ME Consultant June 2022

David Clifton on construction sector opportunities

ON TOPIC

BEST PRACTICE

What it takes to excel in today’s challenging climate

METAVERSE

What’s possible in the new design dimension JUNE 2022

092

FOR THE CONSTRUCTION SPECIALIST

Margarita Huaca and the Energy dialogue

Consultancy in Action

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Contents | 01

36

June 2022 Issue 092

Cover Story

Consultancy in Action

Margarita Huaca talks about life on the front line, advising businesses on the critical role of DHW in the drive for Sustainability

Best Practice

What does Best Practice really mean?

08

Dr. Petar Stojanov and Peter Docwra - two leading practitioners from different ends of the consulting mix explain what ‘Best Practice’ means in today’s ever-more-demanding climate

Markets

32 meconstructionnews.com

MEA Construction Market Overview Don’t miss this critical fact-file: JLL’s Q1 2022 Market Intelligence Update for MEA Construction sector

June 2022

02 | Contents

Architecture

Into the Metaverse

Prepare to be amazed - Drew Gilbert takes a glimpse into the Metaverse and what its unlimited possibilities mean for architecture and design.

What are the much-hyped urban myths and what are the realities?

12 Economics

A Path to Recovery?

David Clifton, Vice President - Business Development, Hill International (Middle East), on the economic constraints and opportunities facing the UAE construction industry

18 Profile

Building the Future

ME Consultant speaks to JLL about the ‘touchstone’ factors driving the urban landscapes of tomorrow - and the people, technologies and demographics set to deliver them

22

26

Technologies

Museum of the Future: A Digital Phenomenon

Buro Happold’s Tobias Bauly explains how the steel diagrid structure of the Museum of the Future was in fact created by a bespoke growth algorithm, literally ‘growing’ the structure organically to its optimum form June 2022

meconstructionnews.com

Online | 03

MOST POPULAR

FEATURED

INFRASTRUCTURE

READERS’ COMMENTS

DIESEL PUMP PRICES IN THE

Empower launches operations at 50,000RT cooling plant in Business Bay

UAE HAVE INCREASED BY 35% SINCE JANUARY

It is a time like these that you are suddenly aware of the distances between your office and home. One of the underappreciated perks of living in a wellconnected city like

MACHINERY

Dubai is how quickly

Al Naboodah’s Swaidan Trading beats global competition to win coveted Ashok Leyland Distributor of the Year award

you get from one side to another. Try getting from downtown LA, Tokyo or London to the suburbs

GALLERY: Grankraft builds Sheybarah Hotel’s overwater villas for TRSDC

in under 45 minutes. In comparison, a 30-40km trip is easily downed even in heavy traffic in Dubai, but I am realising

CONSULTANT

that time is becoming far

BSBG announces opening of 60,000sqft F&B venue

less important compared to the cost of the daily commute. I’m personally spending close to 1,000 dirhams a week to get to work and switching to public transport is not a practical option – yet.

CONSTRUCTION

We’ve made great strides

JCDC awards masterplan design contract for $20bn Jeddah Central Project

in building a network in the city but connecting newer developments on its edge now needs to be far higher in the list of a developer’s priorities. In the meantime, I’m going to be spending a lot less time eating gas in the fast lane. And that’s

CONSTRUCTION

Diriyah Gate and Saudi’s OSP ink MoU to use sustainable polymer construction material

meconstructionnews.com

EXPERTS: Is repurposing structures the future of sustainable development?

probably not a bad thing.

Name withheld by request

June 2022

04 | Welcome

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

Editorial

Quo vadis, consultant?

In Lewis Carroll’s classic, Through the Looking-Glass, the Queen says that, every morning - before breakfast - she ‘believes six impossible things’. I can’t help but wonder if there isn’t an element of this in the mutual dialogue between consultants and corporate clients every day here in the GCC. How many times do the procurement teams of KSA’s giga-projects, for example, breathe a sigh of relief when they hear the confident delivery projections of top-class infrastructure consultants, or when they believe - at last - they’ve found a company that can make the strategy plan they commissioned four years ago actually come true? Similarly, there’s a tendency among even premier-league consultants to believe that having a process in place will give the substantive proof needed to support another invoice. Tell that, however, to the great Peter Drucker, who almost singlehandedly transformed Japan into the greatest manufacturing superpower the world has ever seen. He regularly despaired at his meetings with General Motor’s CEO, Alfred Sloan, who “appeared to listen to me but then ignored just about every word I ever said.”

I mention all this because my mission for ME Consultant is to create something dedicated to ‘consultancy in action’; something that can be used as a practical ‘how to’ tool and, June 2022

EDITOR PAUL GODFREY paul.godfrey@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5470

given certain obvious limitations of format, will tackle some of the really core issues. For example, we’ll be looking at debates like the nature of Best Practice. What does that term actually mean here in 2022; is it bound by any number of cross-border ISOs, or does it simply reside in the experience of the practitioner and the eye of the beholder? We’ll be looking at the vexed area of design for the Metaverse; is it a fantastic new opportunity, and if so, how do we structure our work there? Or is it something that Warren Buffett would put on a par with his views on cryptocurrency? Also - that other big word, Sustainability. Is it possible to help a client achieve it when they don’t have much money to spend? What are the styles of dialogue that you can, as a consultant, put in place; and what are the back office processes that will enable you to judge what’s in place already and then decide you can do better?

If that all sounds very ‘worthy’, apologies in advance! I also hope that the magazine will be enormous fun to read and something that you very much want to be part of - I’m keen to showcase the outstanding work that you feel deserves to put in the public eye and to make sure that every issue can truly make a difference to how we see consultancy in the Construction sector. Good reading!

Advertising COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR JUDE SLANN jude.slann@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5714

Design ART DIRECTOR SIMON COBON GRAPHIC DESIGNER PERCIVAL MANALAYSAY PHOTOGRAPHER MAKSYM PORIECHKIN

Circulation & Production DATA & PRODUCTION MANAGER PHINSON MATHEW GEORGE phinson.george@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5476

Marketing & Events EVENTS EXECUTIVE MINARA SALAKHI minara.s@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 433 2856 SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING EXECUTIVE Gladys DSouza gladys.dsouza@cpitrademedia.com +971 4 375 5478

Web Development ABDUL BAEIS FOUNDER DOMINIC DE SOUSA (1959-2015) Published by

The publisher of this magazine has made every effort to ensure the content is accurate on the date of publication.

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Paul Godfrey Editor, Middle East Consultant

CPI Trade Media. PO Box 13700, Dubai, UAE. +971 4 375 5470 cpitrademedia.com © Copyright 2022. All rights reserved.

meconstructionnews.com

TENTAL Façade

Photography: DR Technal

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06 | On Topic

Super-Tall

Hedge Funds

Omnium team visits supertall 340m Uptown Dubai site

Construction titans opt for Crypto

Dubai’s latest supertall tower, Uptown Dubai, topped out in Q1 2022 at 340 metres, creating a striking new addition to the Dubai skyline and becoming the first supertall tower in the Uptown Dubai District.

Omnium’s Managing Director Nicholas Harris and Group Communications Manager Emma Byrne were recently given an exclusive guided site walk around the Uptown Dubai site, viewing the lower elevations with senior client representatives before heading to the top of the tower to take in breathtaking views of Dubai.

The site walk was a fantastic opportunity to continue the company’s strong client partnership with DMCC, maintaining communication between senior representatives and forward-planning as the site moves to development of interior spaces.

Developed by DMCC (Dubai Multi Commodities Centre), construction commenced in July 2019 and has continued at pace in spite of challenges posed by the global pandemic.

Omnium International is pleased to be appointed to Uptown Dubai as the project’s Cost Consultant, delivering its established Pre and Post Contract expertise in high-rise and super-high rise to DMCC as the team looks to achieve its target of Gold LEED status. With current project One Za’abeel also targeting Gold LEED status, the team enjoys highly relevant experience in sustainability-focused development in Dubai and continually applies this knowledge to Uptown Dubai in order to achieve the client’s commercial and ethical build objectives.

02 Hedge Funds reflect the need for stability, so it’s perhaps surprising to see an increased interest in Cryptocurrency.

June 2022

01

01 The Omnium team visit Uptown Dubai, topped out at 340 metres and offering breathtaking views.

More than 65% of the world’s Top 50 Construction businesses place their institutional funds in an investment mix where Hedge Funds play a key role. Hedge Funds, of course reflect a need for stability and an investment ‘safety recourse’ - so it may be surprising that even with the tremendous volatility in the sector, there are many more traditional Hedge Funds investing in crypto. Plus, a good deal more specialist crypto funds are being created as the digital asset class gains acceptance.

Of traditional hedge funds surveyed, 38% are currently investing in digital assets, compared to 21% a year ago. Meanwhile, the number of

02

meconstructionnews.com

On Topic | 07

specialist crypto hedge funds is estimated to now top 300 globally, with the pace of new funds being created accelerating in the past two years.

Total assets under management (AuM) of crypto hedge funds surveyed was US$4.1bn in 2021, up 8% from the year prior.

All the above are findings from PwC’s 4th Annual Global Crypto Hedge Fund Report 2022, produced together with the Alternative Investment Management Association (AIMA) and Elwood Asset Management (now part of CoinShares). According to the report, most traditional hedge funds getting into digital assets are still just dipping their toes - 57% have less than 1% of total AuM in digital assets. But it is notable that for 20% of these funds, digital assets represent between 5% and 50% of AuM. Further, two-thirds of funds (67%) currently investing in digital assets intend to deploy more capital into the asset class by the end of 2022.

