Despite some climatic setbacks,

out of the project team’s control, davisREED Construction is adept under such conditions, and remains on track to still deliver the project on time.

“The challenge that we’re facing right now with the project is that we had the worst rainfall on record the last fall and winter, so that has pushed the job behind schedule,” observes Lonigan.

“We’ve been working overtime to pull that rain-loss time back. Right now, we’ve pulled it back to about a week and a half and we’re on track be able to meet the deadlines. It has been very hectic as far as getting there,

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

41

Call us today: 916-774-0405 Full scope architectural sheet metal company specializing in metal roofing systems, metal siding and ACM panels.

SHEET METAL FLASHINGS | PARAPET COPINGS | HVAC METAL WALL PANEL SYSTEMS | METAL ROOFING | ACM PANELS 10632 Industrial Ave., Suite 100, Roseville, CA 95678

|

Discover more:

www.soldate.net

WHATEVER THE PROJECT, WE’VE GOT THE EXPERIENCE A p rtn r n th v REED ng T m, Weckworth Electric Group always strives to achieve two very important goals: T v n t k y objective on each project!

t which remains our

If we accomplish these goals, which is our company promise, we will have succeeded in our quest for success for the entire building team…

R����� R. W�������� / H����� J. W�������� J���� R. W�������� – Weckworth Electric Group, Inc.

CONTACT OUR TEAM TODAY: r

@

k

rthgr

p. m | h

n @

1261 Hawks Flight Court Suite A El Dorado Hills, CA 95762

916-933-3066

.

k

rthgr

p.

m

k

rthgr

p. m | j

n@

k

rthgr

p. m

USA

Bill Lonigan Senior Project Manager

but we’re making good progress.”

The delay affected the construction of the podium deck. In North America, podium buildings, which include multiple stories of wood over an elevated concrete podium deck, have become especially prevalent.

Developers are turning to wood designs that offer greater density and a higher percentage of rentable square footage than traditional garden-style apartments while also

being cost-effective – both in terms of material and labour. The other benefits of wood, such as speed of construction, design flexibility, and reduced environmental impact add to the value proposition.

“Once we got that finished, we started the framing,” states Lonigan.

“It’s a wood frame from the podium deck level up three floors. If you look at it from the air, the building looks

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

43

DAVISREED CONSTRUCTION

THE PROJECT WILL FEATURE 145 GUEST ROOMS INCLUSIVE OF 39 SUITES

• PROJECT WORTH APPROX. US$64MN • IT IS A 155,000 SQ FT, FOURSTOREY STRUCTURE

• A SITE OF 9.3 ACRES • CONSTRUCTION WORK COMMENCED ONSITE IN SEPTEMBER 2016 • DEADLINE OF 12 JUNE 2018

44

December 2017

USA

“I would say this project is one of our major milestones” – Bill Lonigan, Senior Project Manager

like a W. One area that’s U-shaped surrounds the events lawn and the events room with a bocce court, plazas and fountains. The other U-shaped complex surrounds the main pool, spa, entry area, living room and the fitness area.”

Unique buildings One of the highlights of the new facility will be the tasting rooms. Well-known, established outfits are among the wineries set to have a tasting room onsite. The founders of the winery are also the brains behind the resort, which originally opened in 2006.

“I think the buildings are frankly very unique,” comments Lonigan.

“They have a series of tasting rooms throughout the ground floor that will be leased out to different venues so that they can bring their wine products in for people sampling and

purchasing. Guests can go from tasting room two to tasting room three, and then over to number four and right on through 10 tasting room venues. One of the venues will be selling a locally brewed beer in addition to all the wine products.”

There will be plenty to keep visitors busy away from the wine, too. “They have activities onsite like pool, a spa, fitness facilities, bocce ball courts.

Across the street at their existing facility, they have an underground cave tasting room with pools and other sports activities like bowling,” notes Lonigan. “It’s going to be a real hub of a venue for those who are really into wine, wine tasting and enjoying the Napa experience.”

A major milestone Of course, none of this would be possible without the staff at

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

45

DAVISREED CONSTRUCTION

davisREED Construction. “We have a young team as far as the engineers go. We have a Senior Engineer who’s been out of school for about six years, as well as the Project Manager to assist me,” Lonigan advises. “He’s got expertise throughout important projects as well as other endeavours. One of my Superintendents has vast expertise after working for the big companies

46

December 2017

throughout the United States. The other Superintendent has local experience in doing these kinds of projects, so we have a good team.” davisREED Construction places a particular emphasis on hospitality projects, making the firm well placed to handle the project – especially with its two offices in California, with the Sacramento branch located just under an hour from the project site. “I would say the resort is one of our major milestones in this area. davisREED Construction just built a couple of major hotels in the Bay Area, prior to coming up to Napa for this project, and we’re building all kinds of hospitality work,” explains Lonigan.

In order to deliver major projects such as this one, davisREED Construction is constantly investigating new methods and ideas, ensuring that they benefit the client. “We’re working on trying to come up with value engineering and scope reduction costs to benefit the owner while not losing the characteristics or the aesthetics of the projects,” observes Lonigan.

USA

“We worked very closely with them to cut out any of the excess fat or dollars that’s been designed into this project.”

This focus on client benefit also helps to shape the davisREED Construction sustainability philosophy.

“We are totally invested 100% in sustainability work. We make sure that every element of the project is in line with the standards, codes and sustainability procedures that are ongoing,” reveals Lonigan. “We even try to advance ideas when it comes to sustainability to benefit the owner over the long run with their facilities.”

Future plans Whilst hospitality forms the core business of davisREED Construction, the company is well diversified in other areas of endeavours.

“Our plans for the future are to continue in the hospitality segment but also within other areas besides hospitality like apartments, commercial structures and educational buildings,” concludes Lonigan.

“We are totally invested 100% in sustainability work.

We make sure that every element of the project is in line with the standards, codes and sustainability procedures” – Bill Lonigan, Senior Project Manager

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

47

BRINGING FOUNDATION

to an emerging energy market Written by Dale Benton Produced by Tom Venturo

TERRACON

Through its approach to innovation and collaboration, Terracon continues to provide key engineering solutions to clients in a booming market

T

erracon has been delivering consulting engineering services to clients for more than 50 years. The company, based in Olathe, Kansas, provides geotechnical, environmental, and materials testing services across a number of strategic business sectors, including power generation, oil and gas, transportation and facilities.

Over the last two years, the company has experienced significant growth in one particular sector, power generation and transmission, recording a growth rate of 20% year-on-year.

Heading up the company’s Power

50

December 2017

Generation and Transmission team is Blair Loftis, an experienced project manager having worked in the fields of both construction management, financial optimisation and operational risk management within an electrical utility.

Having that experience in risk management, particularly in the engineering construction industry, proves key to Loftis’s strategic decision making.

“Anybody who wants to get into energy, I recommend that they get to the field first,” he says. “Spend some time in construction, understand firsthand how projects are executed and then you begin to see the relationship between the design process and implementation of that process in the field. If the design isn’t prepared with consideration for how it is going to be built you are headed for problems.”

Loftis feels the power generation market, renewables in particular, is undergoing something of a gold rush, as more and more companies are investing heavily in ways to find more efficient and ultimately costeffective ways to generate power.

USA

This brings about its own form of pressures, as the demand for finding the solution increases and the timeframes for those solutions grows shorter and shorter.

Terracon’s team encompasses more than 4,000 employees in more than 140 offices, so project management proves key in ensuring that each and every one of those employees are being effectively utilised.

“It’s about ensuring that we can pull the right resources from across our enterprise and use them effectively,” says Loftis.

“Having the right perspective as to understanding where your resources are and how to best utilize them, that’s key. It’s a challenge that affects not only us but the wider engineering space.”

As the company has operated for more than 50 years, delivering consistent success and quality of service, Loftis knows where the company’s strengths lie.

“We’ve really focused on what we are good at. We don’t try and be something we are not, we focus on our

It’s about ensuring that we can pull the right resources from across our enterprise and use them effectively

Blair Loftis Vice President National Director, Power Generation & Transmission at Terracon

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

51

TERRACON

strengths and that is in geo-design, and more importantly, finding where we as a business can offer the most efficacy and value for our clients.”

The wind energy generation market is an increasingly growing one. Loftis notes that 50% of the capex within the construction cycle of a wind farm goes into the turbines themselves, with the remaining 50% going into “balance of plant” (BOP) – roadways, conductor systems and other infrastructure elements.

The key for Terracon is finding where it can add value into that construction cycle, and Loftis has located it in the foundations.

At a time where the focus on wind energy generation is growing, the result of this increased demand has been to increase the size of the turbines, the height of the tower, and the length of the blades. In turn, the foundation system grows larger and more expensive.

The market is moving towards larger turbines for land based applications; from a typical size in the 2 MW family to turbines rated

52

December 2017

at 3 to 3.5 MWs. Traditionally, the turbines have been constructed with a Gravity Spread foundation design, but with the additional mass at the top of the tower from these larger machines the industry was ripe for a paradigm shift. “We needed to introduce a means of reducing the huge quantities of concrete and steel required for the foundation systems associated with the preference for bigger turbines”, says Loftis.

- “50% of the CAPEX is BOP, and 25% of that is in the foundations, so the challenge then became working out what we can do to optimise the foundation design in order to reduce the overall cost of the construction,” he says.

More than

4,000

employees in over 140 offices

USA

P&H TPFoundation Looking Down

The solution? The Patrick & Henderson (P&H) Tensionless Pier Foundation, a design that requires a third of the amount of concrete and steel and requires 25% the excavation and backfill when constructing these larger wind turbines. According to Loftis a small experienced crew can easily complete five foundations per week under favourable site conditions. Terracon works closely with qualified P&H foundation construction contractors such as Blount Construction and JBS Energy Solutions to make sure that the

design aligns with the construction execution process. Other large EPC firms such as Blattner Energy, Inc. also has extensive historical experience with the P&H foundation and just recently completed a project with the P&H foundation solution in Northern California. “The P&H foundation has a lot of attributes that reduce the risk profile when you compare it to the traditional Gravity Spread foundation.

There have been fatigue failures in the spread foundations. Some of these leading to catastrophic failure

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

53

TERRACON

From the basement of P&H TP

54

December 2017

USA

of the foundation system. The P&H foundation is constantly under compression so there is no fatigue generated by alternating tension and compression that occurs in the gravity spread” says Loftis.

“So not only the cost savings, but the reduction of risk has made this design more favourable to wind farm owners and those investing in them.”

In addition to this “tensionless pier foundation” Terracon offers two other P&H foundation options, the P&H Rock Anchor foundation and the P&H Soil Anchor foundation. This provides for alternative cost saving foundation options even in rare circumstances when the tensionless pier foundation might not be compatible with site conditions.

Terracon formed an exclusivity agreement with four other companies working as a tight team- Williams Form Engineering Corp., Contech Engineered Solutions, Patrick & Henderson and Structural Observations Services - to be the only provider of the P&H solution in the wind generation market.

It is through this collaborative effort that Terracon establishes itself as a key player in the market, one that stands tall amongst any of its closest competitors.

“It’s an example of the level of innovations that we bring to all our markets, not just wind, and that helps us build client relationships,” says Loftis. “We bring efficiency and economy and locate the value proposition like no other, and through this approach

To make things functionally redundant and ask the question, how can it be done better? How can we improve our efficiency? Let’s change the game completely. That’s what Terracon is all about – Blair Loftis, Vice President - National Director, Power Generation & Transmission at Terracon

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

55

Solar Pile Driving Specialists

>

> 2220 E. 8th Street, Odessa, TX 79761

432-813-2248

Estimating@housersolar.com

WWW.HOUSERSOLAR.COM

Williams Form Engineering Corporation has been providing threaded steel bars and accessories for the construction industry for over 95 years.

