Construction Global – June 2019

A digital transformation in cancer therapy

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A sustainable pioneer in wind energy

J UNE 2 0 1 9

The rise of the adaptive data center

RAGINGWIRE A global platform for hyperscale enterprise SVPs Joe Goldsmith and Kevin Dalton on designing, building and operating mission-critical data centers

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FOREWORD

W

elcome to the June issue of Construction Global!

Elsewhere, we spoke to Nordex about the mammoth task that is harnessing the power of wind, and discussed the growing data centre market further with Aligned Energy – it’s vital to think about the impact these powerhouses of tomorrow have on the environment.

Globally, the data centre market is set to be worth $174bn by 2023, driven in part by the numerous businesses making the move to cloud storage. This sets a challenge not just for those businesses, but We also include insights for the construction from SPIE on smart industry: how will we buildings, or as George Kevin Dalton, house the massive Adams prefers, ‘healthy SVP, RagingWire Data Centers volume of data at our buildings’, and from Oracle fingertips which is only on the digital transformation set to grow? of the construction industry, plus much more.

We sat down with Joe Goldsmith and Kevin Dalton of RagingWire Data Do you have a story to tell?

Centers which connects customers Don’t forget to email to a global network of more than 140 daniel.brightmore@bizclikmedia.com data centres in 20 markets. They told to be involved in an issue John O’Hanlon all about RagingWire’s of Construction Global. plans across not only new locations in Silicon Valley but also to develop in Enjoy the issue! emerging markets too.

Daniel Brightmore w w w.c o nst ruc t i o ngl o b a l. com

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CONTENTS

12 RAGINGWIRE DATA CENTERS:

RagingWire mission-critical data centers for hyperscale cloud and large enterprises

38 Bringing greener cities to life through connectivity and innovation

50 Can a building become its own ecosystem?

Construction in the cloud with Oracle

76

Sustainability on a massive scale

ERP AND THE POTENTIAL TO POWER CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTIVITY

90

60

100 Aligned Energy

116 Proton International

130 The Nordex Group

146 Hansen Yuncken

164 Level Crossings Authority

194 Emaar, The Economic City

182 Digital Realty

RAGINGWIRE MISSION-CRITICAL DATA CENTERS FOR HYPERSCALE CLOUD AND LARGE ENTERPRISES

12

WRIT TEN BY

JOHN O’HANLON PRODUCED BY

TOM VENTURO

JUNE 2019

RagingWire Sacramento CA3 Data Center Skywalk

13

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

R A G I N G W I R E D ATA C E N T E R S

14

As part of NTT, RagingWire is one of the largest data center providers in the world, connecting customers to a global network of more than 140 data centers in 20 countries and regions

T

o say the world is facing an

RagingWire was one of the early

unprecedented explosion of

start-ups that helped create the data

information may be a cliché,

center colocation industry back in the

but it’s true. Globally, the data center

early 2000s. Since then, the company

market is estimated to reach revenues

has steadily grown its presence across

of around US$174bn by 2023, largely

the US, with campuses in the top data

driven by the massive growth in cloud

center markets of Ashburn, Virginia,

computing and the migration of large

Dallas, Texas, Silicon Valley, Chicago,

enterprises from in-house data centers

Illinois, and Sacramento, California.

to colocation facilities. These are the

In Ashburn, the number one data

fundamentals behind the strategy of

center market in the world which is

RagingWire Data Centers.

known as “Data Center Alley” for its

JUNE 2019

15

RagingWire Ashburn VA3 Data Center – Security checkpoint large concentration of colocation data

data center campus which is home to

centers, RagingWire operates a 78-acre,

a marquee 16 MW facility. Four more

securely fenced campus with room for

large data centers are planned for the

seven large data center facilities, one of

campus, which would bring the campus

which is opened and two of which are

total to 144 MW of critical IT load.

under construction now. Combined with

In Sacramento, California, about

two other data centers RagingWire

90 miles east of San Francisco and

previously opened in Ashburn, the

outside the earthquake zone of the

company owns space for a total of nine

Bay Area, RagingWire built three

Ashburn data centers which could offer

data centers with a total of 53 MW

a total of 236 MW of critical power.

of critical power, all running on 100%

In Dallas, RagingWire owns a 42-acre

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

R A G I N G W I R E D ATA C E N T E R S

Recently, RagingWire announced

increasingly outsource data center

plans to build new data centers on

capacity to take advantage of greater

coveted land in Silicon Valley (Santa

economies of scale, efficiencies,

Clara to be exact), and in Chicago.

speed to market, security, space and

These new locations complete Raging-

reliability than they would have if they

Wire’s portfolio in the most popular U.S.

housed their mission-critical comput-

data center locations, but the compa-

ers at their own facilities.

ny is also planning developments in other emerging markets as well.

In January 2014, NTT acquired an 80% equity stake in RagingWire. Four years later in January 2018, having

16

NTT BRINGS GLOBAL CONNECTIVITY TO RAGINGWIRE CUSTOMERS

doubled RagingWire’s capacity, NTT

Today RagingWire is focused on

remaining shares.

meeting the demands of large enterprises and cloud providers which

exercised its option to purchase the By joining the NTT family, RagingWire became the platform for NTT’s

E XECU T I VE P RO FI LE

Joe Goldsmith Joe Goldsmith is Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at RagingWire Data Centers, responsible for all aspects of go-to-market strategy and execution including: sales, marketing, product management, business development, channels, and sales operations.

Goldsmith is a proven sales executive with more than 25 years of experience, including more than a decade in the data center industry.

JUNE 2019

“ Hybrid IT is the new world order and I don’t think you will find any CIO in America who has not contemplated or executed a cloud component to their overall strategy” — Joe Goldsmith, Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at RagingWire

RagingWire Dallas TX1 Data Center – Lobby w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

17

R A G I N G W I R E D ATA C E N T E R S

“ The new data centers have to be super reliable of course, and scalable, but the one big consideration for hyper­scalers is speed to market” 18 — Kevin Dalton, Senior Vice President of Construction and Critical Facilities Engineering and Design (CFED) at RagingWire

RagingWire Sacramento CA3 Data Center – Lobby

data center business throughout the

huge market for the cloud and software-

Americas, and became part of one of

as-a-service (SaaS) providers, it’s not

the largest data center companies in

one in which most of the US-based

the world with strong financial backing

cloud service providers have deep

and more than 140 facilities in over 20

infrastructure. Being able to support

countries and regions.

them in the European and Asian

RagingWire’s customers value the

markets is really powerful for us.”

global reach enabled by NTT. Accorddent and Chief Revenue Officer Joe

EVERYTHING HYPERSCALE PLAYERS NEED, AND NOTHING THEY DON’T

Goldsmith, “Though Asia represents a

It makes less and less sense for

ing to RagingWire Senior Vice Presi-

JUNE 2019

19 E X E CU T I VE P RO FI LE

Kevin Dalton Kevin Dalton is Senior Vice President of Construction and Critical Facilities Engineering and Design (CFED) at RagingWire Data Centers, responsible for leading the team that designs and delivers world-class data centers.

Dalton is an expert in leveraging supply chain optimization and modular pre-fabricated construction techniques to drive rapid growth, improved quality, and speed to market.

Throughout his career, he has set the standard for next generation data center designs.

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

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21

RagingWire Dallas TX1 Data Center hyperscale cloud providers like Google,

include bringing their operating

Amazon, Alibaba or Microsoft to take

expenses down through more efficient

the time and expense to build the

cooling, better management of energy

capacity they require in a data center.

and the like,” Dalton says. “The new

The hyperscale players are driving

data centers have to be super reliable

the market right now, says Kevin

of course, and scalable, but the one

Dalton, Senior Vice President of

big consideration for hyperscalers is

Construction and Critical Facilities

speed to market. Demand is so intense

Engineering and Design (CFED) at

right now that these customers can no

RagingWire. “We’re meeting [the

longer meet it from their own resourc-

hyperscalers’] changing needs, which

es, which is why they are reaching out w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

A simpler approach to a future-proof data center.

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to organizations like RagingWire.”

We are in the early stages of a tech

As Goldsmith puts it: “The hyperscale players’ core strength lies in building

boom driven by huge opportunities

and developing software, infrastructure

with the Internet of Things (IoT),

and cloud services. There are many

artificial intelligence (AI) and Big Data,

markets where they simply don’t have

and nobody doubts that soon self-driv-

the ability to catch up with the demand.

ing vehicles and smart cities will

That’s where they can turn to a third

create new demands for data centers

party like us that can help them achieve

and the servers, storage, and network-

their business objectives by fulfilling

ing devices that live there. Combine

their data capacity requirement.”

these new and emerging demands

Goldsmith mentioned that enterpris-

with continued growth in enterprise

es like insurance companies, banks or

computing and the future looks bright

large manufacturers may still have

for RagingWire.

some on-site processing or a data w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

23

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“ We have been innovating in the area of modular design and supply chain, to both shorten construction lead times and to lower costs” — Kevin Dalton, Senior Vice President of Construction and Critical Facilities Engineering and Design (CFED) at RagingWire

To do this, he and Joe Goldsmith work closely with customers to understand their business plans and capacity requirements. “This is an iterative process for us in collaboration with our customers,” says Dalton. “Clearly, without access to reliable, cost-effective power and fiber connectivity you can’t have a data center. Cost of land and labor are other challenges.”

But these are secondary to being in the right location at the right time.

RagingWire is constructing, for example, a new four-story data center, SV1, in Santa Clara, California, in the heart of Silicon Valley. The 160,000 sq. ft. facility

center, but most are executing a hybrid

is going up on a 3.3 acre site, with 64,000

strategy that includes legacy applica-

sq. ft of data floor space and 16 MW of

tions, proprietary systems, private

scalable, critical IT power and will be

cloud, and public cloud.

operational in 2020.

“Hybrid IT is the new world order

New data center space in Santa

and I don’t think you will find any CIO in

Clara is rare. The vacancy rate among

America who has not contemplated or

at least 30 data centers in the area is

executed a cloud component to their

under 8%. There will be no lack of

overall strategy,” Goldsmith said.

takers for RagingWire’s new facility.

To be prepared for the ground-shaking

BUILDING DATA CENTERS BIGGER, SMARTER, FASTER

that is characteristic of the Bay Area,

Kevin Dalton’s job is to locate, design

a seismic-stability system used by NTT

and construct new data center space.

in its data center in Japan, a location

RagingWire’s SV1 Data Center will feature

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

25

R A G I N G W I R E D ATA C E N T E R S

26

RagingWire Ashburn VA3 Data Center JUNE 2019

NTT (RAGINGWIRE’S PA R E N T C O M PA N Y )

$118bn+ Approximate revenue

283,000

Approximate number of employees

140

Data centers worldwide

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

27

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prone to earthquakes. A subterranean

area of modular design and supply

pendulum isolation system protects

chain, to both shorten construction

the building from the ground moving

lead times and to lower costs,” Dalton

below it. Using the same system, NTT’s

says. “There are huge advantages in

Tokyo facilities were unharmed by the

having standard designs where we

catastrophic 9.1 magnitude earthquake

can pretty much drop in electrical and

and tsunami that devastated eastern

mechanical modules at any location

Japan in 2011.

around the country. Time to market is

This is a great illustration of one of

vital to the cloud providers.”

the advantages that RagingWire gains

With this approach, the equipment

from its parent group, however Dalton

for an electrical room can be reduced

returns to the agility RagingWire offers

to a couple of elements that fit on a

as the main differentiator across the

flatbed truck for delivery to a core and

USA. “We have been innovating in the

shell at any location in the country. w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

29

BUILDING BETTER

MODULAR ELECTRICAL SOLUTIONS FOR DATA CENTERS

www.fibrebond.com

“ Most of our customers have green policies so being able to offer them renewable energy helps them maintain those green credentials” — Kevin Dalton, Senior Vice President of Construction and Critical Facilities Engineering and Design (CFED) at RagingWire

are in place, installing the infrastructure should take no more than a few months. Purchasing agreements with global equipment manufacturers lead to volume discounts that can be passed on to customers.

“We do as much work in advance as possible to procure the equipment and ship it to the integrator so they can put it together for us, test it and hold it as inventory ready to ship,” Dalton explains.

It’s all about consistency in design, so that customers can deploy systems and RagingWire and their NTT colleagues can manage data centers worldwide.

Design drives operational synergy. The modular approach allows RagingWire to

Another advantage of partnering with

replicate facilities in different markets

vendors, he adds, is that they are willing

while tailoring the data centers to take

to hold an inventory of fully functioning

advantage of the unique characteristics

and tested modules – the old way of

of the geography.

build to order takes too long to meet hyperscale cycle times.

Close management of the supply

REDUCING TCO WHILE INCREASING RENEWABLE ENERGY

chain, allied to sophisticated forecast-

In a market that is expanding at the

ing, means that much of the construc-

rate of the cloud, total cost of owner-

tion can be done ahead of time.

ship (TCO) is a major consideration for

Customers need to know exactly when

providers when building a business

their facility will be up and running.

case. RagingWire is addressing TCO

Once the core and shell of the building

at every level. Power represents the w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

31

R A G I N G W I R E D ATA C E N T E R S

biggest operational cost, and mechan-

now is to find affordable and reliable

ical systems such as cooling are the

renewable energy sources. RagingWire

largest consumers of power. In the

has taken a proactive approach to

data center industry, the ratio between

renewable energy at its three data

mechanical systems and computing

centers in Sacramento, Calif., which

equipment is assessed using the

together offer 680,000 sq. ft. with 53

power usage effectiveness (PUE)

MW of critical IT power. In Sacramento,

metric. “Efficient cooling systems lead

RagingWire now offers 100% renew-

to efficient data centers that reduce

able power that is fully available and

your operating expense and ultimately

backed by a 100% uptime service level

lower the total cost of ownership for

agreement (SLA) to customers.

the customer,” explains Goldsmith.

Over the years, data center designs 32

have become highly efficient. The quest

JUNE 2019

Sustainability is a major priority for customers, emphasises Kevin Dalton.

“Most of our customers have green

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘RAGINGWIRE DALLAS TX1 DATA CENTER VIRTUAL TOUR’

RagingWire Dallas TX1 Data Center – Lobby w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

33

R A G I N G W I R E D ATA C E N T E R S

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policies so being able to offer them renewable energy helps them maintain those green credentials. In Sacramento, we work with our utility partner, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD), to ensure that our energy utilization is a combination of wind and hydro, solar and biomass. We are also working with energy providers in all of our locations to develop renewable energy options for our customers.”

Recycled concrete and repurposed steel are other ways he cites to reduce the amount of material sent to landfills.

EARNING A REPUTATION AS A TRUSTED, STABLE PROVIDER For Joe Goldsmith, a big benefit of being under the NTT umbrella is that the parent represents a single, stable, and substantial source of capital.

“Unlike a lot of the data center providers in the market today, especially the private-equity backed companies, we have a single source of capital,” Goldsmith says. “We don’t have to go from bank to bank when we want to come into a new market, raise debt, raid equity, look for investment partners, or manage to restrictive covenants. This

“ Efficient cooling systems lead to efficient data centers that reduce your operating expense and ultimately lower the total cost of ownership for the customer” — Joe Goldsmith, Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at RagingWire RagingWire Dallas TX1 Data Center – Data Floor w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

35

R A G I N G W I R E D ATA C E N T E R S

“ Unlike a lot of the data center providers in the market today, we have a single source of capital.

