JLL reviews how key Dubai & Abu Dhabi sectors fared in Q1
ON TOPIC
Bentley reveals how its solution saved time on a critical project
IN PRACTICE
Women in Construction: T&T’s Vanessa Currie
ON SITE MAY 2021
080
FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST
SAY Studio’s Laila Al-Yousuf speaks to MEC about the delivery of a spectacular WELL certified project
WELL Executed
Licensed by Dubai Development Authority
Contents | 01
22
May 2021 Issue 080
Cover Story
WELL Executed Jason Saundalkar speaks to SAY Studio’s Laila Al-Yousuf about the WELL H&S standard and the design firm’s new WELL certified project in Dubai Opinion
Designing Urban Environments Designing modern urban environments keeping two worlds in mind is a way to transform the architectural industry says KEO’s design director Luca Vigliero
12 Analysis
18 meconstructionnews.com
Dubai & Abu Dhabi Q1, 2021 Market Overview
JLL reviews the supply and performance of Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s key sectors in Q1, 2021 May 2021
02 | Contents
Case Study
Saving Time
Sara Giddens of Bentley Systems reveals how ASGC constructed Dubai’s first and largest fully air-conditioned, multipurpose indoor arena using SYNCHRO Pro for 4D planning and scheduling
36 Profile
Vanessa Currie
Jason Saundalkar talks to Vanessa Currie, director at Turner & Townsend about her influences, career and gender diversity in the construction industry
28 Interview
In Full Bloom Gavin Davids speaks to Gerard Evenden, head of Studio, Foster + Partners, about the recently announced Coral Bloom project on The Red Sea Project’s main hub, Shuryrah Island
8 Update
News
Dubai CommerCity launches offices and logistics units in first phase of development; 89% of construction complete on Oman Pavilion; Nakheel launches new app for investors and tenants; K&T BU wins EPC contract for 1.5GW solar PV plant in KSA May 2021
32 meconstructionnews.com
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Ready, Set, Event! April was an interesting month for my colleague Andy and I, as we spent a fair bit of time going from hotel to hotel, in search of a great venue for our forthcoming events. Some had gone through refurbishments, while others were underway or had them in the pipeline and it was great to see so much happening. In fact, for a while at least, I almost forgot that the pandemic upended the world a little over a year ago. I must once again doff my hat to the UAE’s leadership with regards to the way they handled the pandemic and rapid rollout of vaccinations. Although we hosted the Middle East Consultant Awards towards the end of January, our visits and what we saw renewed our confidence in hosting physical events. Speaking of which, we’ve made a few changes with regards to the roster of events being hosted by MEC. We had to do this purely because of the extremely positive response to our calls for registration, which dictated that we needed bigger ballrooms to safely host the event in compliance with all DTCM regulations relating to COVID-19. The Future of Architecture (FOA) Summit which was scheduled to be our first conference will now take place on June 16 and, as previously announced, will remain a one-day, physical May 2021
event. Though this is our first dedicated architecture, interior fit-out and master planning focused event, we have been floored by the response not only in terms of registrations but the enthusiasm from speakers and our valued commercial partners. It’s been a busy few months planning this event and I, for one, can’t wait for the day to arrive. If you’d like to register or want to read about the event, please visit https://2021. foasummit.com/ - we will have the new venue listed just as soon as negotiations are complete. Preceding the FOA Summit will be our fourth annual Value Engineering (VE) Summit, which will be spread over June 7 to 9. This will now be MEC’s first conference in 2021 and remains a virtual event that you can participate in via a laptop. The response has again been very positive from a registration and partner standpoint and we look forward to hearing some of the region’s best minds discuss this important topic. Please visit https://2021. valueengineeringsummit.com/ to learn more about the virtual event. MEC has several other physical and virtual events planned for 2021 and, like everyone else, I look forward to seeing perhaps the world’s biggest event unfold, when EXPO 2020 opens later in the year. Until next time, stay safe.
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I just read your column in Big Project e-Magazine April 2021 issue, and I liked the topic speaking about ‘Collaboration’ and totally agree with you. I just want to add a humble comment saying that
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Dubai CommerCity launches offices and logistics units in first phase of development
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Nakheel opens new mosque at Jumeirah Park
indeed it took a massive hit due to the Covid-19, sadly most of the concerned stakeholders in the industry didn’t show any cooperation & support in this area, and accepted no exceptions, that really was hurtful to
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many industry players being
Acciona announces completion of Jebel Ali SWRO desalination plant
small, medium and large entities. Governments or Industry intervention in this matter advisable as you have stated. Thank you for your good article and words passed on this to the industry through your Big
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8 | On Topic
Freezone
EXPO 2020
Dubai CommerCity launches offices and logistics units in first phase of development
89% of construction complete on Oman Pavilion
Dubai CommerCity (DCC) has launched 470,000sqft of new facilities as part of the first stage of its planned schedule. The phase includes a built-up area of over 320,000sqft of office space in the Business Cluster and includes 145,000sqft of e-commerce logistics units and multi-client warehouses in the Logistics Cluster, which will be managed and operated by Hellmann Worldwide Logistics and DHL. According to a statement, the city’s strategic location and the increased demand for facilities and services has enabled it to lease more than 51% of its logistics warehouses to companies launching their operations in different sectors. “The launch of Dubai CommerCity aims to lead the future of e-commerce business in the region. The project has been studied not only to provide foundational solutions, but also to stimulate and support business and prosperity at a time when the sector is going through peak growth. The e-commerce sector is key as its value is expected to reach $148.5bn by 2022 in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia regions,” said Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (Dafza).
01 01 Dubai CommerCity’s first phase includes a built-up area of over 320,000sqft of office space and 145,000sqft of e-commerce logistics units and warehouses.
89% of construction work is complete on Oman’s country pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai and works are said to be on track for completion in June. The Oman Pavilion is in the Mobility Thematic District and will showcase the country’s nature, talent, expertise, innovative spirit, and youthful population, as well as its valuable resources and natural beauty. According to a report by the Oman Observer, the country pavilion will bring to life its story of national progress through an exploration of frankincense. The design of the pavilion is said to be inspired by Boswellia sacra - the tree from
02
02 The design of the Oman Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai is said to be inspired by the Boswellia sacra tree.
May 2021
meconstructionnews.com
On Topic | 9
which the resin is harvested. The pavilion features an asymmetrical flowing form that is said to be reminiscent of the tree’s low, shadegiving branches, while the structure appears to envelop and protect life. Visitors will pass through five zones, illuminating how frankincense contributed to Omani advancements in transportation, knowledge, manufacturing, sustainability, and exploration, the report added. The pavilion is designed to connect minds across time and space, and will feature both large-scale, highimpact moments, as well as subtle interactive experiences created using Oman-developed augmented and mixed reality technology. The Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and the commission responsible for the Oman Pavilion recently signed Al Raqi Business and Services Company to manage and operate the tourism services and information centre at the pavilion. As per the terms of the deal, the firm will provide all information, services, offers, and tour packages about the sultanate to visitors at the pavilion.
