ME Consultant September 2021

JLL reviews the performance of Dubai’s key markets in Q2

ON TOPIC

Paul Wallett on the adoption of technology post COVID-19

IN PRACTICE

Women in Construction profile: Ann Thomas

ON SITE SEPTEMBER 2021

083

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST

MEC speaks to AECOM’s Urbanism + Planning team about the future of urban environments

Tackling the Urban Puzzle

Licensed by Dubai Development Authority

Contents | 01

22

September 2021 Issue 083

Cover Story

Tackling the Urban Puzzle

Jason Saundalkar sits down with several members of AECOM’s regional Urbanism + Planning team to discuss what future urban environments might look like and the challenges they have to tackle Interview

A Digital Future on the Horizon?

Jason Saundalkar talks to Trimble Solutions’ Paul Wallett about the adoption of new technology and digitalisation following the outbreak of COVID-19

12 Analysis

28 meconstructionnews.com

UAE Real Estate Market Review

JLL reviews the stock, expected handovers and performance of the residential, office, hospitality and retail sectors in Q2, 2021 September 2021

02 | Contents

Interview

Designing for Dialogue

Middle East Consultant speaks to David Knafo, managing director of Knafo Kilmor Architects about the design and delivery of the Israeli Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai

36 Profile

Ann Thomas

MEC talks to Ann Thomas, architect at LWK + PARTNERS about her influences, career and gender diversity in the construction industry

32 Opinion

Incorrect Measures HKA’s Peter Van Gorp reckons there is a misconception about ammonium nitrate which has sometimes led to excessive and incorrect measures being enforced

8 Update

News

Reportage Properties announces Al Maryah Vista 2 project; Dubai Ruler approves six new leisure and hospitality projects in Hatta; Compass Project Consulting announces two high level promotions; Turner & Townsend announces high level promotion September 2021

16 meconstructionnews.com

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04 | Welcome

Group MANAGING DIRECTOR RAZ ISLAM raz.islam@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5471 MANAGING PARTNER VIJAYA CHERIAN vijaya.cherian@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5713 DIRECTOR OF FINANCE & BUSINESS OPERATIONS SHIYAS KAREEM shiyas.kareem@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5474 PUBLISHING DIRECTOR ANDY PITOIS andy.pitois@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5473

Editorial EDITOR JASON SAUNDALKAR jason.s@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5475

Driving for Change It’s been a little over a year and a half since the outbreak of COVID-19 began impacting the region, forcing a disruptive shift to people’s lives and business activity across sectors.

Today, while vaccination programmes are having a positive impact and we have seen restrictions ease further within the UAE as well as other countries around the globe, the pandemic is still very much a part of everyday life. But, with several countries in Asia and Oceania recently going back into lockdown, it’s difficult to predict when, or even if, life and business will go back to the way they were pre-pandemic.

This obviously puts governments and construction industry stakeholders in an interesting but unenviable position of grappling with what is essentially a moving target in terms of planning, designing and delivering new projects. The same can also be said of existing real estate stock and infrastructure, which may have to be significantly refurbished to remain viable and vibrant for investors and users.

Coupled with this, the world must begin to aggressively deal with the very real issue of climate change which, as we’ve seen this year in particular, is having a very tangible effect on countries and businesses across the world.

Taking these issues and others, into account, I think it’s fair to say ‘what does the future hold?’

September 2021

Advertising

is a question that’s probably front of mind for decision makers in the industry within the region and far beyond.

In an effort to provoke debate and, ultimately, change, the aforementioned issues and many others are what Middle East Consultant will shine a light on at its inaugural Future of Architecture Summit. The event will take place in Dubai as a live event at the Habtoor Grand Resort in JBR on September 15, and is focused on three key pillars: architecture, interior design & fitout and masterplanning.

Under these pillars, our speakers will focus on several topics and issues as part of the panel discussions and presentations on the day.

Looking back over notes I made following my discussions with moderators, panellists and presenters, I feel confident in saying topics such as sustainability and driving towards NetZero, enhancing health, safety and wellbeing, changing industry policies and leveraging cutting edge technology will be discussed in detail.

This month’s issue of Middle East Consultant also touches on some of these topics with its cover story and, rest assured, the magazine will continue to highlight these issues, and others, in a bid to provoke positive change. Until next time, stay safe.

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Jason Saundalkar Editor, Middle East Consultant

CPI Trade Media. PO Box 13700, Dubai, UAE. +971 4 375 5470 cpitrademedia.com © Copyright 2021. All rights reserved.

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06 | On Topic

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SAY STUDIO’S SEXTON: WE ARE WITNESSING A DRAMATIC RISE IN BIOCHEMICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE UAE

Marjan launches world’s largest Hampton by Hilton hotel on Al Marjan Island

This is really interesting if it ends up being a longterm trend for RFPs in the pharma/biochemical sector in the UAE. Even more so, if they continue to be INFRASTRUCTURE

driven by the private sector.

Empower wins district cooling contract for Marsa Al Arab

The region has arguably been left behind when it comes to investment in locally based testing and

INTERVIEW: The Next Step – Interview with Select Group CEO Rahail Aslam

research and development but the past 18 months of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic have shown that this is very much a

CONSTRUCTION

national security issue of

TRSDC awards contract finalising design of Coastal Village community centre

achieving self-sufficiency.

It is also, handily, a neat fit for the UAE’s aspirations of a non-oil and knowledge-based economy, as Matthew Sexton suggests. Development of infrastructure in the sector is also necessary to support

CONSULTANT

the burgeoning healthcare

Alian Industry Company to begin trial operations of 3D concrete panel manufacturing

facilities that we have seen pop up over the last decade or so. I also think that the UAE can build on its role as an international hub for the pharmaceutical and medical sectors which has seen logistical capability enhanced since the start of

MACHINERY

SEWA completes 50% of clean water transfer pipeline

September 2021

PROJECT PROFILE: Restoring Basra

the pandemic.

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8 | On Topic

Residential

Reportage Properties announces Al Maryah Vista 2 project Al Maryah Vista 2 has been launched by Reportage Properties and will take shape in Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi. The launch is said to follow the success of the Al Maryah Vista 1 project, which includes 772 housing units and extends over a total built-up area of 958,000sqft. It is scheduled to be handed over during the first half of 2024.

According to a statement, the project is a 29-floor tower and will comprise 588 apartments but will also include a commercial area, an office area, and covered car park with a capacity of 810 cars.

CEO Islam Ahmed Suleiman said the company will soon start construction work on Al Maryah Vista 2 and is likely to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2025.

According to Suleiman, the construction works on all the developer’s projects are on schedule and the units will be handed out to buyers on the specified dates. He stated, “We have achieved sales of more than AED892 million since the beginning of 2021 until now, compared to AED424 million during the first seven months of 2020, a growth of 110%.”

He added, “Reportage Properties is developing 12 projects in the UAE, providing more than 5,500 housing units within the most important investment sites in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, in addition to a project that has been completed and handed out in Masdar City in Abu Dhabi.”

Leisure & Hospitality

01

Dubai Ruler approves six new leisure and hospitality projects in Hatta

01 Al Maryah Vista 2 is a 29-floor tower and will feature 588 apartments. It will also feature a mosque, a swimming pool, gym and a children’s play area.

Six new development projects have been approved as part of the Hatta development plan by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The projects includes the establishment of 504km-long chairlifts, the Dubai Mountain Peak at 1,300m, Hatta sustainable waterfalls, a world-class hotel, in addition to hiking trails to the highest peak in Dubai (Jebel Umm Al Nisour, at 1,300m). Hatta residents will also be allowed to build 200 holiday

02

02 Tourists to Hatta doubled from 60,000 to one million in 2020 according to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

September 2021

meconstructionnews.com

On Topic | 9

homes to support domestic tourism in the district, the statement said.

Commenting on the project, Sheikh Mohammed stated, “In 2016, we started our development project in Hatta. Tourists doubled from 60,000 to one million in 2020, and the new projects by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority will provide 500 jobs for the young people of Hatta. The new holiday homes will provide an annual income of more than Dh100m for the people of the region. A decent life for our citizens will remain our goal in all our projects.”

He also added that, “Hatta is a model for small cities in the region. It has turned within a short period of time into one of the most important tourist destinations in the emirate, thanks to its different lifestyle.”

The ‘Dubai Mountain Peak’ and ‘Hatta Sustainable Waterfalls’ project, aim to support development plans in Hatta and enhance its position as one of the most prominent tourist attractions in the emirate of Dubai, the statement concluded.

