ME Consultant December 2016

For the construction specialist

In the Limelight Middle East Consultant celebrates the regional consulting industry ON TOPIC

Omnium International on the importance of partnerships

IN PRACTICE

Marcos Cain outlines his vision of hospitality design

ON SITE

Landscaping is in focus as sustainability takes priority

ISSUE 032

December 2016 Publication licensed by International Media Production Zone, Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority A supplement of Big Project Middle East

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CONTENTS

On topic INDuSTRy VIEWS fROM aCROSS ThE MIDDLE EaST

07

10 07 aNaLySIS

The $756 million new Dubai Canal will be a channel for change, promoting tourism and real estate 10 OpINION

Holley Chant, executive director, KEO International Consultants, champions change for sustainability 12 INSIghT

12

18

Omnium International casts itself as the custodian of change and the sentinel of stock

In practice aNaLySIS, INSIghTS aND INTERVIEWS

18 INTERVIEW

Daousser Chennoufi, founder, Draw Link Group, believes flexibility and minimalism are the keys to survival in designing

22

24

24 INSIghT

Marcos Cain embodies the trendy and tasteful in hospitality and F&B interior design

On site CaSE STuDIES, OpINIONS aND SNapShOTS

28 INSIghT

28

34

Landscaping is in focus as sustainable technologies and environmental concerns become top priorities 34 LuMINaRIES IN ThE LIMELIghT

The second edition of the Middle East Consultant Awards recognised and honoured the crème de la crème of the industry 44 NEWS

Saudi Arabia-based Cayan Group names contractor for Dubai Tower project

44

48

DECEMBER 2016 1

WELCOME

Group EDITOR’S NOTE

MEC Musings So December is upon us, the time of the year for ritualistic, de rigueur contemplation and reflection on the year that will soon pass away. Even a cursory conversation with construction consulting industry officials reveals that 2016 has been a tough year replete with challenges and uncertainties.

It speaks volumes for the remarkable resilience of the industry that it has endured and weathered the headwinds to survive and live another year.

Overall, it was a happy November for us, though, and a time for conviviality, camaraderie, collegiality and celebrations at our second Middle East Consultant Awards, now an annual fixture in the publication’s editorial calendar.

The keenly-contested Awards drew numerous nominations, a considerable increase over last year’s participation. Competition was stiff and given the high quality of submissions, the panel of seven judges deliberated long and hard to eventually decide on the winners.

For the more than 300 professionals representing the cream of the construction consulting industry, who congregated and engaged animatedly with colleagues on the lawns of the plush Ritz-Carlton in JBR to recognise and honour the winners, the atmosphere was expectant, as well as entertaining and electric. It was a fantastic night to be involved with, and we carry a full report.

Our main interview for this December 2016 edition is on a lowprofile industry consultant but a titan in its field. With strong roots in the quantity surveying business and a prolonged presence in the region, Omnium International is optimising its performance in the region, as top trio managing director Peter J. Westeng and directors Terry Smith and Nicholas Harris point out in an exclusive interview.

We are also rapidly approaching the holiday season, and I take this opportunity to wish our readers season’s greetings! We are always eager to hear from you, so please feel free to call or write with your comments, observations, commendations and criticism.

We welcome your input; all is grist for the mill!

Happy reading!

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ON TOPIC

MOST POPULAR

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READERS’ COMMENTS

CONSTRUCTION

BACkINg OFF

Sheikh Mohammed opens $1bn Dubai Canal

ON OFF-PLAN SALES?

The UAE’s Khalaf Al Habtoor has called for an end to off-plan property sales. This is a very interesting point for the real estate industry to ponder. On one hand, many individual property investors have become stuck when developers fall behind on projects.

But then, the industry would need to reconsider its entire financing model

CONSULTANT

ME Consultant Awards 2016 a massive success

In pictures: Big Project ME Awards 2016 winners

for new projects.

Name withheld, via email

CONSTRUCTION

Laing O’Rourke in line for Dubai South project

HOUSE RENTS ARE STILL FALLINg

Rents have been falling in Abu Dhabi for some time (Abu Dhabi rents

CONSTRUCTION

fall amid economic

Dubai invites proposals for Al Maktoum airport works

uncertainty – report, November 20). Lots of people have lost their jobs and supply exceeds demand. Many property agents won’t admit this – but it’s time to drive a bargain

INFRASTRUCTURE

Dubai to build GCC’s biggest hydroelectric power station

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ON TOPIC

ANALYSIS

Channel of Change The $736 million new Dubai Canal is a milestone development creating a 3.2km waterway and a 6.4km waterfront for the city

O

n Wednesday, 9 November 2016, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, inaugurated a major landmark – the Dubai Water Canal – 37 months after approving the commencement of construction works.

A major engineering feat, the canal passes across the Business Bay to Safa Park, Al Wasl Road, Jumeirah 2 and Jumeirah Road, and continues to terminate in the Arabian Gulf at the Jumeirah Beach Park. This 3.2km waterway creates a 6.4km waterfront on both banks. The $736 million mega project was undertaken by the RTA in collaboration with Meydan and Meraas.

Five contracts

In view of the massive nature, complexities and challenges of the project, works were spread out over five contracts. Four main contractors were appointed, in addition to 60 subcontractors, and the project employed about 4,600 workers.

The Dubai Water Canal project included the construction of the Dubai Creek extension as a fully navigable channel from the Dubai Creek at Al Ras to Jumeirah, through the Business Bay development.

It required the diversion of existing utilities and key services, which occurred in parallel with the removal of earth bunds within the Business Bay section of the canal, and dredging of the canal bed to reach the level of -4 to -6 metres, thereby allowing construction of the remaining sections of Quay Wall.

BESIX was one of the companies involved with the completion of the Dubai Water Canal, through its Dubai-based entity, Belhasa Six Construct. “3.2 million cubic metres of soil were dredged for the canal, and 15,000 concrete blocks of 40 tonnes each were used to fortify the banks over a total length of 15 kilometres,” explains Pierre Sironval, managing director of BESIX/Six Construct.

“The main challenge of the project was hence the diversion of the underground services in order for the excavation and construction of the 3km-long canal to proceed smoothly. In addition, the installation DECEMBER 2016 7

ON TOPIC

“3.2 million cubic metres of soil were dredged and 15,000 concrete blocks of 40 tonnes each were used to fortify the banks over a total length of 15 kilometres” of three sculptural pedestrian bridges in a record period was a fantastic achievement and we are proud to have contributed to this historical project in the UAE,” he adds.

The project also includes four water taxi stations, starting from the Creek right up to Business Bay and Jumeirah. The existing natural park at the Creek was kept untouched, thereby avoiding the area where flamingos are settled. This natural habitat will therefore also not be disturbed by marine traffic in the future.

Parsons, a close partner of the RTA on many of their infrastructure projects for many years, is also associated with the Dubai Water Canal project. A Parsons-led joint venture was initially selected by RTA to design the canal in December 2006; in early 2014, the JV was assigned the construction supervision work scope. Separately, Parsons was also appointed to perform design services for the infrastructure surrounding the canal.

“We had around 70 people dedicated to the project, with significant levels of support from our regional and corporate teams in order to deliver the canal under an extremely ambitious schedule.

“The project involved a range of complex activities, such as deep micro-tunnelling; horizontal directional drilling; road bridges; new and relocation of various underground services; construction of the canal connecting the creek extension from Business Bay to the Arabian Sea; reclamation; breakwater protection for the reclaimed area, including a beach and a standalone groyne shelter; water taxi stations; and desalination of water in the existing canal,” says Gary Adams, Parsons MEA president.

CH2M has also been intimately involved with the project. “Our role in delivering the project, along with our JV partner Parsons, encompassed all aspects of marine works and engineering design 8 DECEMBER 2016

services for the tidal canal, coastal waterfront development and coastal marina with public beaches, breakwaters and reclamation areas. A key focus for us on the Dubai Canal is the protection of the natural assets, mainly the local marine environment,” comments Neil Reynolds, managing director – CH2M MENA and India.

Canal conveniences

The Dubai Water Canal project is a vital project in Dubai and will have positive effects across the board. From a tourist perspective, the Canal, with its engineering and architectural features, will act as a tourist hub that will raise the profile of Dubai as a superb tourist destination.

The new area is expected to attract more than 30 million visitors per annum. The marine transit services of the RTA will also attract more tourists.

The new Dubai Canal will open an opportunity to enhance the role of marine transport in support of tourist, commercial and residential activities within the project area. It will also link the area with other marine communities and projects in Dubai.

Use of marine transit modes in the Canal is expected to exceed one million riders per annum up to 2020, and to jump to four million riders by 2030. This is equivalent to about 2.9 million journeys by vehicles on roads. The design of bridges constructed across the Canal was tailored to increasing traffic flow in the area.

The Canal will offer a new residential district, tourist attractions and recreational facilities, including several hotels, restaurants and entertainment areas. The development project will generate over 80,000sqm of public realms and vital facilities, in addition to more than six km of waterfront including a walkway, jogging and cycling tracks, and public amenities that ensure comfort and happiness for visitors.