03
03 Nakheel says more than 30,000 investors have purchased land, villas or apartments and stand to benefit from the app.
Real Estate
Nakheel launches new app for investors and tenants Nakheel has launched a new virtual property assistant that the master developer says will benefit 43,000 of its investors and residential tenants. The firm said the My Nakheel app offers over 90 services at the touch of a button, with the added convenience of voice messaging and photo uploads. According to a statement from the firm, customers can view their property meconstructionnews.com
information, register their interest in buying or renting a property, renew leases, schedule appointments for maintenance, apply for security passes and make fast, secure payments among dozens of other services with the application. The developer also said the software will be updated with additional benefits and functions. “The My Nakheel app combines convenience, security and functionality, giving our investors and customers more time to enjoy life. Its launch underlines our commitment to customer-centricity and the use of cutting edge technology to provide new services to our stakeholders, be they an ownerresident, a tenant at one of our communities, or an investor living on the other side of the world,” said chief information officer Ahmed Ebrahim Al Ahmad. More than 30,000 investors have purchased land, villas or apartments from Nakheel and 13,500 tenants currently lease a Nakheel property. Nakheel’s master planned developments across Dubai span 15,000 hectares and accommodate over 300,000 people, he stated. He concluded, “Available on the Apple Store/Google Play, it allows users to view Nakheel’s iconic projects and attractions across Dubai, with many more features and facilities coming soon.” May 2021
10 | On Topic
Infrastructure
L&T business unit wins EPC contract for 1.5GW solar PV plant in Riyadh Province L&T Power Transmission & Distribution has been awarded the turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract for the 1.5GW Sudair Solar Photovoltaic (PV) project. The project will take shape in the Riyadh Province over a 30.8sqkm area and is billed as the largest solar plant in the Kingdom. The contract was awarded to L&T’s renewable arm by a consortium of Acwa Power and the Water and Electricity Holding Company (a subsidiary of the Public Investments Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia). The ambitions of Saudi Arabia’s National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) are on track, the L&T statement said. As part of the NREP, the Sudair solar PV project was
04
May 2021
awarded to PIF and its partner Acwa Power, L&T noted. This project is part of the 70% of target capacity of 58.7GW that the Kingdom assigned to PIF, while the Renewable Energy Project Development Office (REPDO) would undertake competitive tendering for the remaining 30%, as announced by the Ministry of Energy in 2019, the statement explained. Commenting on the contract win, CEO and MD SN Subrahmanyan explained, “With several GWs of solar EPC experience, L&T has emerged as a global technology player for solar plants. L&T has been a provider of EPC services for several green projects in recent years. We are India’s largest EPC company to build hydel power plants, the largest market player to build nuclear power plants with a total capability of 9,360MWe, including some ongoing projects, on an EPC turnkey basis with the capacity to make important critical components like steam turbines, generators, end shields and other critical equipment.” 04 The solar PV project will take shape in Riyadh Province and will cover an area of 30.8sqkm. It is billed as the largest solar plant in the Kingdom.
05
Residential
Construction on 3,000 unit East Sitra Town project moving at pace Construction is moving at a steady pace on the East Sitra Town project in Bahrain, officials have announced. The project comprises 3,000 residential units and is being implemented in three phases, and is being overseen by China Machinery Engineering Corporation (CMEC). East Sitra Town Phase One features 1,077 units and is expected to be completed over the next two and a half years. The Chinese group announced the completion of land reclamation and preparation of the land ahead of the commencement of infrastructure works and construction of the units. Once all three phases are complete, the project will feature schools, kindergartens and nurseries, public parks, children’s playgrounds, houses of worship, health, social and cultural facilities, a youth club, commercial centres, petrol stations, water treatment station and meconstructionnews.com
On Topic | 11
Infrastructure
ENEC announces start of commercial operations at Unit 1 of Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant a centre for visitors’ services, in addition to a 2.6km seafront promenade and 13km-long bicycle lanes. It is expected to serve about 20,640 citizens. During a visit, Housing minister Bassim bin Yacoob Al Hamar said that the accelerated pace of work at housing projects reflects the government’s seriousness in meeting citizens’ housing demands on schedule. He lauded His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directives to address the housing issue in the Kingdom, citing the royal order to build 40,000 housing units for citizens. The minister also hailed the follow-up of HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on the distribution of residential units. He also stressed the ministry’s keenness to achieve the housing pledges made by the government in its current Action Plan 2019-2022, through expediting the working process at various projects and coming up with creative solutions to meet citizens’ needs.
Commercial operations at Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant have commenced according to the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). The company stated that its operating and maintenance subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company (Nawah) had successfully started commercial operations of the first Unit of the Barakah Plant, following the completion of all testing activities. The 1,400MW Unit 1 is said to be providing constant, reliable, and sustainable electricity, with three further units to begin generating electricity in the coming years. As a result, ENEC is now leading the largest decarbonisation effort of any industry in the UAE to date, the statement explained.
06 With the start of commercial operations at Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, ENEC is now leading the largest decarbonisation effort in the UAE.
Lauding the achievement, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said it was a significant milestone in the UAE’s longterm roadmap for sustainable, knowledgebased economic prosperity, benefiting many generations to come. ENEC chairman Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak added, “The UAE set a clear roadmap with solid principles to ensure this project’s development in accordance with the highest international industry standards of safety and quality with full transparency. Our investment in pioneering technologies and the decarbonisation of our electricity production not only advances the UAE’s clean energy leadership but also produces tangible socioeconomic and environmental benefits. We congratulate all of our partners as we continue to support the prosperity and sustainable growth of our country.” A Power Purchase Agreement was signed in 2016 to purchase all electricity generated at the plant for the next 60 years by ENEC’s subsidiary, Barakah One Company and the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC).
06
05 Phase One of the East Sitra Town project in Bahrain features 1,077 residential units and is due for completion in two and a half years.
meconstructionnews.com
May 2021
12 | On Topic
Dubai & Abu Dhabi Market Overview JLL reviews the supply and performance of Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s key sectors in Q1, 2021 Newly announced regulatory measures, local availability of the vaccine, and the upcoming Expo 2020 festivities are opportunities to revive the UAE’s real estate market during 2021, according to JLL’s latest UAE Real Estate Market Performance report. With signs of recovery already underway, the report highlights a large emphasis will be on re-envisioning spaces as tenant and end-users find community amenities more appealing. Residential Market Overview
Dubai’s residential market stock increased to 607,000 units with the addition of 10,000 units over the quarter. For the remainder of 2021, an additional 46,000 units are expected to be added. Conversely, Abu Dhabi saw approximately 200 residential units delivered, bringing the total stock to roughly 265,300 units. By the end of 2021, approximately 11,700 units are scheduled to enter the market. In terms of performance, Dubai’s general sale and rental rates continued to register declines of 5% and 10% over the year. Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi, sale prices remained stable with rental rates registering average declines of 3-4%. On a positive note, lower sales prices have yielded a 15% increase in sales volume for Dubai compared to the same period last year. As a result of the market being more affordable, more end-users have taken the opportunity to enter the market. Investors closing on attractive villa/ townhouse deals have led to marginal May 2021
recoveries in villa sale prices of 2% to 3% compared to the previous quarter. Looking ahead, we expect old existing developments to continue to face pressure particularly apartment developments, as new developments with attractive payment plans and community amenities appeal greater to tenants and end-users. Office Market Overview
Over the first quarter, Dubai’s office market saw a total of 30,000sqm of GLA delivered, primarily in Tecom A&B, increasing the total stock to 8.9m sqm. For the remainder of the year, around 122,000sqm of office GLA is expected to be delivered in Dubai. In Abu Dhabi, no new office deliveries kept the total stock stable at approximately 3.8m sqm, with future supply of 69,000sqm scheduled for delivery by end of 2021, consisting mainly of Grade B offices in Al Raha Beach. Average Grade A CBD rents declined by 2% to $458 per sqm in Dubai, as newer office developments put pressure on existing CBD stock. In Abu Dhabi, headline rents for Grade A offices decreased by 2% to $429 per sqm. An encouraging number of enquiries were noted over the quarter compared to the previous quarter, with tenants seeming to be more actively searching for cost-saving solutions, such as smaller fitted out units. The office market remains two-tiered with demand for well-managed, single owned, quality meconstructionnews.com
On Topic | 13
meconstructionnews.com
May 2021
14 | On Topic
Dubai residential supply
607k
-10%
Total stock
46k
Y-o-Y rental rates
2021 deliveries
Abu Dhabi residential supply
265k Total stock
12k
-3.5%
2021 deliveries
Y-o-Y rental rates
space being sought after. Prime developments such as DIFC, have managed to grow by 20% in registration of new firms over 2020. For the remainder of the year, we expect corporate occupiers to continue consolidating operations, and focus towards finding a suitable office/remote working hybrid model. Quality developments that offer flexibility and promote wellness would be among the key locations.