03

03 Luke Somerville (left) and William Hitch (right) have stepped into new roles at Compass Project Consulting.

New Appointment

CPC reports two high level promotions Compass Project Consulting (CPC) has promoted Luke Somerville to managing director (MD) and William Hitch as regional director (RD) KSA. According to a statement, the firm’s founding Partners, William, Martin, and Luke decided the appointment of a MD is opportune at this stage of the company’s growth, to provide full time strategic guidance and support to the directors, as well as expanding the Team of 85, whilst keeping a focus on upcoming market opportunities and challenges.

With deep experience in leading project teams, Somerville’s career has taken him from Australia to the UAE and KSA. After a successful meconstructionnews.com

three years advancing the Saudi offices, Somerville has returned to the Dubai HQ, where he is taking up his new responsibilities in managing group administrative and regulatory accountability, in addition to implementing short and long-term organisational strategies aimed at steering the business to further optimise client and team satisfaction, the statement explained.

“It is a huge privilege to be steering Compass, the region’s most ambitious and successful homegrown PMC, alongside our Team of talented people, and brilliant services.

It is thrilling to experience the many ways we continue to set unprecedented benchmarks within the construction consultancy’ industry thus far, whilst positively impacting client investments every day,” says Somerville.

Hitch has now relocated to Saudi Arabia, CPC noted.

Hitch comments, “It continues to be an exciting time within the Kingdom, with both private and institutional clients poised to deliver on Saudi’s Vision 2030. Operationally, our knowhow, supply chain knowledge and can-do attitude is permeating the market, with our increased ratio of both new business and repeat clients demonstrating the best results we could ask for. It is a pleasure to taking the helm of our Saudi-stars and we are looking forward to sharing many memorable milestones along the way.”

September 2021

10 | On Topic

New Appointment

Turner & Townsend announces high level promotion Turner & Townsend has elevated Hudson Fountain to head of Middle East Real Estate and Project Management for the UAE. In his new role, his key objective is to drive sustainable growth of the firm’s regional real estate business and positioning it as the partner of choice in supporting clients to shape the future of the regional built environment. In addition, he will play a key role in driving the delivery of Turner & Townsend’s 2025 Vision across the Middle East, a statement from the firm said.

“I’m incredibly honoured and proud to be leading the development of our real estate construction services across the Middle East market. I’m extremely fortunate to have a high performing team behind me who are consistently focused on raising the bar and setting the future standards of the construction sector. Working on the region’s most impactful programmes and projects, together we exhibit a passion for excellence and a relentless pursuit of quality to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients, everywhere, every time,” explained Fountain.

04

September 2021

Fountain has over 20 years of international industry experience, having worked for market-leading constructors before moving into consultancy. He has 14 years’ experience working across the Middle East, the last seven of which he has led the expansion of Turner & Townsend’s UAE project management business, where he developed significant relationships with high profile multinational corporations, the company noted.

The COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly impacted the pace of the construction industry across the gulf, yet due to a necessity to recover quickly, it has subsequently created an opportunity to work smarter, increase productivity and focus on solving those issues that had until recently, become ingrained within the industry, the statement pointed out.

Regional managing director Alan Talabani remarked, “I’m confident that Hudson’s extensive experience within the regional real estate industry will be extremely valuable in helping our clients to reach their future goals and aspirations. I look forward to his support in driving our continued growth.”

04 Hudson Fountain will be responsible for driving the sustainable growth of the firm’s regional real estate business and positioning it as the partner of choice.

05

Interior Fitout

Meydan awards residential design contract to Indigo Living Developer Meydan has appointed furniture, furnishings and equipment (FF&E) provider Indigo Living to design its 630 build-to lease luxury apartments within Meydan District One. The Dubai-based developer said the project offers lifestyle community living with elegant homes surrounded by crystal lagoons and beaches.

According to a statement from the firm, Indigo Living’s in-house team of interior/ furniture designers, stylists and project managers will work with Meydan to customise the look and feel of the project.

“Indigo Living offers everything from individually selected services to complete endto-end FF&E project supply and management in order to provide solutions that fulfil our clients’ brief, budget and timelines. We are proud to have been appointed by Meydan to work on meconstructionnews.com

On Topic | 11

3D Printing

New decree issued for 3D printing in the construction sector

this exciting project. Our team of designers will work closely with the Dubai developer to create exclusive furniture that complements the property’s design and architectural features, transforming the interior space whilst showcasing a contemporary design,” said Gavin Quill, general manager at Indigo Living.

For 40 years, Indigo Living has been trailblazing in the world of interiors with stores across Asia and the Middle East, said a regional spokesperson.

A spokesperson from Meydan added, “District One luxury apartments have been designed to change the way we perceive comfort and elegance. We wanted every single aspect meticulously planned to present the homes as an aura of exclusivity. Indigo Living was the right fit for us, as they bring a wealth of expertise and were able to meet our requirement with a premium contemporary collection of furniture and designs.”

05 Meydan District One features 630 build-tolease luxury apartments and is said to be surrounded by crystal lagoons and beaches.

meconstructionnews.com

A new decree has been issued by UAE Vice President and Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai. Decree No. (24) of 2021 regulates the use of 3D printing in the construction industry. Dubai Municipality has been tasked with overseeing the implementation of the decree.

According to a report by WAM, the new legislation is said to support Dubai’s strategic target to ensure that 25% of its buildings are constructed using 3D printing technology by 2030. The decree also aims to promote Dubai as a regional and global hub for the use of 3D printing technologies.

The decree is part of a broader plan to spur economic growth and promote the adoption of advanced technologies in the

06 The new decree is in support of Dubai’s strategic target to ensure that 25% of its buildings are constructed using 3D printing technology by 2030.

emirate, and aims to boost efficiencies in construction projects, enhance the local industry’s competitiveness, reduce waste and attract leading companies in the sector to Dubai, the report noted.

As per the report, any entity seeking to conduct 3D printing activity in the sector must first register with Dubai Municipality and obtain a license before seeking further approvals from other authorities. Real estate developers should also ensure that 3D printing related projects are executed only by contractors licensed for the activity by Dubai Municipality, the report advised.

Under the framework of the decree, Dubai Municipality will promote the use of 3D printing in collaboration with government and non-government entities to encourage the use of 3D printing in the construction sector, the Municipality will create a consolidated list of incentives and facilities provided by both government and non-government entities, the report concluded.

06

September 2021

12 | On Topic

UAE Real Estate Market Review Q2, 2021 JLL reviews the stock, expected handovers and performance of the residential, office, hospitality and retail sectors in Q2 Dubai’s residential market stock increased to 618,000 units with the addition of 10,000 units over the quarter. For the remainder of 2021, an additional 36,000 units are expected to be added. In Abu Dhabi, 815 residential units were delivered during the quarter, bringing the total stock to roughly 267,000 units. By the end of 2021, approximately 6,360 units are scheduled to enter the market.

In terms of performance, Dubai’s citywide sale and rental rates continued to register declines of 2% and 8% respectively over the year. In Abu Dhabi sale prices have marginally improved by 1% with successful launches of villa projects, whilst rentals remain under pressure, declining by -1.5% compared to the same period last year.

As noted at the start of the year, the residential market continues to see increased demand for good quality villa stock, leading to a 10% increase in prices for Dubai and 6% for Abu Dhabi when compared to the same period last year.

Looking ahead, we expect outdated existing developments to continue to face pressure particularly apartment developments, as new developments with larger unit layouts, attractive payment plans, and community amenities have a stronger appeal to tenants and investors alike.

September 2021

Office Outlook

No new stock of office space was delivered into the market in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi across Q2 2021. An additional 70,000sqm and 18,000sqm are expected to be delivered over the second half of the year in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, respectively.

Tenants continue to prefer Grade A, fully fitted office spaces over shell and core, due to associated costs. Landlords continue to offer incentives such as extensive rent-free periods and CAPEX contributions to maintain and attract new tenants.

As a result, rental rates in Dubai and Abu Dhabi decreased by 1% and 2% (Y-o-Y) to reach $460 per sqm and $430 per sqm, respectively. Vacancy has increased to 20% in Dubai and 28% in Abu Dhabi when compared to same period last year.

As the vaccination drive continues, more employees are returning to the workplace, however corporates are adopting a hybrid model approach. This comes as a result of more corporates re-engaging their workspaces with a focus towards sustainability and employee wellness.

With further ease of restrictions, more international enquires have been noted in Dubai. Corporates looking to setup in Dubai have shown interest because of ease of business and management of the pandemic. meconstructionnews.com

On Topic | 13

meconstructionnews.com

September 2021

14 | On Topic

Dubai residential supply

618k Total stock

36k

H2 2021 deliveries

-8% Y-o-Y rental rates

Abu Dhabi residential supply

267k Total stock

6k

H2 2021 deliveries

-1.5% Y-o-Y rental rates

For the second half of the year, we can expect the office market to remain subdued as consolidation efforts continue. Furthermore, the market is expected to remain in favor of tenants, with occupiers benefiting from subdued market conditions and seeking opportunities to upgrade office space with limited capital expenditure.