We don’t have to go from bank to bank when we want to come into a new market, raise debt, raid equity, look for investment partners, or manage to restrictive covenants” — Joe Goldsmith, Senior Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer at RagingWire

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RagingWire Ashburn VA3 Data Center – Showcase Conference Room 37 takes uncertainty out of the equation,

service. Customers don’t want the

and that is something the hyperscale

volatility that comes with new owners,

players really appreciate.”

new contracts, new pricing, and new

RagingWire’s capital plan is re-

operations. They like to know that the

freshed annually, and this gives its

site will be operated in a proven and

clients confidence that their future

consistent way by people they know

plans don’t depend on a company that

and trust.”

might run into difficulties. “Another thing in our favor is that we are not subject to the consolidation that is going on right now in the data center market,” Goldsmith says. “It’s too easy for a data center start-up to be more interested in their exit strategy than their growth strategy and customer w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

SMART CITIES

38

Bringing greener cities to life through connectivity and innovation Hosting half the world’s population on 2% of the planet’s surface poses a unique set of challenges, says Mike Hughes, Zone President UK and Ireland, Schneider Electric WRITTEN BY

JUNE 2019

MIKE HUGHES

39

Deloitte’s headquarters, The Edge Building in Amsterdam w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

SMART CITIES

T

ackling climate change and

population is expected to grow by over

creating sustainable cities in the

1bn people over the next thirteen years,

face of rapid population growth,

reaching 8.6bn in 2030.

ageing infrastructure and the

Meanwhile, the increasingly digital,

pace of technological change has

connected and electric nature of our

never been more important. Cities

lives means that we each as individuals

make up 2% of the world’s surface

have greater energy needs than ever

but house more than half of the world’s

before. Is this pace of growth sustain-

population and consume 75% of

able for urban centres and cities like

energy resources. By 2030, urban areas

London or Paris, let alone megacities?

are projected to host 60% of people

The answer is yes, but only if we make

globally. Very soon, one in every three

our cities ‘smarter’.

people will live in cities with at least half a million inhabitants, as the world’s 40

JUNE 2019

Incorporating renewables into our energy mix is a vital part of reducing

our environmental impact, but their potential is being wasted by our inefficient use of that energy. Modern technologies, smart sensors and services that can help us identify and tackle energy waste can and must help to improve cities’ efficiency, sustainability, and resilience.

For any city, going ‘smart’ can be difficult. The sheer size and complexity involved in building a truly integrated

“ Creating sustainable cities means creating smart cities, powered by clean energy that is responsibly consumed and saved” — Mike Hughes, Zone President UK & Ireland, Schneider Electric

and sustainable smart city is difficult to comprehend. In India, Schneider Electric is helping to build Naya Raipur, 41

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

SMART CITIES

“ The only way we will tackle climate change and create cities fit for the future is by rethinking our relationship with energy as individuals, businesses and nations” — Mike Hughes, Zone President UK & Ireland, Schneider Electric

a project which aims to build an entirely new capital city for the newly created state of Chhattisgarh. The funding, expertise, organisation, planning and collaboration to create this smart city from the ground up is incredible. Smart cities at this scale require multi-level governance, expert consultants, technology firms and vendors working together to make the concept a reality.

But the vast majority of the world’s population live in existing towns and cities, not brand-new developments.

42

Naya Raipur is a smart city project located in the newly formed state of Chhattisgarh in India Photo © Smart Cities Council India

Ageing city infrastructures pose connectivity and network management challenges. At the same time, a 24/7 society and a wide array of IoT-enabled devices and electric vehicles (EV) are fuelling greater energy demand. While cities are tasked with improving services and building new transport networks, hospitals, schools, and homes to accommodate population growth, they do so with tightening budgets. Critical infrastructure (old or new) – such as hospitals, airports, live entertainment venues, schools and office buildings – must be reliable, functional but also efficient if we are to build a sustainable future. And it is in efficiency where there is potential to

JUNE 2019

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR’S NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART STADIUM WITH ADVANCED ENERGY MANAGEMENT FACILITIES’ 43 unlock huge financial savings that

of projects to improve their water

could, in turn, reduce running costs,

systems, local or regional energy grids,

helping to fund future investment.

transport infrastructure or buildings.

Developed cities considering going

These precincts or district-scale

‘smart’ simply don’t have the option to

developments are not city-scale, but

rebuild everything from the ground up.

they are large enough to form multiple

They are busy, functioning ecosystems

smart city domains and become a

that need to continue to work whilst

visible and useful reference point to

improvements are made. As a result,

encourage future investment. Indeed,

a piecemeal approach to making cities

by working collaboratively with both

smarter is the only option. It is essen-

public and private sectors, Schneider

tial, therefore, that incentives and

Electric has successfully delivered

regulation are introduced to drive

smart city project applications to more

organisations and individuals to

than 250 cities worldwide.

incorporate efficiency as a core pillar

One such example is our recent w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

SMART CITIES

partnership with Tottenham Hotspur to help build and manage the energy distribution and consumption at the club’s new state-of-the-art stadium – a landmark in sports venue efficiency and connectivity. As the stadium’s official Energy Management Supplier, Schneider Electric performs 60,000 automated checks every five minutes to ensure that every aspect of energy usage is monitored and optimised, ensuring such aspects and optimal temperature and lighting conditions.

Designed for visitor enjoyment and 44

comfort, the stadium is also helping to regenerate the surrounding area of Tottenham, bringing the smart city reality one step closer.

The ripples of projects such as these, ambitious in scale and innovative in nature, not only improve energy efficiency, but also set a new standard of living and urban regeneration, whilst also starting to change perceptions of energy use. Take for example the Edge building, Deloitte’s headquarters, in the Netherlands. This building not only delivers a cutting-edge digital workspace and meets the highest environmental standards, but it was created with the goal of being a ‘net neutral’ JUNE 2019

Tottenham Hotspur’s new state-of-the-art stadium

“ Projects such as these, ambitious in scale and innovative in nature, not only improve energy efficiency, but also set a new standard of living and urban regeneration” — Mike Hughes, Zone President UK & Ireland, Schneider Electric

building and the potential to be ‘net positive’. The Edge is a building that is self-sufficient in terms of the energy it requires to function, and at times (such as at night or weekends) returns excess energy produced to the grid.

Forward-thinking projects such as these start to enable us to imagine a future where perhaps the majority of homes, businesses, schools and hospitals could be at worst net neutral and ideally net positive. Imagine receiving an income from your home or place of work, instead of paying bills. It would completely change the way we think about energy generation, distribution, and consumption. Digitisation paves the way for more and more net neutral or net positive buildings, generating their own energy on-site with smart systems that give excess energy back to the grid.

Whilst net neutral and net positive buildings are currently just a dream for all but a few, the road to achieving this starts with tackling waste. Something that every government, business or individual can do. With demand for energy rising, unlocking untapped energy efficiency potential has never been more urgent, or easily achieved. w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

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SMART CITIES

Investing in smart systems that monitor energy use and efficiency across every aspect of your energy infrastructure is something that can be realised today.

By understanding how, where and when energy is used, opportunities for efficiencies can be identified and actioned. Our Global Digital Transformation Benefits Report 2019 identified 12 ways that the digital transformation of energy management and automation drives benefits in CapEx, OpEx, based on interviews with 230 businesses. These companies have realised 46

savings in energy consumption of up to 85% and up to 80% on energy costs.

Energy efficiency projects are becoming a C-suite priority, as board members recognise the competitive edge that projects can deliver, at the same time as delivering on sustainability commitments which employees, customers and governments are driving for.

Projects like these demonstrate that rethinking energy is not only a major enabler of innovation. It powers progress and life.

As the global population grows and our world and lives become increasingly electrified, creating sustainable cities means creating smart cities, JUNE 2019

S TAT I S T I C S

• Cities make up 2% of the world’s surface but house more than half of the world’s population and consume 75% of energy resources • By 2030, urban areas are projected to host 60% of people globally

Crossrail Place Roof Garden in Canary Wharf, London Photo Š Jason Williams

powered by clean energy that is responsibly consumed and saved.

The fact is it is far easier to save a unit of energy than it is to create one. The only way we will tackle climate change and create cities fit for the future is by rethinking our relationship with energy as individuals, businesses and nations.

Deloitte’s headquarters, The Edge Building in Amsterdam

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Covering every angle in the digital age The Business Chief platforms offer insight on the trends influencing C and V-level executives, telling the stories that matter

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GREEN BUILDING

50

Can a building become its own ecosystem?

JUNE 2019

SPIE UK’s George Adams discusses the major impact commercial buildings can have by changing the way they use energy – not just on climate change, but on health and wellbeing too WRITTEN BY

OLIVIA MINNOCK

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GREEN BUILDING

F

52

rom optimising concept

constantly respond to changes,

and design right through

and equally create change

to implementation and

through design, engineering,

operation, SPIE UK provides

maintenance, operations and

smart engineering and technolo-

energy efficiency.”

gy-driven solutions for the built

Adams has been concerned

environment. Employing more

with climate change throughout

than 3,000 people, the business

his career, and has long been fas-

is comprised of experts on design,

cinated by the way buildings and

electrical, mechanical and HVAC

the built environment can impact

engineering, energy and commu-

factors like carbon emissions.

nications and more.

The full potential, he argues, has

Now, among its wider opera-

not yet been recognised. “I was

tions, a particular mission for

embracing design for energy all

SPIE UK is to help make commer-

the way back into the late 1980s

cial buildings – and by extension

– my eyes were opened up to the

whole cities – function in a more

fact buildings need to focus on

sustainable, autonomous way in

efficiency and sustainability,

order to combat climate change

though back then we used to

and positively influence the health

talk more about buildings being

and wellbeing of employees.

‘autonomous’,” he recalls.

“Design thinking is about

Central to SPIE UK’s corpo-

a holistic view of what we need

rate strategy is the smart city:

to do as engineers to improve

a concept bringing together

the built environment,” comments

technology, energy, health and

Energy and Engineering Director

wellbeing to create better, more

George Adams. “SPIE UK

connected environments for

recognises that we have to

people to live, work and learn in.

JUNE 2019

“ GLOBALLY, ABOUT 7MN PEOPLE DIE PER YEAR BECAUSE OF POOR AIR QUALITY AND A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM CITIES. IN ADDITION, FROM A FINANCIAL POINT OF VIEW, OVER $4BN IS LOST IN PRODUCTIVITY BECAUSE OF AIR POLLUTION” — George Adams, Director of Energy & Engineering, SPIE UK 53

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GREEN BUILDING

“ IF LIGHTING IS POOR, IT CAN AFFECT PEOPLE’S EMOTIONS AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL, CAUSING THEM TO MAKE MISTAKES” 54

— George Adams, Director of Energy & Engineering, SPIE UK

JUNE 2019

Simply reducing carbon emissions, while vital, seems increasingly simplistic nowadays as wellness and a positive work environment take centre stage among the benefits of a more sustainable city.

Among several climate action and engineering groups, Adams leads the UK’s Resilient Cities Group, heads up the Construction Industry Council’s Green Construction Panel and is a member of the Trees and Design Action Group. “In London, we like to think we’re a green city,” he says, “but there’s actually only one tree per person in the whole city. We need to bring together the hardware of engineering, the functionality of making buildings more sustainable through energy conservation, and green infrastructure to help create a better environment.

“Globally, about 7mn people die per year because of poor air quality and a lot of that comes from cities.

In addition, from a financial point of view, over $4bn is lost in productivity because of air pollution.”

While ‘sustainability’ reflects cutting down energy usage and waste, Adams’ overarching term of ‘autonomous’ also encapsulates health and wellbeing within a building that essentially becomes its own ecosystem.

“Autonomous buildings can create the right air quality in order that people working in cities can get really good air quality, while outside the building we need to clean our act up,” he says.

In this way, Adams argues, buildings have the potential to be ‘mediators of climate’. “Buildings have a great opportunity to create an environment people can work in.” SPIE UK leverages technologies like IoT and data analytics, w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

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GREEN BUILDING

56

as well as smart FM platforms, to find out

efficiently as they can,” says Adams.

just how much more efficient a building

SPIE UK can look at everything

can be made and to ensure a bespoke

from the overall engineering infrastruc-

solution is found for each space.

ture to individual pieces of equipment

“We get the data from a building,

to pinpoint what isn’t working and

analyse it, and can see not only that

what needs to be updated. “We can

the building can perform better in

give a solution which doesn’t involve

terms of energy efficiency, but also the

throwing the plant away – this recy-

levels and type of lighting, ventilation,

cling is important for us,” Adams

air quality etc… we can also explain to

adds. “We can show clients how to

the client how and why the environment

enhance existing equipment, make

isn’t conducive to people working as

it work more efficiently, and save

JUNE 2019

57

money over time in terms of life cycle

A key change most commercial

cost, whereas eventually replacing

buildings can benefit from pertains

the building would cost four or five

to lighting. “From a global point of view,

times as much as an upgrade.”

lighting contributes to about 20% of

Recycling and retrofitting are

global energy consumption created by

a keen focus. “We look at how the

human beings. If we can reduce lighting

existing building can be improved in

energy by 60-70% across the globe,

terms of fit-out, fabric and engineer-

we’ve made a significant contribution

ing content – how modifications can

to reducing carbon emissions.

be made to not only reduce energy

“LED light requires so much less

use, but improve quality of environ-

energy than traditional fluorescent

ment. We’ve done this for several clients.”

lighting and equally gives a brighter, w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

GREEN BUILDING

cleaner and clearer light. Lighting

driven, Adams says this is becoming easier.

is a very dynamic area that has

“A lot of research has been carried out over

massive potential to help

the years in the industry to demonstrate that

us reduce carbon emissions.

poor temperature control, humidity, air

“We are now also recognising the impact types of lighting

way people work.”

can have on people – for example,

Wider economic impact must also be

lighting with a blue tinge can make

considered, with Adams citing that £1 of

staff more energetic. If lighting

investment in the UK construction industry

is poor, it can affect people’s

can contribute £2.60 of GDP. “Clearly the

emotions and attention to detail,

more efficient we make buildings, then

causing them to make mistakes.”

that RoI for the whole construction industry

It’s all very well to explain to 58

quality or lighting does directly affect the

a company their building needs

becomes greater.”

For SPIE UK, this also involves working with

an upgrade to have a more positive

schools to educate young people. “I prefer to

impact on people and planet, but

talk about the built environment as a whole

at the end of the day the financial

– this brings on board a range of skillsets

angle will always be top of mind.

such as ecologists, economists, architects,

How can a CFO be persuaded

engineers… we give students a broader view;

to drive sustainability? “Some-

it’s not just about building a building.”

thing we’re driving at SPIE UK

This education aspect is something SPIE

is return on investment – when

UK believes should be at the forefront in

they will cover capital costs, and

developing the autonomous buildings and

then the life cycle savings, as

smart cities of tomorrow. “It’s all about transpar-

well as added benefits of health,

ency and knowledge sharing,” says Adams.

wellbeing and productivity,”

“The fact is that the world, technology and

Adams explains.

challenges for society are all moving so fast

While many would balk at the

that more and more people are realising

prospect of bringing up these

if you have a piece of knowledge, keeping it to

‘softer’ benefits to the financially

yourself is probably not the best thing to do.”

JUNE 2019

“ LIGHTING IS A VERY DYNAMIC AREA THAT HAS MASSIVE POTENTIAL TO HELP US REDUCE CARBON EMISSIONS” — George Adams, Director of Energy & Engineering, SPIE UK

59

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LEADERSHIP

60

Construction in the cloud with Oracle We spoke with a talented trio at Oracle who are at the forefront of the digital transformation of the construction industry — meet Mike Sicilia, Leigh Jasper and Mike Antis…

WRITTEN BY

JUNE 2019

DAN BRIGHTMORE

61

Oracle is involved in the ongoing restoration of London’s iconic Battersea Power Station w w w.c o nst ruc t i o ngl o b a l. com

LEADERSHIP

T

he genesis of Oracle’s expansion into the construction industry started ten years ago

and ramped significantly when Mike

Sicilia, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Oracle Construction & Engineering Global Business Unit, joined Oracle as part of the acquisition of Primavera in 2011.