FOR ALL INQUIRIES, CONTACT US: Phone: (616) 866-0815 | Fax: (616) 866-1890 Email: williams@williamsform.com

8165 Graphic Drive, Belmont, MI 49306 www.williamsform.com

USA

we partner with clients to help them achieve their strategic goals.”

While Terracon can point to the fact that no other company can offer the P&H foundation solution in the wind market, it does have other competitors in the solar space and electrical transmission. But the company has one advantage that no other can compete with, and it comes with experience.

“We have over 50 years of geotechnical data from our work with clients throughout our history,” says Loftis. “That works out at approximately $1bn worth of geotechnical data that we have - no one else has that volume or coverage of data.”

Terracon has been investing $2mn each year in digitizing that data which will consequently provide greater access to it, both internally and externally on the client side. This allows for Terracon, when working with a client, to mine its data at no capital costs. Without sending a single piece

of equipment into the field, Terracon can already inform the decision and design process for its clients. But what if the company has to enter the field?

“If we go out into the field, our repository of proprietary data helps us to economize,” says Loftis.“For example, in characterizing the route for a new electrical transmission line, depending upon the level of our historic data coverage, we won’t need to advance a boring every mile of the way, we can do it every other mile or more. It quite literally cuts the time and cost in half for many projects, allowing the client to better understand the risks and opportunities from the very beginning at a much more effective cost. No one else in the market can offer that value.” This he says is an example of “methods consulting,” rather than just relying upon a wrote

Founded in

1965 w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

57

TERRACON

set of broad based industry practices.

In the solar market Terracon also excels by determining the minimum required embedment depth for the steel tracker foundations. This is extremely important says Loftis, “Take for example a 100 MW utility-scale solar farm. If we can minimize the required foundation embedment depth by 12 inches that conserves over 15 linear miles of steel. A significant reduction in construction CAPEX.”

Terracon’s competitors strive to do the same, but the advantage is the expanse of Terracon’s enterprise.

With more than 140 offices local knowledge of soil and geotechnical conditions make Terracon stand apart from the rest. “We have participated in the design of solar projects in 44 states in the U.S., in Canada, Mexico, and LATAM, it is our local expertise that has enabled us to gain this level of market share”, he says.

Blount Contracting is a full service civil construction company specializing in mass excavation, shoring, renewable energy – civil grading and P & H foundation installation.

blountco.com 1353 S Vista Rd Apache Junction AZ 85119 • 480-985-2112 • info@blountco.com

USA

Terracon Imagine

P&H TP-Setting the Bolt Cage

True to the theme of innovation, Terracon has designed a proprietary system to test and evaluate the load forces of the solar foundations.

Terracon’s mobile load testing tripod meets the ASTM standards for testing of deep pile foundations.

This, according to Loftis, provides for a higher level of data accuracy and reproducibility, thus allowing for a higher acuity of design optimization. Equally important is Terracon’s partnerships with

qualified and experienced foundation installers like Houser Solar Services (HSS). “Using construction grade equipment and experienced partners to install the test piles is essential to producing quality data”, says Loftis.

It would be easy for Loftis to rest on his laurels. After all, Terracon is a market leader and utilizes innovation that others can only follow behind.

Instead, Loftis actively seeks out disruption in order to continuously push the boundaries as to what

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

59

TERRACON

Terracon can offer to its clients.

“As the market heads towards bigger foundation designs and larger turbines, the older, more commonly used foundations become functionally redundant,” he says. “And that’s what we want to do. To make things functionally redundant and ask the question, how can it be done better?

How can we improve our efficiency?

Let’s change the game completely.

That’s what Terracon is all about.”

As part of a five-firm collaborative, Loftis owes a lot of his success in power generation and transmission to the collective efforts of that team. Loftis notes of the sense of brotherhood across the partnership, ensuring that each partner’s interests are accounted for,

considered and accommodated.

“We share in the risk and we share in the reward,” says Loftis.

And it’s an approach that extends outward to the client relationships.

“We focus on our client’s biggest challenges, those hurdles keeping them from getting to the next step.

Our goal is to assist in maximizing the prudent allocation of project development capital while minimizing capital at risk.” However, Loftis is not completely averse to risk. “Our clients must be willing to take a risk to reach the next level. We will partner with them in managing the risk, but if their risk tolerance is too low, then the prospects for reward are bound to be lacklustre. To practice industry disruption you must

We focus on our clients’ biggest challenges, those hurdles keeping them from getting to the next step – Blair Loftis, Vice President - National Director, Power Generation & Transmission at Terracon

60

December 2017

USA

P&H TPConcrete Cap

be willing to face risk, look forward with optimism, and burn the boats behind you. These are the pillars of progress through innovation.”

Blair is an ultra-athlete. He has run to the top of the highest mountain in the conterminous United States and run solo from the south rim of the Grand Canyon to the north rim and back again…in a single day. With four busy children, youngest with Down Syndrome and a wife who is a nationally acclaimed trial attorney he doesn’t get much sleep. When young scientist and engineers ask to join Blair’s team he asks one twopart question…Are you an athlete or an insomniac? Beating the punch to their response he offers that if you are both then you will be a rock star in the power market.

P&H TPAssembly of Bolt Cage w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

61

CRAWFORD, MURPHY & TILLY:

First class

water treatment Written by Dale Benton Produced by Tom Venturo

USA

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

63

C R A W F O R D , M U R P H Y & T I L LY

Crawford, Murphy & Tilly has brought decades of industry expertise in planning, design, and construction observation phase services on projects that range from simple to complex

A

t the very core of Crawford, Murphy & Tilly (CMT), lies a promise to provide superior professional engineering services that are responsive to client’s needs and expectations, all the while providing a working environment that fosters the growth and development of its employees.

As an engineering, planning and design company, driven to build and manage infrastructure to enrich a community, having that responsive and flexible approach to clients is key, particularly when that infrastructure project is the expansion of a major water treatment facility that’s been in operation since 1970.

“We’ve always been a firm that puts the client first. We listen, we evaluate the need and the skill that’s required, and then we provide a

64

December 2017

design around that, one that will provide long-term value,” says Christina Crites, Senior Engineer and Project Manager, CMT. Crites currently heads up a water resources team at the company’s current project, expanding the Sugar Creek Wastewater Plant, Springfield, Illinois. The project? To design, plan and construct a major expansion at the plant that will see the plant’s current rating of 10mn gallons per day (MGD)and a peak flow of 25MGD increase to 15MGD with a peak flow of 37.5MGD. This is no small feat, given the fact that the plant has received no major upgrades in over 30 years and the main client is the Springfield state itself.

Crites has a strong background in mechanical engineering and environmental studies and actually

USA

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

65

C R A W F O R D , M U R P H Y & T I L LY

cut her teeth with CMT, working at a CMT-designed plant prior to coming into the businesses and being the lead engineer herself.

This gives Crites a unique understanding - she has been on the other side of the fence as an operator, and she knows what makes the ideal partner and contractor.

“The Sugar Creek project contains very open SCADA infrastructure for the treatment process, which makes it very operator friendly,” she says.

“The operators can adjust it, do what they need to do with relative ease.

This is essential in creating a strong relationship with the operations staff because they can see it, assess it and modify the infrastructure to fit their needs at any time.”

This helps foster relationships centred around collaboration and allows CMT to operate as an extension of the client. Crites looks to create a value conscious team, one that spends money as though it

PolymerSolutions X Dry or wet polymer preperation, activation and mixing systems X Pre-engineered, custom or fully integrated systems X Call about our portable trial program 412-787-2484

| Metering Pumps | Process Instrumentation | Engineered Pump Systems | Polymer Systems | www.prominent.us

USA

were clients’ money throughout the entire design, planning, construction and operation.

“It’s about making sure that we deliver the end results that we promise, but more importantly, the end results that the clients need. We work to meet those expectations and we work harder to exceed them,” she says.

Sugar Creek will be the second wastewater treatment plant that CMT has worked on in Springfield, having previously completed an earlier, much larger wastewater treatment project at Spring Creek.

This allows Crites and CMT to bring valuable experience that will create a much more efficient and effective process at Sugar Creek and it starts with having the right people in place.

“It’s funny actually,” notes Crites. “Sugar Creek has been a lot easier because, being a biological nutrient removal plant, there was a lot of continuity, particularly in staff.”

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

67

C R A W F O R D , M U R P H Y & T I L LY

This continuity in staff was enabled through an initiative at the previous project that saw CMT partner younger, ambitious up and coming engineers with more senior staff, fostering a workplace that enabled these staff to achieve and to understand the processes involved in plant construction and operation.

“When Sugar Creek came around, our staff were in the ideal position to lead the way. It was all around providing the right environment

68

December 2017

and providing opportunities, giving them the guidance they need to get to the point where they become their own leaders,” says Crites.

“The whole process has been a tremendous opportunity for a whole future generation of CMT staff, seeing through the whole process of planning, design and construction of a major project – one that was actually twice the size of Sugar Creek.”

CMT works closely with the State

USA

Crawford, Murphy & Tilly water treatment facility

of Illinois on the delivery of the Sugar Creek plant expansion as well as maintaining a strong relationship with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). The relationship with the IEPA has proved crucial, as CMT worked to obtain a re-rating of the plant’s permitted capacity.

But for Crites, that relationship extends beyond simple certifications and approvals.

“Sure, we work very closely in order to ensure that things are

permitted and signed off correctly, but it has been much more than that,” she says. “From a regulatory perspective, there are going to be a number of environmental changes on the horizon, so having that relationship there will help give us flexibility in our future projects.”

With construction now complete and CMT targeting a late 2017 operation date, the company will not simply put down its tools and wash its hands of the project. CMT

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

69

C R A W F O R D , M U R P H Y & T I L LY

“We’ve always been a firm that puts the client first.

We listen, we evaluate the need and the skill that’s required, and then we provide a design around that, one that will provide long-term value” – Christina Crites, Senior Engineer and Project Manager, CMT

provides added value, assisting with the start-up, ensuring that the plant will operate to the specifications and expectations as promised from day one of design.

There’s just one complication; with any water treatment facility one must account for extreme weather events, but the only issue is that a designer can never fully prepare for one.

“You can’t test storm mode until an actual storm happens,” says Crites. “There’s always going to be changes and tweaks that will happen, but even then, you’re just waiting for the next storm or extreme event to occur. You cannot simply walk away from a plant like this.”

With Sugar Creek operational, Crites turns her attention ever so slightly to the future and what lessons can be taken

70

December 2017

away from this project.

“Sugar Creek is a stepping stone really,” says Crites. “We really cut our teeth on this project in the nutrient removal process, something that’s going to become more and more prominent in future plants of this nature, so this type of work will only continue.

“The more we know and learn from Sugar Creek, the more we can understand what our clients want. Everything we’ve learned from Spring Water and Sugar Creek will guide us into the future.”

USA

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

71

Developing

water solutions

for the future

The upgrade of Manatee County’s water systems reinforces the County’s status as a leader in the field. Water Division Manager Mark Simpson discusses the ongoing development Written by Catherine Sturman Produced by Tom Venturo

M A N AT E E C O U N T Y U T I L I T I E S

T

he need for clean water worldwide remains vital, and this is never truer than in the US. With an increasingly growing population, it has become an area of prominence and all the more integral to President Trump’s development of America’s infrastructures.