For specialist crypto hedge funds surveyed, the average AuM more than doubled to US$58.6mn from US$23.4mn in the previous year, while median AuM nearly tripled to US$24.5mn from US$8.5mn. From 2020 to 2021, the percentage of crypto hedge funds with AuM exceeding $20mn increased from 46% to 59%.

John Garvey, Global Financial Services Leader, PwC United States, said: “The recent collapse of Terra vividly demonstrated the potential risks in digital assets. There will continue to be volatility, but the market is maturing and with that is coming not only many more crypto-focused hedge funds and higher AuM, but also more traditional funds entering the crypto space.”

Crypto hedge funds continue to achieve strong growth, despite crypto’s volatility.

According to the report, the median crypto fund returned +63.4% in 2021, though that was significantly off the +127.55% median return of 2020. Winning trading strategies (on a median return basis) were led by discretionary long / short (+199%) followed by discretionary long only (+176%), quantitative long only (+109%), quantitative long /short (+66%) and market neutral (+26%). Most crypto hedge funds traded Bitcoin ‘BTC’ (86%) followed by Ethereum ‘ETH’ (81%), Solana ‘SOL’ (56%), Polkadot ‘DOT’ (53%), Terra ‘LUNA’ (49%) and Avalanche ‘AVAX’ (47%).

Crypto hedge funds are also involved in meconstructionnews.com

03

03 A new and extended Landscape department at U+A will allow the multidisciplinary consultancy to extend breadth of service.

Human Resources

cryptocurrency staking (46%), lending (44%) and borrowing (49%). The proportion of crypto hedge funds trading derivatives has also increased considerably, to 69%, from 56%.

More traditional hedge funds invest in crypto, but some remain hesitant The number of traditional hedge fund managers not investing in digital assets is shrinking - down to 62% of respondents from 79% a year ago. Of those not currently investing, nearly a third, 29%, are in late-stage planning to invest or are looking to invest. Still, a significant number of managers remain hesitant - 41% of those not currently investing say they are unlikely to invest for the next three years, while 31% say they are curious about digital assets but waiting for further maturation of the market.

Regulatory uncertainty is a key issue for hedge funds, whether or not they are currently invested in digital assets. Lack of regulatory and tax regime clarity was cited as a top challenge by 89% of hedge fund managers who currently invest in digital assets and for managers not currently investing in crypto, regulatory uncertainty ranked as a main obstacle by 83%.

With continued regional and international expansion, U+A have reinforced its Landscape department with ex-LMS International team. A core team has successfully migrated and found strong support within U+A .

U+A as a 15-year established, unlimited license multi-disciplinary Consultancy strengthen its service offering to their clients by adding the full arrAy of Landscape Consulting to an already well bound Landscape Team.

Built on the current and successful Six Senses Amaala Triple Bay project, the incorporation and synergy of the former Team into a strong established U+A Team was a “win-win” for both Clients and Consultants while maintaining seamless project delivery was successfully achieved.

The Landscape Team led by Brett Ross (former LMS Director) is now the new U+A Projects Director (Landscaping) and brings with a seasoned Team experienced in high profile hospitality Projects and urban scale developments in the MENA region.

U+A put down new roots in fertile grounds

June 2022

08 | On Topic

Construction Market Q1 2022 MEA Snapshot Primary data from JLL gives critical insights into key performance plusses and minuses Although indicators pointed to improving market sentiment towards the end of last year, notable economic developments more recently have led many forecasters to revise their projections for global GDP. Furthermore, the impact of geo-political tensions and rising commodity & energy prices is reflected in recent inflation data.

Ongoing supply chain disruptions (partly stemming from China’s Covidrelated restrictions in Q2), manufacturing delays and increasing global demand for materials has resulted in rising commodity prices. Meanwhile soaring energy prices, as well as the rising price of metal commodities, is impacting construction material prices in Middle East and other parts of the world. In our view, the current trend of rising material prices in the region will continue in the near term.

Tender price indices

Our current 2022 TPI forecast for KSA is 4-6%, which considers local and global market influences. We are continuing to monitor ongoing economic developments which could drive KSA inflation above the forecast range.

We have witnessed accelerating inflation across giga-projects in the kingdom (stemming from unique supply and demand side factors); as a result, we have excluded these outliers June 2022

so they do not impact our central forecast for the country.

Our UAE inflation forecast for 2022 is 2-5%. By year end the potential impact of economic influences could drive UAE inflation above the forecast range.

Our TPI projections are calculated using various indicators, including commodity prices and construction material rates. We will continue to monitor our market intelligence data and provide a further update after Q2 2022, including for Egypt.

Oil

It is important to track the oil price since the commodity is widely utilised across industries.

The increasing demand from a revival in activity to near pre-pandemic levels by yearend 2021 contributed to oil prices recovering to $70/barrel.

In Q1 2022, the OPEC oil price averaged $98/barrel - a sharp increase compared to the previous quarter and the highest outturn in 14 years. Emirates NBD Research global benchmark (Brent) forecast for 2022 is $112/barrel; influenced by the global economic outlook, the impact of geo-political tensions and the geo-political risks and uncertainty of recently announced trade sanctions in Europe.

OPEC+ is due to meet at the end of March where it is anticipated they will consider meconstructionnews.com

On Topic | 09

meconstructionnews.com

June 2022

10 | On Topic

OPEC Oil Price, $USD/barrel

Material Supply Prices, January-March 2022

120

30%

90

20%

60

10%

30

0%

2020

2021

Q1 2022

2022

-10%

plans for increasing oil production. According to Emirates NBD, the increasing oil price is reflective of a perceived shortage which will become more apparent throughout 2022. Should an oil shortage occur or physical disruptions to supply then this could lead to higher production levels to balance rising prices.

Material Prices

We have noted a resurgence in material supply prices following the volatility witnessed during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The normalisation of the trade of raw materials is imperative to stabilising prices and may encourage alternative solutions being adopted for the import of

Copper

Iron Ore

Aluminum

Plywood

materials should availability and supply be affected. Additionally, elevated oil prices have directly impacted material prices due to the increasing cost of production, manufacturing and transportation. Our market intelligence data suggests that Egypt is likely to be more susceptible to increasing construction material prices across the supply chain, as demonstrated by the recent introduction of rules by Egypt’s Central Bank requiring the issuance of ‘letters of credit’ for the import of goods

by Egypt’s Central Bank. Additionally, the price of materials will be further affected by currency fluctuations as the Egyptian Pound was devalued by circa 18%.

KSA Rebar

Egypt Rebar

UAE Rebar

Conclusion

The economic uncertainty stemming from the Covid-19 pandemic led to global construction output rising by 4.1% in 2021, according to Engineering News Record. Over 2022–2030, construction output is forecast to grow at an annual average growth rate of 2.3%. Prices in the near-term are likely to be impacted by the geo-political situation, inflation and supply & demand side factors. Across the Middle East, the vision programmes are contributing to growing construction activity and generating a busy projects market. Thus, we will continue to monitor our market intelligence sources to evaluate the ongoing impact on the MEA construction market.

Global Steel Demand, Q1 2022 Russia

North America

World’s #5 iron ore producing country: 95 million tonnes / 5% of total world production

USMCA steel demand 2022f +5.4% (136.5m tonnes)

European Union

EU (27) steel demand 2022f +5.5% (167.4m tonnes) Asia & Oceania

EU: Leading construction material exporter worldwide $25 billion

Central & South America

Middle East

Steel demand 2022f +0.9% (48.3m tonnes) Brazil: World’s #2 iron ore producing country: 400 million tonnes / 17% of the global total

June 2022

Steel demand 2022f +1.1% (1,345 million tonnes) Australia: World’s #1 iron ore producing country: 900 million tonnes / 37% of total world production

Steel demand 2022f +4.9% (50.5m tonnes) Africa

Steel demand 2022f +7.5% (42.0m tonnes)

The Middle East Steel industry produced 3.5 million tonnes of crude steel in February 2022 +2.8% Y-o-Y (ME Steel) meconstructionnews.com

12 | On Topic

June 2022

meconstructionnews.com

On Topic | 13

UAE Market A Path to Recovery?

David Clifton, Vice President Business Development, Hill International (Middle East) reviews the economic opportunities and constraints In contrast with the other major regional market - Saudi Arabia - UAE has a more muted pipeline of opportunities for the industry.

Although it could be argued that they are perhaps more realistic. However, should KSA keep progress with the awards schedules it has set itself, we will find an industry in the strange supply and demand situation where KSA has plenty of work but not enough supply chain partners and the UAE market the inverse, even through the international contractors have left, local capacity remains in surplus. Certainly, in the short term at least.

With the war in Ukraine, whilst impacting inflation significantly in country (as well as regionally and globally), this has provided the UAE with the opportunity to strengthen its global position politically, whilst also reenforcing its reputation as an emerging markets safe haven, enabling a ‘flight to safety’ of capital.

This has been a significant driver in off-plan real estate sales in 2022, supporting primarily the residential house builders.

With a budget-assumed oil price of US $64 per barrel and an average daily production of 3.2mn barrels, UAE with prices trending at c.$120 per barrel is operating an extra (notional) $180mn per day in revenue. Given the expected infrastructure stimulus as part of the pandemic meconstructionnews.com

recovery package not as yet on the ground, it is reasonable to expect a ‘beefing up’ of planned internal investment into the country.

What should also be expected is an increase in regional support spending through the likes of Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (and others), as the country seeks to provide support for poorer countries and maintain political stability – as can be seen by the UAE/Egypt/ Jordan industrial agreement recently. This will present the industry with opportunities at a regional level, backed by clients that typically are known to the markets.