“Over the past decade we’ve grown the business organically,” explains Sicilia.

“And through further acquisitions (including Aconex and Textura) 62

continued to expand the footprint of our construction solutions from project scheduling to payment, document management, collaboration tools and general business process automation as part of a global business unit for

The acquisition of Aconex has further

construction and engineering.” The

beefed up Oracle’s Construction offering.

Global Business Unit focuses on

“As part of a common set of solutions

enterprise project portfolio manage-

on a shared platform, Aconex brings

ment solutions for project-intensive

the ability to have a wide set of tools to

industries utilising Primavera’s

manage your project or asset all the way

cloud-based SaaS solution P6EPPM

through its different phases,” affirms

– touted as the world’s most powerful,

Leigh Jasper, co-founder of Aconex,

flexible and easy to use solution for

and its Vice President of Strategy and

prioritising, managing and executing

Operations at Oracle. “These comple-

projects, programs and portfolios and

mentary solutions lead the market in

used in $250bn of projects annually.

terms of what they’re able to deliver as

JUNE 2019

“ Through further acquisitions (including Aconex and Textura) we continued to expand the footprint of our construction solutions from project scheduling to payment, document management, collaboration tools and general business process automation” — Mike Sicilia Senior Vice President & General Manager, Oracle Construction & Engineering Global Business Unit

a unified package for our customers who are excited to be able to combine the functions of products from Oracle, Aconex and Textura in one suite. We offer a cloud first approach and I believe you can’t get a better set of products under one roof anywhere else in the market.” More than 16,000 project leaders trust Aconex for visibility, control, reduced risk, and connecting teams for design and construction coordination, project controls, w w w.c o nst ruc t i o ngl o b a l. com

63

LEADERSHIP

and field management delivering a speedy ROI with software that can be deployed in days.

Jasper believes reacting to continual feedback from customers has been the key to success. “When we started nearly 20 years ago digitising was a completely new way of managing the information load so we educated customers as to how they could use the technology and also learned from them to drive the evolution of these solutions. With the advent of the internet, rather than having informa64

tion sitting within individual enterprises, we were able to create a common data environment (CDE) where everybody can access the information they need and rely on a single source of truth which drives efficiency gains and reduces risk on any size of project.”

Aconex has the capability to control projects with thousands of participants as well as millions of documents, 3D models, BIM coordination, processes and decisions while maintaining insight and control each step of the way. “No matter where you are – in the office, field or trailer – your project is always at your fingertips,” adds Jasper. “We’ve connected more construction and engineering teams than any platform to deliver over a trillion dollars in project value.” These projects include the ongoing restoration of JUNE 2019

$40bn Total GAAP revenue in FY 2018

25,000 partners 139,000 Approximate number of employees

65

London’s iconic Battersea Power Station, a huge rail infrastructure development in Qatar and New Zealand’s Nga Awa Purua geothermal power station.

Making it a triple threat for Oracle’s Construction & Engineering division, Textura were brought into the fold to transform the financial mind set as there were very few solutions on the market able to solve the structural financing issues that have plagued construction projects in the supply chain. “We offer a billing claims mana gement solution that also covers payments to meet the w w w.c o nst ruc t i o ngl o b a l. com

LEADERSHIP

growing concern in the industry around

very high touch from a service perspec-

late payments to contractors,” explains

tive. We try to offer value to all parties

Mike Antis, Executive Vice President of

in the supply chain, not just those who

Textura, Client Services at Oracle

purchase the solution. Our goal is to

Construction & Engineering and Vice

deliver value to everybody in the

President of Client Services at Oracle

ecosystem so the purchaser gets the

Construction & Engineering.

most value possible through their supply

“We enhance visibility in the process

66

chain.” Antis believes the mobile

and speed it along. We also offer

capability of Oracle’s suite of solutions

a financing capability which gets money

– including Textura’s Construction

in the hands of the subcontractors

Payment Management (CPM) – is putting

much earlier in the process with the

real time data for informed business

goal of improving the working capital

decisions in the hands of users. “It’s

position and strengthening business.

a game changer,” he enthuses. “And it’s

We’re cloud native, collaborative and

where the industry has really arrived.”

JUNE 2019

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE WITH ORACLE CONSTRUCTION AND ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS’

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LEADERSHIP

With the expansion and transformation of companies like Oracle what will this mean to the development of the construction industry? “What we’re seeing is the acceleration of digital transformation,” maintains Jasper.

“Many firms started this journey with their customers back in the nineties and it’s come about by bringing these solutions together into common platforms. It’s hard for our customers buying from different vendors to cobble something together... It’s really important to digitise and bring tools together 68

in one place – we’re connecting those dots and reducing a five-year journey into a matter of months or weeks to achieve implementation.”

Oracle’s range of solutions are available on a modular basis so compa-

tion customers solve not just discrete

nies can start addressing document,

business problems during the planning,

payment or scheduling business

building or operating phase, but also

problems individually and gradually

addressing issues like IoT registration,”

add more options over time as their

asserts Sicilia. “Visit any job site and

needs change. Supported by syner-

you’ll encounter drones, sensors,

gies across the business at Oracle,

wearables… All of these become

the Construction & Engineering division

end users of the software so the

draws on these in-house alliances to

challenge is to be able to marshall,

set its offering apart. “The most compel-

secure, identify and track them.

ling thing is being able to leverage the

By bolting on our IoT registration

Oracle technology to help our construc-

cloud to your applications we

JUNE 2019

69

“ Now that we’re one collaborative platform there’s a tremendous opportunity to leverage our strengths around the world with the goal of digitising clients, collecting data and harnessing that to make informed business decisions” — Mike Antis Executive Vice President of Textura, Client Services at Oracle Construction & Engineering w w w.c o nst ruc t i o ngl o b a l. com

LEADERSHIP

“ What we’re seeing is the acceleration of digital transformation. Many firms started this journey with their customers back in the nineties and it’s come about by bringing these solutions together into common platforms”

70

— Leigh Jasper Co-founder of Aconex and Vice President, Aconex Strategy and Operations at Oracle Construction & Engineering

can do this. Another example of why companies should choose us is our data analytics capability, because construction generates a lot of unstructured data. Being able to dive in and get analytics, from other vendors as well as Oracle solutions with our expandable platform helps customers solve their IoT ecosystem problems.”

Oracle is keen to keep innovating and discover new ways to build relationships with customers eager to further their digital journey. We spend a lot of JUNE 2019

71

time meeting with clients in conference

enables visitors to interact with leading-

rooms but it’s really not where the folks

edge solutions, including connected

using our solutions will actually be

devices, autonomous vehicles, drones,

working,” notes Sicilia. “So, we’ve built

augmented reality, visualisation, and

a destination where customers can

artificial intelligence tools presented in

experience a simulation of a real job site

collaboration with Oracle partners

to see the value of our solutions and

including Assemble Systems (BIM data

give us real time feedback. We’ve also

wranglers), Bosch tools and Recon-

expanded the lab to include our technol-

struct (3D timeline tracking). Addition-

ogy partners who offer something that

ally, the lab demonstrates Oracle

make both of our systems stronger. It’s

Live Experience Cloud, showcasing

been met with great enthusiasm.” The

modern engagement for cross-work-

Innovation Lab in Deerfield, Illinois

site experiences. w w w.c o nst ruc t i o ngl o b a l. com

LEADERSHIP

Sicilia reckons the biggest challenges facing the industry are data protection, security, GDPR compliance and, in the US, being prepared for federal projects with FedRAMP certification (Federal Risk and Authorisation Management Program): “The world is getting its head around internet-based applications and security while facing up to the challenges of events like Brexit.

Another benefit of this technology being part of Oracle is that we have the horsepower to take on these 72

initiatives and guarantee our customer’s data is hosted in specific data centre locations remaining secure.

That’s the single biggest challenge: How do you add value quickly, get customers up and running, be credible and be compliant? Because the rules are changing on a daily basis.”

Projects benefitting from Oracle solutions (with Aconex, Textura and Oracle working side by side) across the Global Business Unit include forty different airports around the world, most recently in Denver. Elsewhere, multi-billion-dollar developments like the F1 track in the Middle East fly the flag for what can be JUNE 2019

achieved. “We worked on the Singapore Marina,” remembers Jasper.

“To this day it’s still the largest project, from a data point of view, on our platform with 40 million documents.

Vast quantities of information are being managed on projects like these.

We’re working with the largest contractors in the world so customers can be confident in how we scale up alongside the digital transformations they are going through.”

Jasper believes those that learn from their data and digitise their businesses to a level where they can gain insights for a competitive advantage will be those that win over the next five to ten years. Sicilia predicts a rise in the number of joint ventures which will be require to meet targets for rebuilding global infrastructures over the next 15-20 years increasing Oracle’s adoption: “The cloud is the perfect solution for JVs, because you don’t need to worry about who owns the IT infrastructure, where the data sits… Technology will be a great enabler when it comes to increasing productivity and delivering critical infrastructure in an industry which, quite frankly, has struggled w w w.c o nst ruc t i o ngl o b a l. com

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LEADERSHIP

“ We’ve seen a major labour shortage in the space and one of the ways to attract talent is through technology and appealing to those leaving university looking for sexy, forward-thinking industries” — Mike Antis Vice President of Textura, Client Services at Oracle Construction & Engineering

74

JUNE 2019

with this over a number of years.”

We’ve seen a major labour shortage

Antis agrees: “These generational

in the space and one of the ways to

leaps, moving from manual paper-

attract talent is through technology

laden processes to state of the art

and appealing to those leaving

tech solutions is not only necessary

university looking for sexy, forward-

to push the industry forward to keep

thinking industries.”

up with demand but it’s also going to help with recruiting new talent.

Attracting skilled labour is one of the industry’s biggest problems…

75

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S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

sustainability on a massive scale 76

We speak to Shannon Thomas Carroll, Director of Global Environmental Sustainability at AT&T, to see how the telco giant is harnessing sustainability across its massive operations‌ WRITTEN BY

JUNE 2019

ANDRE W WOODS

77

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S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

A

ligning the notion and practice of sustainability within the biggest companies on the planet is no small

undertaking and AT&T – founded by Alexander Graham Bell – is no exception. The world’s largest telecommunications company and ranked number nine on the Fortune 500, this

giant multinational conglomerate has just over 270,000 employees and posted a 2017 revenue of $190.5bn. This is a holding company whose operations spread out over numerous sectors and territories and to seek a sustainable road map at such a business 78

is as complex as it is integral.

Shannon Thomas Carroll is Director of Global Environmental Sustainability at AT&T and possesses a rich knowledge of both the company’s operations and its sustainable practices as he works to reduce the environmental impact of the telco’s operations. His key accomplishments include “being the internal driver for large scale renewable energy, zero-waste, and supply chain human rights audits”.

Carroll has been with the company for almost 20 years, having served in several different capacities across the 133-year-old conglomerate. “I’ve worked on a consumer side, the business side of the house and on the network side,” he explains. “So I’ve had lots of different JUNE 2019

79

“ AT&T has an energy intensity goal, relative to its network, to be 60% more efficient” — Shannon Thomas Carroll, Director of Global Environmental Sustainability at AT&T

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

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

roles. I spent a lot of time in project

mental sustainability while I was still

management, as well as with a couple

in supply chain and was lucky enough

different business units. I did project

to transition that into a full-time role

management and compliance for our

over on the corporate side. I took that

supply chain; that’s one of the things

supply chain focus and expanded it

that transitioned me into my current

to a corporate view. Now my respons

role. On the compliance side, you have

bilities are specific to environmental

things like environmental health and

sustainability within our operations.

safety and that was one of the transi-

So, anything that has an environmen-

tional topics that really got me interest-

tal impact within our four walls is,

ed in this work. Then I just started

generally speaking, something I

asking for more work around environ-

would look at.�

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CLICK TO WATCH : ‘AT&T HELPS RESTORE COMMUNICATIONS AFTER HURRICANE MATTHEW’ 81 AT&T has had a long history of corporate social responsibility, even if it wasn’t always labelled as CSR. “We

also seeing how we can have the most sustainable business practices possible.”

One of the first things Carroll explored

have an extensive history of strong

when he stepped into his current role

energy management and corporate

was AT&T’s greenhouse gas footprint.

real estate management,” Carrol

Carroll monitored all the different

explains. “We looked at things like

aspects of scope 1, scope 2 and scope

waste water, and obviously there

3 through an inventory to gather the

are natural financial incentives to use

required information. “Once we had

those resources, but you also want to

that information, we had it verified by

look at being a good corporate citizen.

an independent third party,” he explains.

What are the positive environmental

“That was a great introduction to the

impacts of doing that? I see my role,

job because I got to touch all parts of

first and foremost, as looking into what’s

the business when undertaking a cor-

going to be best for the company, while

porate greenhouse gas footprint. From w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

82

there you then start looking at some of

important. You’re looking internally, but

the larger responsibilities, such as waste

you’re also looking externally. You’re

and how you dematerialise. What

trying to think strategically while you

projects have been done? What was

still have the practical responsibilities

successful? What wasn’t successful?

to get the job done.”

What maybe didn’t happen in terms of

As the scale of operations at AT&T

timing and can you pick up the ball again

is so vast, Carroll liaises with Chief Sust-

and start trying to work with what hasn’t

ainability Officer, Charlene Lake. They

been done? You have to be strategic in

operate at what Carroll describes as

your thinking. You’ve got to read the tea

the ‘inc. level’ or the corporate side of

leaves and see how the wind’s blowing

operations. “The advantage that gives

externally as well. There’s obviously an

us is we can go into all parts of the

importance to the business and what

business, essentially representing the

our stakeholders are asking of us is

company. What’s really important

JUNE 2019

though is that we don’t just walk into

With support from AT&T’s corporate

the different business units and say,

level, Carroll and his team launched

‘This is what you’re gonna do!’ We have

10X Goals. AT&T’s renewable energy

to be good business partners, whether

investments are a part of this carbon

it’s internal or external. We’re very lucky

reduction goal, helping to enable

that sustainability really is at the core

carbon savings 10 times the footprint

of a lot of our work. So, as we go in to

of AT&T’s operations by 2025. “We

talk to our network folks or our corpo-

have somebody who works full-time

rate real-estate folks, or our supply

on that making sure the methodology

chain folks, they’re already doing a lot

is sound,” says Carroll. “We have some-

of this work. What we try to do is help

body who’s working on the numerator

frame that work and see what we can

part of that, making sure that our pro-

amplify; see what we can do better. We

ducts and services can deliver that.

just try to partner with them.”

You have me, I’m on more the denomi-

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S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

nator side. I’m trying to shrink our own operational footprint so it makes it easier to achieve it. We’re very lucky. We are a large company, but we have the right amount of resources addressing sustainability here.”