“Utilities are focusing on replacing existing and aging infrastructure, whether that be out in the system, or actually at treatment facilities themselves,” explains Mark Simpson, Water Division Manager at Manatee County Utilities. “People see the need to reinvest where there are limited resources, and management programs make sure that we receive the most efficient and effective use of infrastructure investment.”

At present, residents of Manatee County, Sarasota County, the cities of Palmetto and Bradenton, and the municipalities on the barrier islands obtain all or a portion of their water supply via the Lake Manatee Water Treatment Plant. Catering to over 350,000 civilians and processing over 40mn gallons of water each day, the facility and subsequent filtration

74

December 2017

technology is something of which the company places increased emphasis with regards to maintenance. With the dam now reaching its 50th year, “maintaining the structure means investing in that infrastructure to make sure it can last another 50 to 100 years,” Simpson adds.

The upgrade of the facility will therefore support Manatee County’s ambitions to deliver clean water for the foreseeable future and ensure the county remains compliant with ever more strict US Environmental Protection Agency requirements.

The Plant has two treatment segments – one for its surface water (54 MGD capacity) and the other for groundwater (30 MGD capacity).

The upgrade will include a new Ultrafiltration Membrane System (UF), which will be implemented through the company’s partnership with GE Water & Process Technologies, for the surface water treatment segments.

The agreement will see the installation of 12 membrane trains, retrofitted into existing sand filter basins. Being able to operate the UF in a partial siphon mode will ultimately create savings

“I experienced Hurricane Irma, where the project required around-the-clock access and action by our teams in order to make sure that we keep that reservoir together” – Mark Simpson, Water Division Manager at Manatee County Utilities with escalating pumping costs. The plant is designed to operate at over 96% recovery upon completion.

“The ZeeWeed 1000 membrane consistently outperforms conventional filtration technology while meeting or exceeding regulatory requirements, regardless of source water quality,” comments Kevin Cassidy, Global leader of engineered systems for GE Water & Process Technologies.

“It produces superior water quality and is virtually unaffected by variable raw water quality, which makes it the ideal technology to use for the upgrade of the Lake Manatee Water Treatment Plant.”

Mark Simpson Water Division Manager at Manatee County Utilities

Mark Simpson is the Water Division Manager of the Utilities Department for the Manatee County Government, Manatee County, Florida. He has been with Manatee County for over 35years, as a Laboratory Technician, Chemist and Laboratory Supervisor prior to becoming the Division Manager. He worked in the Manatee County Utilities Department Quality Control Laboratory for the majority of his career, with major focus on researching the prevention and removal of algal byproducts from potable source surface water. He is the author or co-author of over 25 technical papers, research reports, and presentations to professional conferences covering subjects including water quality, treatment, and laboratory techniques.

M A N AT E E C O U N T Y U T I L I T I E S

“People are focusing on replacing existing and aging infrastructure, whether that be out in the system, or actually at treatment facilities themselves” – Mark Simpson, Water Division Manager at Manatee County Utilities

Further developments Another improvement has led to the construction of a new Biological Treatment Unit (BTU), which will house a new concrete facility, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and electrical system, concrete filter tanks, biological treatment filters and an on-site sanitary sewer collection system.

“The BTU is primarily designed for the removal of off-taste causing compounds created by algal growth in Lake Manatee,” Simpson notes.

“These compounds have not been found to be harmful, but they do create an earthy, musty taste that customers find objectionable, and it causes them to question the water quality. It also leads to additional expenses such as purchasing additional bottled water.

76

December 2017

“So, the BTU allows us to remove these compounds at a much greater efficiency than our current method of adding powdered activated carbon (PAC),” he adds.

“The cost for PAC use at our facility is at a million dollars a year.”

Additionally, both construction projects will be integrated with the transformation and replacement of the SCADA control system, which allows Manatee County to control the plant from the central hub. “This upgrade will occur in the next year and a half,” adds Simpson, “as well as a maintenance management system (CMMS), which will enable the organization to optimize its reinvestment resources in both the water system and the waste water system.”

USA

BTU construction

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

77

M A N AT E E C O U N T Y U T I L I T I E S

Lake Manatee WTP Aerial

78

December 2017

USA

Ongoing support Manatee County has built strong relationships with external partners throughout the ongoing development works. Carollo Engineers, in conjunction with GE, are completing the design for the UF project and are now working on Manatee County’s SCADA management system. Vogel Brothers is the general contractor building the BTU.

The Lake Manatee Water Treatment plant caters for up to 350,000 civilians, processing over 40 million gallons of water each day “This is an opportunity for local workers to work on a project that will have a positive effect on the community, and enhance the quality of life for civilians,” Simpson says.

However, the upgrade of Manatee County’s water treatment facility is by no means low risk, nor an easy task. With the potential to impact thousands of civilians, Simpson

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

79

M A N AT E E C O U N T Y U T I L I T I E S

Manatee County Back to the Future

BTU construction

the right fit makes all of the difference SUEZ uses innovative technologies to extend the life of existing infrastructure.

Our experts will collaborate with your organization to develop creative ways to improve water quality and increase capacity.

Congratulations to Manatee County on their drinking water plant upgrade using Zeeweed* Ultrafiltration membranes. *Trademark of SUEZ; may be registered in one or more countries.

To learn more about our products and services, visit www.suezwatertechnologies.com @suezWATERTECH SUEZ - Water Technologies & Solutions

USA

explains that such pressure can be daunting. The operation runs 24-7, even in adverse weather conditions, such as with Hurricane Irma, which heavily impacted ongoing operations.

“Maintaining operations is a consistent challenge,” he states.

“During Hurricane Irma everybody was on emergency operation protocols, which required aroundthe-clock access and action by our teams in order to make sure that we kept the dam together and our facility operational.”

Long-term prospects Working within the water industry for over 30 years, Simpson has seen how the industry has transformed over the years, but stresses how it remains an important subject not only in the US, but on a global scale. Nonetheless, he

concludes that going forward, the way in which water projects are financed and agreed upon is also set to change.

“Over the next five years, the water industry will continue to move towards looking for additional associates through public-private partnerships for reinvestment in infrastructure.

“What will happen then is the focus on how we can adjust, react or change our systems to make them less susceptible to climate change and sea level rise. Especially here in Florida, there’s going to be a big impact on that, where a large portion of the population of the United States lives within several miles of the coast line.

“I think that that’s something that’s really going to take off in the next five years. You’ll also see a lot of work done as to what utilities can do and plans to implement some of those changes.”

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

81

A SOLID BASE FOR MISSION CRITICAL Written by Fran Roberts Produced by Lewis Vaughan

83

An in-depth Infonetics Research survey found that companies were losing as much as US$100mn per year to downtime, making Basefarm’s guarantee of 100% uptime all the more important, especially when it owns the largest data centre in its home city of Oslo. Erik de Jager, VP Data Centre Services, explains more

“

Colocation and data centre services are a part of Basefarm’s core business,” explains Erik de Jager, VP Data Centre Services at Basefarm, which was founded in 2000 in Norway as a specialist in high-availability managed hosting.

“Basefarm has unique qualities, with these we expanded into foreign markets. We went first out to Sweden in 2003. Then in 2010, we entered the Dutch market. Recently, we acquired a company called The Unbelievable Machine Company, so we’re now also represented in Germany and Austria. As we progress, we always want to improve continuously, whilst maintaining all qualities. We aim to be specialists in our field.”

84

December 2017

As a Dutchman, de Jager originally came on board in 2009 to help establish the company’s Amsterdam office. Over the years, he has held several roles within the company, both in the Netherlands and in Norway, before beginning his current role at the beginning of 2017. “I came back to Norway again having been given the opportunity of further developing the colocation services for Basefarm Norway,” he explains.

HIGH-END SERVICES, 24/7 With the current rise of data centres, especially in Norway, colocation is hotter than ever. As such, the need for high quality data centres providing flexible

EUROPE

Erik de Jager, Basefarm’s VP of Data Centre Services w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

85

Your Complete Solution Partner

www.dct.no

3 reasons for choosing Excool:

Quality in Design Quality in Manufacture Quality in Service and Support Installations around the world: Germany, Netherlands, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, Chile and more Excool sites in the UK than the competition combined

Data Center Technology AS is a complete supplier of data centers solutions. Professional planning, designing, and selecting the right equipment for data centers helps eliminate risk of downtime and loss of critical data.

Data Center Technology AS was recently included as part of the Bulk Group of companies.

Operations, Connectivity, Project, Property and Sales are all departments within DigiBulk, the digital logistics part of Bulk Infrastructure.

I simplify.

Complete, customised data centre cabinet solutions

The future is a fully connected world, and the backbone of this complex infrastructure requires an expert provider who will listen to its customers’ unique needs.

As your data centre becomes more complex, the need for a simple white space management strategy becomes increasingly critical.

And, at the heart of this lies the data centre cabinet ecosystem.

Find out how the Chatsworth Products’ (CPI) data centre cabinet ecosystem can help you at pages.chatsworth.com/white-paper-offer.

www.chatsworth.com

Hans Møller Gasmanns vei 9, 0598 OSLO Tel: +47 2275 1660 - salg@dct.no

EUROPE

solutions has never been greater.

Edge computing and IoT solutions put high demands on computing infrastructure that exists close to the sources of data. Basefarm’s newly opened datacentre in Oslo is designed and built for tomorrow’s demands. The new centre called OSL5, is the largest data centre with tier III standard in the greater Oslo area with a data floor surface of 6,000 sqm. The centre is fully redundant and certified to all important security standards. “The business of our customers relies not only on our stability but also our efficiency,” remarks de Jager.

Basefarm gives clients access to modern, secure and environmentally friendly data centre capacity centrally located in the Oslo area.

“In this facility, we have ample

place for colocation customers and ourselves, of course, because we want the best data centre services available for our own managed services as well.

This facility has the same values as any other Basefarm service – deliver high-end services, be constructive as well as close to our customers and do this with dedication,” observes de Jager. “That means that even customers who have the most critical systems and a need for 24/7 service and security with 100% uptime will find a great partner in Basefarm.”

GREEN ENERGY Norway is known as a supplier of clean energy and it is no secret that this is becoming increasingly important worldwide. Using hydro power and boasting environmental

“What is unique about Basefarm’s offering is that we are not only a colocation provider but we also have a managed service department. It means that we can integrate” ERIK DE JAGER VP Data Centre Services w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

87

B A S E FA R M

certification (ISO14001), Basefarm takes its responsibilities seriously.

“It is essential to demonstrate both externally and internally that we respect and care about the environment,” de Jager explains.

Security, too, is an essential part of Basefarm’s offering. “Of course, we provide all physical security to make sure nothing stops or interferes with the operation of the centre, but we also specialise in security of our operational service – meaning our Basefarm’s data centers have video surveillance, physical barriers, locks, mantraps and secure access control

routines and workflows, digital threats.

Security is in our DNA,” says de Jager.

A PIONEERING PROVIDER As with any business, Basefarm’s customers are at the heart of its operations and the company takes great pride in the service it offers. “The services which we offer on top are in the same line – treating all of our customers as unique and giving them full service as opposed to just giving them a key and wishing them good luck. We are

500

Number of Basefarm employees

2000

The year that Basefarm was founded 88

December 2017

EUROPE

Above: (Left to right) Arne Sunde – CIO, Nina Kloster – VA Product Management, Patrick Tahiri – Compliance Manager rated number one in service delivery by Whitelane for a reason,” states de Jager.