restrictions allowing for more footfall, but levels are still well below pre-pandemic levels. Some retail segments such as F&B, convenience and services have adapted through digital solutions, as well as relocating to more street and community locations. However, segments such as fashion, luxury and entertainment within established malls have lagged in performance due to change in consumer spending habits and subdued tourism. In terms of supply, no new retail supply was added to the market in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi over the first quarter, keeping the total stock at 4.2m sqm and 2.8m sqm of GLA respectively. 584,000sqm of retail space is expected to handover in Dubai in 2021. Future retail supply in Abu Dhabi amounts to approximately 55,000sqm in 2021. Average rental rates in primary and secondary malls have declined by 10% and 7% for Dubai and Abu Dhabi in Q1 2021 versus Q1 2020. Falling rates remain in favor of the retailers, as major developers continue to offer incentives to attract and retain tenants such as rent-free periods, freezing rent periods, extended fit-out periods. Revenue share deals are becoming more commonplace, with a combination of low base rent and high turnover percentage to ease retailers and attract them.
Retail Market Overview
In comparison to the same period last year, market conditions are improving with ease of
Dubai retail supply (sq m GLA)
4.2m Total stock
584k
-10% Y-o-Y rental rates
2021 deliveries
Abu Dhabi retail supply (sq m GLA)
2.8m Total stock
55k
2021 deliveries May 2021
-7% Y-o-Y rental rates
Hospitality Market Overview
In the first quarter, Dubai saw a limited number of keys being added, maintaining the total stock at 134,900 keys. Similarly in Abu Dhabi, the delivery of around 545 keys brought the total hotel stock to approximately 30,600 hotel keys. Dubai saw hotel occupancy levels drop to 60% in the YT February 2021, compared to 81% in the YT February 2020. Consequently, average daily rates (ADR’s) declined by 13% to reach $146 over the same period. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi saw occupancy levels reach 61% as of YT February 2021 and ADR’s recorded a 21% decline Y-o-Y to $90. Despite noting performance declines globally, the UAE market has fared much better than others, owing to its efficient screening processing and making it one of the few countries open for tourism. The overall improvement in conditions have brought some relief to the hotel market in comparison to last year, owing to strong
Dubai office supply (sq m GLA)
8.9m Total stock
120k 2021 deliveries
-2% Y-o-Y rental rates
Abu Dhabi office supply (sq m GLA)
3.8m Total stock
69k
2021 deliveries
-2% Y-o-Y rental rates
domestic demand. Nevertheless, subdued international tourism and lack of corporate/ entertainment events continue to impact the bottom lines for majority of operators. This to some extent has polarised the market, with luxury and upscale hotels having the capacity to cut costs and endure on domestic demand. However, midscale and budget operators struggle to maintain ADRs and occupancies. We can expect the trend to continue for the short to medium term, until vaccine rollouts prove successful and bring back key source markets.
Dubai hotel keys supply
135k Total stock
16k
60% YT Feb 2021 occupancy
2021 deliveries
Abu Dhabi hotel keys supply
31k Total stock
1.4k
61% YT Feb 2021 occupancy
2021 deliveries meconstructionnews.com
YEARS IN CONSULTING, PLANNING, CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION
Drees & Sommer is an international enterprise, working with private and public clients from construction bodies to investors on all types of real estate and infra-structure projects. With its pioneering and future-shaping consulting, the company offers solutions for successful buildings, high-return portfolios, powerful infra-structure and livable cities. 3,820 employees in interdisciplinary teams based at 46 locations worldwide support clients across a wide spectrum of sectors. All the services provided by the company take into consideration both economic and ecological concerns, calling this holistic approach ‘the blue way’. Find out more: Drees & Sommer Middle East
16 | On Topic
01 Piyush Prajapati is an architect at Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ).
Piyush Prajapati “People identify places and things in their surroundings by their unique character, and changes at both macro and micro levels in a city and its surroundings affect more than we realise”
01
May 2021
As architects we are skilled at visual thinking. It is how we work. We use visuospatial abilities to create spaces through digital and physical representations. We must imagine and anticipate the navigational experience of urban dwellers and then translate that into a concrete product that can be built. The term visuospatial is defined as the visual understanding of a space. It is governed by human perception which acts reciprocally with thought. The ideas or concepts that we have around an object determine how we perceive them. We carry cognitive imageries with us as the mode of perception, which influences our expectations, our actions and our way of seeing. Over the past few decades researchers and theorist from various disciplines such as geography, planning, computer science, cognitive science, neuro-psychology have been trying to understand how we think and behave in spaces and environment, how we remember routes, direction and distances and how spaces and vision are related to each other. These studies are important as they provide designers with information on how visual geometries are understood thus improving spatial legibility of the environment by using cognitive mapping of visual data. While researchers have not completely ignored these aspects of our experiences
through visual understandings little has been done to investigate the relationship between the meaning and value of the physical environment. There have been valiant efforts by many disciplines to bridge the gap between vision and spatial understanding but there still remains a gulf between the available visual information and the application of this knowledge and language to the design process. Visuospatial intelligence is created by identifying and associating the data that affects human behaviour, their experience, movement and their perception. This intelligence simulates the quantitative information of human interaction, visual preferences and spatial built forms to produce qualitative knowledge as a whole. Why is Visuospatial Understanding Important?