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ON TOPIC

Q&A

01 Holley Chant, executive director, Corporate Sustainability, KEO International Consultants.

Sustainability Sentiments Holley Chant explains KEO International’s sustainability and commissioning disciplines and developing corporate strategies for championing sustainability for some years now of implementing sustainability regulations, but I think we can always engage in continuous improvement.

The region’s consultants and contractors should focus on achieving 100% execution of these requirements. It is in the best interest of us all.

and contractors have smashed this myth.

Sustainability does require a conscious decision to evolve how we work, as it is most cost-effectively executed within an integrated design and construction process.

How much of a priority is sustainability for KEO?

Are targets, regulations and other industry impositions the way forward to sustainability?

01

Should we be concerned about sustainability? Why?

I am quite sure that most people would answer yes to all of these questions.

Sustainability is literally tied to the survival of our species, due to the rapidly increasing impacts of climate change.

Absolutely. As the old saying goes, “What gets measured matters, what gets measured gets improved, what gets measured gets done!”

Professor Michael Porter from Harvard Business School teaches that environmental and sustainability regulations actually can initiate innovation cycles, pushing companies to increase their resource efficiency and resiliency.

the construction industry in the region to sustainability?

The GCC has been in a positive cycle 10 DECEMBER 2016

What specific initiatives is KEO taking to promote sustainability?

KEO have extensively invested in sustainability training for staff. We maintain a team of in-house specialists. We continually seek out new software and invest in them if we feel they merit our consideration, to bring efficiency to our clients’ projects.

How important is technology, and what

What challenges confront the

role is it playing in ensuring sustainability?

construction industry from a

Technological innovation is very important, but cultural and institutional change trump innovation any day. Specifically, technology will not diffuse without people being willing to adopt to the changes innovation brings with it.

sustainable standpoint?

Generally speaking, how sensitive is

Sustainability is embedded into our business model at KEO and considered in all design projects and across corporate services.

The perception of the sustainability cost barrier exists in boom or bust economies in our industry. However, there are many examples locally where skilled consultants

IN PRACTICE

INTERVIEW

Custodians of Cost Having established itself as one of the leading QS services providers in the region, Omnium International is now keen to expand its reach and create longterm partnerships with its client base in the UAE and Saudi Arabia s is evident to anyone in the industry, quantity surveying (QS) is a vital function, and the quantity surveyor is a key and integral member of any construction team. Broadly speaking, professional quantity surveyors manage materials, quantities and all costs relating to building and civil engineering projects, from the initial estimates, projections and calculations to the final figures. They seek to minimise and optimise the expenditure on a project, exercising due diligence on expenditures, providing oversight and delivering value-for-money services, while attaining the required standards and expected quality.

Omnium International, a Dubai-based global firm of professional construction consultants established in 1962 to provide cost and contract management and complete QS services on all types of building and infrastructure projects, has an impressive and enviable track record in the region. One of the leading global QS services provider, it has been extensively involved with and is currently engaged in some of the most impressive and prestigious projects in Dubai, as Middle East Consultant found out from the top trio at the company.

12 DECEMBER 2016

IN PRACTICE

“Clients’ aspirations to the best in the world often mean that their ambitions extend beyond the conventional. Many concepts are so pioneering that there is no existing benchmark to reference, and we relish the challenge” DECEMBER 2016 13

IN PRACTICE

The firm acquired prominence as mega-tall building experts in the QS industry with its involvement with some of the biggest and tallest landmark buildings in the region. These include the Burj Khalifa (currently the tallest building in the world), the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah (aiming to outdo the Burj Khalifa when completed) and most recently The Tower at Dubai Creek Harbour, which is set to surpass the Burj Khalifa when ready in 2020. When The Tower is commissioned, it will be the QS firm to have worked on three of the four mega-tall buildings in the Middle East, among the top nine in the world.

“Our master-planning portfolio is very impressive and our firm is extensively involved in the rebuilding of Dubai. We have been commissioned by Emaar as a quantity surveyor for the construction of Downtown Dubai and the associated infrastructure works, the Mohammed Bin Rashid City and the Dubai Creek Harbour

developments,” affirms Peter J. Westeng, managing director, Omnium International, a 30-year industry veteran who has worked on major international projects and a Dubai resident for 21 years now.

Westeng sees Omnium International’s role as not just about cost but also to manage the comprehensive contractual relationships between the various parties involved in any particular building project, and to ensure that all parties adhere to their contractual obligations. “As an independent firm, Omnium International endeavours to be more than just a consultant and on each project we strive to enter into a partnership with our client and to safeguard their interests at all times,” he asserts.

Omnium International provides full QS services to its clients, from the earliest inception stages of a project right through to completion. Its first experience in the Middle East dates back to the 1960s. “We work closely with our clients’ development and project

“Developers are more acutely aware than ever of the importance of formalising costs at the early stages of the project and are ensuring that a project is truly viable before moving to the next stage of design” 01

14 DECEMBER 2016

IN PRACTICE

01 Sustainability Pavilion.

02 Mobility-themed Pavilion Design.

03 One Za’abeel, Dubai.

02

delivery teams and offer commercial and contract management throughout the course of a project. We also work closely with the clients’ finance, audit and legal teams and specialise in preparing customised contract documentation to suit the clients’ needs.”

“Not only do we specialise in mega-tall structures, but we have a full range of end-to-end project experience in high- and low-rise residential, hospitality, retail, education, healthcare, exhibition centres, and have worked on some of the most iconic, record-breaking, world’s first projects in the region.”

architect’s playground, and the budgets that go with it are beyond what many of us could ever imagine working on.”

The QS is often seen as the more pragmatic and responsible side of the construction industry, but Omnium International is pleased that the quantity surveying industry is attracting fresh talent and many young people are gravitating to the trade. Smith says the company started a graduate programme over the last couple of years, which has proved to be extremely useful as these young recruits bring with them a wealth of new skill sets and offer different strengths.

Middle East: Fast-paced and demanding

More Mature Market

The time demands placed on the QS and indeed all consultants in the region are extreme, with the pace at which consultants are appointed, designs completed and buildings built being pushed to the limit, avers Terry Smith, the Dubai-based director of Omnium International, who has worked on projects in Iran, the Gaza Strip, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria and Pakistan. “Although most construction projects worldwide will be fast-paced, we believe that time demands on projects in this region and Dubai in particular are more so,” he remarks.

Complexity is another factor that distinguishes the Middle East, in Smith’s estimation. “Clients’ aspirations to the best in the world often mean that their ambitions extend beyond the conventional.

Many concepts are so pioneering that there is no existing benchmark to reference, and we relish the challenge,” he explains.

“Not many regions can offer the scale of diverse and prestigious projects that the Middle East can offer. Dubai in particular is an

“Omnium is immensely proud to have been appointed cost consultants for our client Expo 2020 on the Sustainability and Mobility Pavilions, and to be involved in such a pioneering and demanding development for the Middle East,” declares Nicholas Harris, another Dubai-based director at Omnium International, who leads quantity surveying services on infrastructure and commercial projects throughout the UK and the Middle East and is responsible for Emaar’s new major development projects.

“Omnium International is involved in current and past projects such as the iconic Expo 2020 pavilions, designed by the renowned award-winning Swiss-Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava; the Arabian Ranches; the Dubai Mall, the largest retail mall by area in the world; the One Za’abeel mixed-use development that will feature the world’s largest cantilevered structure, the Dubai Creek Harbour Development; and The Tower,” observes Harris.

The intensity of the review by the client in respect of costs, DECEMBER 2016 15

IN PRACTICE

03

Omnium Origins

value engineering, value management and whole lifecycle costing demonstrates that there is definitely now a requirement from the developer to understand and be able to interrogate costs associated with its development. There is no question that the construction industry is now considerably more mature than it was 20 years ago.

The UAE, and more

relationship with Emaar

recently Saudi Arabia,

and has led the firm to

are the nerve centres of

work with other major

Technology Trends

Omnium International’s

developers such as

deep-rooted ties to

Investment Corporation

the region. Omnium’s

of Dubai (ICD), Tourism

operations in the region

Development &

began in 1979 with Dubai

Investment Company

Aluminium (DUBAL),

(TDIC) Abu Dhabi, Dubai

when current chairman

Multi Commodities

Bob W. Cawkwell was the

Centre (DMCC),

chief QS on the original

Emaar, and Jeddah

aluminium smelter project.

Economic Company

Technologies such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) are changing the way the construction industry operates and affecting the QS sector, notes Westeng. “From the QS perspective, it has the promise to allow us to produce key deliverables quicker than if we had used traditional CAD drawings. There are always the reservations that a BIM model is only as good as the purpose it was intended for, and we still need to carry out the due diligence and bulk checks to ensure that the model itself is complete and can be used reliably.”

Contractual knowledge, speciality in drafting, administering and extensive experience in managing construction costs and contracts, in addition to staff retention, are Omnium International’s strengths, according to Westeng.

“The majority of our projects have been extremely complex, the clients that we work go for the big ones,” comments Westeng.