Hospitality Market

In the second quarter, Dubai saw approximately 2,000 keys being added to market, bringing the total stock to 137,000

Dubai hotel keys supply

137k Total stock

12k

58% YT May 2021 occupancy

H2 2021 deliveries

Abu Dhabi hotel keys supply

31k Total stock

1.4k

H2 2021 deliveries September 2021

61% YT May 2021 occupancy

keys. In Abu Dhabi, no new completions were noted, keeping the stock stable at 30,600 keys. As the country gears up for the upcoming EXPO, an additional 12,000 keys are expected to be added over the second half of the year in Dubai and 1,400 keys in Abu Dhabi.

Dubai’s hotel occupancy levels were recorded at 58% for YT May 2021, compared to 46% for YT May 2020. Understandably, occupancy levels have improved over the year, since the UAE was under lockdown measures during the same period last year. Average daily rates (ADR’s) have marginally improved by 1% to reach $147 for YT May 2021.

Similarly for Abu Dhabi, occupancy levels have improved from 60% in YT May 2020 to 61% YT May 2021. However, ADRs still face pressure, declining by -7% to reach $89 for YT May 2021.

Overall, the UAE hotel market continues to exhibit signs of recovery. Operators continue to offer staycation deals to capitalise on domestic tourism demand, as international tourism remained limited. We can expect this trend to continue for the short to medium term, until further ease of travel restrictions are successful in opening key source markets, particularly ahead of EXPO 2020.

Retail Market

Despite improving footfall to malls, the retail market continues to remain subdued on the back of change in the consumer spending habits and weakened demand from international tourism.

In Dubai, the completion of three new retail developments added approximately 150,000sqm, bringing the stock to 4.3m sqm of retail GLA. Whereas no new completions were noted in Abu Dhabi, keeping the stock stable at 2.8m sqm.

An additional 154,000sqm of retail space is expected to come online in Dubai during the remainder of 2021. Similarly, Abu Dhabi has 29,000sqm retail scheduled for delivery in the second half of the year.

Average rental rates in primary and secondary malls have declined 5% in Dubai and around 12% in Abu Dhabi in Q2 2021 versus

Dubai office supply (sq m GLA)

8.9m Total stock

70k

H2 2021 deliveries

-1% Y-o-Y rental rates

Abu Dhabi office supply (sq m GLA)

3.8m Total stock

18k

H2 2021 deliveries

-2% Y-o-Y rental rates

Q2 2020. As a result, the market remains in favor of tenants, with landlords continuing to provide incentives such as rent-free periods and are more open to negotiating deals. It has been noted that several retailers coming to market are mainly centered on home-grown concepts, which are currently growing in the market.

In some cases, retailers are turning away from the traditional brick and mortar, and are resorting to pop-up retail store concepts, partnering with online shopping and delivery platforms to increase revenue deals.

Dubai retail supply (sq m GLA)

4.3m Total stock

154k

-5% Y-o-Y rental rates

H2 2021 deliveries

Abu Dhabi retail supply (sq m GLA)

2.8m Total stock

29k

-12% Y-o-Y rental rates

H2 2021 deliveries meconstructionnews.com

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01 Peter Van Gorp is associate technical director at HKA.

01

September 2021

Peter Van Gorp “There is a misconception about ammonium nitrate which has sometimes led to excessive and incorrect measures being enforced” AN is used as a fertiliser in the agriculture industry. Another major use is as a component of industrial explosive mixtures and blasting agents used in mining, quarrying and civil construction. Liquid AN (AN dissolved in water) may be sold as fertiliser. Solid AN is produced in the form of prills (beads), grains, granules, or crystals - high density prills, granules and crystals are used as fertilisers. Grains and low density prills are predominantly used in the production of explosives and blasting agents.

AN melts at 170°C and begins to undergo decomposition at 210°C. Once it decomposes, energy releases which causes the temperature to rise even further, especially when the AN is stored in a confined space where heat is not vented. The higher the temperature, the more vigorous the decomposition reaction.

Decomposing AN can reach very high temperatures, when these exceed 1,000°C, the decomposition reaction becomes explosive.

Generally, AN that contains <0.2 % combustible substances and AN fertilisers are classified as an oxidiser. AN itself is not combustible but being an oxidiser, AN can actually assist other materials to burn or accelerates burning.

The most credible explosion hazard in AN storage is a neighbouring fire leading to an explosion. The explosion risk increases when AN is stored indoors in unventilated places and when stored with other combustible materials. The aforementioned is what happened in Beirut last year.

Misconceptions around AN

Due to the Beirut incident and because of other incidents that have happened in the past, AN is often wrongly considered as an explosive, which is not the case. The fact that AN could explode does not make it an explosive. In order to clarify this, we have to compare AN with other products such as Ammonium Nitrate Fuel Oil (ANFO) which is basically 94.5 % AN mixed with 5.5% diesel fuel. ANFO is categorised as a blasting agent.

Also, a blasting agent is not an explosive.

It needs a significant ignition source in order to explode. Detonators are used as an ignition source to cause blasting of blasting agents. A typical detonator is Pentaerythritol Tetranitrate (PETN). PETN is typically manufactured in powder form and is put in blasting caps in amounts of less than one gram. Blasting can be triggered by an electrical impulse through the electrical wires connected with the blasting cap.

In other words, even ANFO can be handled and transported relatively easily and will not explode easily. Detonators such as PETN will explode when adding low amounts of energy.

Regulations around Storage and Handling

AN is typically stored in bags of approximately one tonne and International standards such as NFPA 400 and NFPA 495 do provide detailed guidelines. NFPA 400 also formulates regulations for the indoor storage of AN. meconstructionnews.com

On Topic | 17

Other widely used guidelines are the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). Note that pure AN does not fall under the scope of IATG, whereas ANFO does.

In general, fire and explosion risks are mitigated by maintaining separation distances and by limiting the amount of product stored in one area.

Separation distances are actually formulated towards inhabited buildings, public roads and other storage or handling buildings. AN is typically stored in bulk of several hundreds of tonnes in warehouses or just outside maintaining rules related to storage height and quantity and separation to other materials.

In case of handling and storage in buildings fire safety systems such as sprinklers, smoke detection and smoke or heat ventilation systems are often required.

ANFO is typically stored in limited amounts (several tonnes) in igloos or magazines which can withstand overpressures.

Detonators, on the other hand, are stored in normal buildings but in such small quantities - usually less than half a kilogram - that no major explosions can occur if it is stored properly.

Some of the materials reportedly stored inside the warehouse include 23 tonnes of firework, 1,000 car tires, Ammonium phosphate, tea & coffee, as well as slow burning detonating cords.

The different angles of video footage following the incident showed that many windows and doors were closed, which resulted in the confinement of the fire building up inside the warehouse. The following non-compliances were also noted in this incident: Improper storage: • Stack arrangement • AN bags torn open • AN spillage • Contamination • Presence of combustible materials adjacent to AN stacks • Other explosives No appropriate fire protection systems: • Detection system • Suppression systems • Smoke/heat ventilation system

Summary

Due to the Beirut explosion and other explosions that have occurred in the past, there is a general conception that AN is highly explosive, which has led to imposing excessive and sometimes wrong measures.

Though history has shown that explosions can occur, not only with AN but also with other oxidisers, AN incidents could occur if there are large amounts (hundreds of tonnes) of AN involved in the presence of significant external energy sources; either in the form to heat (fire) or mechanical impact.

Confinement and mixing of AN with other substances will contribute to the risk of an explosion occurring.

When stored and handled in the proper manner though, the risk of AN explosions occurring is low. Even in the case of ANFO, which is a blasting agent with AN as a base ingredient, the risks of unwanted explosions occurring are actually minimal when the proper storage and handling practices are maintained.

Beirut Incident in August 2020 – What Went Wrong

Based on the historical major incidents involving AN, explosions were the result of two major classes of incidents: • Explosion due to an external severe shock • External Fire spreading into the AN or to a mixture of AN Last year’s tragic Beirut AN Explosion resulted from a fire which broke out in a warehouse in the Port of Beirut where 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate were stored. The AN that had been seized from an abandoned ship in 2014 was impounded and stored for six years in the warehouse, which was also storing other materials at the time.

