Architect of Peace

For the construction specialist
Architect
of Peace
Fariborz Hatam
outlines how
he’s building an
oasis of tranquillity
in Mashhad
ON TOPIC
How smart cities are being
created in the Middle East
IN PRACTICE
Andrew Yeoward on the
importance of bridge building
ON SITE
Understanding the changing
role of a project manager
ISSUE 031
November 2016
Publication licensed by International Media Production Zone,
Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone Authority

CONTENTS
On topic
INduSTRy VIEWS fROM aCROSS ThE MIddLE EaST
07
12
07 aNaLySIS
David Clifton, Faithful + Gould, examines the volatility of oil prices
and its impact on the construction sector
10 OpINION
Dr Kourosh Kayvani advocates creativity and innovation in design
engineering
16
24
12 INSIghT
A trio of professionals provide their take on smart cities
development
In practice
aNaLySIS, INSIghTS aNd INTERVIEWS
16 INTERVIEW
Andrew Yeoward of CH2M Hill gives us the lowdown on
constructing bridges
28 34
24 INSIghT
The subject of facades can be fascinating and fanciful, as an
enlightened group of consultants and contractors point out
On site
CaSE STudIES, OpINIONS aNd SNapShOTS
Choose Responsibly…
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Potential (ODP) and low Global Warming Potential (GWP).
41
42
28 INSIghT
Two diehard and experienced project management practitioners
provide valuable insights on their profession
34 SITE TaLK
Fariborz Hatam of FHSI Architects walks us through a mega
hospitality-recreational project coming up in Mashhad, Iran
Visit our website to find out more:
kingspaninsulation.ae/cfc/hcfc-free
46 SITE NEWS
The Smart Buildability Index will streamline, oversee and regulate
building construction processes
Or visit us at the Big 5: Stand no. 2C51!
44
46
NOVEMBER 2016 1

WELCOME
EDITOR’S
NOTE
Consultant
Celebrations
A change of guard heralds the passage of Middle East Consultant
into the final quarter of this year. I am humbled, overwhelmed and
excited to oversee a title that in the past has sometimes critically,
often vividly, but always faithfully reflected the ethos and essence
of the construction consultancy industry in the region.
We begin with the business of building bridges, engaging
exclusively with a top, life-long bridge builder. We cross the
bridge with an exclusive interview with Andrew Yeoward, global
director of Bridges and Major Crossings at CH2M Hill, one of
the industry heavyweights.
The recent four-day Dubai International Project Management
Forum (DIPMF) organised by RTA was the trigger to put the subject
of project management consultancy on the front burner. We spoke to
two industry stalwarts – Bill Smith of Parsons and Jonathan Hayes of
AECOM – for their analyses and insights into the business.
Gavin Davids, our consulting editor, turns the spotlight on a
major hospitality project in Mashhad, the prominent pilgrim city
in northeastern Iran. A new planned mega hotel complex will be a
game-changer and have a significant impact on the hospitality and
retail sectors of this culturally significant Iranian city, the country’s
second most populous.
We also look up close at the business of fronting buildings with
our focus on facades. We examine the concerns and challenges
confronting the industry and efforts to resolve pressing issues.
The 2016 edition of the Middle East Consultant Awards
presentation ceremony will be held on 8 November at the Ritz-
Carlton, Jumeirah Beach Residence. We were inundated with
nominations and are gratified that the response to the Awards
has been so overwhelming. We look forward to announcing
the winners and welcoming and celebrating with guests at this
glittering ceremony.
Watch this space as we reveal and recognise the winners in our
December 2016 edition!
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2 NOVEMBER 2016

ON TOPIC
MOST POPULAR
FEATURED
READERS’ COMMENTS
CONSTRUCTION
Building work starts on
The Tower in Dubai
CONSTRUCTION
UAE wage protection
decree comes into force
In pictures: Sheikh Mohammed launches
The Tower at Dubai Creek harbour
DUbAI OFFICE DEMAND
A TALE OF MANy MARkETS
As someone with 12
years’ experience renting
commercial space in the
UAE, it was interesting to
read your report about
the complex nature of the
market (Office rents flat
or falling in most Dubai
submarkets, October 18).
It’s a sign of a mature
and maturing market that
the city’s many different
areas are seeing vastly
different patterns in
supply and demand.
Name withheld, via email
CONSTRUCTION
Arabtec awarded $92m
hotel project in Dubai
INFRASTRUCTURE
Oman: Turkish firm wins
$277m Duqm Port contract
CONSTRUCTION
Wael Allan named CEO of
Dubai’s Drake & Scull
video: Abu Dhabi Airports’ Midfield
Terminal building construction update
MAN AND MAChINE vERSUS
ThE ENvIRONMENT
Your report on the building
of the UAE’s highest road
(up its tallest mountain)
was an inspiring tale
(Moving mountains: How
the UAE’s highest road
was built, October 19). The
rugged environment (as
you say – like you ‘have set
foot on a different planet’)
just shows the power of
these machines –machines
that we see in use in less
extreme settings every day.
Mandeep Nahel, via website
4 NOVEMBER 2016

ENABLING HIGH PERFORMANCE BUILDING
ON TOPIC
ANALYSIS
Volatility Woes
The fortunes of the regional construction industry are inextricably
linked to oil prices, asserts a top construction analyst
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AV25001 (Courtesy of G Ziemianski)
Form No: 62-1849
As oil prices begin a level of recovery to over $45 and
OPEC has reached a fragile accord with key members to
slow production, the economic outlook for the GCC oil
producers and exporters is expected to improve, a leading
construction-economics researcher affirms in a recent published report.
“Coupled with the continued diversification of the economy and
strong financial reserves, the short to medium term outlook is positive
and stable in the UAE. Oil is targeted to decrease as a percentage of GDP
from 30% to 20% by 2021 with a projected 0% contribution by 2066,”
says David Clifton, Regional Development Director, Faithful + Gould.
Speaking to Middle East Consultant, Clifton said that oil prices were
regulating to a new normal. “The markets have generally adjusted to this
fact, much like the acceptance of Brexit, and any minor adjustments up
or down are accounted for. No big shocks are expected,” he says when
asked what impact the disagreement by OPEC members notably Iraq,
Iran and Libya to lower oil production would have on oil prices.
Silver lining
Dubai remains the top contender for construction awards accounting
for 70% of awards as Abu Dhabi continues to evaluate its project
pipeline. Forecast awards look 5% below meeting the $43bn forecast,
a decline of 24% on 2015 with half year at $2bn and Q3 recording a
total of $36bn, the report continues.
“Looking forward to 2017 we forecast a small level of recovery
in construction awards as the Expo 2020 nudges closer, Dubai Creek
Harbour and Dubai World Central developments are contracted and
move into gear. At this stage, we are expecting $45bn, a 4% growth on
2016 forecast. However, this is still below required levels to support the
industry relative to its 2014 / 2015 status quo,” Clifton adds.
SWF largesse
In response to another question Clifton remarks that the oil price
level had been widely accepted and is being worked with by the UAE
NOVEMBER 2016 7

ON TOPIC
PROCTOR
government. The announcement around the
next 5-year federal budget acknowledges
that the oil price is a sustained low, he
maintains. As a country, the sovereign
wealth fund (SWF) and low debt to GDP
ratio is an insulator to the worst effects of
the oil price (sovereign wealth being - ADIA
($792bn), ICD ($196bn), IPIC ($66.3bn),
Mubadala ($66.3bn), EIA ($15bn) &
RAKIA ($1.2bn) in assets), he adds.
He also observes the UAE’s continued
diversification away from oil which
01
currently represents 30% of GDP is also a
positive. Dubai is less impacted by oil price
than Abu Dhabi and much more so by the constrained liquidity in the
regional and international markets. The majority of contracts awarded
in the last year had financing locked in during 2014/15 when funding
was more plentiful.
“The issues presenting themselves now are around higher costs
of financing and stricter lending terms. Combining this with softened
real estate prices in the UAE and a significant minority of real estate
schemes may become unfeasible or require significant remodelling,”
he says in separate remarks.
Constraints
With global liquidity declining (8% from the Q1-2015 to Q1-2016
period), a tightening in the credit markets locally, and contraction in
real estate prices, a sizable number of mixed use schemes in the UAE are
likely to be reassessed, as they are borderline feasible or now impractical.
The effect on the pipeline of projects planned will not be dramatic,
but will take off $860bn+ from planned schemes and will extend the
delivery timeline from 10 to 25 years. Q3 and Q4 will see a sizable
quantum of construction tenders entering the UAE market as the
way forward to the critical path for Expo 2020 and the committed
projects for delivery prior to the event implies awards need to peak
by early 2017, the report continues.
Pinning hopes on Saudi Arabia
The expectation of the regional market is to
draw contracting resources from Saudi Arabia
for delivery, returning when the Kingdom
has established its Project Management
Offices (PMOs) and commences awarding
work again in 2018/2019.
When pressed on the fallout on the
other big OPEC GCC members Kuwait
and Qatar, Clifton commented that these countries are incredibly
well insulated against low oil prices.
“Kuwait in some respects was savvy working with PPPs (Public-
Private partnerships) when the oil price was high and funding easy
to attract,” he explains.
Qatar is looking like it is slowing the award of contracts in the
industry and whilst the oil prices doubtlessly plays a factor, the
economic argument is probably less significant to the political one.
Qatar appears to be reassessing what is important to the nation and
what is really required to deliver the World Cup, he points out.
Price pressures on construction commodities
Clifton also draws attention to the continued volatility in prices of
construction materials in many parts of the world and the consistent
decline in steel-related products that is a significant contributor to
the decline in construction inflation. “Further, continued pressure is
expected in the short term as global oversupply continues to benefit
the local market prices,” he forecasts.
“Construction materials are driven by global and regional supply
and demand factors. Currently steel in under suppression given huge
oversupply in China and ‘market dumping’. In this case, oil isn’t the
main factor,” he concludes.
01
David Clifton, Regional Development
Director, Faithful + Gould.
Average rebar price (AED/T, Oct 2015 - Sept 2016)
2,000
Average concrete price (AED/m 3 , July 2015 - June 2016)
244
1,700
241
1,500
1,300
O
238
235
N D J F M A M J J A S JUL SEP DEC MAR JUN
Source: Faithful + Gould
8 NOVEMBER 2016