Why, we may ask, is visuospatial understanding important for designers? Imagine spending a weekend at a hotel in a city you have not visited before and deciding to walk to a nearby shopping mall using your phone to find your way there. You then discover you have lost battery power as you are about to leave and do not remember how to get back to the hotel. Navigation systems assist us during navigation but they also hinder us in that we meconstructionnews.com
On Topic | 17
tend not to pay too much attention to the environment around us so when we lose that support, we struggle to find our way around because we did not notice the visual landmarks that would help guide us back. Visual properties are embedded in both the urban environment and pedestrian behaviour and most pedestrian behaviours are guided by the processing of visuospatial information. Visibility is an important determinant of urban vitality playing a key role in navigating an unfamiliar urban environment. Traditionally, environmental research has relied only on verbal perceptions and descriptions of the physical environment. The appearance of the physical environment is not simply an abstract aesthetic phenomenon and the perceived quality depends on the evaluations of those who regularly experience it. Cities are an interplay of different components that come together as networks of information, activities and flows. Streets are a fundamental component providing a meconstructionnews.com
There have been valiant efforts by many disciplines to bridge the gap between vision and spatial understanding but there still remains a gulf between the available visual information and the application of this knowledge and language to the design process”
framework for urban evolution and open spaces for pedestrian movement are created between the buildings. A city’s most significant component is its users. People identify places and things in their surroundings by their unique character, and changes at both macro and micro levels in a city and its surroundings affect more than we realise. Familiar environments become unfamiliar with changes in the spaces or urban layout resulting in disorientation with very little coherence for people who use them. Evidence has also shown that poorly designed spaces are unpopular and communities become alienated with a lack foot traffic resulting in poor commercial results. Spaces must be legible, providing recognisable routes, intersections and landmarks to help people find their way around. Understanding the effect of visual-spatial perception, then, enables us to become more aware of surroundings and, eventually, work towards the improvement of their quality and build improved models of urban dynamics. May 2021
18 | On Topic
01 Luca Vigliero is a design director at KEO International Consultants.
01
May 2021
Luca Vigliero “In a global world where human communications, relations, and interactions arise spontaneously, is it still possible to define the process of urbanisation as a physical entity?” How big is a city in the Middle East? The simple way to find out is likely to search on Wikipedia for an ‘urban area’ definition - a physical size, expressed in square meters, defines how large the city is and how much space it occupies in a territory. Dubai is about 35sqkm, Abu Dhabi is 972sqkm and Riyadh is 1,973sqkm. By Euclid’s assumption, the city becomes a closed polyline that contains streets, squares, monuments, shopping malls, hospitals, parks, parking lots, metro stations, restaurants, beaches, jogging tracks, sports fields, airports, clubs, schools, cemeteries, offices etc. The polyline excludes and includes, combines, and divides – defines what is ‘in’ and what is ‘out’. In a global world where human communications, relations, and interactions arise spontaneously, mainly on digital platforms and virtual spaces, is it still possible to define the process of urbanisation as a physical entity? A simple example - the workplace. Offices can no longer be defined as a physical space enclosed in a building - virtual relationships have become much more considerable than physical spaces. We work from home, communicate only through e-meetings, draw on graphic tablets to show our ideas on a screen, and the physical dimension of an office no longer exists. The
pandemic has only accelerated a ‘fact’ that would have happened in a few years anyway. The city works the same way. It’s no longer a physical space, it’s no longer a space that can be defined by x, y, and z - virtual spaces have introduced a new dimension that cannot be physically measured. It has an abstract urban dimension. The urbanisation process has become a hybrid entity set in between the digital and physical body. Most of the human interactions take place via digital contacts - we speak with friends via chats, share emotions and experiences via posts and likes, communicate with our family via video calls; while buying on Amazon, we do not use cash but e-payment. In a provocative and extreme way, we no longer exist physically; we are virtual entities, we are un-dividual. Social life becomes an account on social platforms - to exist, our organic bodies are hidden behind an indefinite series of semitechnical mediations, an array of cybernetic prostheses that work like digital masks: email addresses, Facebook, Instagram, Zoom, and Skype accounts. (semi-cit). In the Middle East where cities are the perfect prototype of ‘cities of the future’ global, intercultural, innovative, green, safe - populated by a demographic (Millennials, Gen Z) who perform on the digital platform meconstructionnews.com
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most of their life, the importance of how the urbanisation will respond to this emergency becomes a central issue for a designer. I do believe that the answer is designing multi-functional spaces that favor interaction, sense of communal space, and promote public spaces as new fundamental entities in the definition of the city of tomorrow. Establish a ‘Center-of-Interest’ where people can interact, perform, and socialise in urban environment design ad-hoc to accommodate and satisfy two worlds – physical and digital. Mixed-use typologies are probably the best answer to the question of urbanisation in the Middle East. These developments successfully blend residential, commercial, retail, cultural uses, and public and communal spaces. I do believe that one of the most interesting urban design concepts is ‘The 15-minute city’ in which all city residents can meet most of their needs within a short walk from their homes.
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Designing multifunctional spaces that favor interaction, sense of communal space, and promote public spaces as new fundamental entities in the definition of the city of tomorrow”
Large mixed-use development can work similarly with a perfect synthesis of sustainability (reduce the presence of cars on the streets and commuting time) and a united community with larger commercial and entertainment offers. Extreme conceptual ideas of mixed-used development are visioning under the ‘one building concept’ - one building with many applications throughout the day. How about, for example, using offices for activities during the weekend or retail spaces for evening avenues and cultural activities? We live in a very delicate moment that requires us to think and design differently from the common establishment. That is why I’m more interested and inspired by exploring new design solutions and processes rather than finding final solutions. Designing between two worlds: real and virtual is a way to transform the architectural industry.
May 2021
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22 | In Practice
WELL Executed Jason Saundalkar speaks to SAY Studio’s Laila Al-Yousuf about the WELL H&S standard and the design firm’s new WELL certified project in Dubai SAY Studio recently announced the completion of a WELL Health and Safety project in Emaar Square, valued at approximately US $27.2m. Delivered in collaboration with Cundall Johnston & Partners, SAY claims the project is the only commercial space across the Middle East and Europe to receive the WELL Health and Safety seal from the international WELLbuilding institute. The firm also said the space is awaiting confirmation of a Gold grade WELL certification. Here, Jason Saundalkar caught up with Laila Al-Yousuf, design director at SAY Studio to discuss the project in detail. What was the client’s goal for this WELL certified refurbishment?
01 SAY Studio’s refurbishment project is valued at $27.2m and is designed to be an ‘Office of the Future’.
May 2021
Led by the core philosophy “be well, work well”, the client believes to succeed and thrive, they need to embrace design practices that energise and prioritise well-being. With a commitment to healthy behavior, the leadership team embraced introducing the WELL Building Standard into the design. The client was previously scattered across multiple floors in an adjacent building - the office was dated and wasn’t performing to meet the growing demands of the business. Staff sentiment was waning as they didn’t feel their workspace was on par with their competitors. So, the leadership team decided to invest in top
of the range wellness design which would not only help staff feel great now but in the future. What was the criteria for achieving goldgrade WELL certification? Did this have an impact on the cost of the project?
The WELL building standard is not just about the build but also about the operational component. This client already had several policies in place that are in line with WELL, but beyond that several components had to be implemented to achieve our target. For example, clean drinking water and healthy food choices have to be easily accessible and as such a 100-person café was incorporated, as well as refresh stations in various locations. Furniture choices must be ergonomic, providing sit to stand workstations, as well as monitor arms. In addition, acoustics and light quality are measured against WELL standards as these are considered important to produce highly productive working environments. As part of the restorative environments, we designed a wellness room intended for staff to take a break from the everyday, by either playing ping pong or to attend the fitness classes planned for the facility. To encourage the use of stairs, the stairwells became an enormous canvas for local artists to work with, as well as a new staircase built to connect staff with the first floor, where all the centralised facilities are co-located. meconstructionnews.com
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24 | In Practice
Designing to WELL does have an initial CAPEX impact, as criteria has to be adhered to in order to qualify. However, the return on investment is measured in higher retention of staff, increased productivity, reduced sick days and improved quality of environment.