The investigation report published by forensic-architecture.org presented photos of the ammonium nitrate bags using photographs that were actually taken in January 2020. meconstructionnews.com

September 2021

18 | On Topic

01 Hassan Saeed Abaragh is managing partner and Head of Arbitration, AI, Robotics & Blockchain at ICLO.

01

September 2021

Hassan Saeed Abaragh

“Defining the subject matter of construction disputes is critical to reducing the economic impact of a dispute on a project” According to a recent field study, the main sources of construction disputes in the UAE are variations initiated by the owner; obtaining permit/approval from the municipality and other governmental authorities; material change and approval during the construction phase; slowness of the owner in decision-making, and the short time available in the design phase.

The subject matter of the construction dispute is predominantly agreed on in writing with parties’ signature of FIDIC or FIDIC amended contract. However, the absence of customised drafts including medium to long term prediction of dispute scenarios, disagreement triggers and pre-agreed solutions might deprive parties in their longterm contracts from a wider definition of serial subject matters, framing jointly newly imagined and anticipated disputes.

Practically, parties will have to choose between one of two approaches: one option is they pre-define the potential cases of dispute based on the project particularities, and issues faced by similar project developed earlier in the market (if any).

In this very specific case, all parties will gain a wealth of time and cost if parties’ lawyers are mandated to brainstorm jointly on the hypothetical scenarios of predictable and unpredictable dispute triggers, based on the project timeline and its different phases. The participation of consultants and eventually contractors is keen to create

a synergy of ideas in which engineers can provide lawyers with descriptions of practical issues faced on the ground or expected to ineluctably appear for such project.

The early identification of potential legal uncertainties in the phases or steps of the project will therefore lead lawyers to focus their imagination on the identified legal risk spots, to provide parties with a solid contract that will be more solutions generator than conflicts originator.

Lawyers can also propose parties enlarge the scope of any dispute avoidance/ adjudication board (DAAB) to advise primarily on the non-listed scenarios or interpret the listed ones based on the factual context.

The new mechanism of dispute resolution in FIDIC 2017 is providing parties with this interesting option.

COVID-19’s impact on projects is the typical example in which empowered DAAB can give the most fair and accurate interpretation of the agreement, especially if UAE law is applicable.

In fact, instead of investing in a long arbitration procedure to come to the interpretation of the arbitral tribunal of Article 287 (1) UAE Civil several months (or years) after the initiation of the dispute, DAAB can immediately provide after a short term its objective interpretation of Article 287 of the UAE Civil Code stating: “if a person proves that the loss arose out of an extraneous cause in which he played no meconstructionnews.com

On Topic | 19

part such as a natural disaster, unavoidable accident, force majeure, act of a third party, or act of the person suffering loss, he shall not be bound to make it good in the absence of a legal provision or agreement to the contrary.”

On the other hand, parties can opt for a second approach if DAAB is not on board or if its scope of work does not include such a specific mandate. The detailed description of the scope of the dispute can be detailed postincident based on the specific circumstances that will occur during the project’s cycle.

This agreement should detail the defined subject matter to narrow it and expediate the arbitration procedure and reduce its cost.

Despite that practicality, this option has limited applicability, given that the majority of the arbitration agreements are approved by

meconstructionnews.com

The early identification of potential legal uncertainties in the phases or steps of the project will therefore lead lawyers to focus their imagination on the identified legal risk spots”

parties at a very early stage and signed with the contract. As a result, nothing prevents parties from adding to the common formula “all disputes arising or in connection with the contract” will be referred to arbitration …” a supplementary paragraph specifying that parties can agree in writing in due time about the particular definition of the scope of dispute or disputes that will be expectedly submitted to arbitration.

This flexibility in defining the subject matter of the dispute will be increasingly needed. Its disconnection from the early stage of the contract’s approval will rationalise the reflex of triggering costly arbitrations and will provide parties with an interesting alternative to reduce the economic impact of the dispute on the project.

September 2021

22 | In Practice

Tackling the Urban Puzzle Jason Saundalkar sits down with several members of AECOM’s regional Urbanism + Planning team to discuss what future urban environments might look like and the challenges they have to tackle

01 Amer Mneimneh (right), Zachary Jones (second from right), Izlem Boylu (third from right), Sarmistha Mandal (centre), Nick Askew (third from left), Steven Velegrinis (second from left).

Sanjay Tanwani left).

September 2021

AECOM’s regional Urbanism + Planning practice is spread across four studios and comprises 20 nationalities. It is focused on providing implementable solutions that encourage sustainable growth and promotes quality of life; issues that have become critical to governments and developers, following the disruptive outbreak of COVID-19.

Speaking about the region and key trends influencing the future design and plans of urban environments, Amer Mneimneh, vice president, Urbanism + Planning - Middle East and Africa at AECOM notes, “Urbanists in the region are placing increasing importance on promoting a high quality of life for communities and their populations. By aspiring to improve living conditions and standards, building pedestrianfriendly neighbourhoods and promoting healthy, vibrant and functional mixed-use developments, it’s clear to see how much emphasis today’s planners, designers, and developers are putting on quality of life.”

“We are also seeing an increase in collaborative efforts between stakeholders involved in planning and design processes, which helps to ensure alignment and inclusivity in the delivery of development projects.”

Sanjay Tanwani, director, U+P Middle East, Abu Dhabi Studio Lead adds, “More recently, health and wellness have increasingly become integral parts of modern urban development, particularly due to the ongoing COVID-19

pandemic. This is highlighted in a recent thought leadership piece published by AECOM, entitled ‘Dubai: City as a Gym’ which studies the evolution of the wellness agenda in Dubai. We believe that through intensive policy coordination and investment choices, we can set in motion smart integrated planning and design – a step that will greatly help shape the future of cities.”

Discussing some of the critical elements future urban environments should focus on, Izlem Boylu, director, U+P Middle East, Urban Planning Lead says, “Firstly, to enrich the quality of life and promote sustainable solutions, it is critical that planning authorities develop design guidelines, which consider and incorporate technological tools that will help improve the comfort and experience of places.”

“Secondly, governments and authorities must ensure the public are engaged in planning and design processes by leveraging active smart governance measures. We’re already seeing this implemented through the collection of public data in smart apps, which is then used to create targeted solutions. However, an additional option of benefit in capturing public input is for authorities to actively invest in public-private partnerships that promote public participation.”

Mneimneh expands, “With the advancement of intelligent technologies, future smart cities are well within our reach. We believe AECOM’s recently published Sustainable Legacies Strategy will enable better outcomes for clients through meconstructionnews.com

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an increased focus on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG). Our commitment to community engagement in our projects will also give us a deeper understanding of the challenges communities face, thereby allowing us to draw up more innovative solutions that will propel the industry forward.”

Speaking about some of the main challenges designers and urban planners have to tackle within the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Tanwani comments, “One key challenge we have found in GCC markets is creating a balance between iconicity and livability. When we talk about livability, we refer to walkability, connected communities, mixed-use environments, new approaches to land segregation and an increasing use of transit-oriented development, as we transition away from private-car usage.”

“There’s no doubt that many GCC cities are global icons. However, if combined with contextdriven urban planning and an increased quality of life, cities like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh and others can become big contenders in the ranking of the world’s most livable cities.”

Zachary Jones, associate director, U+P KSA, Urban Planning notes, “Another hurdle is tapping into cultural diversity. We need to adapt existing urban environments – or create new ones – that cater to a melting pot of different demographics, ethnicities, cultures and religions in such ‘iconic’ cities. It is an opportunity for the urban planning and design industry to determine and activate cross-cultural and inclusive engagement. This would allow us as practitioners to learn from each other and actively discuss how contextualisation can be achieved in this market.”

September 2021

Questioned about the challenges he faces as an urbanist, Jones responds, “Working as an urbanist today comes with several challenges, many of which are driven by an increasing global population and rapid urbanisation. The portion of people living in urban areas around the world surpassed the halfway mark in 2008.

Today however, this number has increased to 56% and by 2050, it is expected to increase to 68%. Naturally, this influx of people has resulted in a series of challenges, many of which have not been experienced before.”

Incorporating Resilience

Urban environments are massive undertakings that not only have to answer to requirements in the present but must have the resilience to address future demands as well. Designing with

Our future urban environments must be planned to be smarter and more livable with an emphasis on increased responsiveness and resilience. With the advancement of intelligent technologies, future smart cities are well within our reach”

future viability in mind can be quite a challenge and requires extensive thought and planning.

Boylu states, “As we know, cities are engines for development and provide opportunities for innovation and interaction. But cities can also exacerbate some of the world’s most severe environmental and socio-economic challenges – and our cities are typically the most vulnerable to these unprecedented risks.”

Steven Velegrinis, director, U+P Middle East, Urban Design Lead adds, “The keyword here is resilience, for both the cities and those who shape them. Let’s take the example of technology. Practitioners who make decisions around technology or have a stake in determining how technology is implemented must keep up to speed with technological changes and advancements – in terms of their competency, how authorities use and view it, and how it gets integrated into the urban environment.