ON TOPIC
COMMENT
01
Dr Kourosh Kayvani is
global director, excellence
& expertise at Aurecon.
Attaining leadership
Dr Kourosh Kayvani makes the
case for engineering designers
fostering creativity and technical
specifications, and applying this to
deliver new infrastructure
Floating Houses
01
As the world becomes
increasingly complex, riven
with ambiguity and volatility,
creative and innovative design
must underpin the way we frame and
solve problems facing humanity and our
environment.
Engineering design has always had a vital
role to play in delivering our constructed
environment and infrastructure. It is true that
as engineers we help deliver projects that are
technically sound, cost-effective and fit for
purpose. However, we can and should have
a bigger image of our role.
I believe that as consulting engineers, we
are undervaluing the opportunities created
by embracing engineering-led design, where
grand challenges and deep aspirations are
solved in the macro scale through the system
thinking engrained in engineering design.
However, for that to hold true, our profession
needs to embrace the view that delivering
truly meaningful design solutions requires
acknowledging that human-centric thinking
is as important as system-thinking.
Historic precedents
Consider how Rome, Istanbul and other
cities of the former Roman Empire still use
the sophisticated systems of underground
aqueducts and cisterns built some 2,500
years ago to serve their populations today.
Many areas in the Middle East continue to
rely on the traditional falaj (qanat or canal)
for irrigation and cooling.
In the recent past, we have allowed our
professionals to become less recognised,
even undervalued. The power of engineered
design has been subsumed across our
profession by too much focus on delivering
conventional systems and operating within
narrowly defined functional elements.
Great engineering visionaries and
designers must not remain discipline-bound;
they should become discipline integrators.
Change is being forced upon every one of us.
In the same way that computing and robotics
have disrupted blue-collar businesses, these
advances are disrupting professional services
like ours. In our profession, this disruption
comes in many forms.
Engineering at the cross-roads
As engineers, I believe we have two options.
Continue as we are and be commoditised,
or embrace a disrupted future and become
better designers and innovators. We must
question everything and seek to understand
change. Our industry-wide philosophy
must be to embrace, not to fear, business
and marketplace disruption. Our challenge
is to focus on problem-finding and problemsolving
for clients and to explore the essence
of great design, just as the best design
engineers did in the past.
This means building strong, designfocused
relationships with the marketplace
that empower our best designers and allow
them to imagine and connect deeply with
projects. Our creative objective should be
to better conceptualise, provoke, refine, plan
and deliver excellence across the lifecycle of
projects, for whomever they resonate with or
have an impact on.
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
10 NOVEMBER 2016

ON TOPIC
ON TOPIC
INSIghT
Enabling
Smart Cities
Middle East Consultant connects with three leading international
companies to understand how they are leveraging their
technologies and expertise to create smart cities
lthough there is no consensus or
universally accepted definition of
smart cities, there is unanimity
among cities worldwide on the need
to meet the colossal urban challenges
of the metropolises. These include
but are not limited to providing
core infrastructure and basic civic
amenities to residents, and attaining
growth that is both sustainable and inclusive. There is also agreement
that technology will engage, enable and empower this transition.
According to a recent PWC report, global infrastructure spending
is projected to grow from $4 trillion per year in 2012 to more than $9
trillion annually by 2025. Overall, close to a staggering $78 trillion
is expected to be spent collectively on infrastructure development
between 2014 and 2025. Cities worldwide are increasingly gearing
up and gravitating towards becoming smart cities.
Keith Miller, Dubai-based associate director of Atkins Acuity,
the new advisory consulting business of WS Atkins, sets the tone
for the private sector’s perception of the smart city. In his opinion, a
smart city is larger than technology and aims to bring together key
stakeholders, citizens and its competitive strengths to create a better
environment and place to live and work for all residents.
“Speaking from a technology perspective, Autodesk’s perception
of the smart city is a world where data can be harnessed in order to
make infrastructure better. It is a world that is scalable, productive and
connected to ensure that there is an improved understanding with smarter
decisions being made for better outcomes,” affirms Louay Dahmash, head
of Autodesk Middle East, a US developer of software for architecture,
engineering and construction businesses among many others.
Steven Velegrinis, director of Urban Design at Perkins + Will, a
Chicago-headquartered architecture and design firm, takes a more
guarded approach to the concept of smart cities: “Developing smart cities
entails countering a phalanx of complex issues and one needs to look at
‘smartness’ through multiple lenses and at multiple levels.”
What makes cities smart?
In Miller’s estimation, a city is smart if it has a shared vision being
implemented by all stakeholders in a productive and efficient manner
with due regard for the environment. Secondary factors include the
ability to cope with aspects of climate change, lower carbon generation
and proper utilisation of technology.
From his technology perch, Dahmash takes a more succinct view.
“Essentially, we are entering the era of connection and technology is
radically changing the way buildings and infrastructure are designed,
built and used.” He identifies five main pillars that essentially define and
make up a smart city: smart energy, smart transportation, smart data,
smart infrastructure and smart IoT devices.
As a global leader in the field of 3D solutions and design for the
architecture, engineering and construction sectors (AEC) as well as media
and entertainment industries, Autodesk believes that education is key for
the growth of smart cities. One example of Autodesk’s commitment is
the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with Abu
Dhabi Vocational Education and Training Institute (ADVETI) to provide
students with training in cutting-edge 3D design technologies.
Velegrinis exhorts caution and offers planners a pithy instruction:
stop building smart cities in a dumb way. He advises that cities ensure
that their masterplans and site planning are clearly and rigourously
defined, deal with the inherent risks, and bring robust and resilient
design ideas to the fore.
“IT systems must link these together cohesively through the IoT.
Then we need to think intelligently about how people want to use
buildings and make places healthy as building interiors. To us it is that
holistic approach that is needed to realise ‘smartness’,” he adds.
12 NOVEMBER 2016
NOVEMBER 2016 13

ON TOPIC
ON TOPIC
“Essentially, we are entering the era of connection
and technology is radically changing the way buildings
and infrastructure are designed, built and used”
Technology a pivotal enabler for smart cities
Technology is the all-powerful engine driving the move to smart
cities. Miller asserts that aligning a city’s vision and objectives with
stakeholders in a measurable, scalable way is what Atkins Acuity
focuses on. “We normally start with our Future Proofing Cities
methodology that compares a city with others to produce a diagnostic
of where it is. We then look at a city’s capabilities to act in areas
such as vision, funding (central and PPP), project capabilities and
governance,” he states.
Miller notes that Atkins Acuity can deliver not just sophisticated
consultancy services but also many of the programmes needed to
deliver a smart city, ranging from advising on funding and vision to
detailed design of metros, transport and energy plans and strategies.
Continuing in a similar vein, Autodesk ME’s Dahmash also
makes the case for Autodesk with what he characterises as its deep
understanding of building performance, validated data, connected
physical and digital technologies, and the power of the cloud. “Through
Insight 360, Autodesk enables its customers to construct buildings and
cities, making them smarter, more efficient, environmentally sound
and thereby profitable for owners and operators,” he says.
Technology is all-pervasive in terms of availability of design tools,
products and systems, says Velegrinis, and cities have access to some of
the most sophisticated cutting-edge technologies today. Perkins + Will
recently developed a design tool that uses the intelligence of termite
mounds to create passive thermal comfort solutions.
Massive datasets are dealt with in a way that makes output
usable. In terms of products, the company has developed an
outdoor radiant cooling system that simply reuses waste (in
the form of air-conditioning condensate) to cool outdoor areas
effectively. “Real smartness comes from intuitive and carefully
considered design, rather than an application of design technology,”
Velegrinis adds.
Smart city transformation
So how ready are cities in the Middle East
to take that big leap towards transforming
into smart cities?
For Miller, creating a smart city is a
continuous journey with no finishing line.
“Most cities worldwide have piecemeal
ideas in place, and the Middle East is no
exception,” he rues.
Dubai and Qatar have emerging
legislation and open data, which is a
critical step on the journey. Other cities in
the region are weaker on this. Abu Dhabi
has a strong play on sustainability with its
Estidama (sustainability) methodology
based around LEED (Leadership in Energy
& Environmental Design). The Emirates
Green Council has also started to create
similar programmes to widen this approach,
along with Dubai. Public transport has been
an afterthought for most cities, but many are
now aggressively pursuing metro networks,
which are far more sustainable.
The most mature programme in the
Middle East is in Dubai, where Dubai Smart
City has run large numbers of stakeholder
sessions and agreed prioritised KPIs for
some 500 individual smart services.
These range from smart parking to data
analytics and are a clear role model for
cities locally. However, the one weakness
all Middle Eastern cities share is that they
have not incorporated their smart city
services into master planning and urban
01
development strongly enough.
Velegrinis agrees that most cities in
the Gulf are well placed to implement
smart city technologies. Almost every
city is pervasively served by modern ICT
networks, the backbone of any potential
smart system. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha
and Riyadh are high up in the pecking
order in terms of intent and preparedness
to convert to smart cities. He points to
Dubai’s Hyperloop initiative to facilitate
driverless vehicle rollout as an example
of making Dubai smart.
Dahmash opines that cities in the
02
GCC are still emerging and have more
growth potential, unlike European
counterparts which have been around
for centuries and have to refurbish
their existing infrastructure. GCC
cities, on the other hand, are in the
process of expanding and building
completely anew.
Older cities, or cities at a slower pace
of development, face the most difficulties
in making changes to their infrastructure
to accommodate a smart city model. The
region has great potential, and Dahmash
is confident in the design-led revolution
as well as 3D innovation.
03
However, there is still a long way to
go in the creation of a fully functioning
smart city, and much remains to be done in the region. Countries like
the UAE and Qatar are already taking a step forward in their aim to
create the smart cities of the future.
The Dubai Plan 2021 calls for the development of the Emirate
into a “smart, integrated and connected city” and has a strong focus
on energy sustainability and using renewable energy sources. In Qatar,
for example, the city of Lusail outside the capital Doha is already being
developed as a smart city.
01
Keith Miller, associate
director, Atkins Acuity.
02
Steven Velegrinis, director of Urban
Design at Perkins + Will.
03
Louay Dahmash, head of
Autodesk Middle East.
SmartCity network
Recently, SmartCity Korea (Seoul-
Incheon) became the third SmartCity
(after Kochi in Kerala, India and Malta)
in Dubai Holding’s Smart City network.
Autodesk had a role in this formation.
A greater push for global BIM adoption
occurred with the signing of an MoU
between Autodesk and buildingSmart
Korea (bSK) to help develop a Building
Information Modelling Standard
Framework for Korea. Autodesk helped
to create and disseminate the resulting
BIM standards, library and content.
Atkins Acuity is working with
leaders in several cities to help them
realise smart goals. The company is
involved with different cities in various
capacities, in many instances as the
design arm of a consortium delivering
key elements of infrastructure. Metros
in Dubai, Doha and Riyadh are good
examples of this.
Through ADVETI, Autodesk is
committed to preparing promising
young talent by sharing industryrelevant
knowledge and skillsets for
their entry into the workforce. “Over the past year, we have developed
technologies for advanced modelling, simulation, analysis and BIM to
monitor building performance, make building energy sensor data more
impactful for facility managers and determine how cities can meet their
energy and water-related goals,” observes Dahmash.
“As designers of buildings and places, Will + Perkins works closely
with construction industry officials and our in-house research programmes
are immensely beneficial to the industry,” concludes Velegrinis.
14 NOVEMBER 2016
NOVEMBER 2016 15