“What is unique about Basefarm’s offering is that we are, as mentioned, not only a colocation provider but we also have a managed service department. It means that we can integrate. For example, if a customer needs data centre space and services from our centres, and also has a need to have storage as a service or backup as a service, we can actually arrange

those services for them. If they have an interest in cloud solutions, we can build hybrid solutions straight from the data centre out to the cloud.”

MODULAR BUILDING This adjustability of Basefarm’s solutions is also applied to the way it constructs its facilities. “There is a very high degree of flexibility because of the way Basefarm builds data centres. This means that 4,500 sqm is

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

89

B A S E FA R M

Sverre Støkken – Lead Architect (left) and Poul Henning Sørensen - Senior Systems Consultant

“We don’t want to just expand the data centre, we want to expand our services.

We can really make a difference in the strategies of companies we’re housing” ERIK DE JAGER VP Data Centre Services 90

December 2017

EUROPE

still available for the customers. It gives tremendous flexibility for people having special wishes. This could be anything.

It could be customers that wish odd shaped spaces, some have a desire to be extra close to communication lines, or customers that do not want to be close to outside walls. Anything will be possible. Also, construction of EMP solutions is a viable option. It’s also quite a good way to ensure that customers don’t get burdened with too much investment,” de Jager notes.

CONTINUOUS EXPANSION Whilst Basefarm already offers an impressive amount of solutions to its clients, the company is keenly focused on what it can offer in the years to come. “The long-term vision is always in focus because customers, while they need a place to reside their data, at some point, they will also need to look at future technology and how to service their customers better. If you look at large oil companies or banks who reside in our centres as colocation customers, several are already looking to

transform to data driven enterprises,” de Jager advises. “They’re looking at artificial intelligence, they’re looking at the cloud. These are things that are normally not associated with colocation. For Basefarm, this is also core business.”

Assisting clients with those additional services is a key goal for Basefarm in the upcoming years.

“There’s a huge demand at the moment so we’re looking to fulfil that demand and build out our data centre to house all grade customers,” de Jager adds. “Our dream is, of course, to integrate this with all the other cool stuff that Basefarm does. As I mentioned, clients want to move to the cloud or get involved in big data or artificial intelligence. We would like to be there for our customers. We don’t want to just expand the data centre, we want to expand our services. We can really make a difference in the strategies of companies we’re housing and helping them achieve their goals.”

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

91

TAKING DATA CENTRE COOLING TO A HIGHER LEVEL

Written by Dale Benton Produced by Lewis Vaughan

93

WSP

Karl Luck, Director, Head of Power Systems at WSP

EUROPE

Through an innovative cooling system, WSP looks to firmly establish itself as a data centre player of choice

A

s a leader in data centre design, WSP has an impressive portfolio, one that encompasses government departments, public sector organisations, financial institutions and commercial corporations.

The data centre industry is booming, and WSP is strategically positioned to capitalise on this rapidly expanding market. “There is a major increase in the interest in data centres and data centre designs, and that’s a direct result of people understanding more and more about them,� says Karl Luck, Director, Head of Power Systems at WSP. Luck believes that this greater understanding of not only data centres, but the data centre market itself, can be attributed to the role of major players like HP, Microsoft and even Google turning their attentions towards data centres.

KEEPING IT COOL One of the greatest challenges that comes with data centres is power and heat. As data centres process

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

95

Cooling + Humidity Control + Energy Saving: Is there one solution?

Guidelines now allow a wider tolerance of both temperature and humidity and consequently the need to humidify has decreased in several contexts and in some applications is no longer a necessity.

As occurred with temperature however, there are only certain system layouts that push the conditions to the limit, following the ASHRAE guidelines. All data centres, particularly colocation centres that do not host their own ICT equipment, need to guarantee a high service level and find it difficult to adopt these requirements due to the related risks, such as electrical discharges and consequently opt for traditional designs and approaches to humidification and cooling.

Many operators feel a sense of uncertainty, torn between the new design criteria with the related risks, and the need to save energy, but can these seemingly opposing needs be reconciled?

One of the most effective humidification and cooling solutions involves the use of adiabatic high pressure spray systems, such as the CAREL humiFog. This technology entails adding moisture to an air stream, in such a way that evaporation absorbs some of the heat contained in the air, effectively resulting in a simultaneous increase in humidity and significant decrease in temperature.

This effect is exploited for the purpose of providing cooling with very low energy consumption, and is referred to as evaporative cooling.

Evaporative cooling is increasingly used in new generation data centres in which the design conditions are close to the limits suggested within the guidelines, for example by ASHRAE. This is made possible by the layout of hot aisles and cold aisles, with careful design of air flows and good separation between the air entering the racks and the exhaust air.

The higher operating temperature and humidity allow the use of outside air (free cooling) via air handling units when the outdoor temperature is favourable (for example, below 25°C), whilst when the outside air is hotter and drier,

evaporative cooling can be adopted, increasing humidity up to and above 60% and reducing the temperature down to acceptable values, simply through the evaporation of water. The effectiveness of such systems depends significantly on local temperature-humidity conditions, nonetheless in much of continental Europe both free cooling and evaporative cooling can be exploited for most of the year, some data centres are designed to use mechanical cooling as an emergency backup system only.

The increasing popularity of the humiFog system demonstrates how humidification in winter can be provided by simply adopting the same evaporative cooling system used in summer, thus reconciling humidity control with energy saving, with provision of modulating operation and temperature and humidity control to manage air recirculation. The use of a matrix of nozzles and high pressure pumps to create minute droplets of water ensures optimum absorption. The inverter control and modulated atomised water production responds efficiently to varying load conditions with serial communication allowing working set point adjustment to suit different environmental conditions.

The choice of the system depends on numerous factors, ranging from available space to required efficiency and the need for modulation. In general, the solution needs to be evaluated in terms of TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) throughout the system’s working life, also taking into consideration its resilience in terms of continuous operation as well as water consumption, which in many areas may be a critical factor. Indeed, many data centres, together with the classic PUE for energy consumption also monitor WUE as regards water consumption.

In conclusion, the increasingly frequent adoption of adiabatic systems can help overcome the dilemma between humidity control and cost reductions, thanks to new, increasingly reliable technologies and reduced energy consumption.

Fundamental for system optimisation is the CAREL integration with control open protocol systems.

WSP

“There were a lot of new cooling systems coming into play.

But there was a flaw.

They had fixed set points that required a set temperature and system. This didn’t allow for any versatility of agility regarding external environmental factors” Karl Luck, Director, Head of Power Systems, WSP huge volumes of data, this generates a lot of heat in the server and a large proportion of a data centre’s energy usage comes from trying to cool the servers and mitigate the heat.

It is a challenge that the industry continues to try and overcome, with those major players investing significantly into new, innovative and, most importantly, cost effective cooling systems.

98

December 2017

“Over recent years there’s been a drive away from direct cooling systems because they are energy inefficient,” says Luck. “Most of the electricity that goes into a data centre comes out as heat and companies are spending more and more on trying to get that heat out.”

Traditionally, data centre designs have incorporated a standardised direct cooling system. But as

EUROPE

WSP has an extensive portfolio comprising major clients all over the world Luck explains, for every 1KWh entering the data centre, it would require 600w to remove the heat.

This saw an industry wide move away from this system, experimenting in water cooling and air cooling systems to bring consumption down and realise significant cost savings in the process.

“There were a lot of new cooling systems coming into play,” says

Luck. “But there was a flaw.

They had fixed set points that required a set temperature and system. This didn’t allow for any versatility of agility regarding external environmental factors.”

This is where WSP, through Luck and his Power Systems team, has developed what he feels to be a unique cooling solution, one that utilises fresh air cooling

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

99

The right solution

for every data centre project

Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) <0.1 l/kWh

Power Usage Effectiveness (pPUE) < 1.05 *based on London UK weather data

Email: marketing.uk@flaktgroup.com Website: www.flaktgroup.com

European market leader for energy efficient Air Handling Technology Solutions, providing our Customers with the highest quality standards.

- Global availability and supply with 19 manufacturing sites.

- The right solution for every data centre project.

- Excellent sustainability credentials combined with exceptionally low running costs.

- Configurable & modular design based on 40 years experience in the air handling industry.

WSP

and floating set point controls.

“It optimises the energy efficiency by adjusting the amount of direct fresh air and humidity in the system, all the while factoring in external factors such as the weather,” he says. “It’s the first time it has been done and has been in operation now for around six months, delivering a PUI of 1.1 which is a significant energy saving.”

INDUSTRY PROWESS In order to develop an innovative solution and continue to be the

manufacturer of choice in the data centre space, Luck needed a team of engineers that possessed the skills but also the knowledge to push the boundaries of data centre design and engineering.

WSP has always had people in the business focused on the mission critical electrical engineering and data centre space, but Luck worked to centralise this team and harness the experience of more than 17 years in the business.

“We’ve got guys who have been here for a long time and bring strong WSP utilises the knowledge of its in-house engineers to push the boundaries of data centre and engineering

102

December 2017

EUROPE

WSP focuses on attracting and retaining the most experienced mechanical engineers in the industry

“We have to keep an eye on developments in the market, because we don’t want to fall behind... our new cooling system is a testament to staying ahead” Karl Luck, Director, Head of Power Systems, WSP

experience into the Power Systems team,” he says. “We have had to hire externally as well, so mechanical engineers who have worked for some of the major players in the market and worked as contractors. It’s about bringing all that experience together and making something special.”

As a market that is exploding and growing at a rapid rate, Luck is all too aware of the changing landscapes in the data centre sector.

Technology and innovations

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

103

WSP

As a market that is exploding and growing at a rapid rate, Luck and his team are leading in the changing landscape of data centre design continue to disrupt the data centre industry and that stretches beyond cooling systems. Even as market leaders, WSP must keep an eye on the other players in the space.

“We have to keep an eye on developments in the market, because we don’t want to fall behind,” he says.

“If we don’t, we risk falling behind and offering inefficient technologies, and our new cooling system is a

104

December 2017

testament to staying ahead.”

WSP has an extensive portfolio comprising major clients all over the world, but the company must continue to deliver something new to differentiate itself from other players in the market.

“You need a different approach with a unique offering in terms of energy savings or technology and I firmly believe that we do,” says Luck.

EUROPE

solution that can be modulated, adapted, in order to enable future savings and efficiencies.”

But Luck also sees the value in going beyond offering a new technology solution.

“You ned to look at ways you can improve your offering, seek out issues and fix them, you can’t just turn up, do your thing and then leave,” says Luck.

“There’s an educational aspect to it from day one. With a data centre, you need to establish a user’s take-up in order to deliver a sustainable

A CENTRE OF GROWTH WSP does not make data centres.

Luck and his team design data centres and data centre solutions.

The key element for Luck is the suppliers the company works with.

“Without the manufacturers, nothing comes alive,” he says. “Our cooling system would remain as an idea on a piece of paper. Our suppliers bought into our ideas and processes from day one and allowed us to realise our idea and enable key savings for our end users.”

As the data centre space continues to grow, WSP will grow along with it.

WSP has a goal to be the company of choice and Luck believes that through his team, the company has the capacity to continue pushing the boundaries and firmly establish its capabilities in the market.

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

105

THE CULTURE OF SAFETY Written by Nell Walker Produced by Jeff Debicki

ANTHONY TEEN, CEO OF GEOVERT, DESCRIBES HOW HE HAS CREATED A POSITIVE, SAFETY-FIRST CULTURE WITH EXPERT LEADERSHIP AND TRUST

GEOVERT

F

or as long as there are areas of difficult terrain in the world, there will be a need for specialised businesses that maintain and construct upon and around them.