Technology continues to be upgraded and needs to be resilient to tackle any urban problem.”

“Another aspect to consider is proposing localised rather than globalised solutions, staying relevant to ever-changing demand, understanding what local people need, and how it can be provided,” he highlights.

Describing what elements may characterise future urban environments, Boylu notes, “We see communities focusing on the user, through a human-centric approach. As already discussed, neighbourhoods will become more adaptable yet mixed in land uses, pedestrian-friendly, with efficient transit-oriented development and with a focus on communal and open spaces.”

“Cities will also be smarter, with municipal governments leveraging cellular and powerefficient wireless technologies to connect infrastructure, paving the way for urban efficiency and improving the convenience and everyday life of residents. The fundamental change we anticipate in the urban environments of the future is the integration of technology and digital tools into our daily life. Beyond smart cities the next stage is intelligent cities, which will become the norm, with a technological solution for every urban issue,” adds Mneimneh.

Nick Askew, director, U+P Middle East, Landscape Lead elaborates, “Climate change will be the most difficult urban challenge for future cities, whereby cities will need to be flexible and meconstructionnews.com

In Practice | 25

durable to mitigate the complexities of shortterm extreme weather events and medium-term events such as drought and coastal flooding. We will see the impact of such events due to the increase in frequency, intensity and duration.

However, it is anticipated that the digitalisation of the city will enable city dwellers, authorities and city planners to predict and plan for such extreme conditions.”

Asked about whether there is global consensus on what cities and urban environments of the future might look like, Boylu notes that the international community is aligned on a couple of key issues.

“For starters, climate action is deemed critical because we can all agree that climate change is real, and as a result, cities must change their ‘narrative’ to become actively proenvironment. When planning and designing our future cities, we strongly believe that urban environments should be people centric. This is critical for successful urban environments.”

Sarmistha Mandal, associate director, U+P Middle East, Landscape continues, “It is also critical that future urban environments are designed to consistently improve the user’s quality of life, with active mechanisms in place

02 AECOM produced the masterplan for Dubai Harbour and designed the infrastructure network and urban realm, creating a development that seamlessly connects the new waterfront to Dubai.

03 For the Riyadh Complete Communities project, AECOM is delivering masterplans, design and implementation guidelines.

to monitor quality and tools to rectify any discrepancies. In response to climate change and creating a more systemic resilience within cities, it is essential that urban environments are designed and built to a net zero standard.

This should be a universal requirement for development and should be in addition to equitable design standards, ensuring equity and inclusion across urban spaces.”

Technology-Led Transformation

Powerful new innovations have been coming to the market in recent years, which have begun to impact the way urban environments are designed and managed. Asked about whether new innovations could have an impact on the way future environments are designed, Velegrinis says, “Yes, absolutely. In today’s age, it is clear that we don’t need to stick to traditional tools

if there are better options. As we already have modern alternatives available, we should certainly leverage them and keep working to advance solutions.”

Tanwani comments, “Here’s a snapshot of what a technology-led transformation would look like: citizens would engage with smart city ecosystems in various ways by using mobile devices, connected cars and smart homes. Pairing devices and data with a city’s physical infrastructure and services can cut costs, understand climate risk and improve sustainability; in fact, its advantages extend beyond planning and design – it can facilitate energy distribution, streamline trash collection, curb traffic congestion and improve air quality.

As cities grow more complex, urban analytics will help fast-track centralised decision-making.”

For some time now, data has been touted as the next big thing in the sector and is seen as the gateway to making informed decisions.

Asked for his opinion on data and the Internet of Things (IoT), Tanwani explains, “The short answer is yes – but there’s obviously more to it. It is important to first understand what cloud-based IoT does; IoT applications receive, analyse and manage data in real-time to help

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26 | In Practice

municipalities, enterprises and citizens make informed decisions that optimise urban living.”

“It is important to understand that a lot of data is required before we can really reach a reliable output. The good news, however, is that these technologies can run in parts, without being dependent on each other. We can rely on data points – a one-step, two-step or multi-step process which then feeds into the larger process of building a holistic model. Consider the fact that not all buildings require a multi-censored approach, as having a smart grid in a place is a great start.”

04

Transportation Infrastructure & the Value of Green Spaces

Moving to mobility and transportation in the region, it’s fair to say that there have been wideranging discussions over the last few years.

Asked about his views on this subject and what the future might look like, Jones remarks, “In a region historically dominated by private car use, investment towards alternative sustainable and flexible modes of mobility are gaining significant momentum. Petrol-based vehicles are no longer seen as sustainable, particularly as a ‘one person-one car’ model. Instead, we are seeing greater emphasis towards alternative fuels such as electric vehicles and, in the slightly longer-term, autonomous vehicles. These modes could have the potential to reduce private car ownership through other growing trends, such as mobility as a service (MaaS). The scale of these shifts, however, will be dependent on the availability, capacity and cost of infrastructure and technology.”

Mandal says investment into alternative modes are gaining momentum in the region too, including integrated public transport schemes, sharing modes such as e-scooters and bikes, and more walkable neighbourhoods. “As these solutions gain momentum, ensuring seamless and convenient first and last-mile solutions will be key in achieving a greater shift,” he points out.

Askew notes, “For all trends, design is key in changing the culture of private vehicles and navigating the climate across the region. If we can make walking, public transport and electric vehicles the norm through good design, there is a chance to influence sustainable and smart travel habits and behaviours of future generations.”

September 2021

Regional authorities have, in recent years, begun devoting more space in their respective urban environments to green spaces.

Explaining the importance of green spaces, Velegrinis says, “Green spaces have many benefits, and we can only touch on a few here.

Tangibly, green spaces in Gulf cities have had the remarkable impact of inverting urban heat island effects. Studies conducted by MIT and Masdar demonstrated that in Dubai urban greening has led to a situation where summer temperatures in the city are up to ten degrees cooler than the open desert. This is a pattern repeated around the Gulf and nowhere else in the world.”

Askew continues, “There are also important effects at the ground level for city dwellers in terms of shade, comfort, air quality improvement and oxygen creation amongst others. We construct buildings to protect ourselves from nature and other forces, we spend increasing amounts of time in these buildings, 90% of our lives is indoors. Whilst these places are designed to keep us safe, to protect us from the elements.

But many of the places where we spend our time also get in the way of our health and wellbeing.”

Mandal adds, “Intangible benefits of green spaces are enormously important too. Key amongst them are the environmental psychology benefits of biophilic design. We as humans are hard-wired to prefer landscapes where there is prospect and refuge opportunities and a savanna-like landscape of trees and grasslands.

There are quantifiable benefits and we can see that in environmental psychology terms there are measurable benefits to certain landscape types that psychologically and physiologically

04 Inspired by local culture, and guided by high standards of sustainability and landscape design best practice, AECOM created the design concept for Masdar City Central Park.

benefit wellbeing in human communities. People staying in hospital rooms that have a view to a treed landscape require on average 20% less pain medication, stress levels are reduced for those with access to views of certain landscape types.”

Discussing how these green spaces can be maintained sustainably, given the challenging weather conditions in the region, Askew states, “Again, in the Gulf, nations have been world leaders in relation to reuse of 100% of wastewater and even today, around 30% of recycled water is released to the sea, so we have an excellent framework from which to work. We also have access now to both soil amendment systems and irrigation systems that can reduce irrigation consumption by up to 80%. Zero irrigation systems using certain types of vegetation can also be employed on massive scales.”

Making his closing statement, Mneimneh concludes, “Building on AECOM’s Sustainable Legacies Strategy, our U+P team incorporates sustainable principles in all projects, irrespective of scale. When approaching sustainability, we challenge our teams to think outside the box, to look deeper at the elements of cities that make them more socially equitable and engaging, economically viable and environmentally conscious. With this approach, we believe outcomes will inevitably be places that are vibrant, equitable and unique, and offer a high quality of life for all.” meconstructionnews.com

Date

15 Sept

Venue

Habtoor Grand Hotel

HABTOOR GRAND HOTEL / DUBAI / UAE

Charting the course of architecture, interior design and master planning 15 September 2021

About the

Future of Architecture

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Influences such as climate change, increased urbanisation, health and wellbeing, and - more recently - the outbreak of COVID-19, are challenging construction industry stakeholders to reimagine the exterior and interior design of buildings, as well as the master plans of cities. New materials and ever advancing technology have also opened up a realm of possibilities, all of which begs the questions – what will buildings and cities of the future look like and how can they better support and nurture our day-to-day lives?

This conference will feature a very high quality of dialogue and provocative discussion; we will be featuring the leading names in each key sector and this is a terrific opportunity to see how the realities behind the major debates are progressing.

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In Practice | 29

A Digital Future on the Horizon?