02 Laila Al-Yousuf is design director at SAY Studio 03 A feature staircase connects the ground floor ro the first floor, also know as “The Base“ where all staff amenities and central functions are co-located.
Is there a different version of the WELL standard that takes into account the conditions in the Middle East? If not, what’s SAY’s take on how applicable/useful this standard is to regional spaces?
WELL is a global building standard that is designed to work universally, as such there is no specific version for the region. It is designed around the human body systems, whereas LEED is about the built environment and surrounding areas. The other difference is projects applying for WELL can interpret the intent of a feature and can be granted exemptions based on adhering to intent, even if they do not adhere to the criteria in the feature. One key measure is natural light and I think the Middle East lends itself well to easily
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incorporate this. Designers simply need to work out sun direction and any close buildings which could block day light, otherwise it’s a design measure to place desks closer to windows. We do have air quality control which is also relatively easy to create and maintain. What are some of the key highlights of the refurbishment in terms of what it offers to people as a WELL certified space?
The WELL Building Standard targets ten design elements related to human health and wellbeing through air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind. A feature staircase connects the ground floor to the first floor, also known as “The Base” where all staff
amenities and central functions are co-located. Signs on each of the floors as well as custom graffiti art relating to each design concept on each floor, also encourage staff to use the stairs, another measure of employee wellness. The arrival onto each floor is a shared work together space to enhance company culture and build bonds amongst the people on the floors. All meeting rooms are also along the core walls to ensure the maximum amount of natural light onto the floor, as well as to maximise views, placing desks closer to the windows. Planting is used across the entire project in multiple formats, on ceilings, walls and potted plants. The type of plant is inspired by the continent that each floor draws inspiration from. A community garden is located on the roof, to allow staff to plant together, further building bonds between them. The building also features a large wellness room to create a sanctuary in the office where staff can relax. The project is also the only, and therefore the first, commercial space in the Middle East and Europe to receive the WELL Health and Safety seal from the IWBI. This seal can be seen on buildings which have set out to prioritise the end user’s health and safety, a measure in response to the ongoing pandemic. With an original target of WELL Silver, through the extra consideration within the design, the project ultimately will receive a Gold rating. Innovation was also factored in to make sure that the space is as healthy as it can be. Materials were chosen carefully, to avoid using any chemicals that are hazardous to human health and air quality monitors are positioned throughout the building to monitor this. The WELL Health-Safety Rating is an evidence-based, third-party verified rating for all new and existing buildings, focusing on operational policies, maintenance protocols, stakeholder engagement and emergency plans. Our role was to ensure we met all measures for future H&S maintenance. It is designed to empower owners and operators to take the necessary steps to prioritise the health and safety of staff, visitors and other stakeholders. It also guides its users in preparing their spaces for re-entry in a post-COVID-19 environment and we have certainly seen an increase in queries about how and what we can do to meconstructionnews.com
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support clients in this area. The rating, which consists of a subset of relevant features from the WELL Building Standard adapted for facility O&M, was informed by the COVID-19 pandemic, but has broader applicability for supporting the long-term health and safety needs of people in a given space. As organisations across the globe respond to the COVID-19 crisis by making updates to their policies and protocols, the WELL HealthSafety Rating provides an efficient and effective opportunity to guide, validate, recognise and scale the efforts of owners and operators on critical health and safety issues. What were some of the major challenges that SAY Studio encountered on this project and how did it overcome them? In terms of achieving the WELL certification, which was the hardest aspect to achieve and why was it a challenge?
This project was always intended as a landmark project, to be promoted as the ‘Office of the Future’ – this meant several stakeholders were involved, and the project was benchmarked against other offices globally. This was more challenging because this was the first project the client had done as a WELL project, so it was difficult to benchmark against. Another big challenge was the project was being built in the midst of the pandemic meconstructionnews.com
Acoustics and light quality are measured against WELL standards as these are considered very important to produce highly productive working environments” and communicating virtually became important - a challenge when you need to monitor site activities and qualities of installation. WELL recognises the prevalence of open plan offices and therefore makes the acoustic criteria quite rigorous, as well as strict. Fortunately, there are wonderful products that either are design features or other products that can be concealed within the design, becoming a fabric of the environment and managing the acoustic impact of wide-open spaces.
The new office embraces the concept of the office of the future incorporating advanced technology and new ways of working. Staff arriving onto each floor are welcomed with a digital screen which identifies all available spaces on the floor for working or for meeting. All meeting rooms use smart technology to identify which rooms are available and what technology the room supports. A service centre on the “Base” floor enables staff to get instant support from HR and IT, using the latest technologies to connect and resolve issues instantly. Sensors throughout the space also help encourage the efficiencies of the building by reducing artificial lighting and power when not in use. This office also embraces the fact that the concept of a desk as a one stop solution is outdated. Desks that do exist are all sit to stand, but there are also six other working scenarios from study bay booths, to phonebooths, and at least four different types of meeting rooms. Does SAY Studio anticipate more demand for WELL certified spaces in the region?
How much of a role did technology play in this project?
Innovation is not just about the incorporation of technology; it is about how technology can be embedded to deliver solutions that change how staff work while maximising on efficiencies.
Yes, this is becoming more frequent in briefs we are receiving from across the GCC. Our studio always has at least one WELL project and given the current climate, with workforces going back to offices, we are anticipating a huge surge in WELL H&S applications. May 2021
28 | On Site
Saving Time Sara Giddens of Bentley Systems reveals how ASGC constructed Dubai’s first and largest fully air-conditioned, multipurpose indoor arena using SYNCHRO Pro for 4D planning and scheduling, thereby taking off two weeks of construction time Committed to creating and delivering unique experiences, the Coca-Cola Arena (formerly the Dubai Arena) is a new, stateof-the-art multipurpose arena. Spanning an area of half a million square feet and with an approximate capacity of 20,000 people, the arena is set to enhance Dubai’s leisure and entertainment offering. It will become the “go-to” venue for large-scale international music concerts, sporting events—such as hockey and basketball— and other entertainment events. May 2021
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30 | On Site
To properly manage the many steps and workflows of this project, ASGC was tasked with providing 4D construction planning and scheduling. The organisation comprises of several companies that offer construction services and manufacturing facilities for various construction materials, each one a market leader in its own sphere of expertise. Established in 1989, ASGC is best known for delivering turnkey projects in the United Arab Emirates. The organisation has been involved in landmark projects across diverse sectors, such as residential, commercial, leisure, hospitality, healthcare, education, social infrastructure, and industrial. Constructing an Adaptable, Multipurpose Arena
The Coca-Cola Arena will be the only allpurpose indoor and air-conditioned arena of its size in the region. The arena allows for sporting events to be held 12 months of the year, including the hot summer months. It will
01 The Coca-Cola Arena is a multipurpose arena that spans half a million square feet and an approximate 20,000-people capacity. 02 ASGC chose SYNCHRO Pro to create a visual representation of the construction schedule for all project stakeholders to communicate. 03 Opened in June 2019, it has already become the “go-to” venue for largescale music concerts, sports and other entertainment events.
because of automated retractable seating on the bowl floor, allowing for an arena layout that can change depending on the scale of the event. Strategically located at City Walk, in close proximity to the Dubai International Airport and accessible via the Dubai Metro, the new venue will be at the heart of the urban lifestyle destination. It will be surrounded by a plethora of hospitality, food and beverage, entertainment, and shopping options. Managing 4D Construction for Better Decision-making
also boast an advanced infrastructure, allowing it to accommodate megaevents. The arena has 17,000 seats and can be arranged to allow end-stage, in-the-round, and intimate events, including concerts, shows, and gala dinners. The main area features four levels; the first and fourth levels have fixed seating while the second and third levels include hospitality suites. An extra tier of seating can be added
ASGC chose SYNCHRO Pro (part of Bentley’s new SYNCHRO 4D suite of applications) as the platform where it could prepare the 4D construction planning and scheduling. The project team created a visual representation of the schedule, which project stakeholders used to communicate. The representation also helped facilitate weekly, monthly, and quarterly meetings.