Such organisations are relatively few and far between, allowing those who understand the concept of highlevel safety and skill in challenging environments to take the spotlight.

Geovert is one such business.

Founder and CEO Anthony Teen saw a gap in the market and grasped at the opportunity.

“There were no companies around specifically doing what we entered the market to do,” he says. “It’s really a niche engineering market.”

Teen has a great deal of climbing experience behind him, including a variation called ‘big wall climbing’, whereby climbers take on the challenge over multiple days, haul equipment with them, and sleep on the cliff face in hanging “portaledges” at night. As such, he understands complex safety procedures as well as the nature of the specialist

108

December 2017

engineering work Geovert undertakes on a daily basis, and is able to spread his expertise from the top down.

The business itself started small. Now, it employs around 400 people and undertakes projects in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and the US. Among the largest projects for Geovert is the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Project, which is a 41km heavy vehicle route set to transform logistics in Australia. It is funded by the federal Australian government and the local Queensland government, and will ultimately create a safer journey for heavy vehicle drivers and commuters.

“My first involvement in that area goes back to 2012,” says Teen. “The original Toowoomba Range Road was threatened by a huge block that had been identified as a risk, as it was hanging above a bridge. The Department of Main Roads and really didn’t know whether to touch it or leave it. The risk was if they touched it, a several thousand-tonne block

AUSTRALIA

“SAFETY CULTURE MUST COME FROM THE TOP DOWN AND IS DELIVERED AT THE COALFACE THROUGH THE GUYS” – ANTHONY TEEN, CEO OF GEOVERT

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

109

Learn more: www.geobrugg.com/slopes

TECCO® SYSTEM3 made of high-tensile steel wire

FOR SUSTAINABLE SLOPE PROTECTION

Geobrugg Australia Pty Ltd | 14 Century Road, Malaga WA 6090 | T +61 8 9249 9939 | F +61 8 9249 9949 | www.geobrugg.com.au | info@geobrugg.com Regional offices in | Sydney NSW, T +61 400 845 289 | South Melbourne VIC, T +61 488 044 708 | Brisbane QLD, T +61 488 044 003 | Cairns QLD, T +61 408 774 059

HYDRAULIC DRILLING ATTACHMENT For mini and small excavators • • • • •

STANDARD FEATURE OF THE MME

TEI patented Drifter or TEI Rotary Head ACF Aluminum Chain Feed for 3-m Rods Radio Remote Controls with Manual Override MME Mount with 360 - Degree Positioning HCA4 Single Hydraulic Foot Clamp

TEI ROCK DRILLS PO BOX 1309 Montrose, CO 81402 USA (800) 777-3745 www.teirockdrills.com

FOLLOW US

AUSTRALIA

could have fallen down and destroyed the bridge, shutting the road. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We took our expertise and, along with the General Manager of the Northern Region for Fulton Hogan, I went up there to get a solution in place to protect the bridge and allow the block to be safely removed.â&#x20AC;?

Closely following the project completion were ferocious storms which impacted the entire region

severely, including major flooding that required significant NDRA funding for repairs. Geovert has continued to assist in the ongoing solution, providing enough security that transport and traffic flow is tackled safely.

In a role like his, one might be surprised to learn that Teen believes official rules and regulations are very much for beginners. Far more

West Angelas Rockfall Protection

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

111

GEOVERT

important from his perspective is company culture, and if a team is proving itself to work in an unsafe manner, that culture should centre around seeking better leadership.

“Safety culture must come from the top down and is delivered at the coalface through the guys,” Teen says. “It’s a big push for us, internally, that they really care for each other.”

So, while this lesson is filtered down from management, it is the employees who must implement it.

“Compliance and the education around compliance is important from the company’s perspective in terms of legality but in terms of engendering a culture, that has to come from within the business.”

Creating the right working environment is vital, using simple tools like positive language and a no-blame point of view. There is an internal social media platform to create and expand connectivity across the teams, as they are spread through multiple countries, and it allows them to remain close and discuss projects.

So, what attracts employees to this niche, potentially risky industry?

“We pay massive salaries,” Teen says with a laugh. “But seriously, I could talk all day long about how good the company is and what the staff love about us, but as an example, we’ve just had a young guy start – complete bundle of energy – and he loves it here. The feedback I get

Seaford 3D Animation

112

December 2017

AUSTRALIA

Seaford 3D Animation

The business itself started small. Now, it employs around 400 people and undertakes projects in Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, and the US. from him is that it’s a totally dynamic environment with a lot going on and a good culture, transparency throughout the business, and people are passionate about what they do.

“Not all of the projects are exciting, but a lot of them allow the guys to travel to interesting places. Some of the more experienced workers have had the opportunity to work elsewhere for more money, and you

think ‘why didn’t you go?’ But their answer is ‘I like it here, it’s dynamic and we are part of building a legacy’.”

Alongside a focus on sustainability, Teen is now concentrating on continuous improvement. While he admits this is not something that evolves dramatically due to the nature of the business, he is working on making some back-office processes more

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

113

GEOVERT

“IT’S ONE THING HAVING A SYSTEM FOCUSED ON QUALITY MANAGEMENT – IT’S ANOTHER THING HAVING A TECHNOLOGY ENABLED INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DEDICATED TO THAT” – ANTHONY TEEN, CEO OF GEOVERT

114

December 2017

AUSTRALIA

sophisticated, removing administrative components and making things more intuitive and user-friendly.

“We want the technology we do have to be at everybody’s fingertips,” says Teen. “We’re driving the technology that works for us and bringing in software as a service. In terms of continued improvement, we’ve done a lot with the integration of technology, so now if a project manager or engineer logs into the project section of our platform, all the information is there in one tab. Everything can be tracked electronically and all the parts talk to one another.

“It’s one thing having a system focused on quality management – it’s another thing having a technology enabled information management system dedicated to that.”

With all of Geovert’s past, current, and future projects being tackled with an accumulation of the company’s engineering skills and the pool of talent which continues to grow, the business is placed in a position of trust and authority, and will surely continue thriving.

The connected data hubs for Asia Pacific Written by Niki Waldegrave Produced by Glen White

Peter Adcock, Digital Realty’s APAC vicepresident, design and construction, talks about the company’s growth plans, and why he won’t be totally relying on driverless cars anytime soon

D I G I TA L R E A LT Y

D

igital Realty is the world’s largest full-scale data centre provider offering colocation, interconnection and cloud services.

It has more than 150 data centres in 11 countries, servicing more than 2,300 companies of all sizes in 33 global markets across its secure, network-rich portfolio of buildings located throughout Asia Pacific, North America and Europe. Equating to more than 26mn sq ft of Data centre space across the world.

For more than nine years, the business has delivered a portfolio of data centre solutions – including Digital Realty has announced a joint venture with Mitsubishi

118

December 2017

colocation, Cloud services, business ecosystems, Turn-Key Flex (TKF), and powered base buildings (PBB) – with a record of 99.999% uptime, unmatched by any other data centre provider.

In October, Digital Realty announced it has entered into a 50/50 joint venture with Mitsubishi Corporation to provide data centre solutions in Japan.

The joint venture, named MC Digital Realty, will benefit from Mitsubishi’s local enterprise expertise and established data centre presence in Tokyo, as well as Digital Realty’s global client base and industry-leading track record of

AUSTRALIA

data centre operational excellence.

Digital Realty will contribute its recently completed data centre development project in Osaka, while Mitsubishi will contribute two existing data centre facilities in the western Tokyo suburb of Mitaka.

Collectively valued at approximately 40bn Japanese Yen – or approximately $350mn – the three assets will build a meaningful platform to serve the broader Japanese market, with the potential to significantly expand its scope over the next several years.

And in September, Digital Realty, which turns over $2.7bn annually,

‘FOR NINE YEARS, DIGITAL REALTY HAS DELIVERED A PORTFOLIO OF DATA CENTRE SOLUTIONS WITH A RECORD OF 99.9% UPTIME, UNMATCHED BY ANY OTHER DATA CENTRE PROVIDER’

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

119

Based in Sydney, Australia, Greenbox delivers innovative data centre architectural design services to clients throughout South East Asia.

Resilience is at the core of our philosophy.

Resilient buildings donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just sustain the required functionality but evolve alongside it â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a symbiosis of structural function, operational needs and style.

LEARN MORE

WWW.GREENBOXARCHITECTURE.COM

AUSTRALIA

announced the commencement of new data centre SYD11 – its fifth in Australia – which is being built in Erskine Park in Western Sydney.

The facility will be adjacent to the company’s existing SYD10 facility, and this signifies huge expansion in the AUS market, adding to the other three Australian facilities in Digital Realty’s Australian portfolio – SYD 12 in North Ryde, and the two data centres in

Melbourne, MEL10 and MEL11.

Once operational, SYD11, located across 16,360 sqm, will be a 14MW facility and the build, which will employ around 500 contractors, is expected to take 12 months.

APAC vice-president, design and construction, Peter Adcock says Sydney – which has the biggest tech start-up ecosystem in Australia – is crucial to the Digital

“We’ve got the potential to pretty much double our APAC footprint in three to five years” – Peter Adcock, Digital Realty’s APAC Vice-President, Design and Construction

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

121

D I G I TA L R E A LT Y Realty’s ambitions in Asia-Pacific.

It also has award-winning sites in Singapore, Hong Kong and Osaka.

“We’ve got the potential to pretty much double our APAC footprint in three to five years,” he says. “Australia – and Sydney particularly – is an ideal location to be a hub. There’s a lot of demand from a whole range of companies that want to establish a presence and provide a low latency service in the country in Australia.

“Sydney’s ideally placed on the Eastern Seaboard, with the fibre optic backbone that runs up through

‘THE ACQUISITION OF TELX IN OCTOBER 2015 UNIQUELY POSITIONED THE BUSINESS TO PROVIDE A COMPLETE RANGE OF DATA CENTRE SOLUTIONS ON A GLOBAL SCALE’ 122

December 2017

Brisbane and Queensland, and down to Canberra and Melbourne.

It picks up a large part of the Australian population, and is sitting on submarine fibre cables too.”

The company is currently working on its latest state-of-the-art, trademarked 4.0 Architecture POD (performance optimised data centres) design, and will install it at the new facility. Its unique trademark has been

AUSTRALIA

developed from the knowledge gleaned through the construction of more than $2.5bn worth of data centres globally, and uses a modular methodology to build-out raised floor data centre space using standard power and cooling building blocks for cost-effectiveness, design flexibility and energy efficiency.

It will boast the same cooling solution that’s being adopted at its

larger scale facilities in the US, which have a pumped refrigerate economiser cycle on it as well, ensuring excellent annualised Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) without any water usage, which can be quite excessive in large data centres.