Jason Saundalkar talks to Trimble Solutions’ Paul Wallett about the adoption of new technology and digitalisation following the outbreak of COVID-19 Despite the growing complexity of projects, pressure on margins and other challenges, the construction industry has been slow to embrace technology and digitalisation.

Paul Wallett, regional director, Trimble Solutions - Middle East and India states, “Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic, the primary drivers were predominantly related to the type and complexity of projects we see across the Middle East, architecturally challenging in nature, which necessitated the need for better tools to help execute on time and within budget. Most of the design, engineering firms and contractors involved in these projects had implemented BIM to some degree, as well the tender documents incorporated BIM standards as a mandatory requirement for companies to qualify on the bids.”

“The caveat to that, however, was the level of detail that was a matter of debate and often left open, as long as a master BIM model was supplied back to the owner/operator at the end of the contract. Most often, the work was completed using traditional 2D methods.”

He adds, “With the onset of COVID and remote working, many companies who were able to get by using a mix of traditional approach and contract BIM requirements to adopt modelbased workflows, had to digitise to survive. meconstructionnews.com

As per a McKinsey report, the industry leapt forward five years in the adoption of digital workflows and processes as a consequence of the pandemic.”

Describing the 2020/2021 period, Wallett notes, “2020/2021 has proved to be a watershed year for the adoption of digitalisation and technology in the construction industry.

The general slowdown or even the complete shutdown seen during this period pushed many industry players into relooking at their operating models and making some much needed changes, related to digitalisation and automation.

Trimble saw significant uptake in cloud-based technologies since the outbreak of COVID-19.”

Wallett notes the nature of the industry is such that there is dependence on the presence of a large workforce onsite for physical work.

He explains, “Non-physical work including architectural design, planning and structural engineering happens offsite; but the industry is yet to embrace digitalisation and automation to an extent that will help it efficiently execute and manage offsite workflows as well.”

He comments, “To accelerate this process, Trimble has taken affirmative actions to support its customers’ businesses through enhanced productivity. By moving to a subscription only approach, we have widened the reach

01 Paul Wallett, regional director, Trimble Solutions Middle East and India.

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02 | In Practice 30

and availability of our flagship product, Tekla Structures. Our offerings enable seamless collaboration over the cloud, allowing the users working remotely to deliver without loss of efficiency, which is very much the need of the hour during this worldwide medical emergency.”

Discussing the rationalisation for offering subscription-based services, Wallett states that the move came from a desire to better service its customers and the broader industry.

“The pandemic has changed the way industries function and our customers have massively accelerated their digitalisation efforts since last year and are now depending on remote working more than ever. We stand committed to helping our customers generate the maximum value out of their investments in our technologies and solutions, and our shift from perpetual licenses-based model to a subscription-based model underlines this commitment. This allows our customers to minimise their capital investments and avail services to whatever extent and for as long they wish to use,” he remarks.

“Businesses are assessing how they can embrace op-ex models for investments in technologies, machinery and other assets. The technology industry is also responding and is increasingly offering software on a subscription model, as it offers better flexibility and control over cash flows, and lower entry costs.”

Industry Trends & Challenges

Speaking about prevalent trends in the regional construction industry, Wallett points to digitalisation and sustainability, and notes that these trends are critical to ensure sustainable growth in the sector.

September 2021

He remarks, “The AEC industry is waking up to the need to digitalise construction sustainably and is increasingly recognising its long-term benefits and value. With the industry projected to grow at an average annual rate of 3.8% by 2025, Trimble’s Connected Construction is already responding to the projected demand.”

“The answer to increasing sustainability and lowering the construction industry’s carbon emissions, costs, and material waste lies in connected construction. However, to eliminate waste, boost productivity and enable a connected team, changes must be applied across the construction continuum.”

He elaborates, “Before construction begins, architects, engineers and designers can use software and analytics technology to create ecofriendly models, while also considering other aspects of the project’s environmental impact such as material, water, and energy needs.

Sustainability starts with connected construction and the answer to increasing sustainability and lowering the construction industry’s carbon emissions, costs, and material waste lies in connected construction”

02 Trimble says that the UAE Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai was delivered using its Tekla solution and other Trimble technology.

With advances in technology, users can explore different concepts nimbly and with ease, without fully defined parameters, to make sustainable design decisions.”

He explains, “Advances in building performance analysis tools allow answering questions early on about heating and cooling loads, lighting, appliances, and other energy demands of the completed project, owners can make more informed decisions about the longterm environmental impacts of their projects.”

“Companies are finding that most construction waste can be reduced or eliminated by adopting a constructible process utilising digital tools and data in building information models (BIM) at the outset of a project. With this approach, all phases and trades are connected, models and workflows are content-enabled, and data-rich constructible models drive smarter workflows. These models include constructionready content that is easily accessible through open formats. A key part of this process is the constructible, data-rich 3D model that goes beyond simple geometry and contains accurate and intelligent information that can be used throughout the project lifecycle,” he comments.

“With increased awareness and focus on sustainable construction, and with connected construction at the core, the regional industry will only hasten the adoption of technology solutions. Already, AEC companies globally have experienced high success in project delivery meconstructionnews.com

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using Trimble technology, both at the job site and in office, reporting up to 50% less rework, up to 30% cost savings, informed decision making, and up to 30% increase in machine productivity and fuel savings.”

Asked about some of the common issues construction firms deal with, Wallett explains, “Miscommunication, lack of coordination, and data misinterpretation are some of the key issues AEC firms often face. These issues have consequences because they give rise to errors such as data entry duplication; there have been instances of disputes among contractors, engineers, and business owners; resulting into decreased productivity.”

“Trimble’s solutions can help narrow gaps and resolve issues. Seamless collaboration and coordination make the process of construction quicker, safer and more cost-efficient, thus enhancing productivity and leading to better utilisation of materials, assets and workers.”

03 Gulf Steel Industries FZE, who are responsible for the project’s steel structures utilised Tekla Structures as well as Tekla BIM Sight for the successful delivery of the project.

04 The overall steel was expected to be over 2,500 tons and the scope of work was compression ring, main rib, tension ring, secondary beams, actuator frames & wing bearing, as well as cantilever wings.

contributing to creating more sustainable models by enabling companies to build components in a controlled environment with all necessary tools and equipment readily on hand, which increases speed and predictability, and it’s quite popular even now, and we expect it to grow speedily in the future.”

“Further, given the pandemic driven new safety requirements, WiFi and GPS enabled wearables for worker safety and regulations are also expected to be widely used at construction sites,” he says.

He concludes, “Many large GCC construction companies are now leveraging technology more extensively to complete their projects within timeline. Healthy renewed investor interest in several mega projects in the region is also opening up new growth opportunities for tech organisations like ours.

What COVID-19 and the oil price fall of last year did was to focus minds on accelerating economic diversification and digitalisation of processes, and from that we expect many new opportunities to emerge.”

A Digital Industry on the Horizon?

New technology and solutions are coming to the market, some of which are expected to have a significant impact on the delivery of projects.

Commenting on new technology that could potentially become more commonplace, Wallett notes, “The construction industry is already witnessing many changes with increasing customer sophistication, higher emphasis on total cost of ownership than just initial investment, updated regulations for safety, sustainable construction, building codes standardisation, and digitalisation of processes. These disruptions have led to various innovations such as modular, factory-based approach to construction, data driven digital workflows (constructible BIM), automated prefabrication in off-site ‘factories’, Augmented Reality (AR) to robotics or drone-powered scanning technology.”

“We believe that connected construction is the greatest defense against the inefficiencies that stem from data locked up in silos, and effective use of data has the potential to impact AEC sector’s efficiencies like never. With intelligent data fueling fabrication, prefabrication, and lean construction, companies can reduce waste, improve productivity, and increase profitability across the project. Prefabrication is already meconstructionnews.com

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Designing for Dialogue MEC speaks to David Knafo, managing director of Knafo Kilmor Architects about the design and delivery of the Israeli Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai The Israeli Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai was designed by Knafo Klimor Architects. The architecture is said to draw its inspiration from the arid landscapes of Israel and other Middle Eastern countries and adopts the shape of sand dunes and shaded streets. Here, Middle East Consultant sits down with David Knafo, MD of Knafo Kilmor Architects to discuss the design and delivery of the pavilion.

How did your firm come to work on the pavilion? What was the tender process?

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) published a competition for the design of the pavilion. The scope was for the complete delivery of the Israeli Pavilion, including the design, construction, content, presentation, as well as operation of the pavilion. There was no bidding process as the budget was fixed. The competition selection criteria was to choose the pavilion that would generate the best value (according to the MFA Judging Committee) to the given budget.