With UAE having a reasonably diversified economy, the impact of the oil price spike, whilst significant, has been less of a hike on GDP than other regional economies. However, the country is expected to have an uprated GDP position with 5.5% of growth in 2022 before a level of ‘normal’ returns of c.4% in 2023 and 2024.

The UAE is expected to continue aggressively with its economic diversification policies and the extra revenue from the oil prices will only help support this. Although the attraction of new industries will also present the industry with opportunities. In many instances, the required infrastructure in not partially or fully in place, meaning the government will likely ‘catalyse’ the development of this to an extent.

June 2022

14 | On Topic

United Arab Emirates GDP, 2012-2024 $ Billions

% Growth Rate

% Trendline

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20%

$400

10%

$300

0%

$200

-10%

$100

-20%

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Turning to the industry performance and the future, we can see that ‘bumps in the road’ might be somewhat of an understatement in the past few years. Since the nadir of 2012-2014, we’ve seen a contraction of awards in the country. This has led to a continuing shrinking of backlog in the market. We have also seen the market awarding less and less technically challenging projects compared to that time period (acknowledging many complex projects were awarded). Looking at awards versus completions, we see that completions outnumbered awards by an average of 20% from 2016-2021. This has meant that even though materials have seen price input inflation that drove an overall increase, prices in general have declined for contract awards.

However, due to the significant prices pressures, inflation has been pent up, the industry has seen c.9% inflation year to date. Whilst this has calmed, there is still to be expected a ‘normal’ level of inflation for the rest of the year.

With AED pegged to USD, some risk is being mildly offset in the global supply chain.

With somewhat strong USA growth and forecast

2017

2018

2019

2020

rate rises, the USD is expected to maintain and potentially increase in strength in the short term. This will make international procurement cheaper in non-dollar denominated nor pegged currencies which should have a level of balance in future inflation.

With awards expected to continue on a recovery through 2022 and continue their trajectory in 2023/24 due to the economic recovery in the region, increased oil revenue, flight to safety capital and the diversification policies, we can expect to see the inversion of the last few years of backlog burn outpacing new awards - the difficulty will be what these schemes look like as complexity and scale will dictate the supply chain models moving forward.

The question is what the growth will look like?

It is highly unlikely to be akin to the boom of 2005/8 or 2012-2014, but reassuring confidence has been injected into the sector with certain recent announcements, such as the next stage of Etihad Rail and ADNOC’s continued investment plan in primarily downstream activities.

When we look at material price inflation, we

2021

2022

2023

2024

see significant divergences between local (and regional) and international product price points although this should be caveated in 2022 around the international as a lot is dependent on energy input prices - with international products such as steel and copper having seen spikes of 73% in 2021, before cooling off, only to see a 33% one month rise on the Ukraine war commencing.

Locally sourced material has been dampened to a more normal level of 2-3% as the government and the industry have a greater level of influence in the markets. There is in this instance a strong argument for more localisation, the like of which we haven’t seen to date. This goes against the globalisation argument, but most other global markets are retrenching due to geopolitical risk, although localisation has historically been a part of UAE planning (e.g., ADNOC ICV scores).

Moving forward: We’re seeing a push towards alternative finance (PPP and similar), although with the rising cost of capital expected to yield a further 3-4 interest rate hike this year (which although impacting mortgage rates, a large quantum of assets are being purchased in

United Arab Emirates Main Contract Awards, 2012-2024 $ Billions

% Growth Rate

% Trendline

$60

50%

$45

25%

$30

0%

$15

-25%

2012 June 2022

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

meconstructionnews.com

On Topic | 15

United Arab Emirates Construction Inflation, 2016-2024 Percentage

Trendline

10%

5%

0%

-5%

2016

2017

2018

cash) from the Federal Reserve in the USA (UAE Dirham is pegged to the USD – so USA interest rate is UAE’s), many of these proposed schemes will struggle without major government usage guarantees (remembering that initial PPP finance is typically 5-7 years, which is likely the cycle we are in), as the interest rate will be remaining for a reasonable period, whilst Quantative Easing (QE) is tapered and inflation runs too high for most central banks policy remits.

For the industry, the cost of capital is a major issue (as with other industries) - the pandemic created a supply side imbalance as demand in most sectors doesn’t yet outstrip pre-pandemic levels - which makes growing back more expensive and thus drives output price inflation due to financing. Furthermore, project working capital costs can now easily run over the profit margin on the contract. This will add further pressure to balance sheets and price points.

Problematically, as we start to see a recovery, the words ‘bankruptcy beware’ come into play.

The industry prices in general as lump sum contracts. As the market has gone down over the

2019

2020

2021

last few years, this becomes a chase to the bottom.

On the turn of the market (for whatever reason that may be), lump sum contracts are likely to be unstainable and pricing contracts moving forward for those that are viable businesses will overshoot the price of the moderated market (markets almost always overshoot one way or another). Market consolidation and bankruptcy should be expected.

On the positive levels, the confirmed ADNOC investments in downstream and the continued strength in real estate investment, as well as the expected infrastructure stimulus are all good news for a beleaguered industry from the last few years. No one expects the journey to be easy, but the targeted money the government is expected to deploy, should get the industry on a more sustainable footing again. Ideally minimising the peaks and troughs that emerging economies are so well known for.

Future Industry Movements

As we’ve seen a move away from the quantum of complexity in the building and infrastructure

2022

2023

2024

projects in the country, we’ve also seen a level of ‘brain drain’ to other markets, most notably Saudi Arabia. UAE has downgraded a lot of skill sets available in the market, based on project demand though. However, whilst the last five years has seen ‘one way traffic’ to Saudi Arabia, the upcoming investments are starting to see this trend must (and in some instances will) see a return of talent. The Abu Dhabi programme for works being a particular beacon for the market. With significant early and midstage planning already underway, the pickup could well outstrip contract award forecasts if decisions can be made in an expeditious manner. The future will be growth in a market that has been stagnant or declining. So long as the supply chain can manage their risks and banks can manage a return to lending to the industry - another issue in the market as regional banks are over exposed to the market as a percentage of GDP to coverage - there should be a manageable route through.

David Clifton is Vice President - Business Development, Hill International (Middle East)

Rebar - Landed Cost Per Tonne, Q1 2020 - Q4 2021 $ Cost Per Ton

% Change

Trendline

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Q1 2020 meconstructionnews.com

Q2 2020

Q3 2020

Q4 2020

Q1 2021

Q2 2021

Q3 2021

Q4 2021 June 2022

DUBAI / UAE

Critical debates in the Diversity and Inclusion agendas: lobbying for real-time change 25 October 2022

About the

WIC Summit – Diversity & Inclusion

2022

Year-on-year, the Women in Construction event proved a powerful catalyst not only for discussing critical gender issues in the Construction sector, but actually driving significant change.

The WIC Summit – Diversity & Inclusion will take place in Dubai on 25 October 2022 in full compliance with all current safety guidelines and protocols.

The summit expands that agenda to a full-on debate focusing on Diversity & Inclusion. These keynote issues are important topics for which detailed dialogue has typically been lacking in the region – and this year’s agenda aims to break the mould and set important new precedents.

LIVE

Insightful

Conversations

The occasion brings together presenters and panellists on the ‘front line’ of critical change, from whom we will hear about practical and personal case studies.

The one-day conference will feature high quality dialogue and provocative discussions; we will be hosting leading names from across the region, providing a terrific opportunity to see how the realities behind the major debates are progressing.

Participation

Get in touch

Participate by exhibiting, creating a workshop, join a panel discussion or run a demonstration – whichever way – it’s a lucrative platform to get connected.

Content

Contact us now to learn more about this opportunity to interact and connect with regional industry decision makers and influencers.

Sponsorship

Opportunity

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Agenda We believe content is key and our panel discussions and presentations seek to provoke insightful debate and shed light on current trends, issues and solutions.

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Sadly, the convention of payment according to gender and ethnicity has become endemic in the GCC. The event showcases the best initiatives to reform unequal payment structures and – at long last – adopt ethical best practices.

All too often, selection and recruitment either consciously or unconsciously screen out anyone not meeting an accepted stereotype.

The Summit will show how to overcome bias and initiate fair recruitment policies.

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The C-Suite realities

and Expertise

Just how successfully are we building more inclusive Boards, in both public and private sector enterprises? How best to go beyond rhetoric and implement real and lasting change?

Knowledge and expertise sharing are vital for success across an industry; discussing challenges and experiences that can be overcome in the future with digital adoption, education, and new normal ways of working.

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18 | Architecture

Into the Metaverse: Fusing the Real World with the Digital World Drew Gilbert looks at the unparalleled opportunities of this new design dimension

June 2022

meconstructionnews.com

A new architectural era is among us, the creation of place making has teleported to a parallel world. A realm that bypasses physical constraints of materiality, structural integrity and enclosure from the physical elements. This has unleashed a new kind of reconceptualization of what architecture is, what it can be, and how we will experience it.

As the metaverse concept has been around for decades, it has become a buzzword with the announcement of Facebook becoming Meta and billions of dollars being invested into metaverse technologies. Experiencing the internet will have a new connotation as we enter ourselves into the 2D screen into a fully immersive 3D world; A 3-Dimensional world of connectivity that enables users to shop, visit friends and family, meet with colleagues and clients all in one place. We must ask ourselves the question on how to best utilize this evolving technology to enrich our lives and the built environment.