“We’ve got the lithium ion battery technology as well that we’re adopting,” Adcock reveals, “which gives a better performance than traditional lead acid. And on the monitoring side, we’ve got the data centre information management (DCM) product, which is a digital

“Australia – and Sydney particularly – is an ideal location to be a hub” – Peter Adcock, Digital Realty’s APAC VicePresident, Design and Construction

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

123

158 2300 +1.9million data centres worldwide

MW critical power

sq.m. white space

Adding value to your project – every step of the way • Over 40 years’ experience providing cost and general consultancy services to the global construction industry • Working across sectors such as Commercial, Data Centers, Education, Healthcare, High-Tech Industrial, Hospitality, Life Sciences and Retail • Providing faster project delivery, greater cost efficiency and maximum value for money • Working for the biggest search, owner-occupier and colocation providers in the world

If you have a construction project in mind, please contact

Sydney Singapore Shanghai

New York San Francisco

London Manchester

linesight.com

Strategy | Management | Consultancy

John Carleton Director, Australia/New Zealand john.carleton@linesight.com +61 2 8278 9500

Dublin Cork Limerick

Paris Dusseldorf The Hague Tel Aviv

Bahrain Dubai Riyadh

John Butler Managing Director, Asia Pacific john.butler@linesight.com +65 6801 4540

AUSTRALIA

proprietary. It gives the team in the “The Digital Osaka 1 Data Centre US head office global visibility of the was the big one that really got the whole portfolio around the world. attention of the guys back in the US,” “That works off the same model adds Adcock. “That was 95% sold database as the BMS system which before it was opened. It started out as is a Schneider Struxuware Building an easy stepping stone for a lot of the Operation (SBO), Power Monitoring American companies, working with Expert (PME) unit. This means we can an S&P 500 company they know, and log in and find the utilisation of all our provided a product they’re familiar properties around the world in with because it’s consistent different locations, giving around the world, barring us the information any legislative or to manage and fine code differences.” tune operation and Osaka is a melting performance.” pot of many industrial The significant fields, a broad crossNumber of investment into SYD section of businesses, employees at 11 and the Asia Pacific universities and tech Digital Realty construction plan development. Two over the last 18 months cloud social media stemmed from the Digital companies immediately Osaka 1 Data Centre in Japan – its snapped up the space, and in first facility in the country, which May, Digital Realty announced it provides 7.6MW of IT capacity. is building Digital Osaka 2 ¬Data A thriving financial and colocation Centre – which is four times the centre, Osaka is the Silicon Valley of size of Osaka 1 – alongside it.

Japan. A gateway for international It’s in the final stages of design and exchanges, it houses a population will launch next year. The two Osaka of more than 20mn people and has centres will create a Connected Data a GDP of approximately 80trn yen.

Centre Campus, which SYD 10 and

1,400+

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

125

D I G I TA L R E A LT Y

“The Digital Osaka 1 Data Centre was the big one that really got the attention of the guys back in the US” – Peter Adcock, Digital Realty’s APAC Vice-President, Design and Construction

126

December 2017

SYD 11 have been modelled on.

“We always planned to expand in Sydney,” Adcock continues.

“We also originally purchased a block of land next door to SYD 10, and it’s the next iteration of design – where SYD 10 is seven or eight megawatts, SYD 11 will be up to 14.

“That’s driven by the increased density of the computer equipment that’s going on the white space, so that’s gone from a four to five kilowatt per cabinet average up to six, seven, eight – and in Japan we got some of that up to 12 to 15, so demand is driving the density increases as well, which is where we’ve had to become a lot more diligent on the airflow management.”

Earlier this year, Digital Realty CFO for APAC, Krupal Raval, revealed many of its global top-tier clients are looking to expand massively in Australia, facilitated by the Connected Campus of SYD 10 and 11.

Digital Realty Connected Campuses bring all the critical data centre, network elements, cloud and connectivity together under a single, secure environment for

AUSTRALIA

Build Here.

Digital Realty.

numerous Australian and international customers. They deliver the on-ramp to the cloud, plus Digital Internet Gateways that optimise customer value through massive network-dense connectivity.

The beauty of the Connected Campus is that even on SYD 11’s first day of operation, there’s already a connectivity-rich environment next door, and because the two data centres are side by side sharing a common boundary, the conduits at the boundary already exist and can be connected in.

“It gives a very strong ecosystem of customers through the POP and service exchange, and rather than

coming in and out of the data centre, they’re actually doing business within it,” Adcock explains.

“If you have a large mix of customers, like we have, they’re all exchanging amongst each other, and once you get the on-ramp to the Cloud, players such as Amazon, Google and Microsoft – Facebook is doing something different – once you get one or two of those companies in, the whole thing starts to multiply.”

In December 2015, Digital Realty announced a partnership with IBM to launch Direct Link Colo, a solution that connects customers its data centres directly to IBM Cloud via SoftLayer’s global Cloud infrastructure platform.

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

127

D I G I TA L R E A LT Y

“We’re being asked more frequently to provide remote services in the data centres that we’re working in” – Peter Adcock, Digital Realty’s APAC Vice-President, Design and Construction

Latest stateof-the-art, trademarked 4.0 Architecture POD (performance optimised data centres) design

By removing third party carriers, the hybrid eco-system for organisations is easier.

“Some of the companies are so big, they acquire to catch up,” he adds. “IBM acquired SoftLayer and are buying into new digital technology. Microsoft is putting a lot of money to catch up with Amazon, who got an early adoption lead.

And Google does its own thing.

Adcock says because the industry is growing so quickly, the biggest challenge is finding employees with the right skillset – and keeping them.

“We’re being asked more frequently to provide remote services in the data centres that we’re working in,” he reveals. “I think that’s just a case of, things are growing so quickly, some of our customers are trying to push more of that onto us,

AUSTRALIA

which is something we support.

“But everyone is struggling to find people that are trained. It’s interesting, as we’re actually finding companies that are either evolving the company itself – or groups within the company – to specifically service data centre work.

“It’s quite a unique skill set because, you actually want a highquality product built quickly to start with, which is challenging itself – but these facilities are never build out 100% day one.

“And we use a modular, POD-type system, so as you go back and do those build outs in a live data centre, you need to have tradespeople that are very aware of what environment they’re working in – you don’t want something they’re doing to bring down customers’ operations.

“These have to bve very precisely planned and designed and built so that you can shut down sections of it, and use your redundancy to do your maintenance without impacting on the customer. So, you tend to build quite strong relationships with very precise people that understand the whole Permit for Work process and are very detailed.”

He reveals another challenge is that whenever anyone wants to start up a data centre, they try to entice staff away from Digital Realty, because they know they’ve been well trained, and the process and procedures in place are industry-leading.

In Australia, co-location growth is predicted at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.4% until 2022, and managed hosting revenues predicted to grow at a CAGR of 14.5%.

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

129

D I G I TA L R E A LT Y

Digital Tseung Kwan O - A virtual tour of Digital Realty’s Hong Kong Data Center

ONCE FULLY OPERATIONAL, SYD11 WILL BE A 14MW FACILITY, ACROSS A TOTAL OF 16,360 SQM But Adcock claims the future of colocation managed services is hard to define over the next few years.

“Now, with your cloud, you’ve got private, public and hybrid,” he explains. “What colocation does, and always will, is allow the smaller companies as they’re growing a stepping stone.

“But equally, with the Amazon and Microsoft, they’re almost virtualising that colocation process – and to the same extent, we are, through the service exchange. That gives you the chance to connect to a lot of different services, and electronically, where in the past you used to have

130

December 2017

the physical cross connects.

“They’ll still be around, but I think the business is evolving and virtualising a lot of those features.

I think the big thing is going to be ‘bots’, so rather than speaking to a person, it’s an automated service.”

He uses the analogy of driverless cars, saying a lot of those features are already currently in the background, ditto with aeroplane auto pilots, “but we still have pilots there to step in when something out of left field happens that hasn’t been programed in, and would take some time for a computer to adapt.

“There’s always going to be a future

AUSTRALIA

there for these,” he adds, “it’s just a matter to what scale they fit in to the whole stepping stone process.”

Data centres are essential utilities, as like in previous centuries, when power, electricity, water and telephone exchanges were. Because data centres and WiFi-type services are provided at the edge, people have got used to having instantaneous content-rich data, which then dictates low latency high bandwidth services – and while they’re an essential utility, the performance they need to operate is at such a high level.

“There’s a lot of talk about edge computing, and really that falls back into where you get demands for low latency,” he adds. “There’s such a data-rich environment demanded nowadays.

“We used to have main frames and desktops, then it was laptops, and now handheld devices are doing the same thing. There’s so much compute power that’s embedded everywhere now that needs to be connected

back to somewhere, and the Internet of Things is going to be an amazing opportunity for people who mine that for performance and applications.”

Adcock says he sees DNA genome as one of the major technology breakthroughs, and finds it mapping mind-blowing how you can have bespoke medicines targeted for you based on what genes you’ve got and how they react.

“It used to take years to map the DNA genome of the humans,” he says, “and now they’re offering it as a service which is done in a matter of days. Behind that is massive compute power, so we’ve seen some of the institutional companies investing a lot of money in those analytics.

“Sometimes, you dare not ask what’s happening in some of those data halls. Our POD is typically 1,000 sqm of white space and you walk in there from one end to the other and it’s just rows and rows of computers – and what they can be doing on them now is amazing.”

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

131

PLOTTING AHEAD The inevitable success of Bahrain Bay

Written by Nell Walker Produced by Craig Daniels

CEO of Bahrain Bay Development, Gagan Suri, describes the progress of the project and how it has become a jewel in the crown of the nation

“

My responsibility is mainly to revive the project back to full glory and turn the company into a long-term, sustainable revenue-generating business.”

The path for Bahrain Bay Development has not always been smooth, which is why Gagan Suri was drafted in three years ago to tackle those issues. Educated in India, America, and Canada, Suri trained in hospitality until realising that was not what he wanted longterm. After acquiring an MBA, he tried his hand at various financial roles before dipping into the construction and real estate industry.

In his role at Arcapita, a large private equity real estate business, Suri took on Bahrain Bay as one of his first portfolio companies, and discovered its development had stagnated. He was asked to take over the business temporarily as interim CEO, and the

134

December 2017

role swiftly became permanent.

“Three years in, we have made significant progress,” he says. “This is one of the largest developments in Bahrain. It’s shining now; it’s doing well. It’s becoming the focal point of the whole country. We’re proud of our achievements and we have a lot more to look forward to the next two-to-three years.”

The stumbling blocks for the business have come in the form of slumps in the market. Construction on Bahrain Bay began a decade ago, but with financial problems plaguing the company, it lay dormant by the time Suri became aware of it.

“You see, it was built at the peak of the market, where signs were good and money was flowing,” he explains. “65% of the plots were sold at the beginning. Then the slumps happened which caused everything to slow down.

MIDDLE EAST

“This is one of the largest developments in Bahrain. It’s shining now; it’s doing well” – Gagan Suri, CEO

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

135

B A H R A I N B AY D E V E L O P M E N T

United Tower and Wyndham Hotel

Construction began in

2007 136

December 2017

MIDDLE EAST

Bridge connecting the North and South promenade

“The revival strategy had to be implemented in steps. First of all, we had to bring footfall to the development, and then start shaping it so that it looked more finished.

It’s a joint effort between us and the whole country. All different parties involved in reviving the economy are also responsible for this – I can’t take full credit.”

Bahrain Bay Development was supported by the strong partnerships it had formed, including with the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, which enabled the business to harmonise

and create the overall image it desired.

The particular aforementioned partnership enabled Bahrain Bay to create events – such as a food festival and music concerts – which brought almost half a million tourists to the area. These are staggering numbers for such a small country.

“Now it’s a snowball effect,” says Suri. “We got the ball rolling and it keeps gathering pace, to the point where we’re seeing meaningful results. This has all come from having a proactive approach to the whole development.”

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

137

Engineering solution for construction and industrials

Saaj Technical Mechanical Contracting w.l.l. (SAAJ TECH) P.O. Box 24581 Manama, Kingdom Of Bahrain Phone: +973 17 242 583 Fax: +973 17 242 584 info@saajtech.com | sales@saajtech.com www.saajtech.com

Saajtech Leading in Turnkey pipe line construction, industrial erection/maintenance, corrosion protection, online leak sealing, sheet pilling & dewatering, excavations & reclamation, pile trimming and equipment hiring.