One of the challenges Carrol cites as specific to large-scale renewable energy is that first time you put the practice into action. Thus, off-site research is essential in getting these methods right. “We’ve obviously been looking at renewable energy options 84

for years and years and years. We did have some onsite solar and we just knew, because of our scale, that if we’re going to have a significant impact we needed to look offsite at the largescale renewable energies. We look at what others are doing and then try to

FACTS

• AT&T’s renewable energy website, provides an overview of the deals the company announced this year and their impact: Click here for website • AT&T’s 10x website, which outlines the 10x goal and includes case studies of the company working with customers to reduce their environmental footprint: Click here for website • AT&T’s sustainability reporting website, which includes the information from the company’s annual CSR report: Click here for website • The Energy Management issue brief: Click here for website

figure out if that’s something that could potentially work for us. You do a lot of

go from a relatively small renewable

research and then bring that research

energy concern to one of the largest

and those findings home. We would

corporate buyers in the United States?

then start stakeholdering those. I’d say

A lot of education has to be done,

the biggest challenge is because you’ve

in getting people familiar with new

never done it before, you have to edu-

terminology. I’d say that’s the biggest

cate a lot of folks on what it is and how

challenge; the newness of it all.”

it works and how the mechanics of it

In reference to large scale renew-

work. What does it mean for AT&T to

able energy, AT&T is one of the top five

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S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

corporate renewable energy buyers in

even if people don’t know it by name,

the US. “The fact that we were able to

they’re doing the work. These are folks

scale up so quickly is a credit to the

who do sustainability for a living. We

professionalism we have on our energy

already have folks who are trying to

management team. I would say the

save as much water as they can. They’re

thing I’m most proud of is just the scale

already trying to remove as many kilo-

’cause what you’re really looking for is

watts as they can from the business.

impact. We’re proud of the 820 mega-

They’re already trying to be as efficient

watts we’ve done so far. We’re the

as they can.”

evangelists. We’re going around talking

AT&T has an energy intensity goal,

about all the benefits. The interesting

relative to its network, to be 60% more

thing is when you go into the different

efficient. Carroll wants to push more

business units, my experience is that

data through the network using the same,

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or less energy. “We have a public goal around that. We have a public goal to

“A few years ago, we worked with EDF on our water footprint. We’re always looking at every aspect of our operations” — Shannon Thomas Carroll, Director of Global Environmental Sustainability at AT&T

reduce our fleet emissions by 30%.

We have lots of public goals that are already tagged at this work and within the business units.

They just have their heads down and are doing the really hard work to achieve this. When we come into departments and explain it’s really about the work that they’re already doing, the light bulbs go off and they become really good business partners. We’re constantly looking at the landscape in terms of the environment. A few years ago, we worked with EDF on our water footprint for example. We’re always looking at every aspect of our operations.”

Technology is driving sustainability and AT&T is largely a technology company thus possessing a read edge when it comes to finding solutions.

“I would say just about everything we do has a technology component,” Carroll explains. “For example, we’ve got a project called Icon. It’s basically our internal IoT solution, where we’ve put sensors on all types of internal equipment, including network equipment, 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

S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y

“ We’re proud of the 820 megawatts we’ve done so far. We’re the evangelists. We’re going around talking about all the benefits” — Shannon Thomas Carroll, Director of Global Environmental Sustainability at AT&T

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HVACS, water towers, everything you can think of. We then actively monitor that through our Icon dashboard and are able to look at predictive and preventative maintenance. Are things running as efficiently as they should?

If they aren’t, how can we maximise their effici-ency? There’s a lot of data out there, so the key is not just having accessibility to data, but being able to do something smart and good with it.

We need to make good, smart decisions around that data.”

“I think it’s important when you’re a company our size that you’re comprehensive. You need to have a short-term plan, a mid-term plan and a longterm plan. You have to think strategically, you have to look far down the line.

You just can’t say you’re going to do this and that. You have to be transparent in the way that you do it. And you have actually have to do it.”

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CONSTRUCTION 4.0

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ERP AND THE POTENTIAL TO POWER CONSTRUCTION PRODUCTIVITY We talk to some industry leading lights about the impact of enterprise resource planning (ERP) in construction WRITTEN BY

JUNE 2019

M ARK SPENCE

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CONSTRUCTION 4.0

T

he evolution of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, particularly cloud ERP, has played a pivotal role in

the technology strategy of construction businesses in recent years.

ERP allows everything from inventory to HR, accounting and more, to be integrated and streamlined. Combining these essential functions on one easily accessed and shared database enables different aspects of each business to elevate performance, save time and make projects easier to manage. The implementation of this software has already

92

produced some intriguing results.

ERP IN ACTION Shane Tate, Director of Tate Consulting, believes that construction software has changed how the industry works as a whole. Tate Consulting is currently working on a multi-million-pound development in Royal Wharf Docks, which aims to build a new town within London and includes 3,385 residential units.

“Coordinating architects, structural engineers and building services engineers is a challenge and without regular coordination, there are inevitable delays in detecting any issues which can result in considerable costs and labour further down the line,” Tate tells us.

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93

“(Using) Revit software has allowed us to overcome many problems, especially in the case of the Royal Wharf project that includes a full-sized swimming pool and gym, which created several issues with ducts that needed to be built in to the original design. This would inevitably have caused major problems on the ground if these hadn’t been resolved within this phase.” w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

CONSTRUCTION 4.0

“ COORDINATING ARCHITECTS, STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS AND BUILDING SERVICES ENGINEERS IS A CHALLENGE AND WITHOUT REGULAR COORDINATION, THERE ARE INEVITABLE DELAYS IN DETECTING ANY ISSUES WHICH CAN RESULT IN CONSIDERABLE COSTS AND LABOUR FURTHER DOWN THE LINE” 94

— Shane Tate, Director, Tate Consulting

WHAT CAN ERP DO FOR YOU? To gather a deeper understanding of the benefits ERP can deliver, we spoke to James Lloyd-Townshend, CEO of Washington Frank International, global leaders in ERP recruitment. Here’s his top pointers on why construction firms need to invest in the ground-breaking software…

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE The construction business is awash with rules and regulations, which must be followed. Implementing a compatible and robust ERP software provides your business with visibility, transparency and data security, allowing you to meet the regulatory compliance standards with ease.

PLANNING AND ANALYSIS In construction, it’s crucial that you know which raw materials are required and exactly how much manpower is needed. Using a good ERP solution will make it significantly easier to utilise your resources in the most efficient way.

Construction ERP software allows you to simply figure out how much of your budget you will need for collateral expenditure, and helps you stay clear JUNE 2019

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘REVIT FOR ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN’ 95

of any contractual complications

estimation to a client, safe in the

for the duration of your project.

knowledge the actual cost won’t deviate too much from what was

COST CONTROL

offered, avoiding any unwanted and

Any construction project, no matter

unanticipated expenditure.

what size, will require a host of costs to be considered, with large projects

INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY

becoming very complex. Every time

With all the data in the same location,

a construction company bids on a

productivity levels can soar thanks to

project, they need to provide cost

ERP. Improved analytics can help you

estimations, which can often be wide

create automatic order forms to

of the mark.

manage stock control as well as

Having the correct ERP software helps to provide an accurate

reports to analyse your results and efficiency. The analytical side of the w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

CONSTRUCTION 4.0

96

service provides you with the ability

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

to create automatic order forms which

Projects can span several years and

will aid you in stock control.

a breakdown in communication can

With the correct ERP software in

be extremely costly, meaning

operation, your construction business

communication is key. An ERP solution

can become more efficient in

with in-built chat and video forums

communication which, in turn, could

provides those involved with the perfect

reduce data duplication. It would also

platform to communicate internally

equip contractors with the most

and make sure projects stay on track.

powerful tools for their job, offering a host of features that are specifically

PROJECT MANAGEMENT

designed for construction management,

If you have a strong ERP in place, it’s

such as bid management, accounting,

easier to keep all your projects and

profitability tracking and payroll tools.

data under one umbrella. ERP software

JUNE 2019

products were developed to aid the manufacturing world in order to help track and coordinate projects wherever you are. A modern ERP software system offers a flexible and robust system which can be tailored to each business’s own needs.

TIME EFFECTIVE Having a platform where all information is in one place could be the greatest time-saving decision you make for your business. It’s thought that a business will waste approximately one man

“ IMPLEMENTING A COMPATIBLE AND ROBUST ERP SOFTWARE PROVIDES YOUR BUSINESS WITH VISIBILITY, TRANSPARENCY AND DATA SECURITY ALLOWING YOU TO MEET THE REGULATORY COMPLIANCE STANDARDS WITH EASE” — James Lloyd-Townshend, CEO, Washington Frank International

month each year searching for data

97

and documents that have gone astray.

ERP will remove the risk of human error and misplaced files, helping keep core data organised.

REMOTE ACCESS It’s not always possible for those in the construction industry to be officebased every day. However, many ERP solutions now operate from the cloud, meaning you are able to have a real time view of all your business processes wherever you may be.

This allows you to keep an eye on your essential business needs even when you’re on the go. w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

CONSTRUCTION 4.0

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“ CLEARLY, THERE ARE TOOLS THAT THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR HAS SUCCESSFULLY DEPLOYED THAT HAVE YET TO PENETRATE THE CONSTRUCTION SECTOR” — Scott Hall, Enterprise Sales Manager, Sage

JUNE 2019

The final word goes to Stuart Hall, Enterprise Sales Manager at Sage.

“Since the mid-90s productivity per hour for manufacturing labour has almost doubled. In the same timeframe, construction labour productivity has remained flat or declined depending upon the sector. Clearly, there are tools that the manufacturing sector has successfully deployed that have yet to penetrate the construction sector,” he says.

“This productivity gap must be addressed by new generation construction software. The tools need to migrate from being effort tracking and reporting applications to decision support systems enabling process optimisation in response to real world situations and customer demand.

THE FUTURE OF ERP

This will give greater insight to help

With a recent survey of over 300 global

make better and more timely decisions.

organisations by Sana Commerce

“We also expect to see tools that

highlighting that construction

will allow deeper cross-project and

companies will be more likely (84%) to

program analysis and forecasting.

sell 100% of their inventory online in

It’s this insight from business software

the future, more than in any other

that will allow executives to model

sector (72% average), how else could

the impact of projects on their bottom

ERP further influence the industry in

line based upon historical data and

the future?

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

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LOGO HERE

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The rise of the adaptive data center WRIT TEN BY

SE AN GA LE A-PACE PRODUCED BY

TOM VENTURO

JUNE 2019

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ALIGNED ENERGY

Chief Executive Officer of Aligned Energy, Andrew Schaap, discusses the importance of remaining adaptable, scalable and sustainable in the industry amid technological change

W

ith companies worldwide understanding the importance of embracing technology in order to stay ahead

of their competitors, it has become increasingly significant for firms to undergo a digital 102

transformation in order to achieve and sustain success. For leading data center provider, Aligned Energy, the mission of innovation and the launch of new facilities has become vital to the company’s progression.

ESTABLISHING CORE PRINCIPLES After 20 years of complex transactional experience and multi-disciplinary senior leadership, Chief Executive Officer of Aligned Energy, Andrew Schaap, understands how key it was to form and maintain core principles when he first joined the company in 2017. “One of the first things I did when I came on board was to try and focus the organization on what our core mission and vision actually were. I felt there had been some great JUNE 2019

103

Aligned Salt Lake City w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

innovation before I arrived, providing a

and focus that we were going to pursue

solid foundation for growth and further

moving forward. As a result of this, we’ve

performance improvements,” explains

enjoyed some significant success in the

Schaap. “As a rule of thumb, I believe

last two years, growing the company

that if you have more than three tasks

by more than 1000%.”

per day, then you usually fail at them. The

Such success has been achieved with

human brain works just like a computer

the company paying close attention to

because you’re always switching to

how it conducts its business on the

different tasks. I made sure that when

infrastructure side, as well as choosing

I joined that I really focused the entire

to operate in an alternative way to its

organization on a key vision, mission,

competitors in a bid to stay ahead. “We

E X E C U T I V E P R OF IL E

105

Andrew Schaap A data center, IT, private equity and real estate executive with over 20 years of complex transactional experience and multidisciplinary senior leadership, Chief Executive Officer Andrew Schaap, is dedicated to accelerating the development of Aligned Energy’s business objectives as demand for its adaptive data center approach continues to exceed expectations. Andrew is responsible for business growth and promoting the availability of Aligned Energy’s data center and build-to-scale solutions to cloud, telecom, enterprise and managed service providers.

With a thorough understanding of the evolving data center market, Andrew is responsible for cultivating an ecosystem of innovation that advances Aligned Energy’s commitment to reducing the social, economic and environmental impact of the digital era.

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

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Aligned Ashburn Site Render Entrance

107

really looked at what we were doing on

very important to us in delivering against

the infrastructure side, and fine-tuned

the exacting expectations of our clients.”

our supply chain to enable us to work with our partners,” says Schaap. “We’ve

LAUNCHING NEW FACILITIES

adapted some of the best practices

Through the unveiling of a new 180-meg-

that some of the giants use, such as GE,

awatt data center campus in Ashburn,

to ensure that our partners can help us

Virginia in September 2018, Aligned

to stay nimble and ahead of the curve.

Energy has demonstrated a determina-

We’re doing something in our supply

tion to expand its data campuses in order

chain that’s completely different. We’ve

to address the needs of cloud providers

spent a lot of time and energy choos-

and hyperscalers that demand a highly

ing the right partners and honing our

dynamic, scalable and future-proof data

logistics model. Timely and fiscally

center solution. The 26-acre master-

responsible inventory management is

planned data center campus offers w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

CRITICAL POWER WHEN POWER IS CRITICAL, ALIGNED ENERGY TURNED TO THE MOST TRUSTED NAME IN POWER GENERATION HOLT CAT® is ready for all your most critical power generation demands . . . permanent or temporary, large or small, urban or rural, simple to complex. When Aligned Energy needed critical power from a dependable partner, they turned to HOLT CAT. From diesel and gas generator sets to uninterruptible power supplies, automatic transfer switches and electrical switchgear, HOLT CAT can deliver the critical power you need.

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approximately 880,000 square feet of expandable space, drawing power from two on-site substations, as well as access to over 50 carriers in the immediate area. Schaap believes the new facility has allowed his company to be different. “We have the ability to connect with multiple carriers and diverse routes, as well as a power silo connecting to multiple hub stations upstream of us into Dominion Energy,” says Schaap. “What makes us different is our innovative cooling technology, which allows us to sense when we should use water or when we should switch to lower or zero water utilization based on what’s actually happening with the weather in real time. I believe we’re the only ones that have that unique technology.”

With Aligned Energy’s clients firmly

“ On the innovation side, our focus is on removing any potential concerns that our customers may have in five or 10 years from now.

No one else can really do that apart from Aligned” — Andrew Schaap, Chief Executive Officer, Aligned Energy

in mind, Schaap’s the decision to choose Virginia was primarily based on its location central to the biggest networks.

“We decided on our particular location in Virginia because it’s in proximity to one of the highest networked pathways in the nation. We’re in the middle of all the biggest networks,” says Schaap.