“They are pioneering projects and they push the limits for everyone involved, whether it be from a consultant’s perspective or the builder’s perspective. The complexity of the Burj Khalifa changed the face of construction. No one had ever built a building of that size before;

The company was subsequently appointed

(JEC) in Saudi Arabia.

Omnium international

on DUBAL’s various

is also been Quantity

expansion projects. and

Surveyors for the

in 1991, through their

construction of much

reputation at DUBAL.

of Downtown Dubai in

The growth has stemmed from this close 16 DECEMBER 2016

addition to Dubai Marina and the Arabian Ranch.

IN PRACTICE

“As an independent firm, Omnium International endeavours to be more than just a consultant and on each project we strive to enter into a partnership with our client and to safeguard their interests at all times” when we were appointed at the very early feasibility stage we realised the complexities of determining the most appropriate procurement route and the requirements for the appointment of key consultants.”

“Omnium International’s track record has been exemplary. We are well-regarded and have extensively contributed to several landmark projects over the past 20 years. We were the quantity surveyors on the first Dubai Marina earthworks and key wall project, and watched the marina being slowly filled with water.

“We have a passion to be appreciated by our clients, and our challenge is to make sure that we evolve with our clients’ needs. Dubai is a city that has shown stunning growth over the last 20 years, an incredible achievement. Every one of our projects pushes us to find a

way to deliver for our clients and to find a way to be creative and think creatively and unconventionally,” emphasises Westeng.

With so much in hand and a fine reputation to uphold, Westeng has his work cut out for him. Optimisation is the key, and as clients ply pressure with their ground-breaking and pioneering projects, Omnium International is called to meet requirements and prove itself over and over again. “We have an ambition to grow the company in the region, but believe this growth will be measured and cautious as we focus on ensuring quality of our service to our existing clients,” he admits.

With its credentials and longevity in the business, Omnium International seems to be the master of all it surveys.

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IN PRACTICE

01

18 DECEMBER 2016

IN PRACTICE

INTERVIEW

Quick Draw

Middle East Consultant meets Daousser Chennoufi, leading architect and designer and founder of Draw Link Group, who believes minimalism and flexibility are the key to survival and success in an increasingly competitive world .

DECEMBER 2016 19

IN PRACTICE

aousser Chennoufi combines showmanship and style. The awardwinning founder, CEO and key architect of the now decade-old Dubaibased Draw Link Group (DLG), an architecture and design firm, is the mastermind behind several innovative design concepts.

A minimalist to the core, Chennoufi instantly goes for the jugular in an exclusive interview with Middle East Consultant. “I do not dabble with complexities or the inane. My design philosophy, simply put, is to keep things simple and make less to get more. I marry art and professionalism in my work, and I always remind myself that an architect is also an artist at heart,” he says.

“An architect also needs to be realistic and pragmatic, and develop practical solutions for problems encountered.” For example, one of the first factors to be considered when developing the design

and architectural plan for a building structure is the extreme heat in the region.

Due to this factor, Chennoufi puts forth designs where light is adequately let in and radiates across the canopies. Heat is always countered by cooling mechanisms such as air conditioning.

Also, his preference is for ‘cooler’ furniture and materials – leather seating, for example, material that does not conduct heat.

“Another peculiarity of the Middle East region is the amount of sunlight all year round. We therefore design with the aim to let in as much sunlight as possible into our buildings, while selecting the light fittings for the evening time in order to create the right ambience.”

Hardly any profession or industry anywhere in the world is free from competition, and therefore challenges abound. “The Middle East, as with the rest of the world, is getting increasingly competitive.

The all-pervading global recession is definitely taking its toll too, and that implies we have to do things differently, we need to be smart and be rational.”

“I have never been scared to start projects bigger than my capabilities were at that time. It always seems impossible until it is done, but once it is done, you grow to a new level and set an even larger goal” 02

20 DECEMBER 2016

IN PRACTICE

01

He thus carefully researches design concepts and gets more innovative and creative to present something novel to the market. He believes that the UAE and GCC countries in general were previously considerably influenced by big international brands appearing in the market and local, indigenous brands were few and far between or 03 discouraged.

That scenario is now changing, and local and regional brands are coming to the fore. This is especially true in the hospitality and restaurant sectors, where wellestablished home-spun brands are expanding regionally and even globally, making their mark in new geographies.

Flexing flexibility

Chennoufi opines that the flexibility of dining venues, easily converted into a lounge or even a club, is now trending. This can be attained through a modular design of the seating areas. “This new trend is most likely influenced by the desire to make F&B venues more social, more relaxed and more welcoming.” He adds that the concept of developing modular patterns – a building of grids or blocks – offers options, versatility and importantly resilience, and has also proven costeffective.

He also infuses technology into his designs, especially in high-end residential projects where the client would like to personalise his or her private space to the maximum possible extent. He cites connected homes, increasingly popular with clients seeking complete control over the space through iPads and hand-held devices.

He understands this drive possibly comes from the innovative and effervescent nature of Dubai itself, among the fastest growing cities in the world, providing its residents and visitors with the newest, most extraordinary experiences and gadgetry.

“In order to keep up with the standards that Dubai sets and the competitive

Roberto’s, designed

by Draw Link Group.

02 Mercato Restaurant, designed by Draw Link Group.

03 Daousser Chennoufi, founder, Draw Link Group.

environment, our design concepts need to be arrived at thoughtfully, examined and tweaked every time,” he remarks.

No matter how impressive or futuristic something may look, there must be an added economic value or business purpose behind it.

It is also true that the benefit of the innovation may also be social: the ability to somehow improve people’s life or make any task easier should not be undermined.

So while there are a lot of high-tech products in the marketplace nowadays, they can only be described as innovative when they are fully functional, he contends. “To be innovative is to be functional and obtain value for money for every development, because clients are now cost-conscious, thrifty and seek good returns.”

Coping with constraints

Chennoufi is clearly mindful of monetary pressures and admits that one of the greatest challenges at the moment is budget constraints, due to the current unstable situation in the world.

“We need not only to survive in a tough environment but also thrive, so we need to be resourceful, imaginative and inventive to be able to deliver money’s worth for our clientele. Anyone who would like to pursue a career in architecture or design or open a firm that offers these professional services must firstly have a passion for what he or she is doing, passion to learn new things, to travel, to never stop exploring and therefore surround themselves with design in every part of life. When design becomes your lifestyle, there should not be boundaries to your creativity.

“It goes without saying that you need to give your best in what you are doing and to balance a lot of skills by being not only a good designer, but a good manager, businessman or even artist. Looking at my own experience, I have never been scared to start projects bigger than my capabilities were at that time. It always seems impossible until it is done, but once it is done, you grow to a new level and set an even larger goal,” he further counsels.

DECEMBER 2016 21

IN PRACTICE

Educate ME Chemical Certification Sustainability is at the top of Mapei’s priorities, says Stefano Iannacone in conversation with Middle East Consultant

F

ounded in Milan, Italy in 1937, Mapei is currently a world leader in the production of adhesives and chemical products for building, with global operations in over 30 countries across five continents.

Middle East Consultant spoke to Stefano Iannacone, managing director of Mapei’s UAE subsidiary, a company veteran with a stellar international career spanning over 20 years, for the low-down on the company’s operations in the UAE.

We are working on some very significant projects and our products are in huge demand in the region. Presently, Mapei has a 40,000sqm manufacturing facility in Dubai Investment Park that meets the demands of the region.

How significant are the GCC and the

What is Mapei’s outlook for the

scenario affecting the construction

Middle East for Mapei?

region for the short and long

materials industry?

The GCC and the Middle East region is a very important market for Mapei, as this region is still a beehive for the construction industry.

term, particularly in the light of

Despite what some might call a challenging economic climate in the region, Mapei believes that the GCC market has enormous business

What are your plans for the region?

Looking forward, we are examining Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar as growth markets, as we foresee a rise in demand for Mapei products in these three countries.

materials, hence the current low oil prices have had no bearing on Mapei’s production.

The region still offers many opportunities for Mapei, and demand for our products has not slackened.

An important characteristic of the GCC is that the individual countries are very independent, which implies that if one specific country shows signs of a slowdown, then there is always the likelihood the shortage can be made up in another country.

How is the current economic

22 DECEMBER 2016

falling oil prices and revenues?

Mapei primarily deals with raw construction

IN PRACTICE

For more information, please visit the Mapei website at: www.mapei.com

potential, with a surge in demand coming in the near future, with the Expo 2020 in Dubai and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Talk about industry trends in the region.

Newly implemented regulations are changing the perception of customers within the industry and pushing them to think in terms of green technology, less waste and indoor air quality requirements.

environmental protection initiatives.

For Mapei, eco-sustainability is a top priority. Mapei is about tested products and solutions from extensive R&D efforts that offer concrete assurance of higher durability and good indoor air quality. Due to these efforts, Mapei has developed more than 150 innovative and certified products that contribute to a healthier environment.

Mapei’s product range Mapei has 15 product lines, including admixtures for concrete, structural and roof waterproofing, resilient wood

In what major projects in the GCC have

flooring and textile adhesives,

What are the challenges confronting

Mapei products been used?

sealants and adhesives.

Mapei in the region?