A 3-Dimensional World of Connectivity

The metaverse will become a collection of fully immersive real-time environments interlinked/ interoperable with one another where users (in the form of avatars/meta personas) can interact with the environment and each other either for busineSs/entertainment purposes in decentralized and co-created worlds. In short, the metaverse is a virtual reality version of the internet where the outside will be shared as a digital form. It is all possible thanks to the emergence of Web3.0 technology, a world driven by data, decentralization, and user autonomy. The easiest way to visualize the transition from Web2.0 to Web3.0 is like moving from 2D to 3D. The existing protocols and services of today’s internet will still be visited, however with Web3.0, we will start to

01

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Architecture | 19

01 The Metaverse will become a collection of fully-immersive realtime environments.

see services built on permissionless blockchains with open protocols, open standards, and built within open “worlds”. This provides massive opportunities for individual users, content creators, and businesses to expand and explore the latest evolution of the internet. While the infrastructure behind it Web3.0 is still in the works, the future of the internet looks promising and it’s arriving faster than we think.

Shifting Paradigms

The primary aspect of architecture was intended to provide shelter to human beings from external actors, in the metaverse this is no longer the case. An entire new world of possibilities has been unlocked. What kind of expression, creativity, and design has become possible? As technology advances, the philosophies continue to evolve. Each metaverse platform has a set of rules, for example a set plot size that may limit the height and footprint, polygon count that may limit the detail of the design, or even a cap on the number of users that can access at once, these new constraints will create a new kind of architecture and it will continue to adapt as the metaverse evolves. The methods of conceptualizing architecture in the metaverse will need to be reimagined.

As Architects building and shaping the future of Metaverse Architecture, we will start to incorporate aspects of multiple fields, for example user interface, content design, character design, landscape development, blockchain based protocols, and even game design.

Within the metaverse there will be multiple virtual worlds that contain a mix between both the physical and digital world, where people can experience and engage in a vast range of activities. Most activities will be centered around social activities like meeting with friends, clients, and loved ones, but there is also a utility aspect that can enable education to be easily accessed around the world, or even have easy access to governmental agencies and healthcare that are operated 24/7 by expert digital assistants.

June 2022

20 | Architecture

Each of the current metaverses offer different possibilities; A creator entering the metaverse must first ask what are the most important aspects of what they are trying to achieve. Aspects like daily user count, age and demographics of users, open or closed platforms (either enable full freedom of creation or to work within a “design” framework) along with other factors will determine which metaverse platform will best suite their needs. Entering a metaverse may or may not require the purchase of digital land in the form of a Non-Fungible Token (NFT) and purchased with the native cryptocurrency of the platform.

The structures in the metaverse are made of polygons or voxels that is defined as three dimensional pixels. Each one of the current metaverses offer different options. While some provide a sprawling, colorful, low poly wonderland. Expanding to other more tightlydetailed worlds that focus on high-quality renders that explore niche ideas. And others use cubes as a standard building block for each ethereal build and an ingrained emphasis on recreating an Earth-like world.

Opportunity to de-carbonize the Earth

As we are heading towards the next big-tech paradigm shift, we must consider the impacts it may have on our planet. Many blockchains such as Ethereum verify transactions through a method called “Proof-of-work” and this process is an energy consuming process where hundreds of computers on a network solve complex cryptographic puzzles to verify transactions.

Simply put, every transaction that is made using cryptocurrency on a PoW blockchain is energy consuming.

The amount of energy consumed for the blockchain along is estimated to be 150 terawatt hours annually.

Luckily June 2022

there are hundreds of blockchains all working towards a more sustainable future. Ethereum network which is the major network that powers the majority of the virtual transactions will be rolling out the next generation that will move to “Proof-of-Stake”, which reduces energy consumption to %99.95 while providing the same transaction verification. In addition to recycling e-waste and setting up 100% renewable energies datacenters, for example, Google and Microsoft are setting up run data centers on completely carbon-free energy by 2030.

Another way the metaverse can help in that is by using Digital Twins. Digital twins represent the physical world and allow users to interact with these digital replicas from anywhere and in a number of productive and efficient ways.

They are especially effective in helping to control energy usage and carbon emissions. The options are limitless and the opportunities being presented by governments all over the world are making it more attractive and affordable to rethink how technology can help reduce greenhouse gasses. the 3D digital twin showcases a scaled layout of the facility 02 and offers a virtual

walkthrough that can be manipulated and viewed from multiple planes. To start tracking your commissions, decarbonizing your work force, decarbonizing your industries, eliminating paper waste, reducing the need to prototype multiple times, and it’s a great place for digital twins to solve it.

Virtual Economies

With the influx of millions of users around the world, a thriving economy will be required in order to support the activities of its users.

Creating value that can easily be monetized is crucial to the survival of any virtual world.

Blockchain-based cryptocurrencies will be the tool used for the digital assets within the metaverse to be securely created, exchanged, shared, tracked and in the future allow for a cross-world interoperability (meaning that the supercar you bought in one metaverse can be enjoyed to its fullest in another metaverse).

Governments across the globe are announcing roadmaps on metaverse adoption. The Dubai Municipality has recently announced plans to have a futuristic metaverse city called “One Human Reality”.

Saudi has announced they will be developing a digital twin of NEOM. The Seoul government announced that they’re creating a virtual communication ecosystem for all of its municipal administration, where their citizens and residents will be able to complete all of their governmental documents in a digital twin within the metaverse. Each day we hear more and more adoption and usage of the metaverse.

Technology Triggers Monumental Change meconstructionnews.com

Architecture | 21

02 Drew Gilbert is a Design Manager at OBM International.

The beating heart of the Metaverse is centered around its users. Each and every participant in any virtual world will take part in coexperiences and being a co-creator the future of the metaverse. User-generated content, personal stories and interactions will shape each metaverse platform. It’s an endless space where there are no limits to how many people can use it at the same time, what you can do in any given place, what industries are allow to join, and so on. It widens accessibility far more than any current internet platform.

Users can join the metaverse freely at any time, from anywhere in the world, and in doing so there will always be a continuity to their experience.

The role of NFTs in the Metaverse from collectability to utility

Non-Fungible tokens, which are records of ownership of a digital item (stored and authenticated via the blockchain) is the key component of the metaverse economy. NFTs enable the authentication of your possessions, property or even your identity. They act as a highly-secured cryptographic “key” that cannot be deleted, copied, or destroyed. This security is necessary for a metaverse society to succeed and interact with other societies.

Beyond the hype of the multi-million-dollar digital art sales, the significance of NFT’s is the beginning of resembling a genuine human society, based on free markets (goods, services and ideas) and social contracts that will enable the metaverse to thrive. The birth of NFTs had a large focus on digital art, but as the knowledge of NFTs expands they are going to become much more powerful. It will be a tool to represent digital assets across virtual worlds, and this application will have enormous impact.

intricacies of human expression, the meta humans being developed by Unreal Engine 5 could be what I like to call the “Mirror” you, when you want to represent your real identity in the virtual environment and look like you do in real life. The other avatars that you experience the metaverse with can be easily modified to fit the occasion or activity.

These “meta-personas” can fully unleash the possibilities of self-expression.

A new architectural era is among us, a realm that bypasses physical constraints of materiality, structural integrity and enclosure from the physical elements”

The sky is no longer the limit

Looking ahead, as creators, governments, businesses, and communities are embracing the metaverse; this decentralized society will continue to evolve and enrich our lives.

More than ever, keeping the wellbeing of the user and a sustainable core are increasingly apparent. Just like in the real world, in order to build a sustainable future, platforms must be built with a moral social understanding of community, and understand the overall impact blockchain technology has on social structures, environment, and commercial appeal. To provide a true state of virtual luxurious experiences to the users across the globe and create exceptional virtual environments that evoke new feelings and a chance to experience architecture in a new an unprecedented way.

Drew Gilbert is a Design Manager at OBM International. With a focus on developing contemporary projects that push the boundaries of design and create sustainable and lasting solutions that are profoundly relevant to place and people.

Digital Identities

When you’re ready to jump into the metaverse, you’re going to need an avatar.

This 3D representation of you can be just about anything you imagine; in the metaverse you can express yourself however you like, whether it be for business or entertainment purposes. Advancements in digital technology are a hairpin away from replicating the meconstructionnews.com

June 2022

22 | Architecture

June 2022

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Architecture | 23

Museum of the Future: a digital phenomenon created by a ‘growth’ algorithm The Museum of the Future, which opened earlier this year, is a visionary hub, showcasing futuristic ideas and technologies to visitors from around the globe. Yet not many observers will be aware that its steel diagrid structure was in fact created by a bespoke growth algorithm, literally ‘growing’ the structure organically to its optimum parameters The museum’s unconventional eye-shaped structure with a mesmerising void was designed by architect, Killa Design, to be a symbol of progress and innovation. No less striking by night, when LED lighting outlines each bespoke glass window shaped in the form of Arabic calligraphy, illuminating phrases of inspirational quotes written by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, about his vision for the city’s future.

Dubai Future Foundation’s (DFF) concept for a Museum of the Future was brought to life by lead design engineering consultants Buro Happold and developer North25. Despite meconstructionnews.com

challenges posed by the building’s complex shape and façade, Buro Happold’s engineers were able to overcome these by pushing the boundaries of digital design, combining bespoke parametric modelling and an industryleading approach to Building Information Modelling (BIM).

Presented with DFF’s vision and Shaun Killa’s design for the building, Buro Happold needed to consider how to build a feasible structure for the unique shape without deviating away from the original design.