“It’s been fantastic for us because our w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

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CLICK TO WATCH : ‘ALIGNED ENERGY ­— DELTA CUBE’ 111 existing clients can’t wait for us to get

dictable usage and growth models

there and we’re already active with lots

that are becoming table stakes in

of discussions that are quite advanced

today’s deployments.

on our first chunk of capacity. We expect

Technologies such as cloud, IoT,

the site to be live, with active customers

AI/ML, blockchain, and more are

at the end of this summer.”

generating exponentially more heat in the same cubic area. This is why

SUSTAINABILITY IN THE DATA CENTER SPACE

to accommodate exponential platform

With the importance of remaining

growth are becoming increasingly

sustainable a key priority for Aligned

important. ​Schaap believes that

Energy, the company’s data center

implementing technology that is

platform and dynamic infrastructure

adaptable, efficient and dynamic

have been designed with the future in

allows the company to give its clients

mind in order to address the unpre-

peace of mind about the future ahead.

access to green energy and the ability

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

ALIGNED ENERGY

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113

Aligned Dallas Entrance “If you’re in a climate like Virginia,

about what lies around the corner in

water shouldn’t really be a problem.

two years, five years, 10 years, even

However, these assets are long-term,

15 years from now. Clients want

and no one has any idea if in 10 years’

stability, predictability and a partner

time Virginia may go into a drought

that provides them with a path to the

season. We actually have the ability

future as well as peace of mind. Our

to turn off our water usage and still

continued growth and solid capital

run a dry solution. There are no other

foundation have enabled us to be that

companies that we know of that have

stable partner for our customers.

anything like that,” he affirms. “I believe

On the innovation side, our focus is

it’s very innovative and clients love it

on removing any potential concerns

because they don’t ever want to move

that our customers may have in five

out of a data center. They can literally

or 10 years from now. No one else can

come in today and not have to worry

really do that apart from Aligned.” w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

ALIGNED ENERGY

WE BRING DATA CENTERS TO LIFE QA/QC, Commissioning and Operations Consulting Our mission is to provide our clients with a global solution to ensure a consistent, quality data center anywhere in the world.

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OPTIMAL The Name Says It All POWER SOLUTIONS

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FEBRUARY 2019

FUTURE PLANS With the future in mind, Schaap affirms Aligned Energy remains on the lookout for potential expansion opportunities outside of its existing U.S. locations in Dallas, TX, Phoenix, AZ, and Salt Lake City, UT, as well as abroad. “We’re actively looking for the next opportunity all the time and we’re really interested in what our clients are doing so we ensure we spend a lot of time talking to them directly,” says Schaap. “We will also use our great capital and infrastructure to go a little bit further and be more

“ The team here is so important. We’re attracting and retaining great talent and the culture is focused on innovation, inclusion and customercentric support” — Andrew Schaap, Chief Executive Officer, Aligned Energy

responsive to our core elements.

I believe you’ll see us continue to grow and continue to land into new markets.

that they did right by the clients,” explains

As we move forward, expanding

Schaap. “We empower teams to execute

internationally is absolutely on our radar

and perform on behalf of the clients.

and we’re ensuring that we pay close

You don’t have to ask for permission

attention to the latest trends worldwide.”

or forgiveness as long as you’re taking

Schaap believes that the company’s

care of the customer. Through our

success is largely due to the great

empowerment program, we’ve embold-

teamwork and drive within Aligned

ened a lot of our operations and site

Energy, which have enabled customers’

teams to make sure that they’re serving

needs to be met. “The team here is

the clients’ needs immediately.”

so important. We’re attracting and retaining great talent and the culture is focused on innovation, inclusion and customer-centric support. Everybody wants to go to sleep at night knowing w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

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Undergoing a digital transformation in cancer therapy at Proton International —

WRIT TEN BY

SE AN GA LE A-PACE PRODUCED BY

TOM VENTURO

JUNE 2019

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

P R O T O N I N T E R N AT I O N A L

Vice President of Design and Construction at Proton International, Jay Beranek, discusses how the proton industry has transformed over the last few years

D

igital transformation is affecting all industries as companies adapt to the latest trends in order to

achieve success with their offerings. In the 118

case of cancer treatments, it has also allowed for proton therapy to have a more significant impact in the sector. Proton therapy, which is a type of radiation therapy used to treat cancer, utilises protons instead of x-rays in order to battle the disease. As a positively charged particle, protons can destroy cancer cells and are often combined with chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. Vice President of Design and Construction at Proton International, Jay Beranek, has overseen a significant transformation in the construction of cancer treatment centers since arriving at the company in 2011. In the years since, Beranek believes that technology has become increasingly important to Proton International.

JUNE 2019

“Technology in the proton industry is changing very rapidly. Less than 10 years ago, our industry thinking was to build multi-room facilities which would see us develop four or five rooms with larger equipment,” explains Beranek. “It meant there are four completely different gantries but there is still only one cyclotron that can deliver the protons to each of these rooms. Although cost is a major issue, technology has helped to reduce the size of this significantly. I believe the proton industry is going towards single room facilities, which will also substantially reduce the overall cost of the project itself.

Technology decreases the size of the scope, equipment, physical facility and size of the space and it remains absolutely vital to us.”

REMAINING SUSTAINABLE Proton therapy centers began less than three decades ago with just a handful of centers in the US and Europe. However, in recent years the treatment method has become increasingly prominent in the industry and now holds just under 30 operating centers in the US as well as several in 28 other countries around the world. Beranek points out that protons have become more widely-used as a method of cancer treatment due to the influx of patients that have a greater understanding to 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

BR+A CONSULTING ENGINEERS is the Global Engineering Leader in Proton

and Carbon Center design. Our success stems from the talented Core Team of Engineers who have been collaborating for many years. We understand the intricacies of these highly complex facilities and possess in-depth knowledge of the technical requirements of the proton equipment operating systems.

Overall, our portfolio consists of involvement in over 60 particle therapy facilities worldwide, of which, 14 proton centers are currently treating patients and approximately 12 will be brought ‘online’ and start treating patients by the end of 2018 through early 2020.

PARTICLE THERAPY LOCATIONS Abu Dhabi, UAE Adelaide, AU Al Sayh, Bahrain Atlanta, GA Baltimore, MD Bangkok, Thailand Birmingham, AL Boca Raton, FL Boston, MA Cairo, Egypt Cincinnati, OH Cleveland, OH

Dallas, TX Dayton, OH Delray Beach, FL Doha, Qatar Dublin, OH Falls Church, VA Flint, MI Freiberg, Germany Halle, Germany Hefei, China Hong Kong, China Houston, TX

Irving, TX Jacksonville, FL London, England Madrid, Spain Miami, FL Muscat, Oman New York, NY Newport, Wales Northumberland, UK Oklahoma City, OK Oxford, England Philadelphia, PA

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Rochester, MN Royal Oak, MI San Francisco, CA Seattle, WA Singapore Somerset, NJ Stanford, CA Taipei, Taiwan Voorhees, NJ Warrenville, IL Washington, DC

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Michael Fahey, Managing Principal m 347.752.2364 | d 646.205.7289 | e mfahey@brplusa.com

RESPONSIVE BUILDINGS. RESPONSIVE PEOPLE. brplusa.com

“ One of the best things about protons is it can focus on solid tumors in the brain or around the spinal cord, particularly in young children with little to no collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissue. From a quality of life point of view, it’s huge” — Jay Beranek Vice President of Design and Construction, Proton International,

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the benefits of the treatment. “I believe

Having treated its first patients at the

protons have found their place in the

University Medical Centre Groningen

clinical treatment for cancer and one of

(UMCG) in January 2018, the UMCG

the main reasons is because protons are

became the first site to provide proton

particles, in comparison to a light wave

therapy in the Netherlands and is built

which are x-rays,” he says. “One of the

with a 220-tonne particle accelerator

best things about protons is it can focus

and the most modern irradiation

on solid tumors in the brain or around the

equipment. By launching facilities such

spinal cord, particularly in young children

as the UMCG, it has allowed Proton to

with little to no collateral damage to

remain sustainable and provide a vast

surrounding healthy tissue. From a quality

number of proton facilities to the world.

of life point of view; it’s huge.”

“The design process at UMCG was w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

P R O T O N I N T E R N AT I O N A L

very successful. UMCG had a strong physics presence on campus; however, not with the clinical aspect of using protons to treat people,” says Beranek. “As integral to our culture, we meld our operations experience with the culture and experiences of the Dutch or any other clinical partner. It is not just about working with our clinical partners, we actually develop strong friendships which instill trust and allow transparent conversations leading to very quick decisions. This bonded relationship also significantly reduces the quantity of changes during the construction process.”

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CLICK TO WATCH : ‘THE CONCRETE POURING FOR THE PROTON THERAPY CENTER IN GRONINGEN’ 123

ESTABLISHING KEY PARTNERSHIPS Beranek believes that through unveiling its facilities, it has enabled Proton to set itself apart from its rivals while offering a diverse range of people the help they require. “We differentiated ourselves from anyone else.

Proton International is the only company worldwide that has the track record of successfully bringing multiple proton facilities to the world. University of Alabama in Birmingham will be our eighth building and no one else has even come close,” explains Beranek. “Our Proton vendors provide equipment but it’s a lot different than just selling equipment because you have to put the whole package together. It’s important w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

P R O T O N I N T E R N AT I O N A L

C OMPA N Y INF OR M AT ION — BR + A

124

BR+A is a global engineering firm that embraces challenging projects for organizations whose work makes a difference in people’s lives and the world. We engineer responsive, high-performing buildings where people and ideas thrive.

Founded in 1975, BR+A creates state-of-the-art facilities by providing tightly integrated and coordinated engineering design services that touch every aspect of the built environment. These include MEP/FP systems design, sustainability consulting, building commissioning, infrastructure design, master planning, and more. Whether it is a small, quick-turn assignment or complex, large-scale project, BR+A is hands-on from inception to construction completion.

BR+A has more than 350 team members, working together across eight US-based offices, bring unsurpassed technical expertise and wide-ranging creativity to everything they do. We assemble

JUNE 2019

highly proficient, multidisciplinary teams, each led by a firm principal, to serve as trusted advisors throughout the project. Using the most advanced tools and technologies, BR+A provides lifecycle cost analysis, energy modeling, and proactive value engineering that helps architects and owners weigh the pros, cons, and holistic benefits of proposed designs. We have been successful in providing engineering services to our particle clients worldwide for over 15 years, currently encompassing 15 countries with that success stemming from our talented, and experienced, core group of engineering professionals.

Above all, our diverse team is dedicated to serving as a true partner to clients and we strive to be seen a vital part of their organization. In the office, on the job site, or out in the field, BR+A fosters a culture where creativity and hard work are celebrated—and collaboration fuels mutual success.

to think about location, financing, hospital and doctor partnerships before you can actually put a completed project together.

We bring all those parties together.”

In order to establish its success, Proton International formed professional partnerships with design professionals such as Stantec – Architecture Bard, Rao-& Anthanas Engineers and Goldstein-Milano which have collaborated with the company since its inception.

The long-lasting relationships have seen all entities work together in order to deliver the best experience for its patients. “We also believe it’s critical to have regionally focused construction managers such as Brasfield & Gorrie, Gilbane, Linbeck and Hoffman to execute the building process. We conduct Lessons Learned sessions with these partners knowing that our next proton project will ultimately provide the best possible patient experience,” says Beranek. “We are a family and grow accordingly in that we can not only anticipate mutual needs but also respect each other’s responsibilities to act as advocates for Proton International while keeping the needs of the patients first and foremost.” 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

P R O T O N I N T E R N AT I O N A L brasfieldgorrie.com

We’re honored to partner with Proton International and the University of Alabama at Birmingham to deliver Alabama’s first proton therapy facility.

www.stantec.com

JANUARY 2019

Particle Therapy Architects

“ It’s not just about bringing the project to fruition, it’s about operating and having that expertise of understanding how patient delivery systems should be incorporated.This means we fully understand what the patient experience is and we have to ensure we maximize that experience”

127

— Jay Beranek Vice President of Design and Construction, Proton International,

As a pioneer for implementing proton

of understanding how patient delivery

therapy treatment, Proton understands

systems should be incorporated. This

how vital it is that patients remain the

means we fully understand what the

top priority in the company’s plans.

patient experience is and we have to

Beranek is adamant that Proton can

ensure we maximise that experience,”

provide the best service due to its

affirms Beranek. “We know that you

determination to get projects complet-

have to deal with insurance and the

ed. “It’s not just about bringing the

actual treatment and clinical aspect.

project to fruition, it’s about clinical

However, we’re also the only ones who

operations and having that expertise

can find the financing to get all these w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

P R O T O N I N T E R N AT I O N A L

projects completed and considering the way our sustainability is right now, I believe we’re the only ones who can deliver this from soup to nuts.”

FUTURE PLANS With an eye on the future, Proton International are looking to expand their operations further with facilities in Delray Beach, Florida, and Birmingham, Alabama, expected to open next year. Beranek maintains that he never reflects on completed projects for too long following the completion of a facility.

128

“Once the building gets up and

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘PLACEMENT OF THE PARTICLE ACCELERATOR (CYCLOTRON) IN THE UMCG PROTON THERAPY CENTER’

JUNE 2019

“ We differentiated ourselves from anybody else.

Proton International is the only company worldwide that has the track record of successfully bringing multiple proton facilities to the world”

— Jay Beranek Vice President of Design and Construction, Proton International,

operational, I’m pretty much onto the

continue to bring protons and maintain

next project. Our Delray Beach facility

our position as a major directive force

is only a few weeks from opening to

in bringing a greater number of protons

see patients for Linac treatments while

to the world. We’ve completed more

our proton building will begin to treat

projects than anyone else and that’s

patients in the Fall of 2019. We’re also

what we pride ourselves on. It’s what

building one in Birmingham, Alabama

we do.”

and we anticipate to be receiving proton equipment for that facility in February,” explains Beranek. “We’re a small privately-owned company and we make our own decisions. We will w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

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130

A sustainable pioneer in the wind energy market WRIT TEN BY

L AUR A MULL AN PRODUCED BY

TOM VENTURO

JUNE 2019

131

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

THE NORDEX GROUP

Following a pivotal merger between Nordex and Acciona Windpower in 2016, the Nordex Group is disrupting the sustainable energy market with its customer-centric approach

W

ind power has proven to be big business.

According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), US wind power produc-

tion has tripled over the past decade and there are now more than 54,000 wind turbines operating in 41 states 132

as well as Guam and Puerto Rico. Following a pivotal merger, Nordex Group has profited from this tailwind and today, it stands as the fourth largest wind turbine provider in the marketplace. By bringing together the expertise of both Nordex and Acciona Windpower, Head of Project Management, John McComas, says that this union has been critical to positioning itself as a wind energy front runner.

The advantages have been tenfold. “One of the immediate benefits is size,” McComas explains.

“Acciona Windpower and Nordex on their own were smaller organizations and were not reaching all markets. By merging, we’ve created the fourth largest wind turbine supplier in the marketplace.

Since the marketplace itself is competitive and volume driven, this merger really helped us increase our offering to large-scale clients.” By blending two JUNE 2019

133

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

THE NORDEX GROUP

134 digitally-savvy companies, the merger has also helped to foster innovation.

The Nordex Group has launched and installed one of its highest yielding and quietest onshore turbines. “This year, we’re in the process of installing our first commercial 4.5 MW wind turbines in international markets that will incorporate the best elements from the Acciona Wind-power turbine with the original Nordex turbine,” notes McComas.

The Nordex Group not only competes with the wind sector but also has to go head to head with the solar, nuclear, hydropower among other sectors.

JUNE 2019

“ We’re a very flexible and customer-oriented organization.