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The model also provided construction simulations of scenarios and comparisons, which could be done before any work on the construction site. ASGC could track and control materials while also managing site logistics, using the information provided by the site project team. These capabilities allowed ASGC to adequately plan activities on the site. Safety plan analyses and simulations ensured that the site was safe for all participants, meeting all standards by the local official legislation and conditions.
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Improving Communication to Save Time and Cost
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For the meetings, ASGC generated mongering reports of the site progress, sharing the actual vs. planned schedule and approved baseline. By having these reports, the project team could see how construction was progressing and streamline decision-making. Another key feature of the SYNCHRO Pro models was project management before beginning construction even began. ASGC created a 3D BIM model of the project so that team members could visually detect clashes and review them alongside the schedule progress, showing how fixing these clashes would affect the project schedule. Detecting these clashes early saved the team time and cost. meconstructionnews.com
ASGC created a 3D BIM model of the project so that team members could visually detect clashes and review them alongside the schedule progress, showing how fixing these clashes would affect the project schedule”
During construction, ASGC used SYNCHRO Pro’s 4D construction planning and scheduling to improve communication. The construction team could actively participate and provide instantaneous and continuous feedback, resulting in performance improvement. The team simulated engineering progress to highlight the shop drawing approval stages, supply chains, and processes. The time risk analyses included data directly from the site team, making it accurate for better on-site decision-making. As built 4D models created in SYNCHRO Pro made it easier for the team to manage the facilities. ASGC also produced 4D BIM documentation that includes 3D and 4D BIM models received over the contract period. All project documents, including RFIs, clash reports, and logs, were housed in one place for easier handover. These documents, coupled with the team’s integration of various new technologies, show how advancing digital construction can significantly benefit projects. By using SYNCHRO Pro, weekly progress meetings were reduced from three hours to 45 minutes because of 4D simulation, saving a total of 544 hours for the site team. The 4D construction planning and scheduling application improved the team’s time management on the steel structure’s construction and delivery, saving about two weeks and corresponding costs. The venue opened in June 2019 and has already hosted many internationally renowned events. May 2021
May 2021
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In Full Bloom Gavin Davids speaks to Gerard Evenden, head of Studio, Foster + Partners, about the recently announced Coral Bloom project on The Red Sea Project’s main hub, Shuryrah Island – the centrepiece of the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project In February 10, 2021, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC), announced the launch of the Coral Bloom concept – a resort development on the Red Sea Project’s main hub of Shurayah Island. Set to be the flagship destination for the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism project, Coral Bloom has been created by architectural firm Foster + Partners and been designed to blend in with the island’s pristine natural environment. While the concept aims to set the standard in the Kingdom, TRSDC also intends for it to be at the forefront of global architecture and design standards. Given that the concept calls for 11 hotels to be built on the island, this will be no easy task. Not only will the hotels have to be designed and adapted to the landscape around them, but the developer says it is imperative the island’s natural beauty is kept intact. Although there will be elements of the destination that will have to be enhanced, with new beaches created on the dolphinshaped island along with a new lagoon, these enhancements will have to be carried out while preserving what exists and without damaging any habitats or natural shores. Therefore, Foster + Partners say that biodiversity considerations will take centre stage , with plans designed to avoid disruption meconstructionnews.com
to the island’s mangroves and other habitats that provide natural defences against erosion and rising sea levels. The architecture firm also asserts that the new habitats created will only enhance the island’s natural state. “Our vision for Shurayrah is inspired by the island’s natural state, with the hotels designed to give the impression that they have washed up on the beaches and nestled among the dunes almost like driftwood. The materials we use and the low impact they have ensures that the pristine environment is protected, while the additions we make to the island serve to enhance what is already there – hence the name, Coral Bloom,” says Gerard Evenden, head of Studio at Foster + Partners. The Red Sea Project’s master plan is underpinned by this commitment to sustainable, low-impact development, he adds. Although the destination plans to have 50 resorts, consisting of up to 8,000 hotel rooms and 1,300 residential properties, TRSDC maintains that this will be achieved in an ecologically responsible manner. In order to do this, the developer has conducted an extensive marine spatial planning exercise, while the masterplan leaves 75% of the project’s islands untouched. Shurayrah will be one of only 22 islands selected for development, it points out. The Red Sea Project is already passing significant construction milestones and work is May 2021
34 | On Site
well on track to welcome the first guests by the end of 2022, when the international airport and the first four hotels will open. The remaining 12 hotels that are planned for phase one are scheduled to open in 2023. Given the scale of the ambitions, Gavin Davids caught up with Gerard Evenden to learn how Foster + Partners will be approaching the challenge of creating an immersive luxury experience on such a large scale, while adhering to the high architectural and sustainable design standards laid out by TRSDC. “The Red Sea projects are a unique opportunity to work with one of the bestpreserved coral reefs in the world and put the region on the global luxury tourism map,” Evenden says. “The research being carried out could help preserve and revive others around the world. The project is also symbolic of Saudi Arabia opening up to the world, offering an incredible opportunity for both locals and international tourists to experience the exceptional natural beauty of the country.” “Our design is aligned to the idea of creating a sustainable vision for the future, with the aim of preserving the region’s natural beauty. The project is underpinned by a commitment to sustainability, focusing squarely on creating a circular economy that produces energy from renewable sources,” he adds. As part of these plans, TRSDC says it is committed to delivering a 30% net conservation benefit by 2040. It is creating the world’s largest district cooling plant powered by renewable energy, 24 hours a day, to facilitate efficient centralised cooling across the destination. The destination will be powered by renewables underpinned by the largest battery storage system in the world, the developer states. Furthermore, Evenden explains that the masterplan for Coral Bloom has been designed to reflect local culture and traditions. Leveraged on existing construction methods, the latest pre-fabrication building techniques and cutting-edge environmental technologies are being used so as to minimise the impact on the fragile ecosystems across the destination. “The vision for the Shurayrah Island project has been based on three main tenets –02creating an exquisite luxury destination May 2021
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01 TRSDC intends for Coral Bloom to set the standard for architecture and design standards in the Kingdom and beyond. 02 The master plan for Coral Bloom has been designed to reflect local culture and traditions. 03 The hotels on Shurayrah Island have been designed with a ‘light touch’ approach to ensure minimal impact on the environment.