The competition brief was to design a building that presented the technology and scientific achievements of Israel, as well as the richness of the cultures and languages that compose the population. Further, the design had to follow EXPO 2020’s theme of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”.

What was the inspiration for the design of the Israel Pavilion? How does it tie meconstructionnews.com

into the government’s vision of what it wants to achieve with the pavilion?

The architecture draws its inspiration from the arid landscapes of Israel and other Middle Eastern countries. It adopts the shape of sand dunes and shaded Middle Eastern streets. The open space is presented as a dune surrounded by seven gates reflecting joy and hope. It is an invitation to dialogue, the understanding that we will not be able to face the challenges facing us in the future without global cooperation, which are key aspects of the pavilion design, and are all part of the Israeli message.

This message is enhanced by a large, illuminated sign formed from letters in ‘Aravrit’, reading ‘Towards Tomorrow’ in Arabic and Hebrew. Aravit is a font invented by typographer, Liron Lavi Turkenich and is a hybrid of two local scripts, combining Hebrew and Arabic characters. Each letter is composed of Arabic on the upper half and Hebrew on the lower half.

Talk to us about the design team behind this project. Did any past projects help shape the design/delivery of this project?

The project design team consisted of multiple specialists in their respective fields, including a creative team led by AVS, architects, supporting consultants for multimedia, lighting, and other systems, and a project manager specialising in exhibition projects. The pillars of the design team were AVS creatives, headed by Malki Shem-Tov, leading the multimedia content and September 2021

01

aspects and fitting the best architectural solution to maximise the benefits of any given situation. This helps generate the best value for clients, the users and visitors, the building as well as the general public.

Every building ‘communicates’ with its surroundings in some manner but in most cases, this comes second. A unique aspect of the Israeli Pavilion is that after the functionality aspects of the building, its primary function is to serve as a communication tool. The building is an exhibition item, delivers content, and communicates with its visitors and viewers.

02

What technologies/tools did the firm utilise in the design process and what part is technology playing in the ongoing delivery of this project?

presentation aspects of the pavilion, and Knafo Klimor Architects, who led the building design.

Most of the team were involved with the design and build of the Israeli Pavilion at EXPO 2015 in Milan, which we won in a similar selection process as for EXPO 2020 Dubai. The experience and successful collaboration in the previous project helped during this project.

All the members of the project team have vast experience in exhibition buildings design.

We understand the importance and the close ties between the building and the content and see the structure as a key element of the exhibition content. As with most projects, the design process was a collaborative effort where one decision influenced the other.

We’ve found that providing only an indoor experience for EXPO visitors generates endless lines of people waiting to get in. Our pavilion offers outdoor areas, allowing visitors to experience the pavilion in a more relaxed 02 manner, without waiting too long in a queue.

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01 The Israeli Pavilion at EXPO 2020 Dubai is 15m tall and boasts 1,550sqm of built-up area.

02 The large, illuminated sign is formed from letters in ‘Aravrit’, reading ‘Towards Tomorrow’ in Arabic and Hebrew.

03 David Knafo is the managing director of Knafo Kilmor Architects.

The architectural, structural, and all building systems were designed using BIM software.

The building has several types of structures: concrete, steel and uses several materials for the exterior and interior walls, floors, and ceilings. Designing in a BIM environment enabled us to integrate all of the building’s components and its systems.

BIM also served as an excellent formal and informal communication tool in the new normal of a remote business environment, both with the MFA personnel and different team members. It allowed us to show and discuss any system and building element in detail with a 3D accurate view. The ‘Dune’ surface, for example, is a 3D structure that would have been difficult to design and share the vision using 2D tools.

What are some of the pavilion’s unique sustainable features, what certifications (LEED etc.) is it aiming for? What sort of savings are expected over the

Similar to the Israel Pavilion at EXPO 2015 Milan, some of the exhibition content will be presented outside, enabling the pavilion to share its message with people who are just passing by.

What fresh learnings has the firm taken away from working on this prestigious project?

As an architectural firm, a crucial part of our vision is innovation. We look at any project with a fresh perspective, exploring its unique

course of EXPO 2020? Please provide projections if they are available.

The pavilion is a temporary building that will be demolished at the end of the EXPO. The main sustainable aspect of the design is the ‘end of use’ of the structure and how to recycle or reuse the building materials.

The building uses very efficient HVAC and electrical systems. The outside area of the pavilion creates a microcosm, with a temperate microclimate achieved using shading and meconstructionnews.com

On Site | 35

sprinklers, which reduces the required energy for cooling. The focus of the pavilion was, however, on the ‘end of use’.

Did the interior layout of the pavilion change in response to COVID-19? How will the pavilion manage the high number of visitors expected and keep them safe?

Middle East Consultant has been told some of the pavilions at EXPO 2020 are leveraging modular construction. Is this the case with the Israeli Pavilion?

What parts/components were built in the country and what were the challenges, from a logistics point of

The original design of the pavilion featured plenty of outdoor exhibits and display areas which helps maintain the safety of our visitors.

The interior exhibition areas have not been altered or redesigned and are suitable for the number of people allowed following the COVID-19 constraints.

view, of transporting them to Dubai?

To reduce the building’s carbon footprint, most of the materials were supplied by the contractor from local manufacturers and suppliers. Only a few elements, mainly related to various electronic systems, were brought from Israel.

Certain countries will be recycling

What are some of the structure’s SMART features? What benefits are they expected to bring once the

What were some of the unique challenges

pavilion opens to the public?

encountered in designing/delivering

The LED screen wall on the ‘dune’ level is not just a presentation tool but also a communication tool. It can be used by the visitor as a game

this pavilion? How did the designers

parts of their pavilions following the conclusion of EXPO 2020. What is the plan for the Israeli Pavilion and how will the plan be executed?

The pavilion is designed to be demolished after the EXPO has ended. Except for the concrete floor, all the construction material and elements will be recycled. Some of the pavilion elements, such as the Aravit sign reading ‘Towards Tomorrow’ on top of the dune and the ‘Mashrabiya’ shaped cladding, will find a new home where it can be displayed.

engagement with people in Israel, as well as have certain control over the live presented content.

These LED screens are also the cladding material of the seven gates inner walls.

The LED screens will be presenting a variety of images and videos showcasing varied and timely content, such as: reducing world hunger, protecting nature, energy for everyone, water conservation and adaptation for arid countries, health technologies and cyber security. The dune level is also equipped with virtual reality binoculars, allowing visitors to experience the landscape of Israel.

It is an invitation to dialogue, the understanding that we will not be able to face the challenges facing us in the future without global cooperation”

manage to resolve these issues?

Any project is unique and has challenging aspects. Government projects often have Techno-Economic elements with a design focus to provide the best functional solution to a modest budget.

The biggest challenge we faced was a common one, shared by almost everyone: the restrictions due to COVID-19. This forced us to oversee the construction works remotely but was overcome by using video conferencing technology and other remote communication technology to communicate with the construction team and monitor progress.

What impact did the outbreak of COVID-19 and the postponement of EXPO 2020 have on the pavilion’s delivery?

How were these issues tackled?

The COVID-19 outbreak and the restrictions that followed forced us to oversee construction work remotely. We adapted to the new normal by communicating with the contractor via video conference and other remote communication.

Some challenges required a more specific response, such as a lack of manpower in the contractor’s team or various products, which were no longer available and required replacements. The postponement of the EXPO and delaying the delivery of the pavilion had almost no impact on the final result. The team stayed focused and maintained a clear line of communication between all major stakeholders in the project. meconstructionnews.com

03

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36 | On Site

September 2021

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On Site | 37

Ann Thomas “We have many talented women coming into the industry. It is important to give them a voice and space” 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 catch up with Ann Thomas, architect at LWK + PARTNERS. What drove you to get into construction?

Being born and brought up in the UAE, buildings and cities have always fascinated me. I always wanted to pursue a career in the engineering field but somehow enjoyed the creative side of things as well. I ended up writing a few university exams for both architecture and engineering and as luck would have it, I got though the architecture exam with a better ranking. This encouraged me to consider this option, as this unique field has the best of both worlds - logic & reasoning and creativity.

My very first role was that of a junior architect in a small practice in India. This was something that I always wanted – hands on experience that you would get by doing small to medium scale projects. I got to see projects develop through the various stages of design and move onto completion on sites.

This got me to experience architecture from both within and outside the office.

My influences have been architects I’ve worked with over the years. Working closely meconstructionnews.com

with people from different backgrounds helped me to learn and get inspired. This influenced my career in ways I did not expect.

Share a brief about your career, mentioning key achievements with regards to your role.

I’ve had the opportunity to work both in India and the UAE, which has helped me see different markets and learn from them. Once I moved back to the UAE, I wanted to work in a larger firm to get an opportunity to work on large scale projects. This dream came true when I got to work for an international architecture practice in Dubai. This is where I made the most connections within the industry. I always pictured myself as a technical architect in the future, but life had other plans for me.