We adapt according to feedback in order to provide the best solution from a project to project basis” — John McComas, Head of Project Management

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘WIND TURBINE 3D ANIMATION – NORDEX’ 135 What distinguishes the firm from the rest,

Keeping a vigilant eye on market

argues McComas, is how it collaborates

dynamics, the Nordex Group under-

closely with its clients from start to finish.

stands that the cost of energy is one

“These are projects that are incredibly

of the most important key performance

complex with millions of dollars of invest-

indicators (KPIs) facing the sector

ment, so collaboration is absolutely key,”

today. “The cost of energy reduction

he explains. “No one benefits if people

initiative has become culturally ingrained

are pointing fingers at each other and

in the organization. We actively ask

making excuses. Ultimately, it’s much

ourselves if we can do our tasks more

more positive for the project and every-

efficiently without sacrificing safety

one involved that we work hand in hand

and quality. I think it’s been a success.”

and keep our eye on what the goal really

One way that the wind turbine provider

is: to safely get turbines in the ground

reduces costs is by working closely

and to have them producing clean and

with clients to streamline their opera-

cost-effective power.”

tions. “As soon as the agreements are w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

THE NORDEX GROUP

inked we have meetings about cost whereby we talk with clients and their selected contractors to see if there’s anything that can be done to cut unnecessary costs out, while still maintaining the positive elements of each party’s relationship,” McComas says. “We have meetings to teach them about how best to install the turbine, what best practices are, what they need to be watchful of, some of the lessons learned that others have encountered. We invite them to our facility to take a look at the manufacturing process. We invite them to audit that process.”

136

Offering powerful wind turbines across the globe, the joint company has more than 30 years’ experience harnessing wind energy. Through its trailblazing turbines the company has delivered more than 23 GW of sustainable energy, but despite its impressive reach it has always ensured that its projects are tailored to the specific client in mind. “We specialise and focus on specific constraints that each developer may have,” explains McComas. “There may be a sound requirement; there may be some greater electrical requirements.”

“We’re a very flexible organization” he adds.

“We’re not mechanical in what we offer from one project to the next. We listen to our clients, we listen to our partner contractors, JUNE 2019

“ These are projects that are incredibly complex and could be worth millions, so collaboration is absolutely key” — John McComas, Head of Project Management

137

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

THE NORDEX GROUP

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C OMPA N Y FA C T S

and we adapt according to feedback in order to provide the best solution from a project-to-project basis.”

To meet the ever-changing demands of its clients, the Nordex Group has kept its finger on the pulse of the latest innovations in the sector and it has significantly invested in R&D. “There’s a lot of generation technologies in the marketplace and we need to be able to demonstrate that we can offer the best, most sustainable, most cost-effective technology there is,” observes McComas.

• According to the American Wind Energy Association, US wind power has tripled over the past decade and now, there are now more than 54,000 wind turbines operating in 41 states, Guam and Puerto Rico • The joint company has more than 30 years’ experience harnessing wind energy and has delivered more than 23GW of sustainable energy

“Additionally, regulations are becoming stricter, testing requirements for the equipment are becoming more robust, 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

Gemini Energy Services is an Independent Service Provider for Wind and Solar Projects across North America, built on a foundation of military backgrounds.

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and I would say it’s important for all wind turbine and renewables manufacturers to understand what these requirements are, incorporate them into existing technologies – and to do so quickly.”

At the Nordex Group, this has involved forging strong partnerships with industry leaders. “We can’t do these projects on our own,” McComas adds. “Over the years, we’ve developed strong partnerships with companies, even though we may not have contractual relationships with them. The names that stand out the most are RES America and IEA, JUNE 2019

in terms of construction. When it comes

employees – people that have truly

to transportation, we’ve worked closely

gone up the ranks and are now in lead-

with DSV, Coli, Oldendorff, Totrans,

ership positions.” With offices and

BNSFL and ATS and we’ve also had

subsidiaries in more than 20 countries,

a very good manpower partnership with

the wind turbine provider has a truly

One Wind, Run Energy, and Gemini.”

global reach and this expansion is only

With around 5,000 employees under

set to continue. This has proven to be

its wing, the workforce undoubtedly

a key tool for retaining top expertise

has an important role to play in fostering

and talent.

continuous improvement. “The people

“Retention is a key issue for every

who work on these projects every day

manager in the marketplace,” McCo-

are the most important asset we have,”

mas says. “I think we stand out because

notes McComas. “One of the competi-

we provide opportunities to our employ-

tive advantages we have as an organi-

ees. If they work hard and are open to

zation is that we have a lot of seasoned

it, then the company will find them an

Merger occurred in

2016

5,000

Approximate number of employees

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

THE NORDEX GROUP

142

opportunity around the globe. We also

and center of everything it does. From

have a very personal relationship with

hazardous weather to working at heights

our employees. The people on site

or near high voltages, workers face

know that they can contact the leader-

a series of risks and therefore a strong

ship team directly and the fact that they

safety culture has been embedded into

have a voice and can project that voice

the organization. “In project manage-

to leadership is important.�

ment, for instance, we demonstrate

Recognizing the importance of its

that safety is important to us by being

employees, the company has also

involved in safety walks and safety

worked hard to ensure safety is front

audits when we go and visit sites. This

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“ Listening to the people that are actually conducting the work is key and trying to reflect that in actual change is very important to the overall culture of the firm” — John McComas, Head of Project Management

143

ensures that our safety culture is well

that in actual change is very important

observed,” McComas explains. “We

to the overall culture of the firm.”

also have weekly discussions with site

Today, the Nordex Group has several

managers and safety personnel to hear

projects underway and is nearing

what they’re seeing, what is being

completion on a 95 turbine project in

changed and what they think would be

Kansas, a 101 turbine project in Nebras-

good to incorporate from a safety

ka, and a 16 turbine project in North

standpoint moving forward. Listening

Dakota. Elsewhere, the firm is set to

to the people that are actually conduct-

build its ninth wind farm in Texas.

ing the work is key and trying to reflect

Looking forward, McComas is optimistic w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

THE NORDEX GROUP

“ The people who work on these projects every day are the most important asset we have” — John McComas, Head of Project Management

144

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that this upward trajectory will continue in the years to come.

“I think most of the globe is starting to flip the switch on what is necessary for the future of energy production,” he reflects. “More regions, particularly industrial countries, are starting to realise the need for greater levels of social and environmental responsibility. I think that the renewable market is going to stay strong and I see a lot of positive things for the Nordex Group moving forward. We have just released our new Delta 4000 wind turbine with a 4.0-4.5 MW generator with a 149m rotor. The first turbines have been installed in Germany and further ones will be installed internationally this year and we expect to see the first installations in the US in 2020, which is very exciting.

Ultimately, we don’t just supply a product that is competitive; we also provide a service that suits everyone’s specific needs. I think that’s what will propel us forward and make us successful.”

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

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146

Innovation, sustainability and a people first approach: Hansen Yuncken’s recipe for construction success WRITTEN BY

LAURA MULLAN PRODUCED BY

TOM VENTURO

JUNE 2019

147

The Sydney Coliseum Theatre w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

HANSEN YUNCKEN

As one of Australia’s leading privately owned construction companies, Hansen Yuncken is at the forefront of change and innovation in the building industry

C

onstruction company Hansen Yuncken has continued to define the Australian skyline for decades, creating some of the nation’s

most notable landmarks and buildings including Melbourne’s Port Authority Building and the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA). Yet, although the Australian firm has a rich history spanning over a century, it certainly isn’t stuck in the past. Keeping 148

up with the blistering pace of change in the construction sector, the business is tackling each and every project with aplomb and an innovative stance.

It’s for this reason that Project Manager Vanja Krumpacnik believes that Hansen Yuncken remains a heavyweight in the industry, even after all these years. “As the years have gone by, we’ve grown to take on bigger and more complex projects,” he explains. “We’re trying to be a leader in the construction sector by using new technologies which allows us to provide transparency to our stakeholders, clients and consultants regarding quality and safety processes on site. We also have a rich history; we’ve been around for 100 years and whilst we’re changing with the times in terms of techniques and technologies, our core principles and values have stayed the same.” Michael Gibson, Senior JUNE 2019

149

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HANSEN YUNCKEN

“ With HYway, we can quickly and clearly identify what’s happening on projects from safety to cost”

150

— Michael Gibson, Senior Contract Administrator, Hansen Yuncken

Contract Administrator, also proposes that the firm’s landmark builds have helped to establish Hansen Yuncken as a reputable brand. “It makes clients want to be associated with us and helps to attract talent. We’ve always been an employer of choice,” he notes.

Whether it’s in the commercial or community fields, health, entertainment or somewhere in between, Hansen Yuncken has created landmarks for sectors across the country. Take the theatre world, for instance: not only is Hansen Yuncken in the midst of redeveloping Her Majesty’s Theatre in Adelaide and ‘The Hedberg’ Creative Industries and Performing Arts Development in Tasmania, it’s also in charge of creating the Sydney Coliseum Theatre, West HQ, set to open in December 2019.

With a sleek undulating design allowing for up to 2,200 guests, the Sydney Coliseum Theatre is set to be the first of its kind outside of Sydney’s central business district (CBD). West HQ CEO Richard Errington says: “With its spectacular architecture and design, Sydney Coliseum Theatre, West HQ will set a benchmark for the

JUNE 2019

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘SYDNEY COLISEUM PROJECT’ 151 arts industry globally and is something Greater Western Sydney residents will be immensely proud of.”

Executive Director of Sydney

(NSW) and Eastern Sydney” The right mix of common sense, intelligent thinking and cutting-edge digital technologies helps Hansen

Coliseum Theatre, West HQ, Craig

Yuncken manage and govern its

McMaster added: “The theatre is

projects. It keeps people safe, allows

a stunning multi-mode venue that will

them to focus on what they need to

host world famous musical theatre

do and ensures their clients get what

and live music, family entertainment,

they want when they need it.

comedy, ballet and symphony orches-

Backing this human-touch is their

tras. Servicing the 2.2million people of

award-winning Information Manage-

Greater Western Sydney, the Sydney

ment System, HYway. This superfast

Coliseum Theatre is also expected to

virtual brain brings together shared

draw audiences from the Blue Moun-

knowledge, digital applications,

tains, regional New South Wales

software and processes as well as w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

We Challenge You

TO IMAGINE

“For every great piece of art which comes to life, there is a team of highly skilled artists behind the scenes� www.modernpaintinggroup .com Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, Australia

Frank Forouzandeh Founder & Executive Director at Modern Group

NEVER COMPROMISE...

In a city that’s consistently being ranked at the top of the list of places to live in, and boasting of being one of the best in the world, there is no doubt that the construction industry is booming with upcoming projects that make their mark along Sydney’s iconic skyline.

For every great piece of art which comes to life, there is a team of highly skilled artists behind the scenes, contributing in the making of such astonishing artistic edifices.

Challenging traditional views of the trade industry, our vision is to raise the bar on quality and professionalism within the painting trade to a new level.

Disrupting the market with a team of young forward

thinking individuals, Modern endeavours to introduce technology and innovation to a traditional trade industry.

This separates Modern’s services from other industry competitors. This is where Modern Painting Group shines and delivers their outstanding work showcasing talent in what they do best.

We Live by the fierce motto, “Never Compromise”, Modern Painting Group embodies the ease of project management and frameworks by utilising their cutting edge technology , knowledge, expertise and resources to offer practical solutions.

Modern Painting Group only uses the highest quality workmanship and promises quality, which is

why our eyes are cast on the next big up and coming project with Hansen Yuncken towards refurbishing “Western Sydney Performing Arts Centre”, rejuvenating the life of Sydney West’s iconic landmark.

Both Modern Painting and Hansen Yunken share an unparalleled vision of innovation and forward thinking that makes this project such a seamless integration of in-house management platforms by relying on new technologies, as well as adopting a futuristic way of thinking to ensure they are continually on top of the latest trends, systems, processes and commercial expertise.

HANSEN YUNCKEN

154

The Sydney Coliseum Theatre is designed to accommodate live concerts, banquets, theatre and more with fully retractable stalls seating best-practice procedures honed and

can’t live without it. With HYway, we

shaped across a myriad of projects

can quickly and clearly identify what’s

into a centralised hub that is accessible

happening on projects from safety to

to all 24/7. For over 8 years, HYway has

cost,” observes Gibson. “It’s all about

been the digital backbone to Hansen

collaboration; it makes it easier for

Yuncken’s project delivery. Intelligent

project managers to the CEO to see

and intuitive, it drives processes and

where a project is at through live data.

supports precise reporting and

It is even used to compile corporate

informed decision-making: it lives,

reporting.”

breathes and delivers certainty. “We JUNE 2019

On top of this, Hansen Yuncken is

also adeptly using Building Information

“Since NRAH, Hansen Yuncken has

Modelling (BIM) and Virtual Design

come a long way in its use of BIM and

Construction (VDC) which perhaps

VDC, We have adopted a range of

can be seen most clearly at the

field technologies on our projects

New Royal Adelaide Hospital (NRAH),

such as drones, point cloud scanning

completed two years ago. The $2bn

and supporting Autodesk products

hospital was the largest hospital

that are all accessible via iPads,”

project ever undertaken in Australia

adds Krumpacnik. “We utilise these

and the single biggest infrastructure

to monitor safety and quality and we

project in South Australia’s history.

believe it’s made our teams more

With such complexity and scale, BIM

efficient in delivering trade because

and supporting construction technolo-

we have the latest information at our

gies proved to be useful tools to collate

fingertips. Additionally, we’ve used

and manage the build in a virtual world.

4D programming whereby we’re

E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE

Vanja Krumpacnik, Project Manager Working for Hansen Yuncken for over a decade, Krumpacnik is an experienced construction professional, having completed a range of hospitality, hotels and entertainment, defence, commercial and industrial projects. He has been responsible for the delivery of numerous technically complex Managing Contractor projects including the HMAS Creswell School of Survivability & Ship’s Safety, introducing new capability without precedent in Australia. He was also responsible for delivery of the Sikorsky Maintenance & Operations Facility, constructed to meet Sikorsky and the Department of Defence’s requirements.

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

Axis Metal Roofing is a family owned business of 40 years.

Axis is one of Australia’s leading Metal Roofing & Specialist Cladding Contractors who operate under a certified safety & quality management system.

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essentially adding a fourth dimension

Just as innovation has shaped

to a previous 3D model: time. This

Hansen Yuncken’s operations, the firm

means you can visualise the building

is also keen to promote a more environ-

being constructed in 3D over a time

mentally sensitive way of working. Today,

sequence which provides clarity on

the firm is part of the Green Building

the process and safety of the build.

Council of Australia and therefore, every

Essentially getting an insight into what

decision the construction firm makes

the site conditions and constraints

– from the choice of materials and

might be at a future point in time.

processes to construction waste

We’re modelling structures right down

management and ongoing maintenance

to every single element of steel or

– takes sustainability into account.

precast, and that’s quite unique in

“Hansen Yuncken are not just early

the industry.”

adopters of sustainable design, we 157 E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE

Michael Gibson, Senior Contract Administrator Gibson joined Hansen Yuncken at the start of 2016, bringing with him over 13 years’ construction experience. He has completed a variety of education projects including government education, private education and universities.

Gibson is responsible for all head contract management and administration, to ensure project activities are delivered in accordance with the head contract. He has administered a variety of head contracts including PPP, Joint Ventures, Managing Contract, Design & Construct, Guaranteed Maximum Price and traditional Lump Sum Contracts. He is also responsible for management of all subcontracts and consultants, procurement, Building Code compliance and reporting. w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

HANSEN YUNCKEN

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JUNE 2019

CO MPAN Y FACT S

• Founded in Victoria in 1918 by Lauritz Hansen and Otto Yuncken, the company has been in continual operation for 100 years • Today, Hansen Yuncken has an annual turnover exceeding $1bn.

159

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

HANSEN YUNCKEN

WITH OVER 40 YEARS’ EXPERIENCE IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT We are proud to be supporting West HQ as their project manager in delivering their 10-year $150 million majorworks masterplan. This includes their most recent projects; the 2000-seat Sydney Coliseum Theatre and 550 space multideck carpark.