IN PRACTICE
IN PRACTICE
INTERVIEW
The Master
Bridge Builder
Middle East Consultant talks to veteran master
bridge builder Andrew Yeoward, global director of bridges
& major crossings, CH2M HILL, about the complexities,
challenges, concerns and considerations of bridge building
ndrew Yeoward is the quintessential
bridge builder. The widely travelled
civil engineer’s career spans almost
four decades, and he has lived and
worked in five continents. Working
for the same company for his entire
tenure, he has been instrumental in
constructing bridges that have united
communities, in more ways than one.
That the amiable Andrew Yeoward connects easily with people is
evident when he sits down for a one-on-one interview on a recent brief
official visit to the UAE. The genial Englishman exudes authority and
confidence as he waxes eloquent on his many accomplishments and
insights into the bridge building business.
“I have been with CH2M, specifically Halcrow, my first and only
employer, for all of my 37 professional years. I’ve been a civil engineer
and in the business of building bridges all my life. I started in the
company’s maritime division after graduating from university in the
UK,” he begins as he reminisces about his early days at Halcrow, a
multinational engineering consultancy.
When he joined, he was asked which division he would like to work
in. ‘I chose the maritime division because I thought if I had to go on-site
somewhere, it would be by the sea, so I thought it would be a good and
fun choice,” he fondly recalls.
Middle East foray
His first overseas assignment was the Dubai Dry Docks being
constructed in the late 1970s, during what was dubbed the first big
boom. After returning to the UK, he was given the opportunity to work
on the famed Orwell Bridge, one of the longest bridges of its kind in
the UK. That really triggered his interest in bridges, a fascination that
continues to this day and has earned him the moniker ‘the bridge-man’
from his colleagues.
In the early eighties he acquired his master’s degree at Imperial
College, London. He did a short stint in the UAE, making sorties to
the GCC countries before working in Uganda and Taiwan. Then he got
involved in long span cable bridges and did a couple of iconic projects in
the UK that really set him off on his career, to several countries including
the United States.
CH2M acquisition
Halcrow was acquired by Englewood, Colorado-headquartered CH2M
in 2011, in part due to the UK company’s international footprint and its
well-regarded technical capabilities in areas like big bridges, tunnels and
rail. During his tenure, Yeoward has worked on some iconic bridges in
different locations, including several in the Middle East.
“Personally, one of the big bridges that excited me immensely was
the Second Severn Crossing across the River Severn between England
and Wales. This was a major cable-stayed bridge carrying a motorway
from England to Wales,” he recalls.
He was the design manager on that project for the main bridge
parts. Operational for over 20 years now, it was a design and build
project, an early one of its kind in the UK. It was also a DBFO (Design-
Build-Finance-Operate) project contract, which means the project was
completely privately financed.
There was no looking back, and Yeoward went on to work on the
Dartford Bridge, a major crossing of the river Thames, as well as in
Denmark on the legendary Oresund Bridge, a combined railway and
16 NoVEMBER 2016 NoVEMBER 2016 17

IN PRACTICE
IN PRACTICE
02
motorway bridge across the Oresund strait, which runs between Sweden
and Denmark.
Multiple projects
Currently in the GCC, he is involved in several ongoing CH2M projects,
including the $12 billion Al Sharq bridge (formerly Doha Bay Crossing)
and other 2022 World Cup mega projects. In the UAE, CH2M is also
involved in the R999 project – the Dubai Canal project which is now
nearing completion, with a couple of distinctive arch footbridges going
up across the project as well.
Yeoward is also upbeat about the prospects for added business in
the future, citing Dubai Creek as an example.
“One of the topographical features of this region is a lot of water
– gulf, bays, creeks and waterways that need to be crossed. The Dubai
Creek, for example, requires more crossings, and opportunities
exist across the GCC. The potential for building bridges is good as
governments continue to invest in major infrastructural, development
and transportation projects. Also, because of the extreme climate here,
internal pedestrian connections are also very important to have, although
they are much smaller projects but still need to be provided.”
He believes large projects need not necessarily have a huge price tag
and that costs can be lowered with imaginative thinking and sound
ideas. “These are things that can be done smartly and resourcefully
and at a relatively modest cost, and don’t have to be vastly expensive.
My architect friends always say that you don’t really need to add costs
to get a good-looking bridge. I believe there are ways and means of
providing useful facilities at affordable prices. All of these really play
into urban development, and we are very likely to see more of these in
the foreseeable future.”
Rail and causeway bridges
He also foresees additional rail bridges as a result of the proposed GCC
rail network. The number and size will depend on the network and the
terrain. “The issue with rail and high-speed rail is the longer the span,
the more significant the challenges are in the flexibility of structures,”
he explains.
The longest high-speed rail span in the world is currently being
constructed in China, with CH2M actively involved. “The experience
and expertise gained by the company on this project and others globally
will undoubtedly further boost its capabilities and competencies and
serve it well when working on the GCC rail connectivity,” asserts
Andrew Yeoward.
“What I think one would tend to try and do is find rail routes that
have more conventional bridges rather than big long-span ones.” Rail
bridges are special and serve specific needs, so engineers tend to aim
for shorter spans.
Mega building projects like the Burj Al Arab or the Burj Khalifa are
known landmarks around the world, and bridges are also considered
monumental. Yeoward cites the mammoth 25km King Fahd Causeway
linking Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. He also notes that there is chatter of
a second bridge connecting the two GCC kingdoms, and a possible
crossing between the UAE and Qatar.
“My architect friends always say that you
don’t really need to add costs to get a good-looking
bridge. I believe there are ways and means of
providing useful facilities at affordable prices”
01
01
Aesthetics plays a
pivotal role in the design
and development of
bridges, Yeoward says.
02
Durability is another
key issue that has
received a lot of attention
from bridge engineers.
03
Selecting the right
contractors with
the right skills and
experience is crucial
for any bridge project.
Bridging the design and functionality divide
Aesthetics plays a pivotal role in the design and development of bridges.
“At the conceptual stage, it is really inspirational to work with some of the
architects that we have dealt with around the world. Some of the project
masterpieces that I have worked with have been designed by exemplary,
famed architects. The role and involvement of architects is central to the
success of any project, and many now come with specialisations and
expertise in specific arenas.”
“The architects need to be of the right sort and bring the right
synergies. Smaller bridges offer flexibility and can be an architect’s
playground, and engineers can usually make things work on a smaller
scale, but when it gets to the larger scale, like those that are several
hundred metre spans, the engineering really drives the design.”
As architects love to say, form has to follow function. “Working
with architects who understand that is a really energising process, and
that’s really great fun, but it lasts a relatively short time which is at the
beginning of a project when everyone is excited,” Yeoward observes.
Durability
Another key issue is durability. Yeoward says this is an area that has
developed technologically in the last couple of decades or so and is
increasingly under the scanner. “We talk a lot about service life design,
so for a big bridge, people in the old days would typically say that they
want it to last for 120 years, while others want it to last forever.”
“Unfortunately, while things don’t last forever, you still have
to design them to last for a certain extended period of time. It’s very
important to have that in mind, because you can do your analysis in
concrete design, durability of concrete, and then it really gets down
to the technical details of chloride content and other engineering and
technical considerations.”
In Yeoward’s assessment, when people say that they want a bridge
to last for 120 years, it means the bridge has to be solid, secure and
sturdy. Structural conditions, wind loading, seismic loading, the number
of cycles for fatigue loading, strong foundations, water footprint and
ground conditions are some of the engineering and technical factors
that need to be considered and analysed when designing bridges for
reliability, toughness and safety.
Contractor criteria
Selecting the right contractors with the appropriate skill set and
experience is also key to the construction process. “Design and build
have to come together in perfect harmony, and therefore working closely
18 NoVEMBER 2016
NoVEMBER 2016 19