I moved to LWK + PARTNERS as part of their core team, as they opened their MENA studio based in Dubai in 2018 – it’s an architecture studio with alternative thinking with a different, creative approach to various projects. I had the unique opportunity to work on urban intervention projects for the RTA that attained royal endorsement in the first few months, and I expanded my scale and worked on numerous master planning schemes in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Most recently, I’ve been working on marine focused developments for Abu Dhabi Ports, which I lead on multiple sites. Along this journey I got exposed to September 2021

38 | On Site

various challenges that pushed me to study and learn new aspects of design. I have been fortunate to receive support and I was given the opportunity to present one of the projects we worked on to university students, which proved an exciting and memorable experience.

The GCC construction sector is still male dominated, however diversity is beginning to increase. If you agree with the above statement, comment on what is driving this and how you see the GCC markets changing in the coming years? If you do not agree with

Besides fairness and being the right thing

the earlier statement, please share your

to do, diversity is important because of

thoughts and views of the market.

the value women can bring to employers,

There is an increasing diversity in the GCC construction sector, which is a refreshing change for all to see - women are now being seen in various sectors and roles within the industry, despite challenges. Visibility has a key role to play in this. Giving women a platform to come out and share their experiences and work, will inspire more women to join the industry and continue to thrive.

clients and customers. How have you made your mark in the industry, and what is your proudest moment?

Diversity is required in every field, as it helps to bring different perspectives to the table. I truly believe that every person, irrespective of their gender and background, brings something unique to each project.

The RTA projects we worked on were focused on trying to make Dubai a ‘walkable city’. Seeing these projects personally signed off by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum was definitely a highlight in my career.

Leading the Abu Dhabi Ports multisite project in which we developed marine transport facilities, marinas and marine community hub was another great achievement, especially when we won the Best Future Project at the Architecture Leaders Award 2021.

At no point in your career, should you let go of the momentum, however uncomfortable new experiences are. Stand your ground but enjoy the ride and journey”

Everyone has a part to play in diversity and equal pay. What would you like to see government authorities and construction firms do to increase diversity and make pay a level playing field?

Authorities can implement hiring quotas, encourage construction firms to consider work life balance in the industry and ensure equal pay. This would encourage more women to stay in the industry. All these not only benefit women, but also benefits companies and the industry in the long run.

What are some of the barriers to women

Besides authorities and construction

entering the construction industry?

firms, who else can play a part in

What was your personal experience?

increasing diversity and balancing

have worked in markets outside the

Personally, the lack of UAE experience was what I had to battle with to get my initial footing in the market. Once I was given an opportunity, the bigger struggle for me was then to show that the experience and knowledge I had gained from other jobs was enough for companies to give me responsibilities according to my role. Once that trust was well established, it was about rising to the challenges that each project throws at you.

I have been fortunate enough to never have faced any blatant gender barriers at the various places I have worked. However, I do notice a serious lack of women in leadership roles and hope things will change in the future.

pay scales in the sector?

GCC, how does your experience here

Education institutions can work with students to help them understand the unique challenges faced by all in the industry. In this way, students will be better prepared for the future.

The environment within firms also needs to be encouraging for people of all backgrounds irrespective of gender etc. Platforms that encourage visibility for women in the industry need to be more prevalent as well. Finally, women in the industry have the ultimate power to directly influence and inspire people who work with them to appreciate diversity.

compare with what you’ve experienced

What has your experience been working

In your opinion, what is the biggest

in the GCC construction sector? If you

challenge women in the construction

September 2021

and observed in other markets?

The main difference I felt between India and the UAE is the difference in work-life balance. The industry here is more challenging/demanding and these are tough times we face. This means giving it your all continuously - that can get exhausting.

However, once you see the projects moving forward and receive appreciation for your efforts, you tend to move on and hope that things get better and stable in the future.

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However, the organisation I’m currently working in has almost 50% female talent, and moreover, the firm has always encouraged me and other women to take up responsibilities and lead projects.

They have always initiated discussions to see what roles and responsibilities would come next depending on our strengths and performance. These types of discussions give us a sense of some power over the future, and they help us to carve out our career path within the organisation as well.

How does LWK + PARTNERS approach diversity in the workplace? What more can your firm do to increase diversity?

The firm’s approach has been unbiased from the start. I was one of the first architects that was hired and that says a lot about their confidence in people, irrespective of gender.

I was able to see them opening doors based on talent alone and what a person brings to the table. Seeing the diversity at our workplace gives me hope that the future of the industry is turning around.

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?

sector face in GCC countries? How can these challenges be addressed?

As mentioned previously, visibility is one of the challenges. We have many talented women coming into the industry. It is important to give them a voice and space. This will in turn attract more women into the industry.

Another challenge is to ensure that women are not phased out as they move up in the ladder. Having women in more senior and leadership roles is extremely important and this needs to be encouraged.

discrimination. I have always had seniors who ensure that I am given the opportunity to present my views where needed.

I have, however, heard some shocking comments thrown at my fellow female colleagues over the years. Unfortunately, most of these are passed off as sheer comments, as most people do not want to deal with it later. I hope that companies work to build an environment in which people are respected irrespective of any differences.

Do you feel there’s a limit with

In doing your job, what sort of

regards to how far you can progress

discrimination (if any) have you faced

within LWK + PARTNERS?

and how did you/employer address it?

Unfortunately, the state of the industry is such that it feels like there is a limit for women.

Fortunately, I have never faced any sort of meconstructionnews.com

I personally try to prove myself through the work delivered, so that both clients and the people I work with see that women can hold their ground in the industry.

I believe that this makes it slightly easier for better interactions and biases to be removed for future women in the industry.

What advice would you give to a woman who is entering the GCC construction industry today?

I want women to not be overwhelmed by the existing male dominance in the industry.

Instead, I hope they will be inspired to join such a vibrant industry that is constantly changing and creatively challenging. At no point in your career, should you let go of the momentum, however uncomfortable new experiences might be. Stand your ground but enjoy the ride and the journey.

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40 | On Site

01 Martin McFadden, director of MEP Engineering at KEO Design.

01

September 2021

Martin McFadden “The MEP industry is one where challenges and opportunities often collide” Much focus over the past 12 to 18 months has been required to align the best of design practice, responding to industry advances, and trends, along with new normalcy expectations in living and working, which have been driven by the pandemic age and its enforced change and impacts.

In this regard MEP teams have been required to consider their design approach with a view towards introducing a range of key criteria in MEP designs that address the multifaceted challenges of sustainability, wellness, technological advances, automation, OSM, energy usage and water conservation.

The MEP design community have needed to liaise and consult and coordinate more than ever before to engage with clients, project stakeholders and fellow design team members, to establish successful outcomes that are comprehensive in their considerations and that provide highly articulated MEP engineering design and consultancy services.

To this end MEP engineers, in undertaking their work, have been required to develop and plan for an engineering design process that allows innovation and technological advances to be encouraged and work towards key project visioning strategies.

The impacts of the pandemic and the associated new design considerations in response have been profound, with the biggest impact related to air conditioning and mechanical ventilation (ACMV) and a particular focus on indoor air quality (IAQ), and the associated building energy efficiency standards. Other evolving pandemic response related developments in MEP design have included automation/non-touch controls and anti-bacterial surfaces.

Within the Gulf Region the predominant design codes for IAQ and energy conservation of ASHRAE (Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality Standards 62.1 & 62.2 and Energy Standard for Buildings 90.1) have needed to be considered to achieve an acceptable balance between IAQ outcomes and energy efficiency. This balance has always been evaluated in previous times but now it has become even more delicate consequent to the pandemic with microbial treatment filtration and air purges inducing greater energy consumption.

MEP engineers’ design work in this area specifically relating to COVID-19 has leveraged on preeminent studies such as the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force illuminated IAQ best practices which for commercial buildings for example includes: pre- and post-flush periods; 62.1 minimum ventilation rates; maintenance of relative humidity between 40-60%; noncycle of systems during occupancy; and the inclusion of high efficiency MERV filters.

ACMV design now also necessitates a need for IAQ risk assessments, management and cost evaluations associated with the risks attributable to airborne microbes, as well as the mitigation measures of thorough filtration, their induced pressure losses and purge ventilation.

Nonetheless, the MEP industry is one where challenges and opportunities often collide. The evolving pandemic response learning applied in MEP designs, coupled with technological advances and the technical excellence found in our MEP building services engineering teams, gives great confidence that we shall as an industry continue to deliver successful project outcomes overcoming the pandemic challenges of this moment in time. meconstructionnews.com

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