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JUNE 2019

$1.bn+ Annual turnover

1918

Year founded

600

Approximate number of employees

Monash University Caulfield Library

actually helped to write the Green

out a rewarding career in the sector,

Star standard, a set of sustainability

Hansen Yuncken is the place to be.

standards for design and construction,”

Krumpacnik speaks highly about the

notes Gibson. “We also created

firm’s lean national structure that

a Council House 2 project in 2006

promotes an inclusive culture, noting

which was awarded the first ever

how everyone feels “important and

6-Star Green Star rating – the highest

highly valued”. “Everyone’s got their

rating you can get. It’s much more than

own responsibilities and no-one is

a tick in a box for us, it is a vital part

seen as above anyone else,” he adds.

of our business.”

“The Executive Management Team are

Today, the Australian construction

really approachable and there’s a mix

market is regaining momentum and it

of experience whereby we have

seems that for anyone looking to carve

long-term employees as well as new 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

HANSEN YUNCKEN

162

“ Sustainability is much more than a tick in a box for us, it is a vital part of our business” — Vanja Krumpacnik, Project Manager, Hansen Yuncken

JUNE 2019

cadets.” There’s also a yearly leadership course for employees looking to get the next steps in their careers.

“Future leaders are identified and nourished through programmes and mentoring,” Krumpacnik explains.

“That might be why we’ve retained so much of our staff: there’s opportunities to learn and be rewarded.”

With a variety of projects in the pipeline, Hansen Yuncken is shaking up the Australian construction industry with a people first, innovative and sustainable way of doing business.

“Looking forward, I hope Hansen Yuncken continues to increase turnover and chase these challenging landmark projects,” reflects Krumpacnik. “We want to grow and be at the forefront of technology drives. It’s what we currently do and I hope that continues.”

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

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CSO

Back to the future: The Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project WRIT TEN BY

NIKI WA LDEGR AVE PRODUCED BY

GLEN WHITE

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The Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project has changed the face of Victorian suburbs.

Its project director, Brett Summers, tells Niki Waldegrave how blending the old with the new has made city living and commuting easier for future generations

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T

he train line from Melbourne CBD to Cranbourne and Pakenham is Melbourne’s busiest rail corridor, crossed by some of

Australia’s most congested roads, where boom gates were down for up to 82 minutes during the morning peak.

With a number of fatalities recorded at level crossings on both that corridor and others, in 2015 the Victorian Government tasked the Victoriabased Level Crossings Removal Project with removing 50 dangerous level crossings by 2022 in addition to other infrastructure upgrades across a section of Melbourne’s rail network.

One of its showpieces was the $1.6 billion Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project, an intensive logistical exercise led by project director Brett Summers.

One of Australian’s biggest construction plans, the Level Crossing Removal Project delivered the JUNE 2019

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project with an alliance in conjunction

government, the Level Crossing

with the likes of Lendlease, CPB

Removal Project has already seen 29

Contractors, WSP, Aurecon and Metro

level crossings removed out of the

Trains Melbourne.

original 50 and following the result of

They removed nine level crossings between Caulfield and Dandenong in

level crossings were prioritised for

Melbourne’s southeast by elevating the

removal,” says Summers.

Cranbourne/Pakenham line over the road in three distinct sections.

168

the recent election, an additional 25

The Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project saw the build

Due to the programme’s success,

of five new stations and 321 piers, each

the government has expanded on the

up to nine metres high. Its 40,000 ton-

removal of 50 crossings to now

nes of steel and 588 concrete beams

eradicating 75 by 2022.

weighed more than 85,000 tonnes,

“A flagship programme for the

“ This was always seen as a relatively controversial project because we put the train line up in the air.”

— Brett Summers Project Director, Caulfield to Dandenong at Level Crossing Removal Authority

JUNE 2019

and opened up 22.5 hectares of space

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘CAULFIELD TO DANDENONG: CONSTRUCTION AT MURRUMBEENA’ 169 – the open space is 11 times bigger than

metres in some areas such as between

the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)

Caulfield and Hughesdale. Many of the

thanks to building six kilometres of new

locations had residential properties that

elevated bridges.

backed right up against the corridor –

But the stakes were high. “It is the

of the 113 houses that were eligible

busiest rail corridor in Melbourne,”

for purchase by the government under

explains Summers, “so it has the most

a Voluntary Purchase Scheme, 74 have

amount of people moving backwards

settled to date, meaning the construction

and forwards, and we had to keep them

was very often right next to people’s

moving pretty much the whole time

homes and back fences. As a result, they

getting them from point A to B, while

pulled in the big guns by deploying a blue

we built this job in and around a live

straddle carrier, which allowed the 2000-

train environment.”

strong workforce to build above the exist-

The biggest challenge was that it’s a very tight rail corridor – less than 20

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C OMPA N Y FA C T S

• In 2015 the Victorian Government tasked the Victoria-based Level Crossings Removal Project with removing 50 dangerous level crossings by 2022 in addition to other infrastructure upgrades across sections of Melbourne’s rail network.

• One of its showpieces was the $1.6 billion Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Projects.

• The last of the major works were completed around about October 2018 and the 17-kilometre-long shared user path and the linear park is now open to the public.

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2015

Year founded

360+

Approximate number of employess

172

Instead of lifting beams in a tradition-

is used throughout Asia, usually to launch

al method using cranes, needing lots of

big road structures, and it’s something

open space to truck the beams in, they

the team saw and thought they would

were instead lifted and transported long-

adopt to the rail environment. The project

itudinally down the corridor for installation

also used a track-laying machine. An

between Caulfield and Hughesdale.

Australian first, these machines move

“It’s the first time that has been done

up and down the new elevated rail line

in Melbourne but it meant that we didn’t

to place pieces of track, using hydr-

need to use adjacent land,” he explains.

aulic technology built for efficiency

“It was obviously a huge logistical and

and precision.

safety challenge – but safety is at the

While the main benefits of the track-

forefront of everything we do, and lots

laying machine are speed and safety, it

of planning went into it.”

also played a key part in installing noise-

The technology for the straddle carrier JUNE 2019

reducing features of the design, including

concrete ‘plinths’ – a quieter, smoother

open to the public for a few months

alternative to the traditional sleepers

and it’s well-used by the community.

laid over stony ballast.

We have people using the basketball

The last of the major works were

courts, the table tennis tables, the

completed around October 2018 and

playground equipment, joggers and

all the space underneath the train line

cyclists, families riding their pushbikes

– the 17-kilometre long shared user path

along the entire length of the park.

and the linear park – is now open to the public.

“I’ve been out there myself for a jog and a run along the linear park. What has

“This was always seen as a relatively

really been probably one of the proudest

controversial project because we put

moments for the project team and myself

the train line up in the air,” he reveals.

is that it has really changed the face of

“So, in the early days, there was a bit of

these suburbs and the way that these

trepidation in the community about what

people interact around the train line.

it would look like at the end. But it’s been

“It’s opened up the entire suburb and

E X E C U T I V E P R OF IL E

Brett Summers With more than 20 years’ experience as an engineer, Summers took up the role of Project Director at the Level Crossing Removal Project in April 2015, overseeing an unprecedented overhaul of the Cranbourne/Pakenham line with the Caulfield to Dandenong Level Crossing Removal Project.

Summers is no stranger to working on major rail projects across Melbourne, having held previous managerial roles for a number of years withthe Regional Rail Link Authority and Department of Transport.

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made their lives easier to get from point A to point B.” Social inclusion is a very strong policy at the Level Crossing Removal Project, and something the

“We’re very conscious that, whilst we were building new infrastructure, we wanted to recognise and look back and reflect on the past that’d come 175 before us” — Brett Summers Project Director, Caulfield to Dandenong at Level Crossing Removal Authority

programme is extremely proud of.

Whether it’s consulting train drivers and the end operators on the line about

tice is also something that was at the

signal designs, helping veterans out

forefront of everything the project did.

with a job in the construction industry,

From installing solar panels and using

or helping local underprivileged families,

the wood from original stations to make

Summers says: “With every dollar that

seats and playgrounds scattering the

we spent on this project, we tried to

corridor, to restoring station buildings

always find a way that we could return

– it worked with the Chisholm Institute

some benefit to the community.”

of TAFE to restore the original heritage-

Sustainability and world’s best-prac-

listed Clayton station building – Summers w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

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“With every dollar spent on this project, we tried to always find a way that we could return some benefit to the community” — Brett Summers Project Director, Caulfield to Dandenong at Level Crossing Removal Authority

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22.5

Hectares of open space created

6km

Of new elevated bridge

Memorial plaques and monuments honouring soldiers who served in armed conflict along the corridor (including at Clayton and St Albans) are also a nice touch, and the project works with Veterans in Construction, which helps secure veterans a pathway in to the construction industry.

There used to be an Avenue of Honour where trees had been planted

30,000 178

New trees and shrubs planted

explains it was important to retain the history.

“It’s marrying the new with the old,” he says. “In the seating backs we’ve installed at all these stations, we recognise the history of each of the individual places.

So, whilst it looks like a brand new station you can catch the train from, there’s actually old historical images and photos so you get a sense of what that area used to look like.

“Again, we’re very conscious that, whilst we were building new infrastructure, we wanted to recognise and look back and reflect on the past that’d come before us.”

JUNE 2019

for veterans. The project took the seeds from those original trees and planted them early on to grow saplings, “and we

recreated that original Avenue of Honour

project planted more than 30,000

in this remembrance space,” he adds.

trees and shrubs.

“The feedback was hugely positive

On the rail lines, both the train

and we had our first Remembrance Day

passengers and the drivers have been

ceremony there on the 11th of November.”

complimentary about the new tracks,

The team also needed to remove some very old river red gums during the project

replacing ones that were up to 100 years old.

and again, they took the seeds from

“You don’t get the clickety-clack and

those and planted them back the rail

bouncing backwards and forwards of

corridor. “It was something we were very

an old train,” he explains. “And when

conscious of and hold as a badge of

they hit these new sections, there is

honour – the fact that we have repopu-

a significant change in the look, the feel,

lated with some of the original species

the sound of how the train behaves. It’s

of plants,” he smiles, revealing the

very, very smooth.”

179 C OMPA N Y FA C T S

• The Level Crossings Removal Project have removed nine level crossings between Caulfield and Dandenong in Melbourne’s southeast by elevating the Cranbourne/Pakenham line over the road in three distinct sections • Due to the program’s success, the government has expanded on the removal of 50 crossings to now eradicating 75 by 2022 w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

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“ The proudest moments for the project team and myself is that it has really changed the face of these suburbs and the way that these people interact around the train line”

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— Brett Summers Project Director, Caulfield to Dandenong at Level Crossing Removal Authority

JUNE 2019

Although the level crossings have been removed between Caulfield and Dandenong, the same alliance is also undertaking work to upgrade signalling and power infrastructure along the entire Cranbourne and Pakenham lines, in preparation for the introduction of High Capacity Metro Trains.

Victoria is investing $2.3 billion in 65 next-generation High Capacity Metro Trains, which are a fleet of electric multiple unit trains on order for use by Metro Trains Melbourne on the Melbourne rail network.

They will eventually become the primary rollingstock used in the Metro Tunnel when it opens in 2025 and are due to enter service in mid-2019.

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Digital Realty: Spearheading Sydney’s data centre market with digital disruption WRIT TEN BY

NIKI WA LDEGR AVE PRODUCED BY

GLEN WHITE

JUNE 2019

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D I G I TA L R E A LT Y

Digital Realty has just opened its third Sydney facility. Its Director of Construction, Daniel Howard, tells Niki Waldegrave why it’s so important to the APAC footprint

D

igital Realty prides itself on delivering a portfolio of data centre solutions with a record of 99.999% uptime

for the past 11 consecutive years, equating 184

to more than 1.7bn operating minutes, unmatched by any other data centre provider in the world.

It has more than 195 centres globally across over 30 markets throughout Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, servicing top-tier clients including Facebook, IBM, AT&T, LinkedIn and Equinix. Its Sydney data centres are hugely important to its Asia-Pacific business and SYD 11 – its new Digital Erskine Park 2 Data Centre – is the new kid on the block, following the adjacent SYD 10 facility.

The SYD11 facility on 13-23 Templar Road is the largest facility the business has built in Australia and is located adjacent to its existing data centre in Erskine Park, which opened in November 2012.

JUNE 2019

It opened to much fanfare on the 15th November and is a 16.8MW two-storey, six-data hall facility data centre with office space. MV Power Generation (11kV) is installed within the SYD11 facility, capable of efficient and fast demand response and to date, the capital investment for the facility is around $100 million, with another $50-100 million to go.

“We’re just finishing at the moment, putting the final polish on,” says Daniel Howard, Digital Realty’s Director of Construction APAC. “It’s a two-story data centre and we are using the lightest technology in lithium battery UPSs, which has given us a much more streamlined footprint, so we can fit more power into a small space in comparison to our previous generation data centres, such as the SYD10 Erskine Park I facility.

“We’ve got MV Power Generation so we’ve got the ability to come off grid quite simply now and can support the whole site with generation. This allows us to match the generation capacity to the load experienced at the time, whereas, with the traditional or low-voltage generation system you can’t really w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

185

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align your generators that well with the

Interest in the building is off the scale

load, so you can quite often end up run-

due to Sydney being a global hotspot

ning more generators than you require.

for innovation. It boasts the biggest

“But with the MV generation, we can

tech start-up ecosystem in Australia

select which generators are required

and ranks 16th among 20 cities on the

and match it to the load that’s experi-

Start-up Ecosystem Index, with 64%

enced on that day. We’ve completely

of Australian tech startups in Sydney.

fitted-out the first level – half the building

“The demand that’s in the market in

– with IT power ready to go so you can

Sydney at the moment is unprecedented

power-on generators.”

with regards to data centre capacity,”

The next phase to be fitted-out with

adds Howard, who is an expert in the

UPSs, generators and capacity is

delivery of complex data centre projects,

the ground floor, and that should be

with experience in project management,

completed by the middle of next year.

design management, construction

E R S K INE PA R K , S Y DNE Y

Digital Erskine Park 2 is a new facility located adjacent to Digital Realty’s existing data centre in Erskine Park.

It is a 19MW facility to be built in phase with 9MW ready in Q4, 2018. Digital Erskine Park 2 has the ability to reach out to PIPE-IX , the 2nd largest IX in Australia in Digital Erskine Park 1.

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D I G I TA L R E A LT Y

management and property development.

He built the SYD10 Erskine Park I facility in his previous role at FDC Construction before moving client side.

“This building may be completely filled up within a year of its opening, which is exciting in itself. We have existing customers that are energising or going live very soon after we hand it over to them, so we’ve fitted-out two of the six data halls and we’re in discussions about the remaining four data halls to be leased.

“We’ve built-in the SCEC requirements within the fabric of the building so that any 188

customer coming in can upgrade their data suites to SCEC which allows for the government work. It’s exciting to see so much interest in the building, and in contrast to our previous buildings, that has probably been a steady fill over a four-year period.”

When it comes to construction, the business’ partners include key contractors, including A.W Edwards, Barnwell Cambridge for electrics, D&W Plumbing, Cummins, Schneider and Parratech.

“Construction is always challenging,” he explains, “but we’ve got well-established relationships – and when you’re working with people that have worked with you before, it makes it a lot easier.

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“ The demand that’s in the market in Sydney at the moment is unprecedented with regards to data centre capacity” — Daniel Howard, Director of Construction, Digital Realty

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘DIGITAL ERSKINE PARK 2 ­— CONSTRUCTION UPDATE IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA’ 189 “We grab our knowledge from across the globe. We’ve got our design construction centre in Boston and we use our experience across all the facilities globally in both building construction techniques and technology.”