Major projects where Mapei products have found application are Habtoor Island Dubai; Qatar Rail: Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar; Al Bayt Stadium, Doha (a stadium venue for the 2022 World Cup); and Riyadh’s Underground Line 3, to name a few.

In the UAE, Mapei has supplied material to Ferrari World; Burj Khalifa; Armani Hotel; Dubai International Airport Terminals 1, 2 and 3; Burj Al Arab; the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi; the Emirates Palace Hotel; and Atlantis Hotel, amongst many other projects.

In the current economic climate, in the light of the low oil prices, construction budgets are being reduced. However, we still see projects coming online from the public sector, although these projects often have to be built with lower budgets. Competition is fierce, and the challenge is to continue to offer technically sound products and solutions while remaining competitive.

Tell us about Mapei’s green credentials and its sustainability and

Waterproofing line: Mapelastic Smart – this product is used for waterproofing balconies, terraces, bathrooms, showers, kitchens and swimming pools and is renowned around the world for its performance and longevity.

Resilient line: Levelling compounds (Topcem and Ultraplan) – this normal setting, rapid hydrating self-curing screed (Topcem), is also hugely popular with specifiers, particularly those involved in fast-track projects.

Building line: Concrete repair (Map grout T60 ME) – this product is highly demanded in the market, as it is a thixotropic, sulphate- and chlorideresistant, fibre-reinforced structural repair mortar.

Ceramic line: Tile adhesive and grout. Mapei is well-known for this line of products around the world and the Middle East.

It produces a huge range of different adhesives and grouts to suit all applications.

DECEMBER 2016 23

IN PRACTICE

24 DECEMBER 2016

IN PRACTICE

INTERVIEW

Design Differentiator Award-winning design consultant Marcos Cain embodies the trendy and tasteful in hospitality and F&B interior design.

He outlines his philosophy of functionality and operability over aesthetics to Middle East Consultant in an exclusive interview arcos Cain is both able and willing to dabble with non-conformity and take the path less trod. With over 20 years’ hands-on experience as owner-operator, and now with a passion and vision for design in the hospitality industry, Marcos bring new and ingenious signature ideas to the fore, having worked on dozens of prestigious premium hotels, F&B, restaurant and hospitality outlets in different parts of the world.

He has worked across Australia, Asia and the Middle East. A natural entrepreneur and adventurist, in 2009 he founded his design consultancy, Stickman Design, along with his Scottish business partner Karen Hay. Stickman Design came alive as Marcos personally spearheaded concepts all the way through to international landmark venues – from award-winning boutique hotels to iconic builds like The Cook, The Meet and The Brew at the Kerry Hotel in Pudong, in the bustling business district of Shanghai, to the ground-breaking Hotel Jen, scheduled to open in January 2017 in Beijing.

Then there is his signature Zaya Nurai Island Resort, a private island he calls a “fertile slice of tropical heaven” just outside Abu Dhabi, described by Newsweek as “the most luxurious project in the world”.

Dubai-based Marcos Cain, founder-principal, Stickman Design, sat down with Middle East Consultant recently for an exclusive chat.

What needs to be considered and factored in when designing interiors for hotels and F&B structures in the Middle East?

We often hear the phrases ‘citizen of the world’ and ‘cultural melting pot’, and that is mainly because international borders are getting less relevant and less prominent; the new generation of designers respect culture and heritage but are not limited by it.

Today, it does not make much of a difference if you are a designer in the Middle East, Europe or America. The language is the same, it is simply about seamlessly integrating function and practicality in a way that appeals to the guest while also maximising revenue for the client.

What have been the biggest changes in interior designing of hotels and F&B in the last five to ten years?

I think the main change over the past few years has been the redefining of luxury. Luxury no longer entails white tablecloth fine dining; it is more about lifestyle, quality in the seemingly insignificant day-to-day things, like a good cup of coffee to start your day or sharing a healthy gourmet meal with your friends.

Similarly, star rating in a hotel is becoming somewhat irrelevant; your average traveller will tend to rely on TripAdvisor to know where to go and what to see. Now, with Airbnb playing a huge role in the hospitality market, it is increasingly prevalent that the guests are in full control, they know exactly what they want and now they have all the means to find it. Cookie-cutter designs are simply not going to cut it.

What new trends are we seeing now in interior designing and refurbishments, and how practical are they?

Like the fashion industry, old or retro styles are becoming popular once again; people are throwing Gatsby parties and designing 1950s themed hotels, reminiscent of finer, somewhat more glamorous times.

However, the predominant factor in design is led by function rather DECEMBER 2016 25

IN PRACTICE

“The hospitality industry is forever evolving based on the consumer, and now more than ever. Millennials cannot be categorised or boxed up in a mould, everyone is unique, and so should the design be” than by aesthetics and fleeting trends. Like millennials themselves, design is becoming more casual in nature, where practicality and efficiency are just as valuable as aesthetics.

What will hotels of the future look like, and how are hotel and F&B guests influencing their design?

No one knows! And that’s what’s beautiful about it, the hospitality industry is forever evolving based on the consumer, and now more than ever.

Millennials cannot be categorised or boxed up in a mould, everyone is unique, and so should the design be.

As smart designers, we analyse the market, its wants and needs, and we shape the design to seamlessly cater for it. We try to set trends rather than follow them; we make sure we provide what the clients want long before they ask for it.

02

26 DECEMBER 2016

01

How is technology shaping and affecting design? How do you reconcile design innovation with creativity and functionality?

Technology affects hospitality design on several levels. There is the direct way in which it facilitates existing processes, like VingCard access, smartphone room key, interactive touchscreens, tablet control for the guest room, automated blinds, personalised light and sound settings, censored minibar fridge, automated cocktail machines, meeting room organisers – and the list goes on.

The other major way technology affects design is in material development and construction, like photovoltaics, reconstituted stone, laser cutting, cement-moulded tiles, 3D stone, textile dying and more. The design industry is constantly evolving and morphing with new technology and techniques being introduced in the market, often cutting production time and cost.

IN PRACTICE

01 Sorrento Shangri-La Eros New Delhi.

02 Zaya Nurai Island, Abu Dhabi.

Design in the Middle East has always been viewed as rather conservative in comparison to other parts of the world; however, in the past few years we have witnessed a massive change in the region, especially in Dubai, being one of the most diverse cultural centres in the Middle East, if not the world.

Young local artists, designers and makers have been emerging in many more Middle Eastern cities.

The real struggle still lies from within. Many clients tend to favour design firms based in major Western hubs such as London or New York over ones in the Middle East, based on geographically acclaimed name and reputation.

Honestly, I cannot blame them; after all, we are talking about a long, well-established history and credentials. However, along with like-minded passionate creatives, we are leading the change in the perception of home-grown design firms. It will be a slow transition, but one that I am certain will be worthwhile.

What are the essential design rules to live by when translating

What is your advice for startup designers and entrepreneurs in

hotel design ideas into practicality?

the design industry?

Smart design caters to practicality before art, it just does it so subtly that you can’t tell the difference. The Middle East and especially Dubai is set apart with a very sophisticated culinary palette where the food culture is about the surrounding just as much as it is about the food offering. A good designer needs to hit the balance between great design, unique offering and optimum revenue. The same approach applies to hotel design, but on a grander scale.

I have been asked this question many times, and my answer remains the same: learn from other people’s mistakes but don’t let that stop you from making your own. As progressive as the hospitality industry seems to be, it remains a rather conservative one where many clients and operators of signature brands would rather do what has been tried and tested rather than take a chance on what’s new – a reality that shouldn’t discourage any rising designer from pushing the limits and setting trends rather than following them.

What is driving demand for innovation in interior design in the Middle East?

What challenges does interior designing consulting face in the region?

For the most part, I am very positive in that aspect; the design industry in the region is booming and is heading in the right direction. The designs produced in Dubai and other countries in the region are of high standards and are getting international recognition.

What does it take to get to the top of the design industry?

Keep your eyes on the prize! Like any other creative industry, hospitality design has its ups and downs and is rather directly affected by the economic situation, even more so than other industries. It takes years of experience, failures and triumphs to be able to find the right balance. I was a restaurant/bar owner and operator in Australia long before I became a designer. I have watched many of my dreams come true and others fail miserably, and I cherish both just as much, as they have collectively led to my biggest success, Stickman Design. I read once a statement that resonated with me: “It took me 12 years to become an overnight success.” If you ask any other entrepreneur, they will honestly tell you this is exactly what it feels like.

DECEMBER 2016 27

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28 DECEMBER 2016

ON SITE

INSIghT

Landscaping portraits Reflecting the very essence and nature of the business itself, landscaping is undergoing a transformation as technologies and concerns for the environment become top priority tastefully landscaped yard, a beautiful garden and well-manicured lawns make an attractive addition to homes and buildings. Landscaping involves intricate, elaborate, complex activities combining engineering, art and science, and is always the outcome of careful consideration and design.

Middle East Consultant engaged with three landscaping consultant practitioners for their take on the business. It was back to basics as we asked both for their perception of landscaping and what it entails.