We hope the Coral Bloom project will enable Saudi Arabia to develop a tourism industry that is sensitive to the flora and fauna of the region and create a new model for sustainable tourism”
around one of the world’s hidden natural treasures, setting new standards in sustainable development and positioning Saudi Arabia on the global tourism map,” he continues. “A key part of the brief was to develop a coherent and consistent approach to the design of the island and its constituent parts. Coral reefs are made of several different elements but they come together to read as a singular entity. This was the inspiration for our master plan where each of the resorts offers a different experience and appeals to a varied audience, but the entire island embodies a collective identity as Coral Bloom.” Evenden says a key decision about the design came following the team’s first site visit, which was when they realised the importance of the island’s edges in terms of biodiversity. Meanwhile the middle of the island was relatively barren, meaning there was more scope to work with in that area. This led them to design a lagoon that creates new beaches towards the island’s middle, leaving existing beaches on the perimeter relatively untouched. “We also wanted to produce a scheme that could offer a variety of experiences so that meconstructionnews.com
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guests can continue to visit the island through different life stages.” “The proposals are respectful of the extreme environmental sensitivity of the region, taking a ‘light-touch’ approach that will have the least detrimental impact on the wonderful biodiversity. Using offsite manufacturing, the project seeks to maximise its sustainable credentials by reducing construction timeframes and waste while ensuring the highest quality,” he continues, pointing out that the palette of materials is inspired by nature and will be low-impact. “Each resort is carefully curated to be a unique place, while neatly fitting in with the larger sustainable vision for the islands.” He adds the project will investigate appropriate construction technologies that will carry out most of the disruptive construction work offsite using sustainable materials and processes. Evenden states Foster + Partners will be working closely with TRSDC to ensure smooth delivery. He reveals the firm is looking into the logistics for the delivery of finished buildings on site. “The construction work will largely take place offsite, while reducing waste materials
and the carbon content of the buildings. We are looking to source local building materials, as far as possible, and investigating setting up temporary factories for assembling buildings close to the site. The idea is to reduce the amount of equipment on site through innovative design and construction practices,” he explains. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has hit the tourism industry hard and although The Red Sea Project isn’t operational, Evenden says the design and planning for Coral Bloom had to take into account how the pandemic would change the future of hospitality. “We are working closely with TRSDC and all potential hotel operators to address the challenges the pandemic poses for the future of hospitality. The Coral Bloom project offers an exciting opportunity for us to incorporate new ideas and create innovative models for the holiday resorts of the future,” he says. Coral Bloom is just one of several projects that Foster + Partners is working on in the region. These include the Red Sea Airport as well as the luxury developments of Southern Dunes – located in the mountainous regions inland and Omaha Al Sheikh – another
exclusive island resort along the Red Sea Coast. These projects take their inspiration from the natural world – in the case of Coral Bloom, from the sea and the land – and Evenden says everything from the larger masterplan, through to the materials used on site, have been inspired by the nature that surrounds them and a desire to have a positive impact on it. “We hope the project will enable Saudi Arabia to develop a tourism industry that is sensitive to the flora and fauna of the region and create a new model for sustainable tourism. The project aims to have a regenerative effect on the natural habitat, creating more mangroves and coral reefs. It will be a truly spectacular place that will firmly occupy a spot on the list of global luxury tourism destinations. “Similarly, the design of the airport terminal has been informed by the soft, flowing forms of the desert. The five terminal pods resemble sand dunes with the colours and textures of the roof reflecting the desert. The themes of the desert with its oasis and wadi are carried though in the design of the interiors and arrival garden. The landscaping has been influenced by Arabian landscapes with a local selection of plants,” he concludes.
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36 | On Site
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Vanessa Currie “All of us have a responsibility to inject some momentum to ensure the industry is accessible to all” Following our special edition dedicated to women in the construction industry, Middle East Consultant continues to share the inspiration and experiences of women working in the male-dominated industry across the GCC. Here, we speak to Vanessa Currie, director at Turner & Townsend. What drove you to get into construction?
I studied STEM subjects Physics, Chemistry, and Maths at A-Level in school. During this time, I was fortunate to undertake work experience with a contractor, which significantly influenced my further education and career choices. The first-hand experience provided an insight into how broad the construction industry was, and the different professional roles involved. This changed my own stereotypical perception of the construction industry at that age. I subsequently chose to study Construction Management at University, whilst gaining vocational experience through industrial placements during my four-year degree. Upon graduation, I commenced work for a contractor as an assistant project manager on commercial office projects in central London. Share a brief about your career, mentioning key achievements.
The majority of my career has been working for contractors. However, in early 2020 I had the opportunity to join Turner & Townsend as meconstructionnews.com
a director bringing contracting experience and supporting our ethos of ‘Making a difference’. I worked on projects across different UK sectors including commercial office, retail, and healthcare, before transferring to the UAE in 2007. I had the opportunity to lead major projects in the UAE and then moved into business leadership roles as a director, including the responsibility as general manager of an MEP subcontracting business. These different roles have provided invaluable experience which I am now able to utilise with Turner & Townsend across our different service offerings. How have you made your mark working on projects and what is your proudest moment?
By age 35, I was a project director leading the delivery of a $817m healthcare project in Abu Dhabi. My appointment as project director pushed the barriers regarding age, gender, years of experience that were at that time prescriptive and prevalent in the Middle East. I believe this is when I made my mark and my career has continued to develop. I reflect on this pivotal decision by the government client and my employer to trust me regardless of any bias. They were brave and supported the empowerment of a woman to lead such a project. I am proud that I led such a complex project including a team of 538 staff at a relatively young age, and then progressed rapidly to senior executive roles. May 2021
38 | On Site
What are some of the barriers to women
Everyone has a part to play in diversity
entering the construction industry?
and equal pay. What would you like
What was your personal experience?
to see government authorities and
I do not see it as a barrier to be a woman. I believe perception has shifted, and organisations know the value of increased diversity, not just related to gender. I have worked on construction sites since the age of 22 and it was intimidating at times, however, I have been fortunate to work with forward-thinking colleagues. I sometimes felt being female was considered a novelty and sparked curiosity in project teams. However, once I demonstrated ability, this passed. Eyebrows have been raised later in my career whilst meeting with clients and consultants as a female leader, but again once engagement commenced, perceptions changed. I think confidence grows with age regardless of gender, and I have far more confidence in my later years that has contributed to challenging any barriers or biased reactions.
construction firms do to increase diversity
The GCC construction sector is still male dominated, however diversity is beginning to increase. If you agree with this statement, comment on what is driving this and how you see the GCC markets changing? If you do not agree, please share your thoughts/views of the market.
I agree with the statement. Diversity is being driven three-fold: government-based initiatives have empowered women into leadership roles, which has been a change in direction and a positive outcome over the last few years; forward thinking organisations including consultants, clients and contractors within the industry who see the value of diverse teams and are encouraging more and more diversity; there is now a general level of acceptance of females in professional roles. The next challenge is to increase this proportion and to attract more women into our amazing sector. I believe the GCC market will continue to change and increase diversity. Strong leadership from successful women in the industry, further raising awareness, will have a huge impact in empowering women over the coming years. The GCC has some amazing projects and we need to attract young talent of all genders to consider professions in the construction sector as a rewarding career choice. May 2021
and make pay a level playing field?