The cooling system in SYD11 is a Vertiv DSE CRAC unit with rooftop condensers which provide indirect free cooling via pumped refrigerant technology achieving an industry leading PUE. “It’s what they call an ‘indirect free cooling system’,” he adds. “It has a roof-top economiser and pump refrigerant that uses the outside air to cool the facility without having

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D I G I TA L R E A LT Y

to bring the outside area into the facility.

sort of Virginia-Dallas DSE units,

“We’re the only company in Australia

whereas in Europe we use an indirect

that I’m aware of that’s using the BSE

adiabatic solution because it’s got

system and we pioneered that with

a cooler climate.”

Vertiv in the United States for our US

Indirect adiabatic is essentially

systems. We’ve applied it in Australia

a cooling system that relies more on

because it’s a very good climate for

water than it does power. In European

us so we’re getting low PUEs across

regions such as Dublin, for example,

construction, high reliability with the BSE

where you’ve got the maximum temp-

system and just overall energy efficiency.

eratures of 30 degrees, you’re able

“The major variable with technology

to use that with much less energy.

is generally cooling equipment based

“In Australia, we need to have provi-

on different climates around the world.

sions for the 45-46 degree days that

In Sydney, we’ve gone with the US-style

we have every now and again,” he adds.

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“ In Sydney, we’ve gone with the US-style sort of Virginia-Dallas DSE units, whereas in Europe we use an indirect adiabatic solution because it’s got a cooler climate” — Daniel Howard, Director of Construction, Digital Realty

“We need equipment that will accommodate for that but also when it’s not 45 degrees it’s still very efficient, and that’s where the BSE system has come into play.”

Digital Realty has also just secured land for the construction of another two-story building nearby (Sydney) of around 16,000 square metres which will go through the planning approval process in tandem with fitting-out the remainder of SYD11 so there is another facility ready to go as soon as that capacity is leased-out.

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E X E C U T I V E P R OF IL E

Daniel Howard

E X E C U T I V E P R OF IL E

Howard from a construction background, which is unusual in the data Name isHere centre as many mechanical-electrical come from Approxworld 100 words quam aut aut eaturi sequiengineers quiasit, qui adolupta consulting background.

He acienimi, built the SYD10 the builder before cusdand enistium offici facility conemfor quo moving into the client role. ratur? Sundant as rempe de blaudi occumqui coneside laborep “I’m sure I’m sequo not theomnisitem first one from construction background voluptu ribus, laut aa dolut occulparum to do that,” he says, “but comingende fromderes a concrete and steel backhillant quibus mi, voloreprovit aliandit harit, ground to temperro electrical con equipment, factors,quati kilowatt net, offic experat.power Cum faccum officiet cooling BSE has faccum been a bit ofela transformation.” peresti and ncitia in units restrum quo illuptam dolupta Howardalitaquo is an expert in thevellant. delivery complex data erempor tem secae Ta of quid qui veliqui centre projects to meet the demanding requirements nobitius diti atibusa consediossit evel ius des qui con of ped modern data totatust centres, dis with experience in Project Managequam, sedit, nonsequ aepernam fugiti conestoment, Design Construction Management tas everes id Management, ut autem et moluptius.

Igenis soloribus accate and Property Development. sendit, que nos et que ebit et omnih.

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D I G I TA L R E A LT Y

“It’s good to be in a position where as soon as we’re finishing one building, we’re thinking and acquiring land for the next,” adds Howard. “The key

$2.475bn Approximate revenue

thing about Erskine Park is that there are probably three hubs in Sydney at the moment.

“You’ve got one hub in and around the airport where a lot of the sub-sea cables are landing, which have the connections to the rest of the globe up to Singapore and Guam and over to the US and New Zealand.

“The next hub is probably the Macquar192

2004

Year founded

1,436

Approximate number of employees

ie Park area, and then, the last hub is out in the Erskine Park Eastern Creek area. The major attraction to that area is the ability to do large scale because of the power availability in that area.”

There are multiple data centres within the area, so it’s carrier-rich, with lots of

“We’re looking for sites that are around

communications cabling around the

two to four times the size of our existing

area, and the Western Sydney Bulk

sites,” he adds. “We’re now looking at

Supply Point Substation – a 1500 MVA

six to 10-hectare sites; that’s just an

transmission station – is connected

indication of which way we’re going.”

directly to the power station.

Next on the construction agenda for

“In Osaka, we’re working on developing the next 70 megawatts of IT load

Digital Realty is doubling the APAC

for our clients and the market. We’re

footprint, with the new space in Sydney,

also undergoing a process of procuring

land in Melbourne and acquiring more

renewable energy and that’s where the

space in Singapore, Osaka and Tokyo.

data centres have the biggest impact

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193

with regards to energy consumption.”

Howard, who was the project manager

“It’s very important that the contractor relationship ensures that the people

for the general contractor client side

who are doing the work are aligned

and organised all the steel and trades

with what you’re trying to achieve.”

for the first three Sydney facilities, will be overseeing all the builds. He’s worked with all the vendors at a direct level, as well as being the one step away from it, and says “It’s a good thing because we’ve got a very good relationship with the contractors. w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

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Emaar, The Economic City: building a city of the future WRIT TEN BY

CATHERINE S TURM AN PRODUCED BY

HE Y K EL OUNI

Juman Park , Baylasun District w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

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EMAAR, THE ECONOMIC CITY

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In order to build the largest privately-owned city in the world, Emaar, The Economic City has undergone a significant procurement transformation

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A

Tadawul-listed real estate development and management company, EEC’s primary focus

is the planning and development of KAEC. When it launched its successful IPO in July 2006, EEC made history: more than half of the Saudi population subscribed. EEC is headed by Emaar Properties PJSC and a number of high-profile investors from Saudi Arabia.

KAEC focuses on five essential sectors, including logistics, non-oil industries, leisure and tourism, quality

of life “real estate development� and,

consultants and suppliers to the new

finally, youth support.

city to facilitate its ongoing growth.

Building more than 10K residential

Situated on the coast of the Red Sea,

properties, the company has devel-

the new city, named King Abdullah

oped six residential neighbourhoods

Economic City (KAEC), has become

outfitted with the highest standards of

the largest privately funded new city

facilities designed to suit all types of

worldwide. Spanning an impressive

residents. EEC is passionate about

181mn square meters the area is the

building a city for the future. Working

home to 30 tourism projects, 10 of

with partners, such as Creet Contract-

which are already operational, such as:

ing who are currently undergoing the

The Royal Greens Golf and Country

second phase of building the local

Club and Bay X Conference and

village, EEC has moved contractors,

Entertainment center, with 20 other 197

Baylasun beach, Baylasun District w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

YOU START...

WE DELIVER EMAAR, THE ECONOMIC CITY

DESIGN & BUILD TURNKEY TURNKEY CONSTRUCTION MEP CONSTRUCTION

Mission Maximising our long term benefits by satisfying customers’ needs through value added design, construction and project management services.

Vision To become the quality leader in KSA, and the preferred choice by our current and future clients, in all the business sectors we are specialised in,

VISIT OUR SITE CONTACT US DECEMBER 2018

The World Academy school, Murooj district

199

projects set to launch later this year.

international brands such as Mars,

EEC also aims to provide high-standard

Ikea and pharmaceutical giant Pfizer.

educational and healthcare services.

Additionally, the city has King Abdullah

It currently has two medical institutions

Port, the first port in the Middle East to

and has launched The World Academy

be fully owned, developed and operated

in collaboration with Global GEMS,

by the private sector, and is one of the

a well-known educational establish-

fastest growing ports in the world.

ment. Additionally, Prince Mohammad

However, to facilitate this process,

Bin Salman Collage for Management

Emaar, the economic city has sought

and Entrepreneurship has already

to transform its procurement capabilities.

welcomed its first batch of students.

Working for a multitude of multinational,

KAEC’s Industrial Valley attracted more than 100 companies, including

regional, local and private companies, Senior Director Hesham Elabd w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

EMAAR, THE ECONOMIC CITY

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Waha district JUNE 2019

“We are moving into the partner phase where a lot of CEOs have procurement officers to help them get better economy of scale, leverage business and find new technologies” — Hesham Elabd, Senior Director, Emaar, The Economic City 201 E X E C U T I V E P R OF IL E

Hesham Elabd Graduating as an Electronics Engineer from Alexandria University, Hesham has worked in a number of senior management roles for companies such as Procter & Gamble Company, Alfozan Building Materials/Madar Holding, Savola Group, Rezayat Group and Emaar, the economic city.

Working across various business areas, such as: General Management, Business Development Planning, Purchasing Sourcing and Procurement, Total Supply Chain & Initiative Management including Operations logistics, Administration, Systems Re-engineering, Projects Management and Manufacturing, Hesham has successfully led operations, built strong organisations and delivered significant results.

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EMAAR, THE ECONOMIC CITY

has witnessed how the procurement industry has evolved and looked at ways to remain ahead of the curve, leading the organization to move procurement from a reactive participant to a proactive, trusted partner.

“We’re the developers of a new city. Procurement for such types of a mega scale project is very challenging. Procurement is no longer about handling documents and being just processors and raising purchase orders. Our procurement model is way beyond that,” he says.

“Now, we are moving into the partner 202

phase where a lot of CEOs have procurement officers to help them get a better economy of scale, leverage business and

Prince Mohamed bin Salman Collages for business and Entrepreneurship

JUNE 2019

find new technologies. We’ve moved over the years from followers to leaders taking part in setting the company’s strategies and execution programme.”

As companies continue to face increased challenges such as a global economic downturn, focus on cost reduction and global supply issues, the term ‘innovation’ has repeatedly been thrown around. Yet many businesses remain unaware of what this ultimately entails.

“Most of these challenges are linked to the market dynamics, so procurement is a key enabler to overcome such challenges.

Management are regularly pushing for

EEC offices, Baylasun District

value-add and how to get more for the money spent,” explains Elabd.

“The best ways to do this is to go to a business, ask them for their requirements, share their plans, align with them on their needs and give them a procurement strategy of how to move forward. Through this, procurement can start developing plans to ensure sourcing the best value, share with business leaders the risks associated with what is being sourced, the available technologies and the expected outcome. For this to succeed, it is vital to have the right technical capability, what I would call the right buyer.

The systems and processes supporting the w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

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EMAAR, THE ECONOMIC CITY

“KAEC’s vision is to become a great enabler of socioeconomic development in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It provides investors from all over the world with unique business opportunities while working towards securing the future of Saudi Arabia’s youth by creating new skilled job opportunities and total housing solutions” — Hesham Elabd, Senior Director, Emaar, The Economic City

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King Abdullah Port JUNE 2019

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EMAAR, THE ECONOMIC CITY

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Baylasun and Marina Hotel

JUNE 2019

day to day operations have to be simply designed to allow smooth work flow.”

Strong leadership and committing to deliver on objectives are something which Elabd stresses as essential. This should be coupled by having a good internal networking, alignment and strong communications.

“To tackle our challenges, we undertook a six-strategy plan. First, we needed to understand our customer needs, develop our KPIs, set the goals, design the structure, re-defining our culture as procurement and finding the right people, skills and systems,” he explains.

“For our KPIs, we asked different departments, companies and business units on their expectations from procurement. We had 12 questionnaires sent out and based on the findings, came up with the goal of “10 in 10 through Smart Buying,” which means 10% savings in 10 years.”

Through the strategy, the organisation has overhauled its structure mix between centralisation and decentralisation. Adopting the approach of appointing the Right Business Partner, who takes the lead in sourcing strategies, tending and contracting for the Business Unit (BU), the move has ensured a single point of contact across the organisation.

“The Business Partner also works alongside the Business Units’ CEOs and Head of Pro-

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curement, enabling all parties to gain a complete understanding of what procurement is expected to achieve, an important element which has filtered into its cultural shift,” adds Elabd.

“We now provide the needed procurement services based on the needs of the business – this is a huge cultural change. Introducing the customers’ experience was a very big thing. We also engaged with a consultant who looked at our employee capabilities in order to provide essential training.”

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Shorooq District

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Pfizer factory at Industrial Valley

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘A SPIRIT OF TRANSFORMATION’ 209 By developing the skills of its employees, Emaar, the Economic City has sought to address its digital infrastructure. Investing in Advanced Procurement Systems has enabled the business to implement the iSupplier portal which covers its entire procurement capabilities. Fully eliminating all paper-led processes has simplified the process by more than 90%, and also boosted customer satisfaction figures.

Additionally, to ensure complete transparency across its procurement activities, EEC has placed all upcoming developments on its web site to enable contractors to look at each project with all basic essential informaw w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

EMAAR, THE ECONOMIC CITY

210

“In 2015,our organisational engagement survey rated procurement at 44%.

Last year it jumped to 86%.

Customer satisfaction has reached 70%” — Hesham Elabd, Senior Director, Emaar, The Economic City

tion supplied. Companies which are awarded the business are also revealed, with project awarded values.

reached 70%,” Elabd says with pride.

“Looking at the way forward, we have already launched the trusted supplier

“In 2015, our organisational engage-

programme. We have signed long-term

ment survey rated procurement at 44%.

deals with partners and fixed prices for

Last year it jumped to 86%. Our procure-

three years for our requirements such

ment team won four customer experi-

as building materials. In KAEC, a lot of

ence awards from the CEOs of the BU’s.

companies work in the Industrial Valley.

Overall Customer satisfaction has also

We recently launched a programme

JUNE 2019

211

Royal Greens, Golf and country club, Murooj District

offering them free procurement services

“Future Construction Initiative.” We as

through our “A Friend to Call” service.

EEC will be working with designers,

If they want any procurement advice,

suppliers and contractors to define the

they can call us and we can help. We’re

ideal new innovative construction

also extending this support service to

method for our upcoming developments.

SMEs operating in the city and introduc-

The aim is to make KAEC the hub for

ing them to potential partners.

advanced construction solutions and

“Our latest initiative that will soon be launched in a worldwide RfP is our

technologies enabling fast track, high quality, sustainable and cost-efficient w w w. c o n s t r u c t i o n g l o b a l . c o m

EMAAR, THE ECONOMIC CITY

“I am positive about the recognition we have received in such a small space of time” — Hesham Elabd, Senior Director, Emaar, The Economic City

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Business park and Marina , Baylasun district JUNE 2019

developments in KAEC and possibly other Saudi cities.”

Throughout its procurement transformation, Emaar, the economic city will continue to look for new opportunities to deliver savings, boost transparency and, at the end of the day, guarantee customer

satisfaction. Such commitment has

“Although we were unsuccessful,

even seen EEC Procurement become

I am positive about the recognition we

recognised by global institutions.

have received in such a short space of

The Chartered Institute of Procure-

time,” he says. “In November, we were

ment & Supply (CIPS) shortlisted

also nominated for two further awards,

EEC procurement for two global

by the Procurement Leaders, so we

awards, something which Elabd is

are being recognised internationally,

keen to highlight.

highlighting our upward trajectory.”

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Founded in 1996, we are a construction services company based in Malaysia with over 20 years of operating history and are principally engaged in provision of a wide range of construction services. The group was founded with a mission to pursue sustainable engineering models in a competitive resource-heavy sector.

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Concession & Maintenance will be a priority in coming years to sustain long-term cash inflow. Meanwhile, we will be increasing our assets through acquisition of more advanced machinery and technology. We will also be strengthening our portfolio through collaboration, partnership agreements, or merger and acquisition. Ultimately, BGMC stands for a sustainable future where our people, clients, and surrounding communities can thrive for generations to come.

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