CONSTRUCTION
A NEW ERA Looking to the future, these corporate social investment initiatives are expected to grow thanks to the wider trajectory of the whole business. Right now, BuroHappold is flourishing, further reflected by its increasing emphasis on the application of technology. “Here, we are taking a relatively unique approach,” Scotti explains. “We’ve decided to invest in having 100 percent digital literacy across all levels of the company, pushing for everyone, from partners to consultants to technicians, to be able to manipulate and understand code. “We believe that only once this has been achieved will we be able to achieve a proper transformation in the way we interact with the rest of the industry.” Proactivity to this end will stand BuroHappold in good stead when it comes to capitalising on technology, a segment of the industry that the Middle East MD believes is poised to explode in the coming years. “It’s an exciting time,” he affirms. “Construction is deeply influenced by modularisation and rapid digital prototyping. Engineering and architecture are finally leveraging the power of collaborative digital platforms, facility management is being pushed by new technology into more coherent and predictive elements, the real estate market is ready for a complete shift to online secure transactions, and we have started harnessing data in everything we do – plan, design, build and operate.” Achieving digital literacy is just one of two key priorities for the company moving forward, however, the other being the pursuit of a renewed struc-
PROJECT SNAPSHOT
FUTURE RIYADH LOCATION: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia CLIENT: Riyadh Municipality DETAILS: The development of a plan to futureproof the socioeconomic development of Riyadh, examining factors such as emerging trends, spatial developments and residential aspirations to deliver improvements including enhanced air and water quality
PHOTO: JHAMZA82
percent of its net profits in Mumbai to the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund which provides immediate relief to the families of those affected by natural disasters such as floods, cyclones and earthquakes.”
“AFTER A FEW YEARS OF EXTREME COMPETITIVE PRESSURE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, I AM NOW EXTREMELY CONFIDENT ABOUT THE DIRECTION OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY” tural model in an attempt to create a net-zero carbon culture, both internally on its operations and externally on its projects. All elements combined, the coming years will no doubt consist of a period of great change for the enterprise. Yet Scotti and his team remain optimistic, owed to the buoyant direction that the
industry is beginning to take. He concludes: “After a few years of extreme competitive pressure in the Middle East, I am now extremely confident about the direction of the construction industry. The right developments are now being planned by the right clients, with the right intent and the right funding. “It is quite refreshing to see, and more and more, quality of the final product is the key driver for decisions. Our industry has grown in its knowledge, practices and behaviours, and it’s good to witness this evolution and be part of its continuous improvement.”
BUROHAPPOLD ENGINEERING Tel: +971 (0) 4 518 4000 www.burohappold.com
EME Outlook issue 33 | 115