Using computational tools, Buro Happold developed a bespoke growth algorithm to June 2022

24 | Architecture

‘grow’ the theoretically optimum arrangement for the steel diagrid structure that would balance buildability and structural member commonality, while supporting 1,024 stainless-steel-clad glass fibre reinforced plastic (GFRP) panels that would form the museum’s exterior.

“Creating Shaun’s shape structurally was one complication, but to weave all disciplines together to produce a high-performance exhibition facility was the real challenge,” says Tobias Bauly, Buro Happold’s Project Director of Museum of the Future. “We realised very quickly that a design that needed to integrate so many architectural and engineering aspects together would need a design approach and a set of design tools that would be bespoke to the project. We wanted to honour the overall vision. The digital and analytical tools

01 Buro Happold needed to consider how to build a feasible structure for the unique shape.

02 The final shape is a testimony to the power of generative algorithms.

Once again, technology was the great enabler to achieving what would otherwise have been logistically unfeasible”

developed by us for the project became the true enabler for delivering on that promise.”

Commencing the design back in 2015, Buro Happold and Killa Design spent nearly two years developing what is effectively a full digital prototype of the building. This revolutionised the team’s way of working, creating an efficient and holistic design process that was built around having ‘everything’ in the 3D model(s).

“Typically, a concept design might only involve the architect creating drawing content, with conceptual level input from engineers. However, for Museum of the Future, we threw the rule book out and had all architectural and engineering disciplines integrating and contributing into the digital model from the very start,” says Bauly. “While managing a design team of nearly 40 people

01

June 2022

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Images © Phil Handforth.

Architecture | 25

has its challenges, the exhaustive planning put into the digital design process streamlined the delivery of the project and removed many of the typical problems you’d face during later construction phases. With the amount of risk it removes, ‘digital’ is the single greatest step forward our industry has seen for designing and constructing the built environment.”

The prototype digital modelling also proved essential in determining the façade of the building. The exterior is made up of over 10,000 bespoke pieces of glass integrated within the 1,024 panels - the panels themselves are all unique in size and shape. The areas of calligraphy glazing were determined by parametric scripting to optimise the amount of energy use - balancing thermal gain, light entering the museum and HVAC system designs. The glass panels were treated locally and cut into shape using water jets before placement into the GFRP panels.

“Once again, technology was the great enabler to achieving what would otherwise have been logistically unfeasible. Initially we were concerned about producing the digital cutting patterns for the thousands of different glass shapes but once the analytical modelling was set up, the data production was relatively quick. The water jet machinery is then of course indifferent to whether pieces are all the same or all different – it’s just following data, at which point the variability of the glass makes little difference,” says Bauly. “It meant we had far greater freedom to create glass shapes that could closely match the calligraphy created by artist, Mattar Bin Lahej.” meconstructionnews.com

With futuristic thinking at the core of the design, the sustainability credentials of the building could not be overlooked.

From the start of the project, it was built to LEED platinum rating standards. The design technology developed by Buro Happold proved crucial in delivering this ambition. Energy modelling was encapsulated within the 3D modelling work, allowing for interaction with a host of other engineering disciplines in real

time. This ensured sustainability was put at the forefront of all key design decisions, enabling a huge reduction in water use and total energy savings. “Working in a digital environment completely altered our capabilities related to energy use. Without these tools, we would not have been able to make building as energy efficient as it is now,” says Bauly.

The Museum of the Future also has its own green power source. A vast array of solar power was designed and built for the building, providing a direct power link for the facilities.

With a purposeful brief to keep parking spots to a minimum, and with a pedestrian bridge built as part of the project and connecting directly with Emirates Towers metro station, the building encourages Dubai to embrace its ever-developing public transport network.

With its positive impact on how people move in and around the city, and representing how digital is changing how we design, the museum really does offer a glimpse into the future.

Feature courtesy of Tobias Bauly, Project Director, Buro Happold

02

June 2022

26 | In Practice

June 2022

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In Practice | 27

Building the Future ME Consultant speaks to JLL about the ‘touchstone’ factors driving the urban landscapes of tomorrow - and the people and technologies set to deliver them There’s probably never been more debate about the changing shape of urban futures - and it’s fuelled by new levels of social preference post-pandemic, a fresh understanding of space and the realisation that work isn’t so much ‘9 to 5’ but a lifestyle where the hours are longer but interspersed with centrally-placed amenities. Plus, digitisation is no longer simply a way of describing the design software that makes a blueprint come to life: it’s a fact of life in the conception of cities with autonomous transport and customised facilities infinitely adaptable to individual consumers.

All of which is happening at a time when developers themselves are experiencing a new matrix of choices - where topics like gender and diversity have to translate from boardroom discussion to the practical realities of informed senior management.

To get a sharp focus on changing urban futures and the responsibilities of the people creating them, ME Consultant spoke to senior executives from JLL, the leading professional services firm that specialises in real estate and investment management, with more than 100,000 employees across 80 countries, and ranked 179th in the Fortune 500.

Ben Jackson, Head of Project & Development Services (PDS) MEA; Louise Collins, Head of PDS, UAE, and Head of Engineering & Energy, MEA; Mohamed Nabil, Head of PDS, Egypt; Alan Baker, Head of Project & Program Management, MEA; Dani Mansour, Head of PDS, Africa; and Maroun meconstructionnews.com

Deeb, Head of PDS, KSA and Bahrain, spoke about the opportunities and constraints in a new era when small, eco-friendly hubs are as much the order of the day as the trillion-dollar giga-projects captivating the eyes of the world.

First things first. What are most likely to be the key opportunities, technologies and constraints shaping the urban landscapes of the future? Ben Jackson comments that: “Above all, while it’s very tempting to talk about technology, it’s the human element that will always drive the debate. I believe our cities and urban landscapes of the future will ultimately be dictated by how people want to live, and want to use that space - and the trends show that people are calling for that space to be more convenient, more connected, and ultimately more sustainable.

“The way society operates and how people live their daily lives has changed vastly over the last 10-15 years. This is largely due to technology, but it’s also been accelerated by the global Pandemic. I believe we need to understand those implications on society and focus all our energies around creating an urban landscape that is highly sympathetic - and that’s not always easy, because those changing preferences are going to alter the whole way that real estate looks and functions.

“We’re all connected and we’re online every day; we’re working longer, but working differently. This isn’t just limited to the work environment; it’s how we shop, the way we consume food, the way we travel: it’s all changed vastly in the last 10 years. And again, real estate needs to reflect that.”

Is Sustainability the New Normal?

Mohamed Nabil believes that one of the factors defining that new-look real estate will be Sustainability - and in fact it’s a quest that he already sees taking shape in Egypt’s ‘big city’ environments: “Recently, we’re starting to see the Egyptian government enforcing a variety of strong Sustainability guidelines and practices.

This is underlying one of the most important infrastructure additions that the nation has seen for decades: the government is currently developing a huge Metro network connecting the new capital city with Cairo, extending all the way out to the new Alamein city on the north coast of Egypt. This will surely reshape the urban landscape and decrease traffic and pollution, reducing carbon footprints.

However, while we are starting to see the role of Sustainability gathering pace, for the ‘next generation’ communities it will be an absolute given, and fully embraced.”

01 Ben Jackson, Head of Project & Development Services, MEA, JLL.

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28 | In Practice

02 Louise Collins, Head of PDS, UAE, and Head of Engineering & Energy, MEA, JLL. 03 Mohamed Nabil, Head of PDS, Egypt, JLL. 04 Alan Baker, Head of Project & Program Management, MEA, JLL.

Interestingly, Alan Baker also cites Sustainable transport solutions as a key hallmark of the future urban landscape. “But I also feel”, he says, “that factors like modularisation and off-site fabrication are incredibly important in terms of lowering the costs and timescales of large-scale development. They also, in turn, make an important contribution to Sustainable construction practices, lowering the levels of on-site manpower required and thereby improving many aspects of risk management.

I am sure we will see (and in fact, are already starting to see) a move toward more energyefficient MEP solutions and more energyefficient building materials.

“Yet, I’m not going to pretend that the picture is entirely rosy: at present, there is a shortage of world-class construction companies to meet the high regional demand; and we are witnessing rampant construction

June 2022

inflation. These factors will need to be addressed if we are going to move into a future driven by end-user customisation and a broader up-take of affordable and Sustainable materials.”

Dani Mansour adds that “When it comes to Sustainability, Africa is catching up at a rapid pace; for example, we are currently delivering in Dakar the first Net Zero HQ for an international financial institution in West Africa. We encourage working closely with local contractors and suppliers (and interacting with students and local communities) to transfer knowledge, inspire where we can, and demonstrate that thinking Sustainability and building sustainably not only is achievable, but in fact is the only way forward.

“The reality is, we are no longer seeing Sustainability being advertised as a key differentiator; it’s now perceived by the Generations Z and Alfa as the only option. Communities of today are being planned for them.”

Meanwhile, Louise Collins takes the view that: “Education and commitment is key to how this whole topic is embraced. If we can embed the core value and goals of Sustainability with the incoming generation, then it will simply be a matter of course.

If we don’t show our commitment to Sustainability and help them to understand the implementation and facilitator requirements, then they will be unwilling to take up the baton. Notwithstanding, with huge strides towards innovation in technology it should be easier to facilitate the changes required ahead: this is all key to how deeply and seriously the commitment is taken. We need to keep in mind that he generations coming in like to see results every quickly - and it’s technology that will drive the ‘quick wins’.”