“We got the ball rolling and it keeps gathering pace, to the point where we’re seeing meaningful results” – Gagan Suri, CEO

MIDDLE EAST

Suri and his team are always thinking five or 10 years in the future.

With the commercial aspects of the project in place, they are currently focused on the residential segment of the business, building parks, restaurants, gyms, coffee shops, and retail areas for families to enjoy. The site doesn’t contain any educational or medical facilities, but these necessities are available just minutes away. Bahrain Bay Development is intended to be a place that people enjoy, not simply live and work within, and everything that can be integrated has been or will be integrated.

“The infrastructure really is top notch,” Suri explains. “We were thinking long-term from the beginning.

We had district water cooling set up from the beginning, and conduits for all telecommunications whereby three different operators can put in their lines. The sewage treatment goes to Paragon Utilities to get treated, and that water comes back into the development as irrigation water. We work hard to conserve energy and make sure all that technology can be easily upgraded.”

While keeping the technology of this smart city up to date is not much of a challenge for a team so prepared, handling a constantlyflowing and evolving supply chain certainly can be. Suri and his team have to monitor acquisitions all the time and be careful with their choice of partners, to ensure nothing is wasted and everything is made the most of.

“It goes from the tiniest details to the biggest; from LED light bulbs to irrigation water. There’s no easy, quick, short answer to this question. We have it in our minds constantly to ensure that we always partner with the right people who have the same outlook.”

Despite any trials involved, Bahrain Bay Development’s readiness is never in question, especially for Suri. The development stands as a jewel in the nation’s crown. “We are the suppliers of full infrastructure land which supports what Bahrain developers want,” says Suri, and as such the project is set to pour immeasurable money and prestige into the country now that it’s firmly back on course.

“Bahrain wants to bring in foreign investors, foreign banks, consulting

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

139

B A H R A I N B AY D E V E L O P M E N T

Waterbay at Bahrain Bay

firms, to create jobs, to create offices – we are in the heart of the city. The heart of the country. We have hotels.

We have unparalleled connectivity.

There were always plans to build a second Saudi causeway, and the infrastructure exists in Bahrain Bay; the entrance to that bridge will be here, and imagine what that does to Bahrain Bay. It becomes the gateway

140

December 2017

for all the major businesses coming from Saudi to Bahrain, and we will be a four or five-minute drive to the airport. Not many places in the world can say you can go from the centre of the city to the airport in five minutes.”

Suri wants the residents of the project to reflect the nature of the location, and believes that those who already believe in the company’s vision

MIDDLE EAST

are the people the development will appeal to. The vision is ultimately for a clean, pristine environment which naturally leads to a positive, peaceful community that wants for nothing.

“It’s about the small things we’re always doing that ensure we remain committed to our goal, what we say, what we do, and who we are,” Suri concludes.

Design concept of Wafra Tower

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

141

Nassab Group US construction with a local touch Written by Dale Benton Produced by Craig Daniels

Through the $1.5bn Apache Program, Nassab Group brings US construction expertise while maintaining an unrivaled understanding of military construction in KSA

F

ounded in 1992, Nassab Contracting & Trading Ltd (NCTC) has established itself as a leading supplier of high skilled construction services, construction materials and engineering services throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Having spent the best part of two decades collaborating with world class partners, NCTC has successfully designed and completed hundreds of projects across Saudi Arabia, the wider Middle East and Africa.

Currently working on the $1.5bn Apache Program, a design build programme as part of the US Foreign Military Sales Program (FMS), Nassab has taken on the role of consultant, pulling all the necessary skills and expertise together to deliver a world class project.

144

December 2017

Heading up this programme is Thomas Maher, Construction Director.

With over 20 years’ experience working in Project and Construction Management all over the world, including the Middle East, Maher can call upon his experience operating in international markets to successfully navigate such a significant project and the challenges that come with it.

“The challenge working for any US Government entity is working within a specific set of rules and regulations,” says Maher. “Acquisitions, procurement, supplier relationships, you name it. But naturally, not every country has those same regulations and rules, so it becomes a case of square peg, round hole.

“Having worked internationally, I understand the different cultures and, more importantly, how to

MIDDLE EAST

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

145

NASSAB GROUP

“We’ve started to look at younger local engineers that perhaps don’t have the experience and bringing them into the organisation” Thomas Maher, Construction Director, Nassab Group

Al-Habshi Engineering Consultants Office (ACO) is a leading consulting office in Kuwait established in 1994, and is capable of providing engineering services to fit any project’s requirements, both in Kuwait and internationally.

The emphasis has always been on quality and good communication, which has resulted in a large percentage of repeat business from both government and private sectors.

Almost all of the engineering disciplines are covered by Al-Habshi Consultants Office and are achieved through extensive in-depth knowledge and a massive scope of experience, all of which are brought together by ACO and its many associates.

alhabshikw.com

admin @alhabshikw.com

+965 2249 8008 +965 2249 8118

P.O. Box 27154 Safat 13132, Kuwait

146

December 2017

MIDDLE EAST

integrate these different systems and regulations that don’t necessarily align with each other.”

Maher points to multiple examples over the years of US organisations looking to operate in Saudi Arabia and refusing to adapt their processes and ways of working, stubbornly sticking to the one size fits all mentality that can only result in failure.

The Apache Program is a multi-phase design build programme, funded through the Ministry of Defense and managed through the US Army Corps. Over a five-phase program, Nassab will oversee the construction of apache helicopter hangers, ground support equipment facilities, helicopter runways and taxiways across Dammam, Tabuk, Khanus-Mushait, Al Kharj and Qassim.

Nassab is a locally owned Saudi Company that is using the US model of construction management that includes an additional 8-12 American Directors and Managers to teach, train and implement the successful American model.

Maher believes that where the company can stand tall against other companies is in its focus on the defence market and an all-important local touch.

“There’s a real opportunity here for construction and engineering in the defence industry,” he says.

“And we feel that being a local entity, with a US feel and using US systems and expertise, while remaining a local Saudi company, is somewhat unique here.”

The Apache Program is currently in the phase one design stage, with Maher and Nassab working on

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

147

NASSAB GROUP

and foundations and civil work that will come as the company moves fully into the construction phase.

Overall, the company is looking at completing the entire program within the next five years and will work closely with ABV Rock (EG&G Middle East), the contractor awarded the project, to deliver it on time.

It is through working closely with ABV Rock (EG&G Middle East), which has over 40 years’ experience working on major projects in the Middle East, that Nassab plays more of a consultancy role.

“ABV Rock (EG&G Middle East) although a fully capable Saudi Contractor, didn’t really have any experience in working with US Army Corps engineering, so we were hired by the company to put together a group of people that had the right qualifications, the experience and the expertise to manage and run a US Army Corps project,” he says.

“We were brought in to handle the overall project management, supplying the construction managers and project managers, the quality control teams, the safety teams and really

“We feel that being a US entity, with a US feel and using US systems and expertise, while remaining a local Saudi company is somewhat unique here” Thomas Maher Construction Director, Nassab Group

148

December 2017

MIDDLE EAST

supporting ABV Rock throughout the execution of the project.”

Naturally, and common across organisations operating in the Middle East, there is a reliance on expat labour. With a project involving the US Army Corps, it requires a certain understanding and necessary skillset in order to deliver it effectively.

Maher understands the challenge this brings and has developed a workforce made up of experienced individuals he has worked with before so he can understand their capabilities and what they can

achieve with the Apache Program.

With that in mind, however, governmental regulations are set to change in the coming years, requiring foreign companies working within KSA to rely less and less on expat labour and have a significant Saudi workforce.

“We’ve started to look at younger local engineers that perhaps don’t have the experience and bringing them into the organisation,” says Maher. “It benefits them of course, but it benefits us in the sense that we are developing them right now. Fast forward three or four years and suddenly these young inexperienced engineers are fully capable and fully trained to work on US Army Corps projects.”

The success of the Apache Program, and ultimately Nassab Group, lies in the relationship the company develops and fosters with vendors, contractors and strategic partners.

To this end, Maher believes the key component for the vendors is understanding what exactly it is that Nassab brings to the table, the experience of the company

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

149

NASSAB GROUP

and, more importantly, to grasp the scope of US Army Corps investment that’s coming in the near future.

“The reality that’s facing the Saudi Arabian construction industry is that it is on fire right now,” says Maher. “In the Location of Nassab Group HQ coming years the US Army Corps will invest billions of dollars into construction projects, much like the Apache Project, so it’s important that there is that shared understanding from the vendors in order for us to continue to foster a mutually beneficial relationship moving forward.”

Looking to the future, Nassab’s focus for the immediate term is on the Apache Project, but Maher has one eye on the FMS construction space. This, he feels, really enables Nassab to be competitive and to showcase that US expertise with the local Saudi understanding.

“We bring that unique element, the speciality personnel and the experience in order to successfully deliver the project requirements,” he says.

RIYADH

150

December 2017

MIDDLE EAST

Nassab Group is the Program Management/Construction Director for the $1.5bn Apache Program that is part of the US Foreign Military Sales Program.

This design build programe, which is funded through the Ministry of Defense, specifically the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Command. The programme is managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, consists of the design and construction of Apache Helicopter hangars, spare parts warehouses, ground support equipment facilities, administration buildings, brigade headquarters, fire and rescue facilities, waste water treatment plants, power generation plants, utilities upgrades, helicopter runways and taxiways, aprons, pavement lighting and flight simulator buildings.

The first five phases of the Apache Program will focus on various locations inside of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to include

Dammam, Tabuk, Khamis-Mushait, Al Kharj and Qassim.

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

151

REVOLUTIONISING AFRICAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S DATA CENTRE INDUSTRY Written by Catherine Sturman Produced by Richard Deane

153

VIEWED AS ONE OF THE LARGEST GROWTH MARKETS WORLDWIDE, MULTIPLA’S DATA CENTRE IN ANGOLA CONTINUES TO MAKE WAVES WITHIN AFRICA’S DATA CENTRE INDUSTRY

I

n the face of a growing digital demand, the need for businesses to store data securely without impacting on ongoing business operations is growing apace.

Companies are increasingly looking at ways in which to relocate data from private servers to cloud-based solutions, whilst eyeing areas of future growth by building data centres within new, untapped markets.

Africa has been viewed with interest, and has become one of the biggest growth areas worldwide, according to Michael Tobin, former Chief Executive of data centre operator Telecity.

He explains: “You have a growing population, a changing affluence…

Add to that the fact that the continent has leapfrogged technology and gone straight to mobile, stabilising governments and eastern investment

154

December 2017

are all the ingredients you need to guarantee the fill rates of data centres.”

Whilst large multinational companies, such as IBM and Microsoft are therefore looking to grow their services within Africa, Angolan based company MULTIPLA has been at the forefront of this space, and has grown its services to establish itself as a key player within the African data centre industry.

The company’s new data centre has been constructed with an emphasis on collaboration and delivering key solutions to its customers.

“At the time of construction, there were increased concerns that Africa was not entirely prepared for such service delivery to clients, as most data centres at that time were company data centres,” explains MULTIPLA Operations Manager Tiago

AFRICA

I n s i d e M U LT I P L A â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s flagship data centre

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

155

CERTAINTY IN A CONNECTED WORLD

Integrated IT physical infrastructure and software that provides reliable power and availability solutions for IT and communications technologies.