IN PRACTICE
IN PRACTICE
“The interface between design and construction is
very important, so adherence to instructions is vital
in the architect-contractor relationship”
03
appears to be Yeoward’s prime concern as he advocates the cause of the
construction workers.
“The difference in this part of the world is worker welfare. It is very
hot in this part of the world, so making sure these things are looked after
is very important. Keeping concrete cool is important as well.”
Maintenance is also a vital element of the process when it comes
to bridge management, he adds.
“People often think of steel and concrete in a way that steel goes rusty
and concrete tends to stay longer, but actually maintaining concrete isn’t
that easy. You have to make sure that you have the right type of concrete
to begin with, and the right concrete mixes to ensure its durability.
The right steel coatings can last longer. The quality and standards of
construction material used must be high and uncompromising. You
also have to pay extra attention to the terrain – soft sand and waterways
can pose challenges to bridge building.”
Bridges defining smart cities
Bridges tend to sit in one place but when you look at smart cities, you’re
looking at more active systems, according to Yeoward.
Various things come into play, such as how autonomous or smart
vehicles will be affected by bridges, bridge inspection and maintenance
methodologies, traffic density, corrosion, obsolescence, attrition,
weather, climate and engineering considerations.
“In the end, bridges are there so that people can move from one
place to another, but they’re also there to create a sense of place in an
urban environment and I think they will carry on doing that.”
Technology
bridging the gap?
Modern technology has
enabled bridge design
to evolve over the years.
Interestingly enough,
one of the things that has
enabled it to evolve is not
the physical concrete,
but rather computers.
Cable-stayed bridges
are a classic case of
being very complex – in
engineering terms, highly
redundant – structures,
meaning lots of different
load paths can be applied.
For example, a simple
beam spanning two
supports has one load
path. If that breaks, the
structure falls down. With
cable-stayed bridges,
because there are so
many cables, if one gets
taken out or damaged
then there are lots of other
ways for the load you apply
to be distributed. This
makes these bridges very
efficient to build but very
complex to analyse, so
over the last thirty to forty
years computers have
made a big difference.
Physically, the
incremental increase in
cable strength and cable
technology has helped
make bridges longer –the
longer the cable, the bigger
the stress and the bigger
the force on the cables.
The way cables are made
has also evolved, enabling
the limits to be pushed.
with contractors to come up with good construction methods is vital.
The more one can construct bridges in safe factory conditions, as with
pre-cast or pre-fabricated materials, then there are better quality controls,
comparatively less risks, less likelihood of workers out at heights onsite
or near the water, thereby ensuring their safety and enhancing the
quality of construction.”
Other contractor selection benchmarks include understanding
issues relating to safety and resilience. Contractors also need to have
financial strength and stability, as they do not want to appoint a company
that may go bust halfway.
“You also want contractors who firmly understand the engineering,
because as an engineer you want to be sure that everything is built
right, to plan and specifications. The interface between design and
construction is very important, so adherence to instructions is vital in
the architect-contractor relationship,” Yeoward emphasises.
overarching endeavours
“The bigger the arch, the bigger the compression and what we call the
springing stand at the bottom of the arch, and that’s one of the key issues
that begins to restrict how big you can go with an arch,” Yeoward explains.
Factors such as wind-loading analysis and engineering have helped
push the limits of bridge design. “3D printing is also interesting, and
while it may help when you’re looking at a model of a bridge, the way
you build things with concrete and steel is very different, so I don’t think
3D printing can happen here, or at least we’re quite far off from that.”
How is bridge building in the Middle East different from other
parts of the world? From an engineering and technical standpoint,
climatic conditions are essential considerations. Interestingly, humanity
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20 NoVEMBER 2016
NoVEMBER 2016 21

IN PRACTICE
IN PRACTICE
Educate ME
For more information, please visit the Dow Corning website at
www.dowcorning.com/construction
Safety and Security of High
Performance Building - Part 2
Experts at Dow Corning discuss the use of silicone sealants in
protective glazing applications
Test chamber prior to the bomb blast.
In our previous October 2016 issue, the
contribution of silicone structural sealants
in bomb-blast resistant facades and their
associated test data was examined. This
month, Dow Corning specialists look more
closely at the characteristics of silicone
materials and what makes them suitable for
such exacting applications.
Why silicone? Visco-elastic behaviour
Silicone sealants are characterized by an
excellent retention of their physical properties
across a very wide range of temperatures. This
characteristic is linked to the very low glass
Image: Grendon Design Agency
transition temperature (Tg) of the PDMS
polymer, the central polymer backbone of
silicone elastomer, that can reach extremely
low temperatures of –120°C.
This low Tg is determined by the inherent
flexibility of the polymer molecules and is
typical and unique to silicone. Viscoelasticity
and in particular, the Boltzman Superposition
and Time/Temperature Equivalence
principles for polymeric material, predict that
such low glass transition temperature when
exposed to constant temperature, would result
in a very stable property profile under very
short impact load conditions.
The façade stays largely in place,
thanks to the strength and flexibility
of the Dow Corning Sealant.
Only high-performance silicone sealants keep broken glass in window frames under high, sudden and sustained stresses
Laboratory confirmation: structural
silicone test under high speed load
In order to confirm what was observed on
several occasions and also predicted by the
theory, a more thorough study was initiated
for silicone structural glazing under such
conditions. This study was performed to
support the DS2 project where the first five
floors needed to be bomb blast resistant.
Since the load application speed, typical
for a bomb, is much higher than the usual
tensile test parameters used for wind or test,
it was decided to investigate the behaviour of
Dow Corning® 993 Silicone Structural Glazing
Image: Grendon Design Agency
Table 1: A summary of the tensile and shear properties of the Dow Corning 993 Sealant at high speed conditions
Sample
Tensile
strength
at 1.1 m/s
Tensile
strength
at 2.5 m/s
Sealant under those stresses/time factors.
The velocity load application stands, for
this particular use, at an approximate rate
between 2 to 2.5 m/s in tensile and around
1.1 m/s in shear. These speeds consider the
relative displacement between the glass and
the frame, in both directions. This means a load
application velocity of 240 to 300 times higher
than the maximum standardised tensile and
shear test speeds and 30,000 higher than the
standard tensile speed (5 mm/min) normally
required and used in material Industry relevant
standards, (ASTM, EOTA).
Dow Corning looked for an external
laboratory specialized in mechanical testing and
agreed with the Italian laboratory CSI a special
test procedure, to investigate the mechanical
characteristics of the Dow Corning® 993 Sealant
under high speed loading.
The test basically consists of accelerating
a specific mass up to the required speed to
guarantee a high impact energy, hitting the
sample under test and loading it at constant
speed. The results recorded are the load and
displacement. High speed videos were used
to measure the displacement. The samples
(H-pieces) were clamped in two Dow Corning
designed grips, one for tensile and one
for shear.
The upper one was rigidly fixed to the test
rig frame and directly connected to the load
Elongation
at break
at 1.1 m/s
Elongation
at break
at 2.5 m/s
measuring device. The lower one was connected
to the mobile grip; this grip is connected by four
small rods to a lower impacting plate and to the
displacement measuring device, whose fixed
end is rigidly connected to the test frame. All
the samples were prepared using Dow Corning
993 Sealant.
On the table above, a summary of
the tensile and shear properties of the
Dow Corning 993 Sealant at high speed
conditions is displayed. The study illustrates
that in a bomb blast situation, Dow Corning
993 Sealant has the following mechanical
characteristics: tensile strength during a bomb
blast of 1,6 MPa, elongation at break > 350%
and E modulus decreases down to: 0,02 - 0,07
MPa. This is significantly more flexible than
during standard conditions and explains why
it is possible to realize a bomb blast resistant
façade, structurally bonded with Dow Corning
993 Sealant. Compared to standard test
conditions, the tensile strength is increased
by 60% and the elongation at break by 250%!
When using silicone structural bonding
in such windows, it is possible to significantly
increase their overall rigidity and blast
performance, thus avoiding any deglazing under
blast conditions. This method has already been
used in several commercial buildings and is also
showing promising developments in the area of
residential security windows.
Shear
stress
at 1.1 m/s
Elongation
at shear
at 1.1 m/s
Rotation
Mpa Mpa % % Mpa % Rad
12x12x18 1.56 1.48 237 265 1.2 228 1.57
12x8x18 1.68 1.58 265 369 1.41 284 1.233
12x6x18 1.56 1.69 266 406 1.74 339 1.284
6x6x18 2.04 2.05 278 403 1.64 292 1.241
16x6x18 1.62 1.61 271 387 1.63 318 1.266
Total averages 1.7 1.7 263 366 1.52 292 1.236
Conclusions and future developments in
safety and security glazing with silicones
In the field of protective glazing, numerous
solutions exist to manufacture efficient
protective windows. Laminated glass is one of
the solutions of choice. This bonding of the glass
to the window will not only provide a superior
water tightness but will allow the windows to
have a superior security class as described by
standards (EN1627 to 1630).5 m/s
One example is the use of silicone
structural sealant in retrofit protective glazing
installations. These windows systems are
comprised of a tough, transparent polyester
film adhered to the window glass and a
silicone structural sealant, used to anchor
the edges of the film.
The development of security in residential
markets will certainly open further opportunity
for development of high performing glass
and windows products. Due to its excellent
adhesion and flexibility under a wide range of
joint configurations, silicone will remain the
material of choice to connect the material and
provide synergy in their performance.
By Jean-Paul Hautekeer, global
strategic marketing director – Building
and Construction, and Axel Giesecke,
global segment leader – Construction
Chemicals & Infrastructure.
22 NOVEMBER 2016
NOVEMBER 2016 23