“Landscaping, put very simply, is the modification of the visible features of an area of land using or enhancing natural elements such as the topography to arrive at an aesthetically pleasing, sustainable and creative environment,” explains Michael Mascarenhas, CEO, Desert Group, a firm founded in 1988 which has grown into one of the largest landscaping companies in the Middle East.

He adds that landscaping has since evolved and seen the introduction and care of living elements, such as plants, animals or fish. “We have seen the introduction of ‘hard’ elements such as paving, structures, sculptures and fountains, and the introduction of related elements such as lighting, drainage, irrigation, woodwork and other similar additional items create spaces for human interaction and enjoyment. Landscaping requires expertise in horticulture, construction, maintenance and artistic design.”

DECEMBER 2016 29

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01 Michael Mascarenhas, CEO of Desert group Inc.

Nev Connell, the principal landscape architect with over 30 years’ experience who heads AECOM’s operations in the UAE and Oman, is more concise in his definition.

“Landscaping is the enhancement of external spaces. It is a complex 01 combination of art and science incorporating spatial, functional, ecological, microclimatic and aesthetic considerations.”

“Designers consider all aspects of a site as well as beyond the site when planning the landscape,” continues Connell, noting that technology plays a pivotal role in shaping designs.

“Technological advances generally revolve around the production of detailed design for the construction of unique elements. Specialist digital software is now commonplace, 02 generating new ideas and allowing them to expand into areas not previously possible.”

“Landscaping must be examined from a composite perspective, the sum of many parts. It must resonate with the broader home and community development plan and not just developed in isolation. It can and should be individualised and customised to meet client-consultant briefs, demands and specifications,” says Dubai-based Sasan Niknam, design manager at U+A Architects, an international firm offering architecture, interior designing, urban 03 planning and landscaping services.

In Niknam’s view, landscaping entails many facets, from engineering to designing, planning, terrain, topography, geography, water availability, the environment and the ecosystem. “Sustainability and conservation are key priorities, as also are functionality and aesthetics.”

Virtual reality software allows designers to better present their ideas to clients. Fabricators have been able to use technology to produce complex shapes and forms in landscape elements such as landscape furniture, paving, modular and bespoke pre-cast elements.

These technological advances are not lost on Mascarenhas. “The growth in technology is reflected in the garden through the introduction 30 DECEMBER 2016

02 Sasan Niknam, design manager at U+A Architects.

03 Nev Connell, practice lead – Landscape Architecture at AECOM Middle East.

of composite materials, Wi-Fi areas, smart LED lighting systems, smart irrigation systems, solar heating systems, fibre optic lighting, algorithm driven shading systems and so on.”

He believes technology is advancing exponentially, and that the trick is to use that technology to push the creative elements in a way that enhances the natural outdoor experience without becoming gimmicky, costly and difficult to maintain.

The first and prime question is the use of space when providing landscaping ideas. “Once the desired purpose of the area has been established, then other decisions become simpler. Pets can often dictate landscaping decisions, and there are other factors as well that range from environment and climate, sun or shade areas, wind direction, views and orientation and even soil,” he says.

Landscaping is also about individuality, aesthetics and style, he observes. “The interior and exterior style of the property should create the feeling of unity between the two areas. The outdoor space should make people feel happy and relaxed. Garden styles used commonly here include desert, tropical, formal, informal, Japanese and modern.”

Regional adaptation

Landscaping has been around much longer in the Middle East than in many Western countries. The development of Islamic gardens has been an inspiration to garden designers around the world.

“The current major differences for gardens in our region is probably the need for a constant supply of water for irrigation purposes. All the

ON SITE

other factors in Middle East landscaping are fairly similar after taking into account our rather harsh and hostile climate,” Mascarenhas notes.

This view is echoed by Connell. “Many of the principles that apply to design in other areas also apply to landscape design in the Middle East. However, designers in this region must also consider the intense climate and limitation of resources – water, for example.”

What is driving demand for landscaping in the region? According to Connell, in many cases the demand for a high-quality lifestyle environment is what drives the development of urban areas in this region.

“As in most areas of the world, design of the built environment, such as buildings and landscapes, are becoming less regional and more global in style, with references to local character in the detailing of elements.”

Mascarenhas sees the desire to create an external experience that satisfies our senses to see, smell and touch greenery as a factor for increased landscaping demand in the region. “There is a young, welleducated, well-travelled and growing population, a large portion of which have reasonable disposable incomes. Governments are investing in infrastructure such as recycled water systems and social infrastructure such as parks, gardens and urban greenery.”

In his estimation, the strategic location of the Middle East countries, as an important transportation hub and tourist destination, has been one of the main drivers for the demand for high-quality landscaping from developers of residential properties and hotel groups.

The biggest changes in Middle East landscaping and customer 04

Landscaping Trends Colour: Customers are

strong positive element

Stylish and personalised

definitely a move toward

becoming more adventurous

of interest to an area.

outdoor furniture:

landscapes that are

No longer limited to a few

sustainable but also very

with regard to the colours used in the landscape. Walls,

Native vegetation: There

pieces of wicker furniture,

aesthetically pleasing.

fences, furniture and paving

is definitely a greater

there’s a growing movement

So it’s no more ‘just build’,

are all now being used in a

understanding of the use

toward individualising

but a cost consciousness

wide variety of colour that

of natives in the landscape

outdoor spaces through

towards lifecycle costs.

wasn’t generally used in an

by landscape architects

the use of a wide range

external setting before. The

and developers. Again we

of available fabrics and

LED: LED lighting is quickly

paint colour of a building

have seen requirements for

accessories. The outdoor

changing the way we use

or structure definitely

species that were not on

space is now becoming

lighting as an important

affects what a garden

the asking list earlier. Thus

an extension of the house

part of an outdoor space.

looks like, often creating

inclusiveness, sustainability

and reflects the various

Though the initial cost

a vibrant background

and water usage are key

uses as found indoors.

is higher, there are long-

that sets off the colours

drivers of this new trend.

of plants in the garden.

term energy savings Manageable maintenance:

and the quality is getting

Details of a stone wall,

Rethinking outdoor

Clients are far more aware

better and better.

interesting edging or

experiences: Everything

of the need to use design

LEDs can be ‘warm’

delicate patterns caused

you have inside you can have

principles that include

coloured and are available

from the sun shining

outside, be it grills, covered

manageable maintenance.

in many forms and shapes

through carefully designed

areas, or spaces with

pergolas can add a

cooling, heating or lighting.

to suit a customer or Sustainability: There is

client’s ideas or needs.

DECEMBER 2016 31

ON SITE

04 Michael Mascarenhas outlines some of the key

demand and consciousness over the past five to ten years is the move towards sustainability through the use of more and more native species and the drive for ever greater irrigation efficiency.

“To that end, we at Desert Group have established a very large native plant nursery and developed a new smart irrigation controller that reduces water consumption by at least 30%,” Mascarenhas points out.

Connell also indicates that customer demands have remained largely the same – create a highquality environment with the least expenditure, and always have it ready 05 yesterday!

The Middle East is rapidly evolving despite the arid terrain and paucity of water resources, and has done remarkably well in terms of water availability and ‘greening’ the desert, notes Niknam, who has been extensively involved with Dubai’s Marasi Business Bay Development, Dubai Holding’s AED 1 billion ($273 million) mixed-use waterfront destination spanning 12km of waterfront promenade along the newly inaugurated Dubai Water Canal. “Waterfalls have a way of attracting visitors anywhere, in public facilities, malls, city centres or residential communities, and the affinity for water and the serenity of water bodies such as ponds, pools, canals, lakes and associated lush vegetation in the vicinity is the growing trend in the region,” he indicates.

Adaptation

As in any sector, challenges abound. Mascarenhas opines that there is equal responsibility for landscape architects, consultants and contractors to focus on innovation. “The client then can be better advised. We have to address the big goals of sustainability, water conservation and designs that do not flatter but optimise scarce resources. There must be an immediate focus on inclusiveness as well. For far too long in this region, the agency concept of products has stymied innovation. It’s time to depend less on the core that must be imported and look at how we can use what is available in the region.”

32 DECEMBER 2016

trends he sees in the landscaping sector.

05 AECOM provided the landscape design for Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi.

His advice for designers and entrepreneurs in the landscaping industry?

“There is endless potential within the landscaping industry, but let it be known that like any other industry it is hard work.

While there is a dearth of good horticultural and landscaping skills, any service or solution will have to meet the new goal of affordability. Hence start small, conserving cash, assess the market as you go along – and deliver.”

What does it take to get to the top of the landscaping industry?

Customer focus, persistence, innovation, patience and the most important element – a team that is motivated and delivers a quality product each time, on time, Mascarenhas notes.

“This region has been blessed with some visionary leadership.

Part of the ethos is some great landscaping. Now it’s for us to deliver solutions that can make a positive difference to our habitat and society at large. We must continue to focus on what matters most to this region, and right at the top is water conservation. A greater focus on delivering innovative solutions is the need of the hour,” he emphasises.

With his international background, Niknam says total commitment and dedication are key attributes for success in any enterprise, including landscape. “Smart yet sustainable designs, technologies, aestheticism and concern for the environment are vital considerations that will give landscape professionals the competitive edge and success in the industry.”