In the GCC, governments and construction companies have made advances to address diversity. However, I believe we require greater transparency to understand the current status regarding equal pay. Legislation can drive this; however, I believe all business leaders and organisations should challenge themselves and be honest. Are they addressing the pay gap issue, and do they have parity? Would they consider this fair if it affected their daughter, partner, or friend? If not, commit to change and make it happen.
My advice is…go for it. Be yourself, be proud to be a woman. We are different. The industry is changing, and it is a fantastic industry. It provides an opportunity to travel, meet and work with amazing people, and leave a legacy piece in the built environment”
Besides authorities and construction firms, who else can play a part in increasing diversity and balancing pay scales?
I believe all of us need to inspire and encourage children and teenagers to consider the variety of available careers in construction. To attract talent and to support growth in our industry, we need to promote and increase awareness. At Turner and Townsend, we actively encourage engagement with children through schools as part of our commitment to CSR. All of us have a responsibility to inject momentum to ensure the industry is accessible to all; and that we have the skilled teams we need to deliver exciting projects of the future. Our encouragement can support young people to make that step into the world of construction with equality in both status and pay. What has your experience been working in the GCC construction sector? If you have worked in markets outside the GCC, how does your experience here compare with other markets?
My experience to date has been hugely positive. I worked in the UK over 14 years ago, so I think it’s unfair to compare the industry based on the positive changes I have seen and experienced in my time both in the UK and UAE. The GCC is such a diverse place to live and work with a broad demographic of cultures and nationalities. I believe this contributes to and supports inclusion in the workplace.
What is the biggest challenge women in the construction sector face in GCC countries? How can these be addressed?
Challenges that exist are not unique to women but also men: long working hours have been the industry norm for years; project-based environments that are often transient in nature; high-stress environments to deliver fast-paced projects and meet client requirements. I believe the industry needs to address the universal challenges to the way we work. We need to embrace technology and ensure construction is recognised as a driver of digital transformation, not an afterthought. We need to embrace modern methods of construction, capitalise on our Industry 4.0 revolution to alter the status quo of delivery of projects. The impact of the pandemic has given us all an opportunity to reflect and change our ways of working. I believe the work environment will meconstructionnews.com
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How does Turner & Townsend approach diversity in the workplace? What more can your firm do to increase diversity?
The firm promotes a positive culture, which is supportive, fun, and hard-working. To ensure Turner & Townsend’s inclusive environment for everyone, we aim to continually review and improve diversity through our employee networks and leadership development. Also, Turner and Townsend leverages its core strength to recognise and embrace the diverse views and skills our employees bring, attracting and developing the best people in the industry. I feel part of an organisation that is looking to improve diversity and equality. How do you personally push for diversity and equal pay in the construction sector? Are you involved in any groups/councils etc. that focus on increasing diversity and equal pay?
change post-COVID-19, and if we adopt new approaches to work and safety this will support attracting new talent.
positive discrimination is not the answer either. It is a balance.
I am the first female chairperson of the Al Moltaka DCI Business Group in Dubai. The group is a huge advocate of diversity and actively promotes women and young people within our group and the wider industry. My involvement and position as chairperson of the group provide a fantastic opportunity to highlight diversity issues with senior-level engagement and discussion. The Dubai Chamber also recognises us as the construction sector representative group, so we have a voice and a platform.
Do you feel there’s a limit with
What advice would you give
In doing your job, what sort of
regards to how far you can progress
to a woman entering the GCC
discrimination (if any) have you faced
within Turner & Townsend?
construction industry today?
and how did you/employer address it?
No, I do not see a limit regarding my progression within the company. We are recognising and promoting women within the business. The non-biased approach, along with the value of women is enabling the firm’s diversity acceleration. Today many senior executive positions are filled by women including on our Global Executive Board of Directors. I am proud to be part of the firm, in the last year we’ve increased the number of female associate directors and directors by 14%. This culture promotes confidence for women employees in Turner and Townsend to achieve any position as part of their development goals.
My advice is: go for it. Be yourself, be proud to be a woman. We are different. The industry is changing, and it is a fantastic industry. It provides an opportunity to travel, meet and work with amazing people, and leave a legacy in the built environment. I am still in contact with people I met in the early stages of my career. The bonds formed in teams in construction are often as strong as the physical structures we build. It truly is an industry full of opportunities and rewards. I expect the coming decade will be a real boom for women in construction, so this is a great time to get involved and make your mark.
I have not faced discrimination in my career to date. I am fortunate to have worked for forwardthinking employers and clients throughout my professional journey. There has been resistance and curiosity in certain situations but I find these diminish once recognised for ability and emotional intelligence. To be truly inclusive and increase diversity, it is important women are not viewed as seeking preferential treatment. This is counterproductive. I fully support increasing diversity but we need to be honest and recognise it is a journey, and prescriptive meconstructionnews.com
May 2021
40 | On Site
01 Sara Devitt, Regional Director, Buildings + Places at AECOM Ireland.
01
Sara Devitt “Driven by the growing use of mobile technologies and cloud computing, the global data industry is growing, and fast” To cope, more data storage space is needed. This has led to a boom in data centre construction, bringing about significant opportunities for further investment in this alternative but growing asset class — globally, data centre construction is set to expand by more than 8.24% to US$32.37bn between 2018-2025. In the Middle East alone, rapid digitisation of ‘smart cities’ is spurring the data centre market, which is expected to grow annually by 7% between 2018-2024. To keep up with demand for ‘white’ or data storage space, the data centre industry is under pressure to bring resilient, efficient and secure infrastructure and facilities to market quickly. In response, hyperscalers and operators are increasingly looking to complete site selection, acquisition, design and construction work as efficiently and innovatively as possible. We believe it is possible for the industry to increase speed to market through an integrated, multi-disciplinary delivery across a data centre’s journey to completion. Inception
Described by some industry commentators as the ‘new oil’, data is expected to increase 10-fold worldwide between 2017 and 2025, with 75% of the global population interacting with data every day, according to International Data Corp. Driven by the growing use of mobile technologies and cloud computing by both businesses and consumers, this relatively ‘new’ global data industry is growing, and fast. May 2021
Selecting a suitable site with appropriate power and utilities is fundamental in getting projects off the ground. An integrated approach starts from the project’s inception with site selection, master planning, environmental screening and planning permissions. When planning experts share their indepth knowledge and experience of navigating the complex data centre planning process with designers, we can ensure that designs meet
the essential requirements needed to obtain relevant permission. Design
Design briefs should be developed collaboratively with clients and appropriate stakeholders. Working as a single, multidisciplinary team enhances collaboration, driving faster delivery through seamless and efficient handover between disciplines. This ensures a flexible, resilient design that fits with the client’s requirements to satisfy their end customers more efficiently. Delivery
Working with the client, an integrated team of architects, engineers, environment and planning specialists share knowledge of the various customer, planning and construction requirements to achieve an adaptable solution. We applied these principles to design newbuild data centre campuses on three sites in the Middle East. Our specialist Centre of Excellence data centre teams collaborated with in-country offices on the due diligence process for an initial critical load of approximately 4MW per data centre, complete with a shell and core suitable for 15MW, as well as an overall masterplan of 90MW per site. As a result of effective engagement with local statutory authorities, all planning, building and utility permits were successfully obtained, and we were subsequently retained to provide construction supervision services to the client’s construction management team. meconstructionnews.com
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