IN PRACTICE
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INsIghT
Façade face-off
The regional facade industry is now under scrutiny like
never before. Middle East Consultant speaks to consultants
and suppliers in a bid to resolve pressing issues
he façade business sector in the Middle
East is extremely important and one of the
fastest growing, but industry professionals
bemoan that it is largely unrecognised and
is not given the eminence it deserves.
That scenario, however, is now
changing as the industry is under pressure
from building designers, architects,
contractors, consultants and developers
pushing for viable, practical solutions on all fronts. As a result, new
challenges are also coming to the fore.
“With 90% of our time spent in buildings, and buildings being
responsible for 40% of the energy requirements worldwide, buildings
have to be comfortable, secure and energy-efficient. This is possible
with smart façades that are aesthetically pleasing and functionally
efficient,” says Alastair Common, technical manager, Schuco Middle
East Windows and Façade Systems.
The consultants weigh in
“Façade engineering is not required for every building. The Middle
East is very elaborate and intricate in building construction and
there are a larger number of projects that require specialist input by a
certified façade engineer,” says Agnes Koltay, Façade consultant and
director, Koltay Façades, which typically works on high-rise buildings,
large span glazed roofs and structural glass enclosures.
Façade engineering consultants can work for architects, developers
or contractors. “The consultant gets involved with independent system
concept selection, advises on materials, pre-engineers all elements
and, most importantly, carries out an in-depth coordination with
the structural engineer and others, to ensure smoother construction
progress when it goes on-site,” she elaborates.
Koltay believes that a professional façade engineer-consultant
has to get to grips with a host of functions including preparation of
tender documents, drawings and specifications, and pricing aspects.
“Developers, architects and contractors can benefit from the expertise
and experience as well as the effective oversight and timely site
inspections by façade consultants.”
Abdulmajid Karanouh is head of Innovation Design, Façades &
Sustainability at Ramboll, a multi-discipline, multinational provider
of engineering and consultancy services including façade engineering
across different industry verticals.
He has a different take on the role of the consultant. “The Middle
East is a region struggling to rediscover and redefine its identity at all
levels, including the face of its cities and buildings, particularly in the
field of façades,” he remarks.
In Karanouh’s estimation, four factors influence façade design
styles in the region. These are image, reputation, the local identity
and politics and the economy. Futuristic and iconic solutions,
sustainability, local cultures and the geopolitical and economic
conditions are considerations when deciding on building façades.
Karanouh is clear about the role of the façade consultant. “The
façade consultant assists the project team – the client, architect, the
main contractor and the specialist façade contractor – in developing
the aims and objectives for any building façade. The consultant helps
to formulate design and technical criteria”.
Challenges
The prevalent market conditions for the façade industry in the
GCC remain extremely challenging, according to Micha Pawelka,
managing director of Priedemann Middle East, a German company
that offers a range of building envelope-related services. In his opinion,
each project has its own challenges in aspects of construction and
manufacture, performance and costs.
“Prices are under tremendous pressure owing to stiff competition,
over supply, spending cuts, lack of liquidity, late payments and staffing
challenges due to change of visa and labour rules,” he says.
For Schuco, these challenges are surmounted thanks to its long
presence and familiarity with the region. ‘We are operational in the
Middle East for over 30 years and are well regarded by the construction
community,” affirms Common. “Over this period, Schuco has developed
24 NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 25

IN PRACTICE
IN PRACTICE
many systems and adapted to market
conditions. We work closely with our clients
to provide the competitive edge,” he says.
For Common, the Middle East is
an architect’s playground where there is
considerable freedom to express ideas and
implement them into reality. “The problems
often are the intricacies of façade design
and the demands of fastidious clients. The
big test is often to convert designs into
economical, workable, functional and
practical solutions.”
02 03
04 05 06
Corrective measures
The downturn is resulting in tighter budgets and shorter project
delivery durations, notes Karanouh. “This is resulting in most cases in
mismatching priorities between the major stakeholders on any given
project, often resulting in responsibilities gaps, resources misplacement,
and the widespread practice of false economy,” he adds.
He opines that the façade business is adapting to the current
market circumstances by reducing the detailed design development
scope of consultants to the bare minimum and by shifting more design
responsibilities onto specialist façade contractors.
According to Karanouh, one of the greatest challenges that the
façade industry faces in the market is identifying and eliminating
malpractice. “It is the responsibility of competent consultants,
contractors and specialist contractors who take pride in what they do
and care about the quality of the products that they develop and deliver.”
26 NOVEMBER 2016
Trends & technologies
One of the current trends is for façade designs to be minimalistic, says
Common. Consultants and clients are often looking for less aluminium
and more glass. “We recently developed the slimmest curtain wall system
is the market with mullions only 35mm wide and a new sliding system
specifically designed for the Middle East,” he says, highlighting one
example of an increasing trend in the façades industry.
On the other hand, Priedemann’s Pawelka says the strongest
trends are towards sustainability and adaptation. “When we talk about
sustainability and practices that are in conformity with local culture and
sentiments, we assume this is a new trend,” he counters.
Return on investment and resilience are also two of the top trending
subjects in the façade business, Agnes Koltay adds.
“There is more awareness and emphasis on long-term durability,
01
01
North souks, Beirut Central District,
designed by Zaha hadid.
02
Alastair Common, technical
manager, schuco Middle East.
03
Micha Pawelka, managing director,
Priedemann Middle East.
04
Agnes Koltay, Façade consultant
and director, Koltay Facades.
05
Abdulmajid Karanouh, head of
Innovation, Design, Facades
and sustainability, Ramboll.
06
Andrew Pack, global technical support
manager, Kingspan Insulation.
“The Middle East is very intricate in building construction
and there are a larger number of projects that require
specialist input by a certified façade engineer”
adaptability and lifecycle performance. Investors are looking at returns
on investments,” she asserts.
Karanouh says the region is increasingly showing more interest
in developing context-inspired solutions that offer more original,
innovative and context-friendly solutions. There is also more interest
in integrating biological and adaptive systems into building façades as
opposed to traditional static solutions, he adds.
Practitioner proficiencies
New and pioneering technologies are also making inroads into the region.
The requirements and performance in the Middle East of façade systems
in relation to air, water and wind penetration are equal and often exceed
international standards and practices, notes Common.
“The primary area where there is less focus, compared to Europe
for example, is the thermal performance. The tests for systems used in
Europe are often far more stringent than for the systems used in this
region. This is primarily because of climatic conditions and energy
costs,” states Common.
For Pawelka, the Middle East is distinctive from the rest of the
world, particularly Europe, where Priedemann has a strong base.
“While Europe is concerned with the quality of materials and lifecycle
cost considerations, the Middle East is pushing boundaries in terms of
design and in view of the current economic situation, within specific
budgets. The region is also moving towards new technologies and
seeing increased demand of BIM modelling,” states Pawelka.
Schuco plans to expand across the GCC with a larger workforce.
“The present outlook for Schuco is bright. Despite the current tough
financial conditions, we continue to perform well in the region thanks to
our proactive measures taken. We continue to enjoy a sizable share of the
architectural aluminium supply market,” Common says.
Positive projection
Pawelka is also buoyant and upbeat about the future. “We are looking
forward to an improved market situation prior to Dubai’s Expo 2020
and Qatar’s World Cup 2022 and other economic initiatives taken by
Saudi Arabia and other GCC states,” he states.
For Koltay, sophisticated new emerging technologies are redefining
the industry but importantly making complex designs more implementable
while slashing costs. Over the years, as computer-instructed parametric
production methods spread more widely in manufacturing, it became
easier to procure something at this level of complexity. “Technology is
rendering projects more affordable,” she remarks.
Locally developed solutions
Karanouh states that high-tech solutions that are often imported
from abroad (North America, Europe and the Far East), are in most
cases inefficient, unsuitable and non-sustainable when implemented
forcefully with little adaptation in the Middle East region.
He advocates locally developed low-tech solutions because they
are truly and genuinely inspired by local conditions and are more
efficient than imported solutions in some ways.
Some local specialist contractors and suppliers are offering
interesting opportunities in developing new solutions that are drawing
interest from other regions and markets. “These should be further
invested in and developed, as it could improve profitability and quality
of the products produced locally,” he concludes.
NOVEMBER 2016 27

ON SITE
ON SITE
INSIghT
Managing
Projects
As project management
moves to centre stage,
Middle East Consultant shines
the light on the industry,
featuring two international
companies in growth mode
and planning to expand their
regional PM roles
ver the past 30 years, the traditional
model where lead consultants provide
a diverse set of skills has evolved into
a more specialised, focused project
management discipline. This has
allowed the project team to focus
on their core strengths, be it design,
technical, commercial or construction
management activities.
It is now clear that project management (PM) is here to stay, as
more and more companies value its importance and recognise its
indispensability. The discipline has gained much traction over the
decades, moving centre stage and now coming into its own.
Client requirements still need to be identified, defined, designed
and managed; cost and financial matters need to be controlled and
contracts to be assembled. Add to that the appointment of contractors,
procurement of materials, oversight of construction activities overseen
and completion of processes. It is not difficult to see the all-pervading
significance of project management.
The need for project management services is growing as GCC
governments and developers are determined to deliver ambitious
infrastructure plans. As projects become more complex, so does the
28 NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 29