For Connell, regulatory requirements tend to constrain creative and non-standard design ideas. “Often, this means there are limited opportunities to create the uniqueness that clients want to see,” he rues.

“Listen to your client. Create and develop your ideas, and have confidence when pitching them” is his counsel for his peers in the business. “To get to the top of the landscape ladder, you need to be creative, responsive and have a good sense of humour,” he concludes.

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ON SITE

Mec AWARdS 2016

Luminaries in the limelight Middle East Consultant recognises and honours consultants redefining the industry in the region

M

ore than 300 high-profile guests, representing a cross-section of the construction consulting industry, attended a sumptuous reception to celebrate the second edition of the Middle East Consultant Awards.

With the under-construction Ain Dubai project on Bluewaters Island providing the perfect backdrop to the presentation ceremony, 12 winners from carefully determined categories reflecting the many facets of the construction consulting industry were celebrated by their peers.

“Following its very successful debut last year, interest in the Middle East Consultant Awards 2016 surged this year and we were overwhelmed with a record number of quality and competitive entries and nominations,” asserted Michael Stansfield, commercial director at CPI Media Group. “As the only publication of its kind, Middle East Consultant is the face and voice of the trade for the region’s construction consulting industry. The Middle East Consultant Awards reflect the appreciation and affirmation by the trade fraternity of professional accomplishments by their industry peers.”

The judges’ panel consisted of: Kez Taylor, CEO, ALEC; Marcus Truscott, managing director, Multiplex; Rahil Aslam, group CEO, Select Group; Simon Jewell from the CIOB; Tarek Emara, director QHSE, China State Construction Engineering Corporation; Gavin Davids, consulting editor; and Malcolm Dias, deputy editor.

The sponsors were FAMCO, Nora, SEED, WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, Cavendish Maxwell, CIOB, JLL and RICS. SponSorS

34 deceMBeR 2016

lighting SponSor

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Supporting partnerS

deceMBeR 2016 35

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Project of the Year Nominees: •

AECOM for Akeelah Aluminum Extrusions (TALEX) Plant, KIZAD, Abu Dhabi

•

Ramboll for The Green Planet

•

Woods Bagot for City Walk/Hotel 1/

•

Four Seasons Bahrain – SOM

Madinah Jumeirah Resort Phase 4

Winner: The Green Planet, Ramboll

Multi-discipline company of the Year Nominees: •

AECOM

•

ARCADIS

•

WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff

Winner: AecOM

The Multi-Discipline Company of the Year Award recognises consultants that provide a comprehensive suite of services to the construction industry.

This elite set of nominated companies are the apex of this field, overseeing multi-billiondollar projects, delivering firstrate, iconic mega-structures that have been provided with bestin-class project and contract management, engineering and technical advisory services.

These attributes nudged the judges to pick AECOM as the winner, with peer reviews and client testimonials highlighting just how the consultant was 36 deceMBeR 2016

able to offer exceptional and consistent services to clients.

“On behalf of the team at AECOM, I would like to express our delight and appreciation of this industry recognition, an indicator of the faith and confidence reposed in us by our peers. It is a reflection of the unparalleled breath of resources, local knowledge and fully integrated multi-disciplinary teams of specialists to tackle some of the largest and most complex projects in the Middle East,” said Hamed Zaghw, CEO and executive vice president, AECOM, upon receiving the award on the night.

Ramboll played a key and instrumental role in the development of Dubai’s very own indoor tropical rainforest.

The Green Planet, complete with more than 3,000 species of plants, animals and freeflying birds, is the world’s largest indoor man-made and life-sustaining tree, located at Dubai’s City Walk.

The judges said that the wonders and characteristics of the tropical forests were well encapsulated in The Green Planet, and that the bio-dome provided visitors with a rare opportunity to explore the

planet’s fascinating flora and fauna through an immersive expedition into the tropics.

“We are naturally pleased to win this award, as it reinforces the faith both the client and the judges panel had in Ramboll’s abilities to successfully create the controlled, conducive and energy-efficient environment of the bio-dome to recreate the characteristics of a natural environment experienced in the rainforest,” affirmed Brian Sweeney, associate director, project management, Ramboll Middle East, after collecting the award.

ON SITE

Structural engineering company of the Year Nominees: •

Gulf Consult

•

DeSimone Consulting Engineers

Winner: deSimone consulting engineers

Urban Landscaping Project of the Year Nominees: •

ARUP – Reem Island Sector 4 – Reem Destination

•

Desert Ink – TH8 Hotel

•

U+A Architects – Marasi Business Bay

Winner: U+A Architects for Marasi Business Bay

This award is dedicated to designing and implementing unique and inspiring urban environments in the Middle East that live in equilibrium with their natural and cultural surroundings through economically and environmentally sustainable development.

“At U+A Architects, we are naturally energised with this award that underscores our extraordinary abilities to fuse all of our capabilities in architecture, interior design, urban planning, landscape, engineering and project management to deliver exceptional work, based on a master plan which places equal consideration on design

excellence, technical soundness and financial viability,” said Pedram Rad, managing director, U+A Architects, upon receiving the award.

The Marasi Business Bay is an unprecedented waterside destination concept in the UAE and features the region’s first purpose-built yachting destination with floating restaurants and cafés, alongside onshore boutique shopping and a range of leisure and entertainment facilities.

The objective is to create an innovative and unique development that accentuates the essence of Dubai’s culture and heritage.”

The Structural Engineering award fetes the companies and consultancies involved in designing and constructing structures – buildings, bridges and tunnels. It also seeks to highlight the role and impact of these companies in the region.

The judges chose DeSimone Consulting Engineers as the winner. The company convinced the judges by demonstrating its prowess and expertise in being able to deliver some very special projects and challenging assignments, such as the Al Maryah Tower on Al Maryah island in Abu Dhabi and the Regent Emirates Pearl Hotel.

“The Structural Engineering Company of the Year Award

is further evidence of how well we are regarded by our peers in our business,” asserted Ahmed M. Osman, managing principal, DeSimone Consulting Engineers.

“We believe that the best solutions are designed in an environment where people work together in pursuit of a common goal. Our open office environment promotes idea sharing and problem solving, and allows us to connect knowledge with people quickly and effectively, being able to make use of our wealth of resources comprising people, ideas and information and work together in harmony to create superlative products,” Osman added.

deceMBeR 2016 37

ON SITE

Architectural company of the Year Nominees: •

GP Architects

•

U+A Architects

Winner: U+A Architects

MEP Engineering company of the Year Nominees: •

CKR Consulting Engineers

•

Ramboll

Winner: CKR Consulting Engineers

The winner of the MEP Engineering Company of the Year Award replicated its success in the UAE, successfully completing a number of highprofile projects like Royal Mirage Resort, Bab Al Shams Desert Retreat, Park Hyatt Dubai, the multi-million-dollar Madinah Jumeirah Resort Development and the iconic Bluewaters Hospitality and Residential Development.

The judges noted CKR Consulting Engineers’ impressive track record in delivering 35 years of engineering excellence across the globe. Its vast experience in the region, working on demanding projects, was 38 deceMBeR 2016

instrumental in tipping the scales in its favour and winning the award.

“CKR Consulting Engineers takes great pride in being declared winners and will keep the momentum going as we gain traction,” said Jean van Loggerenberg, director, CKR Consulting Engineers, on being presented with the award.

“Through our work we will demonstrate our primacy in the region. The award is a good morale booster, and we will continue to excel in our work.

Despite the challenges, we are here in the region for the long haul and will stay the course,” said van Loggerenberg after collecting the award.

The Architectural Company of the Year acknowledges a company for producing unique and ingenious architecture in a region that lays claims to some of the best-designed structures in the world.

After careful and prolonged deliberations and a keenly fought contest, with both nominees showing exceptional competence, the judges had a tough call to make.

They eventually cast their vote in favour of U+A Architects, a name synonymous with professionalism and involvement, to collect a second award on the night.

“We work very closely with our clients and are sensitive to

their needs and instructions.

We have also set very high benchmarks for ourselves and deliver on the commitments we make. We have strong roots in the region and have earned the respect and trust of our peers and clients in the region. Our success is measured in being held to the high standards and deliverables expected of us by our customers,” commented Pedram Rad, managing director, U+A Architects.

With a project list that includes the iconic Marasi Business Bay in Dubai, the PSCC Exhibition Centre in KSA and the Jisa Hotel and Resort in Iran, U+A is truly a regional force to reckon with.

ON SITE

cost consulting company of the Year Nominees: •

C-Quest

•

Omnium International

Winner: Omnium International

Project Management company of the Year Nominees: •

ASTAD Project Management

•

Faithful + Gould

•

Parsons

Winner: Parsons

The Project Management Company of the Year Award turns the spotlight on a company that offers high-quality project management services, from comprehensive supervision and inspection to eventual commissioning services, for every phase of the construction project.

From a field of well-known industry heavyweights, the judges chose Parsons, whose core business is the management of large, complex, multi-site programmes.

They recognised an industry leader repeatedly ranked as one of the top 10 programme management

firms and known for delivering experienced leadership and innovative solutions for each new challenge.