One of the features often overlooked in discussions of Sustainability is that it isn’t simply about conserving the earth’s resources, and/or saving money long-term. It’s also about improving the quality of people’s lives. Maroun Deeb adds that: “Sustainability definitely improves the quality of our lives, and this should be a primary motivation. It also protects our ecosystem and preserves natural resources for future generations, which is very important for everyone. All this is increasingly becoming an issue, with factors like rapidly-growing population, global warming, consumption of materials, and so on. But equally important is the fact that whatever we’re doing now, it shouldn’t compromise the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”

Social Behaviour Impacting Real Estate

Ben Jackson believes that now more than ever, we are starting to see social behaviour impacting real estate and the urban landscape, and the way it is used. A key example of how social behaviours are impacting the urban climate would be in the retail sector. The changes we’re seeing there are symptomatic of large-scale shifts in social behaviour, and the ways we’re choosing to interact.

“With retail”, says Ben, “we’ve moved away from the high street and we’ve seen the emergence of experiential retail where people want to understand, feel and touch their products. And of course, we’ve seen the meconstructionnews.com

In Practice | 29

huge boom in e-commerce. All of which shows us how we need to be thinking: how do we create an experiential realm, where people can experience their products - but also, where logistics hubs are centrally located, so delivery times and carbon footprint are much more immediate and efficient.

“I firmly believe that the way that people want to experience things extends to how they shop. We’re seeing a lot more demand for convenience, whereby people can have that immediate sense of gratification. Then, that really extends to food and beverages too; app-based delivery companies are already very much part of our behaviour, and now we’re seeing the emergence of ghost kitchens. This is just one example of how real estate and infrastructure really needs to respond to these behaviours. We also see a growing number of artisanal outlets and there are a lot more pop-ups than ever before, dipping into the market and inviting new experiences.

“Plus, the trend towards clustering different types of assets around central hubs is not only an indicator of people wanting more convenience and immediacy - it’s something that will eventually lead us to a modern and different kind of city.”

Dani Mansour sees quite a similar picture emerging: “There is definitely a trend towards the less generic and the more specific. By this I mean that every project - whether it is a coffee shop, an office building or an entire city - has to be conceived and built for a specific end user with a bespoke purpose, and with the user always in mind. It’s only been apparent here in Africa in the last few years, but now we see more user-centric, experiential products being developed and released onto the market.”

The Technologies Creating the Technologies

It’ s no surprise that the urban landscape can be fresher, more bespoke and more complex - because the software driving its design has similarly evolved, too. For example, the last decade has seen massive changes in the way that BIM has transitioned from being an outlier, pioneering technology used only by meconstructionnews.com

The reality is, we are no longer seeing Sustainability being advertised as a key differentiator; it’s now perceived by the Generations Z and Alfa as the only option”

the elite, to now becoming the norm. Moving forward, how does the JLL team see the role of BIM and its potential successors?

Alan Baker believes that we are now starting to see the beginning of a new era of automated, smart design. “This is where”, he says, “we will progressively see the rise of ACMs - Automated Construction Methodologies - and where common digital platforms can lead seamlessly from design to manufacture, eg, straight from blueprint to 3D printing. Robotics will also be increasingly important here.”

Meanwhile, for large-scale projects in Egypt, we are starting to see a raft of newly-emerging digital technologies. Mohamed Nabil explains that: “Drones and LiDAR mapping have now been used comprehensively for monitoring and recording progress on construction mega projects. Energy Models are also widely used in Environmental design.”

For Maroun Deeb, “No doubt that there is an increasingly use of virtual reality, robotics, and Cloud-based collaboration tools.

The results of big data analytics and the ever-faster introduction of AI into construction mean that we can build faster, using algorithm-generated design.”

Maroun Deeb describes his own experience as follows - “When it comes to technology, we’re now starting to see the impact of 3D printing here in KSA. It’s something that is increasingly being used, especially within the housing schemes.

Even though pre-fabrication is not new, technology is now rapidly advancing, and that means more and more focus on modular construction. However, we have to remember that the infrastructure that’s currently present might not be suitable for these new aspirations and the new ‘speed of build’. In many locations, it’s entirely possible that the existing infrastructure - and by this I mean local rules and regulations, internet provision, and so on - does not meet current and future construction requirements. We have to keep in mind that we’re not building in isolation, and these aspects can pose a challenge.”

Ben Jackson adds: “BIM has become the norm and rightly so. But when it comes to thinking about other technologies, the way that JLL is starting to look at the whole design and construction life-cycle is by asking one crucial question: how can we move information seamlessly from point to point?

This is where relatively new technologies like LiDAR mapping and drone capture have a role

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30 | In Practice

to play, but the question is, how do we then move that data into the BIM environment, potentially bringing in another perspective like generative design and including that in our master plan? How does this then lead directly into logistics and constructability; how does that asset picture enable us to form Big Data matrices from which we’re able to optimise our real estate once complete and in operation?”

will your employees want to use that space?’

People are living nearer to their office, but also spending less time there. So - how do we breathe new life into existing assets? How do we best re-purpose them? How do we make that live, work and play environment much more connected? Because people want that convenience in their office. That really is the bottom line.”

But Don’t Reinvent the Wheel!

Ben, however urges caution about predicting excessive levels of change, particularly when it comes to where we’re going to be working.

“Our view at JLL”, Ben explains, “ is that offices are here to stay. Factors like the market segment you may be in, the geographical location you may have and the culture of your organisation, will of course impact how much you will use and not use the office. The answer may vary and impact the type and scale of real estate you may take as opposed to 10 years ago. But the important question is, ‘how

June 2022

When you can create truly diverse environments, that’s where you can get some really powerful thinking and actually start to change the game”

Changes in the Industry Itself: Gender and Diversity

Given so much emphasis on a spirit of change, doesn’t it seem rather odd that throughout the worlds of construction, design and architecture, we still see male-dominated workforces: is there any sign of this demographic changing? (Spoiler alert: across the private sector in the GCC generally, women account for less than 4% of private sector Boards). How can we go about driving better gender equality at C-Suite level, for example, creating more diverse and inclusive departments or project teams?

Speaking directly about the local sector, Mohamed Nabil says: “In Egypt, the percentage of females working in the construction field doesn’t exceed 7-10%. This is despite the fact that the government encourages females to work in all private and public sectors. I feel there are still challenges across the construction industry generally, but the level of women’s participation in project management, engineering design, interior design and architecture fields can certainly reach 20% in the next decade. For

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In Practice | 31

us, we do have females working on the project teams and they will often achieve excellent client feedbacks. The MEA Fit-out senior leadership team, for instance, are mostly female’.

Alan Baker believes that before the level of women’s representation can genuinely improve, certain traditional employment practices really need to change. “There has to be better accessibility, through the removal of visa constraints (which can be restrictive on mobility for single women). Until there is reform in these areas, there is only so much we can do; we can’t, for example, begin to think in terms of achieving our ultimate goals on gender parity.”

Meanwhile, where change is happening, it may not always be at the right pace. Ben Jackson argues that: “I believe we are beginning to see more women in construction and design in the built environment industry, but is this change big enough and at the pace we need? No, definitely not. At JLL, we are keen to bring in more women and accelerate their role in more senior positions.

Here in the Middle East, we have an issue around the number of women we are attracting into our industry. We work a lot with the universities, we have a big campaign with the schools and we have some fantastic female leaders and a wide variety of programmes for tackling these key gender issues - a number of which are designed to bring women organically into senior roles. But I should explain that for us, it’s not about bringing in more women for the sake of it, it’s because it genuinely impacts how you can solve problems and the way the company can work. When you meconstructionnews.com

have a much more balanced and inclusive community, the outcomes are tremendous: but at a macro industry level, we really need to get our heads together and maximise the efforts we can best make.

“But there’s one more point, and it’s critically important: I also believe we need to be much more inclusive to all cultures - it’s not just about gender. Creating that inclusive environment to allow the introverts, the extroverts, people from this society and that society, to have the same comfort and the same voice - this should be our first and foremost quest.”

But - are there at least some encouraging signs? “Statistics”, says Louise Collins, “are showing a huge uplift in the numbers of women entering construction-related education. We are starting to see that the numbers coming out of Universities are impacting the industry numbers in a positive way; but - make no mistake - there’s still lots to do. In universities like Heriot Watt, for example, women students are 50% of the intake for courses like Architecture. We need to harness this and ensure they remain in the industry - because often this doesn’t happen, and we’re seeing divergence in the numbers entering the sector.

“In subjects like Engineering, numbers are still low in comparison to men: something between 1025% in many cases. Yet - at least at university level, the trend is still going in the right direction. We need to ask whether there needs to be more transparency in the industry and more focus on the many roles that women can play; to what extent can the creative or tech-driven opportunities be matched by the skills available?

Sadly, to some degree, our industry can still be seen as very archaic to outsiders; but I do believe this is changing.”

“I also believe”, continues Louise, “that a more diverse and inclusive department or project

05 Maroun Deeb, Head of PDS, KSA and Bahrain, JLL. 06 Dani Mansour, Head of PDS, Africa, JLL.

team can sometimes produce results that a more uniform, gender-biased team could not have done. The Heriot Watt project was delivered by our Fit-out team, and that has a very mixed profile, with highly varied experience and capabilities at different levels. The client side was also diverse, which allowed us a good collaboration platform across the project. We don’t necessarily think that splitting men and women into different roles is in itself productive - because they are all more than capable across the spectrum of roles - but here, diversity created a more dynamic environment, with more varied personalities traits, which really fed into the great success of the project.”