ON SITE
ON SITE
01
Bob Smith, senior vice president
and program director, Parsons.
scope and role of the project manager.
Large-scale programmes require a lot
of different components to come
together and coordinate complex
situations and developments.
Early engagement
Given his long association with the
industry, Bob Smith, senior vice
president and programme director,
01
Parsons, knows the worth of project
management only too well. He
explains the significance, scope and
breath of PM. “Project management
is not only critical, but early
engagement is also basic and vital for
a project’s success in terms of scope,
scheduling, budgeting and quality
control. Projects that fall off track in
any of these important topical areas
rarely recover,” he cautions.
Project management is pervasive
and essential to Parsons’ work. All of
its divisions are engaged in executing
PM services. Each division has a focus
on a particular market sector and
houses all of the specialty technical
02
and management talent required to
implement projects. These divisions
include master planning, buildings, roads and bridges and land development.
The company operates in a matrix posture, designed to allow all divisions
to reach out to sister divisions globally for specialty support.
Another major integrated international PM services provider is
AECOM, with a multidisciplinary background and long-standing
presence in the Middle East. The PM team, in the words of Jonathan
Hayes, director of Construction Services, AECOM, UAE & Oman,
has the experience in the design, contracting and consultancy fields
to provide a valuable blend of experience, skill sets and capabilities in
alignment with the client and project-specific requirements.
“Whilst the focus is on the provision of client-facing project
management services, the practice also contributes significantly to the
02
Jonathan hayes, director
of Construction Services,
AECOM, UAE & Oman.
03
Construction work in progress at
Abu Dhabi International Airport’s
Midfield Terminal Complex.
04
Construction work in progress at
Al Maryah Central, Abu Dhabi.
overall company business revenues,”
he adds.
Large footprint
Parsons is currently engaged in
several big-ticket mega projects
and programmes in the Middle
East, including upgrading the traffic
control systems for Dubai, the design
of the Dubai Municipality (DM)
Tunnels Project, the Abu Dhabi
International Airport Expansion
and several key projects in Qatar
and Saudi Arabia.
“Project management is the
core business at Parsons. Project
managers must manage the owner’s design, construction and develop
processes, procedures and systems to deliver a cost-effective project
on schedule and within budget,” affirms Smith. He also stresses the
company’s holistic approach to project management and continued
investment in people and training programmes.
Hayes also advocates the early and extensive engagement of a PM team.
“A good PM team provides the client with an independent, overarching
view and the overall guidance and leadership required to ensure a project is
a success.” Hayes believes that the earlier a PM team is engaged, the greater
the value it can add through the early identification of need, the development
of an effective client brief, the identification and mitigation of risk, and the
identification and maximisation of opportunities.
Prestigious projects
AECOM is also currently working on several projects in the UAE. These
include the Midfield Terminal Complex, Abu Dhabi, a 700,000sqm
terminal building; Brookfield Place, Dubai, a 290m, 53-floor quality
commercial building; and the Al Maryah Central, a 185,000sqm retail
development in Abu Dhabi.
How is the current economic situation affecting PM companies?
Smith’s response may appear paradoxical, but it rings true. “Hydrocarbon
revenues contribute significantly to government budgets in the
GCC, which in turn fund most major infrastructure projects, so our
customers’ planning is impacted by fluctuations in oil & gas prices.
Thus the GCC countries’ efforts to diversify their economies away from
a disproportionate dependence on oil & gas revenues, and their focus
on infrastructure development for tourism, trade and finance, present
opportunities for project management to provide solutions in multiple
sectors that are not reliant on oil prices.”
According to Smith, many projects initially experienced a slowdown
while customers revamped their strategies to deal with the changed
market conditions. “Importantly, a number of customers have decided
that they need new businesses and project management processes as
a result of the financial challenges, which is creating demand in new
areas of service.”
Opportunities despite the slump
Smith sees opportunities for project management in the downturn.
“Parsons offers revised and enhanced business models including KPIbased
returns, alternative project delivery (APD) and design-build
systems that allow it to deliver right risk-adjusted returns. Parsons also
uses Building Information Modelling (BIM) and other modelling tools
to streamline work processes. This is another savings driver that helps
the company offset the overall headwinds in the market.”
Hayes’ narrative follows a similar track. “The price of oil has
historically influenced the buoyancy of the construction sector and
continues to do so. Recent socio-political instability has created
uncertainty in the region, but interestingly brought economic
opportunities to the UAE, as it is viewed as a haven for investment,”
he asserts.
AECOM sees new realities in the new economic landscape, where
the UAE has a long-term strategy to reduce its reliance on oil revenues
and to diversify into other sectors to attain sustainable growth. “The
03
“The project management industry is having to adapt
by finding ways of becoming more competitive,
improving value and through a leaner delivery team”
30 NOVEMBER 2016
NOVEMBER 2016 31

ON SITE
04
PM industry is having to adapt by finding ways of becoming more
competitive, improving value and through a leaner delivery team,”
he maintains.
high demand for professionals
Meanwhile, PM professionals continue to be in high demand as
more investments become available for infrastructural work. Given
the current dearth, the Middle East will need PM professionals.
Of the present staff strength of 4,500 employees in the Middle
East, approximately 200 are certified project managers, according
to Parsons’ internal classification that requires they formally pass
certification study and examination by the Parsons PM Board.
AECOM also foresees expansion and will continue to develop
its capabilities throughout the region, focusing on repeat business via
excellent relationships with established clients and selective pursuit of
new PM opportunities in non-oil related sectors, notes Hayes.
Winds of change have also been blowing over the regional PM
industry. Architects and engineers previously doubled as project
managers, but recently it has become a specialised service, he observes.
BIM, the new normal
Smith says the most significant changes occurring over the past
several years include the BIM concept, and tools to help increase
efficiencies and lessen attrition in project risk management. He is
also all for standardising regulations, greater transparency and open
communications.
In Hayes’ estimation, the use and application of BIM is also
becoming more prevalent and is rapidly becoming the new standard.
He believes the use of BIM will gain thrust, coupled with planning,
quantity measurement and construction sequencing strategies to
achieve growth and profitability.
Countering challenges
As with any industry or business enterprise, challenges are never far
away. Smith says two of the most important challenges for the PM
“Project management
is not only critical,
but early engagement
is also basic and vital
for a project’s success
in terms of scope,
scheduling, budgeting
and quality control”
industry are having the right tools and the right people. Hayes has a
rather different take on the industry. He says that as clients look to
reduce overall project costs, the role of PM has come under close
scrutiny, with many projects being delivered under a traditional model
where a lead consultant works directly with the client and contractor.
“The principal challenge facing the PM industry is, therefore,
demonstrating how it adds value as clients look to reduce overall
project costs.”
However, the Middle East offers good potential for the growth of
the PM industry, both experts claim. “The region is very significant
for our PM teams, and one third of our staff are located here. It has
our largest concentration of projects outside of North America, and
we continue to see new avenues for growth,” says Smith.
“Our PM team has continued to grow and perform well despite
variable and challenging market conditions, with new projects and
appointments being secured. I see strong prospects to continue
growth of the PM business,” concludes Hayes.
32 NOVEMBER 2016

ON SITE
ON SITE
pROjEcT
pROfIlE
A Sense of
Tranquillity
Gavin Davids speaks to
Fariborz Hatam, founder of FHSI
Architects, about an ongoing
project in Mashhad, Iran which is
set to have a tremendous impact
on the country’s hospitality sector
ocated 850km northeast of Tehran is Iran’s
second-largest city, Mashhad. Popularly
known as the holiest city in the country,
Mashhad is also the capital of Razavi
Khorasan province and close to the borders
of Turkmenistan and Afghanistan, ensuring
that it has huge cultural and commercial
significance within the country.
While the country has always been a
major trading centre, dating back to when it was a crucial stopping
point on the Silk Road, what gives it its true importance is the shrine
at the heart of the city, which is considered to be the largest mosque
in the world by dimension and the second largest in terms of capacity.
Every year, millions of people come to the city in pilgrimage,
bringing the associated benefits in terms of business and revenue
to the economy of Mashhad. It is estimated that 25 million visitors
come to the city annually, which makes it ripe for significant tourism
investment, especially now that restrictions around the country’s
economic growth are loosening.
34 NOVEMBER 2016
“Our aim is to produce a clever and intelligent
building that people admire and inhabit. I want
them to experience it and to be proud of the space
they’re in, and feel the tranquillity of it all. I think
getting that sense of calmness, and that memorable
experience, is what’s most important to me”
NOVEMBER 2016 35