“We are excited with this award that puts a seal of approval on our capabilities and accomplishments,” said William C. Bodie, executive vice president, Parsons, receiving the award on behalf of the company.

“I want to dedicate this to our team that has always stood the test of time and never fails to deliver. I am proud of their skills and their understanding of the business – the intricacies, the complexities and the solutions to overcome these,” Bodie concluded.

This award puts the limelight on a quantity surveying and cost consulting firm in the region capable of providing value engineering and cost advice on individual projects, as well as cost reduction opportunities.

After examining this niche field, the judges decided on Omnium International, which has a long presence in the region and has firmly established itself as a trailblazer in the mega tall building sector.

“We are excited with being given this award, and it is a tribute and testament that the hard work and professionalism of the team always measures up.

Our reputation and experience in this new class of structures

is confirmed by the fact that on three out of the four mega tall projects in the Middle East region, we have been appointed as the sole start-to-end project quantity surveyors,” affirmed Peter Westeng, managing director, Omnium International, upon receiving the award.

“That Omnium continues to be selected above our often larger rivals for such prestigious developments speaks volumes for the trust and confidence our clients place in us. While we are experienced with recordbreaking projects, we are proud to have a diverse portfolio that now includes the stunning UAE pavilion of the Dubai Expo 2020 site,” he added.

deceMBeR 2016 39

ON SITE

Executive of the Year Nominees: •

Campbell Gray – Faithful + Gould

•

Neil Martin Reynolds – CH2M

•

Richard Fenne – Woods Bagot

•

Stephen Taylor – WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff

Winner: Campbell Gray – Faithful + Gould

Specialist consulting company of the Year Nominees: •

AESG

•

Desert Ink

•

Limah Design Consultants

•

InSite

Winner: Limah design consultants

The Specialist Consulting Company of the Year Award pays tribute to companies that have attained outstanding results in the delivery of specialised services for projects in the Middle East. This intensely contested niche saw a large number of nominees, from those who provide select, specialist services to those offering a broader assortment of services. Although they are a diverse group, they share common principles and are bound in their shared vision to excel and initiate new technologies and concepts.

Given the crowded field, 40 deceMBeR 2016

the judges had difficult choices to make, but eventually settled on Limah Design Consultants after prolonged and careful consideration.

“We are immensely gratified by this award, and we thank the judges for the confidence reposed in us, but will not be resting on our oars. We are greatly encouraged by this recognition and will continue to push the boundaries in pursuit of excellence and perfection,” said Jason Lewis, founder and managing director, Limah Design Consultants, specialists in way-finding, among other related interests.

The recipient of this award is a leader, a high performer, an industry veteran and a driver of growth with a strategic plan who provides hands-on direction to his team while empowering his management team to make business decisions.

Campbell Gray, a devoted leader, joined Faithful+Gould post-graduation with a love for building and knowing that what he would accomplish on a construction project would endure beyond his lifetime. He worked his way up the ranks from surveyor to his current position as managing director, demonstrating effective, highquality leadership along the way.

Campbell’s key professional experience relates to quantity surveying, project management, alternative procurement and commercial management, whole life advisory, facilities and asset management, and project management.

“I am personally excited and humbled to receive this award, particularly in the face of stiff competition,” said Gray upon receiving the award.

“However, this is not just about me. I owe it to my team and supportive colleagues, without whose active and continued assistance these accomplishments would not be possible,” he concluded.

ON SITE

Workplace of the Year Nominees: •

AECOM

•

AESG

•

CKR Consulting Engineers

•

LIMAH Design Consultants

Winner: LIMAH Design Consultants

Middle east consultant’s Rising Star of the Year Nominees: •

Ethan Kerber – Ramboll

•

Lay Kiat Neo – Faithful+Gould

•

William Bennett – Desert Ink

Winner: Lay Kiat Neo – Faithful+Gould

With a crowded field, the judges again had some tough decisions to make. They eventually picked Lay Kiat Neo, project manager, Faithful+Gould, for this key Rising Star Award. Described by her peers and colleagues as dedicated, enthusiastic and well-respected, Lay Kiat was previously based in her hometown of Singapore, where she worked on a number of major projects including the Marina Bay Sands and the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix.

The jury noted that since her move to the Middle East, Lay Kiat has worked on equally prestigious and challenging

assignments in the region and demonstrated great technical knowledge and an eagerness to learn and grow. She has consistently received positive client feedback, which has resulted in consolidating relationships contributing to over 80% repeat business and helped Faithful+Gould diversify into the pharmaceutical sector.

“Thank you so much. It still kind of feels surreal to be winning the award. I didn’t expect that at all. It is a great honour and privilege and I’m humbled,” was her reaction upon receiving the award. “It is good to receive this award, and it will encourage and inspire me.”

This new category attracted a considerable number of nominees, indicating a trend and concern among companies for creating a good and welcoming workspace for employees.

Limah is a multidisciplinary design practice focused on creating a positive human experience for the built environment. In its pitch, the company said it explores wayfinding, experience engineering and public art and positions itself at the cusp of these disciplines, from its studio in Dubai’s art district, Al Serkal Avenue in Al Quoz, to develop innovative design strategies, products and techniques.

“We are greatly satisfied with this second recognition at the Middle East Consultant Awards 2016 and believe it is a vote of faith and confidence in our abilities to influence and deliver,” remarked Jason Lewis, the company’s founder and managing director. “Limah’s projects are renowned for their holistic approach, purposeful design and attention to the human experience.”

The Limah team works cohesively in a studio to ensure that environments are made more useful, more engaging and more enjoyable, so that employees and other people are keen to come back for more.

deceMBeR 2016 41

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ON SITE

SHOW REVIEW

The Big 5 in Overdrive The Big 5 saw more than 3,100 exhibitors showcase products and services, vying for a piece of the construction industry pie

F

our-day-long The Big 5, the largest construction and building industry show in the Middle East, was opened

by Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and UAE Minister of Finance and Industry. Josine Heijmans, event director at exhibition organiser dmg events, said The Big 5 2016, the 37th edition, was the biggest to date, attracting over 75,000 attendees.

According to consultancy Deloitte in its recent report ‘Powers of Construction: 2016’, the UAE, one of the world’s most attractive construction markets, has a robust construction pipeline worth more than $700 billion, over one third of the GCC’s pipeline.

The value of Dubai’s construction projects in the execution and planning stages is expected to reach a record of $390.7 billion this year. A total of 13.7% of these projects, valued at $53.5 billion, are currently under progress despite the oil slump.

The report estimates that the total spend on infrastructure projects related to Dubai Expo 2020 may reach $18 billion, with estimated development costs of the Dubai South area of $8.1-8.7 billion.

“This year has been a seminal moment for GCC construction

innovation, and 2017 will see continued momentum with government BIM directives, 3D printing and pre-fabrication, and BIM gaining wider take-up. The UAE’s strong showing in international awards demonstrates the country’s standing as a global BIM leader,” said Paul Wallett, regional director at Trimble Solutions Middle East.

Building optimism

This year, companies from Italy and Brazil were prominent at The Big 5 with their products. Gianpaolo Bruno, Italian Trade Commissioner to the UAE, Oman and Pakistan, informed Middle East Consultant that the 380-strong Italian contingent was the second biggest after the Chinese group. “There is growing interest in Italian companies among Middle East developers and consultants, and trade in this sector is clearly on the upswing. Italian construction material exports to the UAE alone are expected to reach $480 million in 2016, registering a 20% increase over 2015 figures.”

Michel El Alaby, secretary general and CEO, Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and leader of the Brazilian delegation, was also upbeat about prospects for the Latin American country.

DECEMBER 2016 43

ON SITE

Cayan names contractor for Dubai tower project Saudi Arabian developer the Cayan Group has appointed Indian conglomerate Shapoorji Pallonji International as the main contractor for a two-tower hotel apartment and residential project in Dubai.

Excavation works on the Cayan Cantara project have been completed and main construction works are set to commence this month, the developer said.

The residential and hotel apartment tower will include more than 700 units in the form of studios, apartments ranging from one-bedroom to three-bedroom, and penthouses.

Cayan Group has also appointed Rotana Hotel Management as the operator for the hotel apartment tower, which will function under Rotana’s Arjaan brand and be known as the Cayan Arjaan Hotel Apartments.

“It is a great feeling to work with such renowned brands in the hospitality and construction sectors. We want to reassure both our existing and potential clients that their return on investment is our priority too,” Ahmed Alhatti, chairman of Cayan Group, noted.

The project has been designed jointly by architects Nikken Sekkei and UAE based Dewan Architects.

44 DECEMBER 2016

Dubai’s Arabtec names Hamish Tyrwhitt CEO The board of Arabtec Holding, the Dubailisted construction giant, has announced the appointment of Hamish Tyrwhitt as the company’s new CEO, with effect from November 28, 2016.

Well-known within the construction industry, Tyrwhitt worked for Leighton Holdings for the last 27 years. He held a number of positions in Australia and Asia before being appointed Leighton CEO from 2011 to 2014. In 2015, he became CEO of Asia Resource Materials, a London-listed Indonesian coal mining company.