CERTAINTY

IN A CONNECTED WORLD

apc.com

AFRICA

Nogueira. “We opened in 2013 for clients, but it was a challenge. It was not something that you saw much in Angola at that time.” However, since its launch and with ongoing success, the company has seen the rise of local and international competition.

“It is good news compared to the way the market is at the moment.”

Working together and sharing best practices, Schneider Electric had a team member in Angola to assist with the engineering, remaining in direct contact surrounding the overall design works. Schneider Electric Innovative design also assisted with the shipment of Partnering with technology vital equipment to Angola, which giant Schneider Electric has seen MULTIPLA gain throughout its critical certifications, construction, required to reach MULTIPLA now international has 36 racks for standards. colocation and “That’s how 15 for its own we assist our The year Multipla, infrastructure and partners – not just LDA was founded developing local cloud in the delivery of the services. Built to enable equipment, but also scalability, Nogueira explains with the design and build. that this will enable MULTIPLA to grow The customer feels that they are in its services as the business grows in safe hands, and they can focus on order to further support its clients. their business, which is to filling up “Supporting the design and the data centre,” De Almeida notes. implementation, we are now working Additionally, utilising 100% APC on the second phase as MUTIPLA

by Schneider Electric equipment and continues to grow,” comments other APC technologies, MULTIPLA’s Ronald De Almeida, Commercial platform is now supported by manager SADC, Schneider Electric.

Schneider Electric. “Our two lines of

1995

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

157

M U LT I P L A , L D A

power are supported by Schneider Electric’s modular UPS system and our cooling is fitted by Schneider Electric as well,” Nogueira adds.

Nonetheless, power continues to be a challenge throughout Africa, which can heavily impact MULTIPLA’s operations. “In Angola, the production of power is not enough for what the consumption is, so there are a lot of shortages. The quality of the grid and the distribution is not yet built for optimal performance,” Nogueira says.

“We are entering the rainy season where we can predict more shortages of energy, which means that we will probably be running on generators around 60% of the time.

Things have been improving but we are not there yet, and the quality of the power provided by the grid can be at different ranges, which can put equipment in jeopardy.

“If you look at the colocation business we are providing, we guarantee the power and essential cooling to our customers’ equipment 24-7, so the infrastructure part has to be met. We cannot let down banking, insurance or distribution

158

December 2017

services due to shortages of electricity in one part of town, for example. That’s what we ensure through the colocation business.”

Business strategies Upon the completion of the first phase, Schneider Electric worked to counteract and resolve any issues which became apparent within MULTIPLA’s data centre operations. Its proactive response led a field engineering team to arrive on site and fix all issues created from previous contractors, including an upgrade of existing piping that was not up to company standard.

“We look at the implementation and installation, and advise our customers where they can improve at the minimal cost. When equipment doesn’t function, we replace it and ensure things get up and running. We ensure everything is done right from the word go,” De Almeida explains.

Additionally, to attract local and international business, security continues to be a key feature throughout the overall design and maintenance of MULTIPLA’s data

AFRICA

“In Angola, the production of power is not enough for what the consumption is. The quality of the grid and the distribution is not yet built for optimal performance” – Operations Manager, Tiago Nogueira (MULTIPLA)

centre. “If you approach a bank in Angola, the first thing they will want to know is the security of that data centre and the certifications which that data centre has complied to,” explains De Almeida. With such focus, MULTIPLA now provides its services to a large number of banking, insurance and distribution companies, ensuring all data remains secure.

“We explain to clients that they should keep their resources to what their core business is – banking people should be banking and not looking after

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

159

M U LT I P L A , L D A

generators and UPS’s and cooling systems,” comments Nogueira. “We can do that for them and can assure the security of their equipment and data in our data centre.” MULTIPLA is also alerted to any potential discrepancies within client services, and deploys any procedure which clients have put in place, further supporting its ongoing service delivery.

“If you don’t monitor, you don’t control, and if you don’t control, you don’t manage,” adds Nogueira. “That’s the kind of service we provide on top of controlling our own infrastructure.”

This increased customer focus echoes that of Schneider Electric’s ongoing business strategy. De Almeida explains that the company works to strengthen its existing partnerships as part of its service delivery strategy, which has proved advantageous, especially in areas such as Angola and the partnership with MULTIPLA. “It strengthens our relationship, as particularly in Angola, a lot of vendors, multinationals and expats left the country when the market crashed. Instead of doing the same as our competitors, we would

160

December 2017

rather put all of our investment and resources into servicing the customers that we have in this market.

“Just word of mouth of what we are doing for these particular customers has driven our business considerably,” he says.

Internal strengths Both MULTIPLA and Schneider Electric have placed increased emphasis in guaranteeing exceptional service delivery to its customers, which starts from the bottom up.

Nogueira explains that internal training has become a vital part of MULTIPLA’s core business functions in order to remain competitive against a maturing market within Africa.

“To get the best people, we have a local resource policy. We are always looking and actually, when we say best people, my question would be - what would be the best for you, and what is the best for us? That is the first thing.

“Training is necessary – and with a 24-7 approach, it is something that is rewarding.”

Providing operational training for free, Schneider Electric sends

AFRICA

“If you don’t monitor, you don’t control, and if you don’t control, you don’t manage” – Operations Manager, Tiago Nogueira (MULTIPLA)

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

161

M U LT I P L A , L D A

M U LT I P L A â&#x20AC;&#x2122; s d a t a centre is based in Angola

162

December 2017

AFRICA

“It’s not just managing data centres, it’s also to dive into local communities and look to the future” – Commercial Manager, Ronald De Almeida (Schneider Electric) teams to train clients on whatever aspect they have purchased, in order to make clients completely selfreliant, with a backup if required.

“We are embarking on a programme in Angola with Utanga University, which is the technical university in Luanda with over 25,000 students,” De Almeida says. “We are setting up a data centre for the university, but it is also a training centre where students can learn the technology of the data centre and we encompass this whole programme as a global exercise.

“It’s not just managing data centres, it’s also to dive into local communities and look to the future.”

Future growth Five years ago, MULTIPLA worked to convince the Angolan community to dive into the data centre industry and utilise colocation, to which its ongoing success speaks for itself.

Today, the company continues to work on developing its cloud services, providing new products and looking towards new business opportunities, supporting clients throughout their business operations.

“We now have a five-year-old data centre,” concludes Nogueira. “In terms of the services and support which we provide to our clients, there is no other competitor in the market.”

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

163

The Greens REFINED living in Ghanaâ&#x20AC;¦

Written by Dale Benton Produced by Richard Deane

THE GREENS

166

December 2017

C O N S T R UA C FT R II O CN A

In modern Ghana, luxurious living comes at a price. Kiran Daswani, founder of The Greens, looks to change this perception through the world’s most sought-after currency, TRUST

I

n construction, there is one thing that can define the quality and integrity of a contractor or organisation – delivering on a promise.

The blend of quality and affordability in a real estate development is often hard to find, and not many property developers have been successful at executing this combination without compromising someway, somehow.

That notwithstanding, some property developers start off by first considering their target market and what kind of homes their prospective clients can afford, but in many cases, there can be a number of roadblocks along the way that haven’t been taken into account.

For The Greens, the promise of a carefully crafted, gated and secure community with amenities and conveniences of modern living within

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

167

THE GREENS

Tema, Southern Ghana, is more than simply a property development promise: it’s a commitment.

“The Greens and the people behind it, we are here for the long term,” says Kiran Daswani, Founder of The Greens.

“What satisfies me the most is meeting and understanding the clients’ needs, it gives me pleasure to witness the achievements of my team and making a real difference.

I want to see people fall in love with their homes, and truly desire them.”

Daswani has a close relationship with the African continent, having lived

168

December 2017

in the Ivory Coast for a number of years. In 2014, Mulk Holdings, the multi-billion dollar conglomerate and Daswani formed Alubond West Africa in Ghana.

“Last year, we acquired seven acres of land in Tema,” says Daswani. “The community for our housing was designed to provide quality living space that users and homeowners will truly cherish, at an affordable price, which is a real gap in the market we are looking to tap into.”

In the first phase of construction, The Greens will see the construction

AFRICA

“What would success mean for me?

Manifesting the reality of our promises.

Delivering comfortable and refined homes at an affordable price” – Kiran Daswani, Founder, The Greens

of 12 houses which will be handed over in December this year. The overall masterplan for the development will see a fully completed community of 164 duplexes by the close of 2019.

Usually, with a construction development of this size and scope, the developer will subcontract various elements of construction to a number of third parties. The Greens

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

169

THE GREENS

“The construction industry is one of the easiest spaces to cut corners,” she says.

“We are more than developers, we are the contractors and the builders. It provides us with an added value because at the end of it all it is our reputation, our responsibility” – Kiran Daswani, Founder, The Greens will stand tall and do things a little differently, completing all construction responsibilities completely in-house.

Daswani feels this is a testament to the integrity of The Greens and a sign of the quality assurance that the company is offering to its clients.

“The construction industry is one of the easiest spaces to cut corners,” she says. “We are more than developers: we are the contractors and the builders. It provides us with an added value because at the end of it all, it is our reputation, our responsibility.”

This added value allows The Greens to not only differentiate itself, but to ensure that it will do everything it can and pride itself as a business on its ability to deliver on its promise.

“We control the quality as much

170

December 2017

as possible to ensure that we are delivering what we are projecting to our clients,” Daswani adds.

This personal quality control approach to the development transcends throughout the entire organisation. Daswani, the members of her team at Alubond West Africa, Pre-Engineering - the contractor company that The Greens works with, and everyone leading The Greens are all based in Ghana.

This allows the company to provide a much more personal touch to the development. It provides The Greens, as Daswani points out, with a significant sense of credibility, which makes all the difference.

“We are the faces of the company, and we are out there meeting the

AFRICA

Kiran Daswani, founder of The Greens

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

171

THE GREENS

clients and developing relationships,” she says. “In property development, to see the leaders right there on site, actively on the ground, gives credibility.

Property buyers don’t always want to go through salespeople - they want to meet the leaders and the people at the top and it plays a huge role.”

Daswani noted a gap in the affordable housing market, one that she feels The Greens can fill perfectly as Ghana and the region continue to grow and emerge as an attractive investment destination.

172

December 2017

The typical buyer has changed - it has now become younger professionals and first-time buyers with two incomes. This has shaped the entire decisionmaking process of The Greens.

“People need affordable housing that looks and feels good, not housing that is out of their reach,” Daswani states.

The Greens offers two and threebedroom houses from an initial starting price of $69,000 to $100,000.

Consider the same properties, but in Accra, the closest city to Tema, and

AFRICA

that price range rockets to a much heftier price point of $300,000.

Daswani, though, believes what The Greens will offer alongside an affordable price is an added value of creating and nurturing a community like no other.

“I believe that when you invest in property, it’s not just the property you’re investing into, there’s the life beyond that,” she says. “We will do what we can to ensure that the community runs and prospers, as it should.”

Daswani has an unrivalled passion for enriching a life which will, in turn, enrich the lives of the many that choose to find their home in The Greens.

For her, it is about developing trust.

“What would success mean for me?

Manifesting the reality of our promises,” she says. “Delivering comfortable homes at an affordable price.”

w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

173

ProcureCon FAC ILI T I E S

FAC

Network and strategize with procurement professionals in Construction, Facilities, Real Estate and Utilities.

January 22-23, 2018 MIAMI, FL

Who Said Conferences Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Be Fun? For more information go to

www.procureconfacilities.com