ON SITE
ON SITE
01
fHSI Architects was
provided with a detailed
brief about the project
site by the client.
02
The shrine is not the only attraction in the
city, with the pleasant climate, surrounding
mountains and development of entertainment
and retail options meaning visitors are arriving
with more than just religious tourism in mind.
Over the last few years, Mashhad has seen a
surge in construction, with local investors
building shopping malls, recreational centres
and amusement parks to cater to all kinds of
tourists and visitors.
Given the numbers in play, it’s hardly
surprising that the hospitality industry is
01
one of the prime movers in this construction
boom. Although the city already boasts the
most four- and five-star hotels in the country, it is estimated that capacity
during peak season can only reach 75,000.
However, this is still a massive improvement, as just over three years
ago, there were only 75 hotels in the city. Recognising this, last year the
government of Iran implemented a 20-year vision plan – by 2025, it aims
to increase revenue from the tourism industry to as much as $30 billion.
With Mashhad attracting the majority of religious tourists entering
the country, it makes absolute sense for it to receive significant
investment. Thus it’s no surprise to learn that there are currently some
200 hotels at various stages of construction in the city. These hotels are
expected to help Mashhad meet the targets set by the 2025 Vision Plan,
which expects to see the holy city annually host 40 million pilgrims and
tourists, both from within the country and abroad.
Clearly, there’s a massive window of opportunity open for
international investors, especially with the lifting of economic
sanctions. One company to quickly seize its chance is Dubai-based
CommoditEdge. Established in 2012, the company is part of a
diversified group of companies owned by the Alizadeh Family, which
is actively engaged in manufacturing, engineering and trading activities
in Iran and international markets. CommoditEdge itself is involved in
“The city is the hometown to some of the most
significant Iranian literary figures and artists, while also
being a place where millions of pilgrims visit each year”
the sourcing and supply of raw materials to steel mills, while also helping
raw material producers and suppliers establish stable supply agreements.
With the lifting of sanctions, the company and its affiliates
recognised the significant gap in the hospitality market and were
keen to take the plunge and bring the first international five-star hotel
in Iran to Mashhad. With the stakes so high, they needed to make sure
they brought the right people on board to ensure the entire project
succeeds, from planning, construction, completion and operation.
Enter FHSI Architects, an award-winning Australian architectural
firm that has gained a reputation for being a firm that looks at its
projects as part of a bigger picture. For this boutique firm, it’s not just
about how the project looks or functions, but also about how it fits
in with its surrounding environment.
“CommoditEdge provided us with a detailed brief for the site,”
says Fariborz Hatam, founder of FHSI Architects and the man
tasked with bringing the project to life. “They had conducted a
02
02
commoditEdge
conducted a
comprehensive
feasibility study to
highlight the financial
viability of the project.
comprehensive feasibility study for Mashhad to highlight the financial
viability of the project. It’s going to have 5,000sqm of retail and a 235-
key hotel space. It is also the first international five-star hotel in Iran as
well. While there are other five-star hotels in the country, they aren’t
internationally operated.”
“The city is the hometown to some of the most significant Iranian
literary figures and artists, while also being a place where millions of
pilgrims visit each year. The majority of people coming to this city are
going for meditation, prayer and worship. Therefore, the space that you
create has to be very calm and in a beautifully planned environment.”
Keeping in mind this cerebral reputation, Hatam says he was
careful to ensure that the planning and design for the hotel complex
invoked what he calls a “personalised design concept formulation”.
“What makes this design intelligent is its ability to react positively
and spontaneously to forces of nature, to fluctuating climates, to
human activity and expectations, and to cultural nuances. We believe
in creating a healthier, more sustainable
planet, so we took a holistic approach to the
built environment by addressing behaviour,
operations, design and sustainability for the
long haul,” he elaborates.
Taking its cue from the shrine, bazaar and
gardens that Mashhad is famous for, Hatem
says the Mashhad Hotel will intertwine
to create an image of “strong identity,
transparency, dignity and connectivity”,
which in turn will help build an urban quarter
that will allow visitors and guests a place to
live, work, meditate and enjoy life in the heart
of the city.
“The scheme for the project consists
of two separate massing forces, linked by
public spaces and routes. The principal
building is G+19 storeys, with retail placed
36 NOVEMBER 2016
NOVEMBER 2016 37

ON SITE
ON SITE
03
The hotel is on one of the
busiest arterial roads in
the city of Mashhad.
in the basements, while the
hotel is above ground,” he
explains to ME Consultant.
“The two symmetrical
positive and negative
cantilever forces create
green spaces vertically
03
up the tower, while also
providing a comfortable
environment for social interaction.”
The design itself incorporates a number of environmentally
friendly passive climate-control devices, which will minimise energy
consumption for the building. This includes solar shading for the
hotel rooms, and the vertical gardens, which act as ‘green lungs’ for
the development.
“The hanging gardens provide a rich visual connection to the
outside, while also acting as the ‘lung’ for the building’s occupants,”
Hatam says. “The planting strategy aims to reduce pollution levels
and create a positive, healthy urban microclimate.”
One of the biggest challenges associated with the design of the
project is the plan for a 24-hour retail segment in the basement. This
certainly makes sense, with the project located on one of the busiest
arterial roads in the city.
However, it meant the FHSI design team was faced with finding
“The two symmetrical
positive and negative
cantilever forces create
green spaces vertically
up the tower, while also
providing a comfortable
environment for social
interaction”
a way to incorporate 5,000sqm of retail space operating around the
clock, while also keeping in line with the core concept of the project
– to provide a luxurious, calm and contemplative environment for
hotel guests.
“We’ve done a few things, one of which is pull the building back
by 10 metres from the rest of the street. It actually has a noise barrier
to cross. We will also use a double glazing system which will block a
lot of the sound that comes from the street below.
“Meanwhile, the shopping mall and retail section is positioned
four basements below, so that won’t have any interference with what’s
happening above the ground.
“As part of the next stage of design, we’ll be working with an
acoustics consultant to provide appropriate solutions that address
sound propagation, speech intelligibility and the enhancement of the
Azan, so as to provide options that mitigate noise within the project.
The consultant will also look at the environmental noise control to
address the outdoor noise and vibration concerns.”
Keeping in mind the limited amount of space they had to build
on, the team was able to successfully challenge the local rules and
regulations on height restrictions.
Following extensive discussions with all stakeholders involved,
both client and authorities were convinced to increase the height limit
within the allowed GFA.
This leeway meant that the team was able to compensate for the
lack of horizontal space by building upwards, taking advantage of the
increased height allowance to optimise the views of the shrine, which
dominates the city’s skyline.
With design work well underway and construction pencilled in
to start in the coming months, the next challenge for the project team
will be finding the right contractors, subcontractors and suppliers to
work on this high-end project.
“There are currently international contractors on the ground [in
Iran], building large-scale projects. We anticipate collaborating with
them,” says Hatam. “Also, during the construction phase, a designated
FHSI team will be on-site to ensure that quality and the level of detail
required are fully achieved.”
Not only is the project likely to present an engineering challenge,
but given its luxurious nature, having the best-quality materials
installed is likely to be a major factor in its success. This is also
something FHSI has given a lot of thought to, Hatam says.
“In any country that we work in, on any project that we’re involved
in, we prefer to source as locally as possible, so as to reduce the carbon
footprint. As Iran is a self-sufficient country, we anticipate sourcing
up to 90% of our materials locally. This will not only be cost-effective,
but also add value to the local Iranian suppliers market.”
Although there remains a tremendous amount of work to be
done, Fariborz Hatam and his team remain justifiably proud of what
The personal Touch
As a boutique Australian
design practice committed
to providing innovative
and high-quality design
solutions for architecture,
interiors and master
planning, fHSI Architects
works both locally and
internationally on a
wide range of projects
from studios in Dubai,
Sydney and perth.
fariborz Hatam, the
founder of the firm,
explains that he and fHSI
bring a multinational
background to projects.
“You could be an
amazing international firm
sitting in Europe, America
or Australia, but the minute
you open a branch in the
Middle East, that clarity
gets lost. What we want to
do is use our experience
to create a practice that
is custom designed. It’s
a bit like getting a suit
tailored, rather than
buying one from a store.
“We started fHSI
because giving that
personal touch and
attention to detail is
what’s important to us.”
The firm is also careful
to pick and choose its
projects, with Hatam
explaining that the way
they work relies on getting
comfortable with the
client and ensuring that
everyone involved in the
project is on the same
wavelength in terms of
ideas and initiatives.
“It is important to us
that the design process is
not only collaborative but
also holistic. We believe
that we can harness the
built environment as a
vehicle to support and
enhance people’s lives.”
they’ve achieved so far. Not only is this the first international hotel in
Iran, but it is also set to be the type of project that will raise standards
and push Iran’s construction industry into the international spotlight.
“This project will be considered a trendsetter in Iran, and we
believe it will raise standards. That will be quite rewarding,” he says.
“Overall, we’d like this project to bring people together and give them
that sense of serenity and community. We want to enable them to
achieve that spiritual calmness throughout their stay in the city.”
“Our aim is to produce a clever and intelligent building that
people admire and inhabit. I want them to experience it and to be
proud of the space they’re in, and feel the tranquillity of it all. I think
getting that sense of calmness, and that memorable experience, is
what’s most important to me. This development will consider the
entire project’s lifecycle, rather than just short-term gains. We believe
in designing projects that stand the test of time and mark their place
for generations to come,” he concludes.
38 NOVEMBER 2016
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ON SITE
ENERGISING THE INDUSTRY
With the vision of energising the power industry, Middle East Electricity
and Solar Middle East 2017 will focus on the theme of Smart Cities.
This will include a comprehensive programme of exclusive
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Visitors will have the opportunity to meet with
thousands of leading companies, learn about the
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EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE I 14 – 16 FEBRUARY 2017 I WORLD TRADE CENTRE, DUBAI, UAE
Dubai’s construction industry continues to grow unabated,
as evident from even a cursory glance at the emirate’s
rapidly altering skyline. Over 3,700 projects are currently
going across the emirate, with a total estimated value of
$400 billion. Fuelled by a growing population, the tourism sector
and strategic government investments, Dubai is set to be the hub of
construction in the GCC for the foreseeable future. Tapping into this
spirit, the Big 5 2016, which runs from 21 to 24 November, is expected
to attract 75,000+ visitors and host over 3,000 exhibitors at the Dubai
World Trade Centre.
Alongside the exhibition, The Big 5 2016 will offer 75 free-to-attend
and CPD (Continuing Professional Development)-certified workshops
and up to 30 live demonstrations.
Furthermore, a one-day Excellence in Construction Summit
will be held, gathering the construction industry’s leaders to discuss
the latest technologies, innovations and best practices in the regional
construction industry.
“A growing population, the tourism sector, strategic government
investments and the Dubai Expo 2020 are fuelling the local construction
industry”, commented event director Josine Heijmans.
The Big 5 2016 will feature five product sectors: Building
Interiors & Finishes; MEP Services; Building Envelope & Special
Construction; Construction Tools & Building Materials; and Smart
Building & Design Technologies.
There will be a strong focus on sustainability at The Big 5 this
year. The event will offer a dedicated agenda and more than ten
themed CPD-certified workshops delivered by industry experts.
Subjects include Tools for Sustainable Development at District Level,
Regional Technical Solutions for LEED, and Zero Carbon Buildings:
Management of Design and Construction.
Finally, on November 22, The Big 5’s Excellence in Construction
Summit, held in conjunction with strategic partner the Dubai Economic
Council (DEC), will gather 500 industry leaders to discuss current and
future trends in the construction sector in the GCC and beyond.
NOVEMBER 2016 41