Earlier this year, he was appointed CEO of interiors contractor Depa Group. Tyrwhitt is expected to retain his existing responsibilities with Depa Group while handling his new role as CEO of Arabtec Holding.

“Hamish has a distinguished career in the construction industry,” said Mohamed Al Rumaithi, chairman of Arabtec.

“He has the experience necessary for Arabtec to further strengthen the company’s strategic and financial positioning and achieve its full growth potential. We are confident that Hamish’s leadership will allow Arabtec to move forward to a successful and sustainable future,” Al Rumaithi added.

ON SITE

Dubai-based AESG goes global with London Office

Arcadis co-hosts global development programme In collaboration with the Qatar Public Works Authority (Ashghal), Arcadis successfully hosted its recent annual young talent programme, Global Shapers, in Doha. The event was attended by over 100 young professionals and 15 Arcadis officials, who spent a week working together and learning from each other.

Global Shapers is an annual six-month programme that Arcadis set up in 2012, which offers 100 young professionals from around the world the chance to develop international connections and share knowledge.

The core theme for this year’s event was ‘Client Focus’. As well as bringing local knowledge and professional skills, the future leaders from Ashghal also offered a client’s perspective on all the solutions developed.

These included a mentorship programme, the implementation of social media success stories for both Arcadis and Ashghal, and a tool to better engage with clients.

“We were delighted to host this year’s Global Shapers in Doha, where some of our brightest engineers, project managers and consultants can see the range of opportunities on offer to work on some of the world’s most exciting programmes, and to improve quality of life in Qatar,” said Jack Overkamp, managing director of Arcadis Qatar.

“We were privileged and very fortunate to have Ashghal take part in this year’s Global Shapers event. The insight that their leaders and young professionals shared throughout the week will be of benefit to all,” added Graham Reid, CEO, Arcadis Middle East.

Home-grown UAE consultancy firm AESG has announced the opening of its new operations hub in London, which it will use to compete in the world market. The Dubaibased consultants, specialising in solving build environment and sustainability challenges, said in a statement that the move builds on the ongoing success of its practice in the Middle East and follows years of double-digit growth for the company in the region.

“Based on our leading position in the Middle East market, clients have increasingly requested for our services outside of the region. Opening an office in London was a natural step, as many of our international clients operate in that market, which is a hub for international activity in real estate development and design excellence. This aligns with our expansion strategy of focusing on markets that value high-quality consultancy services,” said Saeed Al Abbar, director at AESG. “We have extensive experience working with leading architectural practices in Europe, and opening our offices in London will enable us to build on this,” Al Abbar added.

DECEMBER 2016 45

ON SITE

Shaikhani Group appoints new COO Dubai-based developer the Shaikhani Group has named Alan James Gammon its new Chief Operating Officer, in a move that intensifies its commitment to speed up $1.5 billion worth of planned projects in its pipeline, the company stated in a press communiqué. Gammon will be entrusted to oversee the group’s activities, including asset management, new business, joint venture partnerships and day-to-day operations of the real estate business.

“Alan Gammon’s rich professional experience will help us gain traction and maintain the standards of our numerous quality projects,” said Mahmood Abu Baker Shaikhani, managing director of the Shaikhani Group, in announcing this appointment.

Gammon has served in several senior capacities with British Airways and other real estate and hospitality businesses. He has also had senior management roles in real estate, property development, tenancy and asset management.

He will be overseeing the global operations of the multi-billion-dollar international business conglomerate with diversified interests in real estate development, trading, manufacturing and IT.

46 DECEMBER 2016

Omran awards contracts for Muscat project The Oman Tourism Development Company (Omran) has awarded two major consultancy contracts for the first phase of its ambitious $1.3 billion Mina Al Sultan Qaboos Waterfront project in Muscat, according to a post on the company’s website.

HD23, a joint venture between Nadia Al Lawati, an Omani architect and owner of 23 Degrees North, and Harper Downie, has been named lead consultant and master planner for the project.

“Our vision for the Mina Al Sultan Qaboos Waterfront is to create a world-class waterfront development of outstanding beauty and interest that celebrates the maritime history of Muscat,” said HE Dr Ali bin Masoud Al Sunaidy, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of Oman Tourism Development Company, in announcing the project.

The mega waterfront project will be developed over four separate phases, according to top Omran officials at a recent launch ceremony.

Phase One of the integrated mixed-use waterfront destination, set to be developed at a cost of $390 million, will transform the current commercial Port Sultan Qaboos area into a major tourism-based development spanning a 64-hectare area when completed by 2020, according to project details. It will include business and residential zones, destination mall, six hotels, recreation amenities and tourist attractions, as well as docking facilities for cruise liners and yachts.

Omran CEO James Wilson indicated that the architectural designs would focus on providing sustainable low-energy solutions.

ON SITE

Danube Properties launches Miraclz Project

Klampfer, Brayan Group launch MEP enterprise for UAE Klampfer Middle East and Brayan Group have announced the formation of a partnership enterprise to service the UAE mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) sector. The new company, Klampfer-Brayan Electromechanical Contracting LLC (KBEC), falls within the portfolio of Dubaibased KBW Investments, which said in a statement that the newly-formed entity was conceptualised by Günther Hinterberger, Klampfer Middle East managing director, and Praveen B Sarapure, CEO, Brayan Group.

“Klampfer is moving towards increasing and diversifying our Middle East market share, beginning with the UAE. Our partnership with Brayan Group serves to both solidify our local footprint and leverage the company’s on-the-ground years of MEP experience,” the statement quoted Hinterberger as saying.

KBEC was developed based on discussions that highlighted mutually aligned interests and construction industry corporate aims, while drawing on proven individual strengths in multiple engineeringrelated sectors, the statement added.

Danube Properties has announced the launch of its seventh $109 million project, Miraclz, in Dubai’s Arjaan neighbourhood. The project was announced at a press conference held at the Danube Properties Headquarters, where the residential tower was unveiled by Rizwan Sajan, founder and chairman of the Danube Group.

Commenting on the new property launch, Sajan said: “We started out two years ago and have been promoting the ‘stop renting and start owning’ mantra and have received a phenomenal response. I am humbled by the trust our customers have shown in us till now, which has in turn motivated us to launch one successful project after the other.”

Miraclz offers a selection of 591 apartment units ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments, with each home fully furnished and equipped with modular furniture.

The new residential complex will provide residents with amenities including retail spaces, a swimming pool, a fully-equipped health club with a steam room, platform tennis court and an amphitheatre, among other facilities.

DECEMBER 2016 47

THE BACK PAGE

LAST WORD 01 Mark Vowles, director, Nulty.

Guiding Light While the market for lighting is relatively young, it is quickly becoming a powerful force in architecture, writes Mark Vowles, director, Nulty, shining a light on its potential

01

T

he dip in oil prices notwithstanding, these are exciting times for the Middle East with two mega events looming – the World Expo 2020 in Dubai and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – holding the promise of an imminent resurgence.

One of the things that continually impresses me here is the cohesiveness of the professional community in the region. We witness free-flowing discussions, camaraderie and collective sharing of ideas, and forge fruitful partnerships. It’s a very tight-knit design community and it’s relatively easy to build professional relationships.

48 DECEMBER 2016

It’s a young country full of young, cosmopolitan, educated people with new ideas and ways of doing things, and if such a collective, collaborative ethos and philosophy can be applied to all that we do within the lighting industry, then we can find a way of representing our industry with one voice that will ultimately address the many issues of quality, time, costs, fees and so on. A unified voice to promote the professionalism of architectural lighting design in the region is the need of the hour.

Dubai in particular is a city of light. We’re all part of that history and that future, and collectively we need to do our best to support and promote our industry, because if we get it right, it benefits us all. I genuinely think there is the opportunity and the potential for this part of the world to be the benchmark that others follow.

Trends

There are more opportunities for façade lighting projects in the Middle East than in Europe, and this seems to be the trend moving forward.

As the cost of LEDs is coming down, these applications are becoming more affordable for clients. Designs should be carefully considered, and ultimately city-wide lighting master planning is required, to avoid the lighting arms race that will take place otherwise.

With the price pressures in oil markets, the fallout can be felt further along the chain

in the form of reduced fees and reduced capital expenditure for luminaires. This is a dangerous thing for our industry – cheap luminaires simply leave a looming maintenance legacy for clients, and low fees undermine the professionalism of our craft.

Client education is key. Ideally clients would better understand value rather than ‘cheapest’ – which worryingly is becoming the trend when appointing designers.

Sustainability

Many people have the misconception that the Middle East is not focused on sustainability.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has proved otherwise and has the vision to make Dubai and the UAE one of the most sustainable countries in the world.

To this end, the UAE governments and the rest of the GCC are investing heavily in future technologies and trying to wean the countries away from the dependence on oil and gas. Good lighting design plays a critical role in sustainability and therefore should continue to raise standards.

As a big advocate of education, Nulty is planning to dedicate and invest a fair amount of time in raising people’s understanding of what good lighting is. Whether it’s architects, interior designers or developers, you cannot underestimate the importance of lighting a space. Creating that ambience is key.

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