One last word from Ben Jackson. “When you can create truly diverse environments, that’s where you can get some really powerful thinking and actually start to change the game. This is the route to getting a very plural demographic in-house - which is the one that’s best-placed to explore, understand and deliver the urban landscapes of the future.”

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32 | In Practice

What does Best Practice really mean?

ME Consultant asks two of the region’s best-known practitioners to define the letter and spirit of Best Practice in today’s transformational market From ancient Roman statesmen to the senior government leaders of the modern age, the role of a trusted advisor to help navigate through challenges has been a constant.

In a knowledge-driven economy, where the solutions to high-stakes challenges are becoming increasingly lucrative, senior leaders are recognising the vital role of experience in getting the job done, leveraging the rarefied skills and expertise to navigate a sensitive political climate, or gain a competitive edge in their market segment. And for the value created, senior leaders are willing to reward this experience handsomely.

But is there a formula or best practice guide to this type of consultancy? ME Consultant spoke with two consultants well versed in the game - albeit on completely different sides of the spectrum - to find out exactly what goes into making the world’s biggest events and corporations tick.

Peter Docwra is a highly sought-after expert in the world of complex events. Working with heads of state and government officials to deliver high profile and high impact events like the APEC and G20 Summits. From planning, logistics, communications and security, Docwra likens the execution of complex events to a military operation, bringing a military background that supports precise timing and flawless execution to lead to impactful outcomes.

June 2022

“In my line of work, 99% simply isn’t good enough,” explains Peter Docwra.

When dealing with the complexity of world leaders meeting together in one place, Docwra manages multiple roles, not just in issues of logistics and security, but also in managing sensitivities of cultural and societal differences. At meetings such as the G20, where heads of states meet to shape and guide global policies, where a wrong move could catalyse global animosity, the value of experience in these situations is immeasurable.

For Dr. Petar Stojanov, as partner and practice lead of Innovation and Future Strategy at Black, a cultural blunder between his corporate clients is far less likely to lead to the threat of nuclear war, but it could shift the balance in a lucrative commercial deal.

With a doctorate in quantum physics and experience advising both governments and corporations, Dr. Stojanov exited a boutique innovation practice to Black, a design-led creative advisory that works with clients to transition their corporate identities and strategies to remain relevant - and highly profitable - in uncertain futures. Before joining Black, he advised senior government and commercial leaders on how to ideate, design and execute their innovation strategies. meconstructionnews.com

In Practice | 33

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34 | In Practice

“Upon entering the corporate world, I soon discovered that my problem-solving skills, honed in the crucible of scientific discovery, has a place in solving complex business challenges,” explains Dr. Stojanov. “Companies that are tackling complex and uncertain futures need to reinvent and re-identity themselves to innovate through new challenges. Peter [Docwra] isn’t helping world leaders host events - he’s creating the conditions to make sure world leaders can agree on some of humanity’s most enduring challenges. At Black, we help our clients form clear identities and robust strategies to propel them into the future.”

Away from high-profile roles in the global spotlight, consultants like Peter and Petar offer a behind-the-scenes distillation of knowledge that come from years of experience in the field.

So, what do the pair agree are consulting bestpractices they’ve gathered in the field?

The (Un)Rigid Structure

Past experiences help to form a better understanding of future needs. In the world of complex events and innovation consultancy,

01 With a career in government and public service spanning 30 years, Peter Docwra has operated across the entire spectrum of planning, logistics, communications and security to deliver complex, multilateral events.

We go into highintensity situations and need to be able to decipher the most productive way forward.

Each event is inimitable, but you can take systems and processes that worked in other situations and use them where appropriate”

there is no “one size fits all” approach, or a set of ISO standards to follow. Here, experience becomes your master.

“We go into high-intensity situations and need to be able to decipher the most productive way forward”, explains Docwra. “Each event is inimitable, but you can take systems and processes that worked in other situations and use them where appropriate.”

A similar thought process can be applied to government and corporations navigating times of uncertainty. For Dr. Petar Stojanov, a combination-scientific decision proves a good guide, but he also relies heavily on past experience to power strategy decisions in the digital age.

“The necessity to craft and curate an organisation’s digital footprint is something most companies are blissfully unaware of. But today, we Google everything. Understanding how necessary adapting identity and strategy is to a business’ future is paramount to survival in today’s economy,” says Dr. Stojanov.

For Dr. Stojanov not being bound by rigid structures is something that has also fed his entrepreneurial side. With a black book of clients across government and industry leaders, one gains a perspective to recognise gaps in the market, and armed with the infrastructure of Black to do something to fill them. For Black, that meant introducing the Sdara Talent Platform, an innovative solution for national talent acquisition and development in the UAE. “As consultants, we have a unique perspective across the market that others simply don’t see,” explains Dr. Stojanov. “During the early days of the pandemic, as economic shifts moved talent pools in and out of the UAE, we created the Sdara national talent platform to harness local talent to power the future of private sector business in the UAE.” The Most Expensive Thing in the World is Trust

01

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Taking on the role of a trusted advisor might be compared to the role of a mafia Don’s Consigliere - a leader’s auxiliary brain, guiding the Don to formulate and successfully execute strategy.

Given the stakes involved, the Consigliere is never afraid to give the big boss an honest and upfront opinion - albeit always behind closed doors.

The ability to talk openly and honestly with meconstructionnews.com

02

In Practice | 35

lived history they believe puts you in the perfect position to help guide them through times of uncertainty. Peter Docwra explains that this trust is also formed from a consultant’s position outside the power structure.

“We exist outside the hierarchy of an organisation. We listen, observe and dispense advice from an outsider’s perspective, free from internal bias. It’s advice that can be actioned and a client trusts that it’s advice that comes from experience,” says Docwra.

Outcome Vs. Process

presidents, prime ministers and other heads of state has become an invaluable asset to Peter Docwra’s career. But he’s quick to point out that doesn’t mean you can just go shooting your mouth off at any given opportunity.

“Definitely not,” laughs Docwra. “My job requires a vast amount of listening and patience. It’s all about understanding the context of the person and the situation you’re dealing with. Sometimes I need to give tough advice, but by listening and gaining the trust of the people I work with, they are more open to hearing it when I need to either disagree or offer an alternative solution.”

While most consultants won’t be interacting with world leaders, the lessons Docwra relays from his dealings with immense power hold true for many situations one might face in the realms of consultancy.

“We have found that most of our clients appreciate the candid honesty of a consultant,” says Dr. Stojanov. “Our role with the C-suite is to communicate plainly and directly.”

Oftentimes, due to internal dynamics and power structure, a sober perspective of their current situation might not be an opinion a senior leader can obtain from within their own organisation.

Clients expect you are there to give them good advice. Advice based on experience - a meconstructionnews.com

02 With a career spanning academic science, government advisory and corporate consulting, Petar’s team works with senior leaders across government and industry to develop innovation programs, shape new identities and transform digital strategies to navigate uncertain futures.

The necessity to craft and curate an organisation’s digital footprint is something most companies are blissfully unaware of. But today, we Google everything.

Understanding how necessary adapting identity and strategy is to a business’ future is paramount to survival in today’s economy”

We’ve all heard the phrase “trust the process”, a guide to dealing with uncertainty that elevates the process over the outcome, especially in times where the path forward is unclear.

A theory codified in his “Smart Failure” methodology, Dr. Stojanov lays out a distinct method of problem solving based on modern economic theory and evolutionary biology, grounded in the scientific method. It’s a topic that’s taken him on speaking tours across 12 countries, sharing his stories of imbuing clients across both the private and public sectors with a scientific mindset to solving business challenges.

“Essentially, it’s about the ability to accept that the outcome might not always work, but that the process will eventually lead to the right outcomes if given enough time,” explains Dr. Stojanov. “The challenge in consultancy can be in mindset. You need to be able to move away from the individual project success or failure approach, to the outlook of the portfolio.”

“Time is the only true decider”.

The Consulting Mindset

For Peter Docwra and Dr. Petar Stojanov, a common passion for problem-solving - the ability to recognise challenges and offer clients solutions has helped to power success and proven that the work they do really does matter.

Whether it’s the undertaking of a complex event with the world’s most powerful leaders or helping corporations to recognise where their strengths and weaknesses lie, both men are able to tap into their collective lived experience and industry knowledge to offer a unique view of the landscapes in which they operate, and the best practices they employ on the frontlines.

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36 | On Site

Consultancy in action highlighting Sustainability and the role of DHW Discussions about Sustainability are no longer something rare and remarkable. Yet, what about those companies who aren’t usually part of the trade and regulatory dialogue, and whose budgets can’t stretch to the likes of full LEED compliance?

How does that dialogue about the benefits of Sustainability actually unfold? What’s more, how does a consultant go about suggesting that a relatively overlooked factor - something as humble as the hot water supply - might play a central role? ME Consultant spoke to Margarita Huaca, Engineer & Sustainable Development Expert - Business Development, Enernouva HO

June 2022

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On Site | 37

It may seem something new and glamorous - almost a part of the clamour surrounding Expo 2020 Dubai, perhaps - but there’s nothing new about Sustainability and people’s quest for achieving it. For example, the likes of GE Capital were striving for it in the 1920s - from the earliest discussions around Value Engineering, in fact - and General Motors had developed plans for recyclable seat coverings by the late 1950s (the global conglomerate may have been supplying the consumption-fuelled consumer, but was far too smart to want to be one itself).

For the management of hotels, hospitals, highrise towers & office buildings, the Sustainability agenda is complex and it includes many different areas such as waste, electricity, heating/cooling, and water management. The latter includes domestic hot water (DHW) - and obviously enough, it is not easy to manage all these aspects simultaneously, giving each the attention it deserves - particularly on a limited budget.