ON SITE
ON SITE
EVENT
REVIEW
Middle East
Consultant
Awards
Recognising and feting the
industry’s crème de la crème
The Middle East Consultant Awards 2015 were well received
and fostered a spirit of professional competitiveness,
bonhomie and collegiality among peers and colleagues
in the business.
When the Middle East Consultant Awards successfully debuted
in December 2015, they created much interest, excitement and fanfare
in the region’s construction consulting industry.
As the only awards of its kind specific to the construction
consulting industry, the presentation ceremony provides a platform
to unite the growing community of regional consultants, recognise
accomplishments, present accolades and enjoy a fun evening.
The second edition, the Middle East Consultant Awards 2016,
takes place at the plush Ritz-Carlton in Jumeirah Beach Residence,
Dubai on 8 November, against the backdrop of the architectural
splendour of the Dubai Marina. The Awards serve as a recognition, a
symbol of and a testimony to the construction industry in enabling
the metamorphosis of landscapes across the region.
The response to this year’s awards was profuse and we received a
large number of quality entries and nominations for the 12 categories.
“We are delighted with the turnout and the quality and calibre
of the Awards nominations and entries,” commented Gavin Davids,
consulting editor, Middle East Consultant. “We are enthused with the
response we received from a wide range of high-class entrants across
the Middle East, a reflection of the interest and gravitas of the Awards.”
Our distinguished panel of external well-regarded judges consists
of Kez Taylor, CEO, ALEC; Marcus Truscott, managing director,
Multiplex; Rahail Aslam, group CEO, Select Group; Simon Jewell,
divisional general manager – Building, Al Tayer Stocks; and Tarek
Amara, director QHSE, China State Construction Engineering
Company, in addition to Gavin Davids, consulting editor, and
Malcolm Dias, deputy editor, Middle East Consultant.
This year’s sponsors include FAMCO, NORA, SEED, WSP| Parsons
Brinckerhoff, Cavendish Maxwell, CIOB, Colliers, JLL and RICS.
42 NOVEMBER 2016
NOVEMBER 2016 43

ON SITE
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EVENT
REVIEW
Big Project
ME Golf Day
– Consultants
and Architects
Cup 2016
The region’s top firms tee off at
the Emirates Golf Club
With the intense heat and humidity of the UAE
summer abating, it was time for yet another edition
of the Big Project Middle East Golf Day.
Held on October 19, 2016 at the Emirates Golf
Club, this year’s event saw a full roster of players chosen from the
region’s top consultants and architectural firms.
Additional sponsor competitions added to the sense of enjoyment,
with Geberit hosting a putting competition, Stretch Ceilings a ‘hit
the bull’s eye’ event, and CCS a ‘guess the number of tees in a bowl’
contest. Truelux Group held a competition for the straightest drive
on hole 5 of the Faldo Course, while group partner Electric Mirror
held a ‘nearest to the pin in two’ competition.
Winners received a range of prizes, including overnight stays at
Four Seasons Hotels and vouchers from The Meat Company and Le
Classique Restaurant.
“The turnout today is a clear indication that the industry values
these golf days. We look forward to hosting more over the years,” said
Raz Islam, publishing director of CPI Construction.
“A special thank you to all our partners and sponsors. They provided
us with incredible support and we couldn’t have done it without them!”
Thanks to all our sponsors
G r o u p
44 NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 45

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ON SITE
Dubai Ruler unveils
Smart Buildability Index
Intertek
appointed quality
consultant for
Abu Dhabi project
HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President
and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the Smart
Buildability Index, WAM has reported.
An initiative of the Federal Demographic Council, it aims to
standardise building designs that adopt modern building techniques
such as 3D printing, pre-fabricated pillars and walls.
Speaking during the launch ceremony of the Smart Buildability
Index, Sheikh Mohammed highlighted the importance of and need for
standardisation in the construction industry across the UAE. “Such
indices should be developed to ensure that standards in the UAE are
on par with the highest international benchmarks,” he said.
Sheikh Mohammed also called for strong efforts in the field of
smart solutions to accelerate the implementation of the goals of UAE
Vision 2021. He added that the best smart technologies should be
implemented across all sectors, especially the construction industry.
The Index will be gradually introduced to construction projects
of above 2,000sqm from early 2017.
First Avenue
mall, hotel to
open in Dubai in
early 2017
A new shopping mall and hotel are set to
open in Dubai’s Motor City in Q1 2017
as part of an investment worth AED 500
million ($136 million), according to a press
communiqué from the owners and operators,
Saudi Arabia’s Al Tawfeeq for Development
and Investment Company (ATDI).
First Avenue, based at the edge of the
Dubai Autodrome, will have 70 high-street
retailers and 15 casual dining restaurants.
The four-star 150-room hotel, which adjoins
the mall, will be operated by Park Inn by
Radisson. The hotel overlooks the race track
at the Dubai Autodrome.
First Avenue will be a social and retail
hub for the Union Properties-developed
Motor City, with a distinct automotive and
lifestyle theme. The two-storey development
stretches across a 500,000 sq ft area.
“The development meets local
demand for an easily accessible retail and
hotel experience with restaurants and
entertainment options. First Avenue is
strategically located to serve a growing and
discerning market,” said Dr Ramy Moussly,
GM, ADTI.
Dubai Canal fills up
ahead of inauguration
Water has been released in the AED 2 billion Dubai Canal as part of
an early testing process, a Dubai official has revealed.
The flow of water will be progressively increased through the
next couple of weeks in the run-up to its scheduled inauguration
in November 2016, following a three-year construction period. The
water level in the canal will eventually attain the planned depth of
six metres.
“Dubai Canal is moving as planned, and we are continually
operating to ensure that completion timelines and schedules are
rigourously adhered to,” said Laila Taher Faraidoon, executive
director of RTA, speaking on the sidelines of the recently concluded
Dubai International Project Management Forum (DIPMF).
Pedestrian bridges are being built simultaneously at different
locations along the canal, including a suspension bridge with a huge
arch built about the canal.
This mega project was split into three contracts by the RTA. Phase
one was the AED 580 million development of eight lanes of bridge in
each direction on Sheikh Zayed Road. The second phase was the AED
384 million construction of bridges on Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah
Beach road.
The final phase is the largest, at AED 802 million, and involves the
digging of the water canal and building the sides of the canal that will
link Dubai Creek with the Arabian Gulf.
Intertek has been appointed the quality
consultant for Al Maryah Central in
Abu Dhabi by Brookfield Multiplex,
the project’s main contractor. The
announcement was made in a joint press
statement by the two companies.
Intertek will implement a quality
assurance, testing, inspection and consulting
programme to assure the complex building
performance requirements meet rigorous
quality standards. This includes reviewing
and approving the submission of all façade
elements, such as glass and glazing, stone
and glass cladding, and different types of
skylights to cover 9,000sqm of glazing on
the roof. The work also includes testing
to ensure the stone types used to meet
the mineralogical, chemical, physical and
mechanical properties required.
“Using our technical experts and
engineers, we will verify that all parties
are committed to quality in a cost-efficient
manner while complying with international
standards,” commented Michael Luna,
business line leader, Building, Construction
& Electrical, Intertek, MENAP.
46 NOVEMBER 2016
NOVEMBER 2016 47

THE BACK PAGE
LAST WORD
01
William M. Whistler, managing
director, Green Building
Solutions International (GBSI).
Scorched Earth
Carbon dating records indicate our
planet Earth has not been this hot
in over 100,000 years, rues William
M. Whistler. The cause? The most
dramatic rise in CO 2 ever seen
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01
According to NASA, the 300
parts per million upper limit
of carbon dioxide levels in our
breathable atmosphere has skyrocketed
to over 400 parts per million in just
the last three generations.
Most of us have heard this kind of news
before, but what does it mean?
Is there any real impact on how we live
or how we build our buildings? The answer
is emphatically YES.
Heating up
A comparison of temperature values as
recorded at the Dubai Airport Weather
Station has shown a local rise of 15-20% in
the 15 years since 2000. Similarly, the number
of cooling degree days (a measurement of
how much external heat from the sun has
to be cooled to reach a comfortable interior
temperature) had risen from 3,000 to 3,600
degrees Celsius by the end of 2015.
To put this in a more definitive
perspective, consider that the 2015 Dubai
Electrical & Water Authority (DEWA)
Annual Statistics Report shows that just over
84% of the electrical consumption in Dubai
goes to the construction and operation of our
commercial, residential and public buildings.
Approximately 70% of that consumption
(240,000,000 kilowatt hours!) is for air
conditioning alone, a significant 6% rise
from 2014.
Smart construction
This could be a never-ending race to ‘catch
up’ unless we go back to basics and build
our buildings as they must be built: an
enclosure that “Keeps the Outside Out
and the Inside In”. In a region where usage
of air conditioners is high, it is critical that
building façades be constructed to reduce
heat gain, be adequately airtight to keep
that expensive cooled air contained, and
be operated intelligently over the building’s
life span to maintain efficient energy usage
now and even 20 years from now. Studies
have shown it is ten times as efficient in both
money and energy expended to build a façade
that adequately reduces heat gain, compared
to making the A/C system more efficient at
a later point.
What is preventing or impeding us from
doing this now? Where do construction
industry professionals fit in the picture of
promoting sustainability? How can we start
to gain the advantage in this catch-up race?
Considerations
The most often referenced Climatic Design
Information for A/C systems has only
been updated three times in 20 years; the
last time was in 2013. Can we develop
forward-looking regionalised guidelines
with a rolling average and/or a forecasting
approach tuned to actual year-over-year data
for more accuracy?
Thermal resistance of wall assemblies
could be raised or based on a future time
period (say 10 years) to meet the needs of
both today and tomorrow.
Professional engineers and consultants
should take the lead. All key players in the
construction industry are subject to the same
competitive market forces; professionals
need to be optimistic educators.
MEP Services
Building Interiors
& Finishes
Building Envelope &
Special Construction
Construction Tools &
Building Materials
Smart Building &
Design Technologies
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48 NOVEMBER 2016

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