When it comes to domestic hot water (DHW), Hotel & Building Management will often find themselves struggling for solutions, and so consultants will sometimes get approached to brainstorm on the issues that current, traditional systems are giving rise to.

Typically, these issues arise from a combination of factors, and it’s always interesting to hear each individual story from the engineers in charge of the buildings. At its core, we see the ageold conflict between the pressure on Management to ensure reliable hot/cold water supply (as per customer and legal meconstructionnews.com

requirements) while also constantly looking into ways to reduce costs.

This pressure, of course, is then passed on to the engineering team running the systems, with eh need to re-evaluate the maintenance schemes, explore potential improvements, and decide on recommendations for improvements. In the recent years, even in relatively humble settings, the requirement to ‘go green’ and to look into sustainable solutions has increased significantly.

It’s a fact that many systems currently installed here in the region haven’t always been

01 The first step is the detailed inventory of what is already in situ: is it fit for purpose?

able to ensure a reliable water supply. This can be for many technical reasons, including (and this is a big one) the fact that many systems aren’t regularly maintained, as a result of efforts to drive down costs, with only the bare minimum being done. Plus, in fairness, the costs of LGP or diesel are also consistently increasing.

So given this background, and as in any other consultancy or solution-provider industry, it’s essential that in the first discussions with Management, we strive to understand all their issues in detail. This will include: • The system’s legacy background • The client’s corporate culture • The willingness of Management to take on new and innovative solutions which bring about a higher level of sustainability - but which also need some initial investment to make that switch • The benefits, costs, opportunities and/or constraints of ‘going green’ Of course, for the progressive introduction of more sustainable DHW systems in the UAE, we all need to foster and support the willingness of Building Management and Owners to choose the path of going green. For DHW systems this means switching to thermodynamic solar panel systems, the benefits of which are: • Less space • Less maintenance and replacement costs

01

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38 | On Site

• Reduction in energy & CO2 consumption • Reduction of the overall bills Delivering the adoption Process

All consultants love process: and here, the process requires that you navigate five steps, which together will help a client adopt thermodynamic solar panel systems. Let’s clarify things by addressing the five steps as a Q&A: In detail, what’s the discussion you have with the client in order to evaluate their needs?

At the initial stage, you will request data on the premises’ consumption of water & electricity.

You will need to carry out a series of analyses and calculations to know the demand curve for DHW and thus be able to provide the appropriate solution. What makes this stage a little tenuous is that, quite often, properties don’t have accurate real data, because they don’t have reliable water meters, or don’t know the exact consumption levels.

You may also need to do site visits to inspect the current system, the spatial arrangements, identify potential issues and roadblocks, and analyze the technical drawings and floor plans of the buildings. As a result, this entire stage can be seen as an iterative process, in which you will develop the correct values of the electricity and water consumption curves jointly with the Building Engineers & Management (e.g. based on number of units, occupancy rates, technical features of the current system, and so on).

In those cases, you will typically take the ASHRAE or Green Building Regulation in the UAE, e.g. the Abu Dhabi Estimated Pearl Rating System, the Dubai Green Building Regulations and Specifications or the RAK Barjeel Green Building Regulations.

How do you agree the preferred outcome and what it should be?

After the comprehensive feasibility analyses of the system, you then have a final technical checkpoint meeting with the engineer to clarify any technical concerns, and will finalise the financial viability based on the Finance Dept & General Manager´s input and feedback.

Only once all this is clarified, once the different options are discussed and aligned, June 2022

02

02 Energy panel installation can be painless, architecturally aligned and aesthetically correct.

How do you then liaise with management/

03 No stranger to the front line, Margarita Huaca has become a leader in DHW installation.

During the pandemic, it was of course a challenge for many of us to adjust, because we were so used to having face-to-face meetings and being directly at the site to see the facilities and installations. Yet it also opened new ways to cover some of the ‘first steps’ faster and easier, getting to know each other and getting a first feeling for the issues and concerns of our clients.

I think both we and our clients appreciate this new way of connecting a lot: the video calls still give you a good degree of personal interaction which allows you to see how serious the interest is, and basically tick off certain “must-haves” – before you allocate more time for real, physical meetings and site visits.

This new way of working also helps us better interact with decision-makers at Corp HQs internationally, since it allows them to better assess the seriousness and reliability of local suppliers.

can you proceed with the final step, which is the ‘green light’, go-ahead meeting with the owners/investors.

Usually in those meetings you will again confront the challenges of feasibility, reliability, running costs, and investment costs - and it’s precisely at this point that you’ll see the Management’s real position when it comes to the importance of achieving Sustainability in earnest. All changes require some initial investment, so the key is to achieve a solution with a short payback period or decide in practical terms where the financing companies have to come in.

It’s a reality that a solid and developed financing service environment is a key factor to driving the actual implementation of sustainable operating solutions, not just for DHW but for all areas of sustainable solutions around buildings.

owners; do you give them presentations, have virtual or physical meetings, etc.?

How do you then arrange the set-up of your product into their premises?

Now back to the process: after the ‘green light’ from the client and the LPO, we execute the project based on an agreed scope of work, roles meconstructionnews.com

On Site | 39

& responsibilities, and timelines where we work in partnership with the local engineering team.

One of the advantages of our thermodynamic solar panel system is its adaptability to spatial requirements of the clients (some have only very limited space for panel installations) and to the location of the pump room (usually, roof top or in the parking space).

Typical challenges in the execution phase may stem from several angles, e.g. the foreseen space is congested with other appliances and items which are not removed on time, or the removal of the current system is more cumbersome than anticipated (though we usually highlight the importance of these points upfront).

After installing all components of the new system and connecting it, we run a series of tests before we move to go live; then follows the ‘hypercare’ phase which ensures that the system works as envisioned to the full satisfaction of Building Management.

Any further comments around achieving sustainability within Building Management?

For the progressive introduction of more sustainable DHW systems in the UAE, we all need to choose the path of going green.

For DHW systems this means switching to thermodynamic solar panel systems”

While science needs to lay the groundwork for new innovations, and engineers need to translate those breakthroughs into feasible and cost-efficient solutions, the key to actual implementation is the willingness of Management and Owners to walk the walk.

This can be supported by a solid financing services environment so that the actual burden on the cash flow of companies is minimised.

Margarita Huaca holds a degree as an Agricultural Engineer and has 10 years of business development experience. In Dubai since 2016, she has shifted her focus towards sustainability, driving the implementation of thermodynamic solar panel systems with hotels, hospitals, and admin buildings in GCC to reduce costs & minimise their carbon footprint.

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40 | On Site

01 Christian Vasquez is Business Development Executive & Project Architect, National Engineering Bureau (NEB).

01

Christian Vasquez “The Future is all about what humans actually want” Christian Vasquez is Business Development Executive & Project Architect, National Engineering Bureau (NEB). The company - an undoubted regional architectural pioneer - was founded in 1984. Throughout the years, its project portfolio has come to include a spectrum of Architectural, Engineering, Supervision and Management solutions. So, given a famed past, how does Christian see the firm’s future, and what are the key architectural trends that it will be contributing to?

“I firmly believe”, says Christian, “that one of the most significant trends is somewhat under-rated: it’s the quest to ‘bring the outside inside’. People are seeking out natural, outdoor-oriented destinations for their strong calming effect; they’re eager for a peaceful break after the impact of Lockdown.

As a result, we’re still expecting to see more and more demand for creating housing developments and micro-communities that have quality outdoor space, or with a traditional ‘bustan’ courtyard influence.”

The quest for minimalism

Aren’t we also, though, living through a time when there’s a ‘chase to the bottom’ of terms of pricing and cost-cutting, especially when it comes to client briefs and the contract’s deliverables? “Well, there is an interesting stylistic consequence to this”, Christian argues.

“With the clients and developers expecting to see more from their budgets, designers and consultants now focus increasingly on a minimalist structure, emphasising light and space. It glorifies the essential elements of a building, drawing attention to the simplest form.”

What about the ‘City of the Future’?

“It’s chilling to think that by 2050 the world’s population is expected to reach 9.8 billion, with nearly 70% living in cities. We’re currently June 2022

seeing a trend that highlights how the cities of the future will actually contain a number of diverse ‘micro-hubs’: these will be designed to meet most daily needs within a 15-20 minute walk through your neighbourhood. Varied housing types will attract mixed-income communities, where people of all economic strata can live close to work and their chosen recreational centres. Walkable environments of this type will impact economies positively, boost tourism, improve public health and reduce traffic congestion.

“There’s also no doubt that technology has made massive inroads into our ability to envision and build these new-style, mixed-use communities. BIM is an example: it’s been a positive adjunct to the process of ‘fast-track’ construction, an approach in which design, engineering and construction proceed simultaneously. So now, construction might begin when 40% of the project’s design is completed, rather than waiting for the design to be 100% finished.

“However, there is a big caveat when it comes to the use of Tech. You have to remember that architecture is first and foremost about human needs and reflects what people actually want - and that means that certain types of technology won’t always be taken on board: we don’t like technology for its own sake. Just take a look at 3D printing, for example. On the face of things, it should be ideal: it reduces the levels of on-site labour, on-site assembly costs and it improves risk management. But tell me, where are any examples of it? It simply hasn’t caught on, because it doesn’t reflect the aesthetics or tastes of current architecture, and what people are really attracted to.

“At the end of the day, we must always remember that those urban landscapes of the future will be driven by human beings: the Tech works in our service - not the other way round.” meconstructionnews.com

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