< Previous20 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2020 EDITOR’S LETTER WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM While normality resumes from the impact of COVID-19 and society gets back to business, the construction industry has started its healing process on how we must adapt to the cliché phrase of ‘The new normal’. The sudden and rapid spread of the pandemic has dramatically accelerated a shift in how the built environment must adapt and survive to ensure a sustainable future. It is inevitable that there will be retained fears around social gatherings, crowds and social interaction, which is why big changes will have to be made quickly and efficiently. It has been fascinating to hear from some of the major players on their plans for the future, and there are three particular interactions that have stood out to me during these times. Firstly, LWK + Partners MENA managing director, Kerem Cengiz, recently told me about how the design and architecture of large malls are likely to be remodelled into smaller subdivided zones to avoid overcrowding. He also mentioned that car parking areas could be revamped to adapt for contactless supermarket pick-up zones, including separate access and refrigerated lockers with unique access codes. The responsibility for ensuring the future of the industry is also falling on the next-generation of engineers, which was showcased through ALEC and Cundall’s collaborative ‘Project of the Future’ event. The event challenged aspiring engineers from ALEC and Cundall to come up with an innovative concept that will mitigate mistakes and ensure project delivery. ALEC CEO Kez Taylor and managing director Hercu Viljoen, as well as Cundall’s managing director and partner Richard Stratton reviewed ideas from three groups within the companies. Another method of development that has kicked up a notch in recent months is the use of modular construction. Touted as the future of how buildings are set to be constructed, modular construction is set to play a key role for the Middle East. Many modular construction companies have already made preparations in creating more co-working spaces for corporate offices, and with children set to return back to school in September, the next step is targeting the education sector. Through this trend, Construction Week has partnered with Losberger De Boer for our ‘Hard Hat Chat’ webinar series with our first episode to be launched on the 21 July at 2pm. While anxiety levels are still high, it is encouraging that construction stakeholders are acting rapidly to adapt to our changing marketplace. There will be many twists and turns along the way, but this is what makes the construction industry riveting to be part of. What can be done to salvage the industry? With the industry being described as a “mess” by top construction leaders, who does the onus fall on to revive the built environment? “IT HAS BEEN FASCINATING TO HEAR FROM SOME OF THE MAJOR PLAYERS ON THEIR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE, AND THERE ARE THREE PARTICULAR INTERACTIONS THAT HAVE STOOD OUT TO ME” Ashley Williams EditorUAE’S EDUCATION PROJECTS ARE GOING STRONG AMID COVID-19 OUTBREAK UAE S EDUCATION PROJECTS ARE GOING STRONG AMID COVID-19 OUTBREAK Contractors working on education projects in the region such as Khansaheb, ISG, Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ), and Strategic Housing Group have marked progress on the developments Despite an evident slump across businesses globally due to the challenges associated with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is refreshing to note the progress on education projects in the region. UAE’s educational institutions have identified an increased influx of local applicants, owing to the global travel restrictions associated with the pandemic, and have tapped into the “opportunity”. The Myriad Dubai, which is a 68,000m2 student housing community in the heart of Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), is 90% complete and is set to welcome students in September 2020. Speaking about the development, Vikram Rao, who is the chief executive officer of the developer working on the project, Strategic Housing Group, said: “We believe the student housing community will meet the clear shortage of purpose-built student housing in a consistently expanding higher education market in Dubai, especially during these times where it is more favourable for students to study within the UAE.” Furthermore, UK-headquartered contractor ISG recently completed Phase 1 of University of Wollongong Dubai’s (UOWD) new campus in Dubai Knowledge Park. As part of the first phase, ISG has handed over levels one, three, four, and six within the seven-storey structure to the university. ISG began work on the site in November 2019. UOWD’s “campus of the future” is scheduled to be delivered ahead of the start of the new academic year in September 2020. The building’s interiors have been designed by Woods Bagot and project management services are being delivered by Abu Dhabi-based consultancy Alexander Mac. Other stakeholders involved include Cundall and C&B, among others as project consultants. Going strong and paving the way forward for education in the region is Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), which aims to open four new schools in the emirate during the 2020-21 academic year, across different areas, which include Abu Hail, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Jebel Ali, and Al Rashidiya. Dubai-based British architectural and design firm Godwin Austen Johnson (GAJ) recently marked completion on The Arcadia School’s Secondary Campus, as part of a series of community-based schools for Arcadia Education. The campus covers a total teaching space of 6,000m2, including the classrooms, shared learning, and labs. Other facilities within the campus include a library as well as music and dance rooms that jointly span an area of 1,500m2. In an exclusive conversation with Construction Week, partner at GAJ, Jason Burnside, stated that the design concept of the campus focuses on “creating open spaces to encourage and foster social interaction.” UAE-based contracting giant Khansaheb was appointed by TECOM Group as the main contractor for the University of Birmingham in Dubai International Academic City, and is hard at work to create a new-build university campus. The project win is marked as one among the contractor’s successes over the past 12 months and is part of the new contracts it was awarded during the period, worth $381.1m (AED 1.4bn). The contractor earned another university project with the interior fit- out contract for Heriot-Watt University, Dubai Campus. The university aims to relocate to the new campus in January 2021 in Dubai Knowledge Park. UAE’s education sector is on its way to create futuristic cities, as opposed to traditional campuses, for its students. Image: Supplied CITY FOCUS JULY 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 21WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMTHE LEGAL TABLE 22 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2020 Fenwick Elliott and Hammad Al-Mehdar speak to Construction Week’s editor Ashley Williams on the formation of the alliance, Vision 2030 opportunities and project challenges as part of The Legal Table webinar series Established in 2019, international construction and energy law firm specialists Fenwick Elliott formed an alliance with one of Saudi Arabia’s most respected private law practices Hammad Al-Mehdar to provide the kingdom’s market with expert knowledge of local laws and procedures, as well as renowned international expertise. Delving into the details of the alliance and legal matters in Saudi Arabia, Fenwick Elliott’s lead partner for the kingdom, Toby Randle, and Hammad Al-Mehdar’s partner, Ali Al Touki, came together to be part of Construction Week’s The Legal Table webinar series. WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEE WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM "Saudi Arabia's legal field has witnessed a vast transformation" Photo courtesy: CW archives Explaining the reasons behind the collaboration, Randle told Construction Week that while they have history of acting on a number of significant disputes in the kingdom, they witnessed a need for local expertise in Saudi law, the Saudi courts and particularly “the intricacies” of the dispute resolution processes in the kingdom. “The reason why Fenwick Elliott and Hammad Al-Mehdar work so well together is that Ali has his own construction team that provides very specific expertise in the local law, which is very important,” Randle tells CW. “We provide heavy international construction law experience and we work very well together in terms of meeting clients and the whole approach to the market.” When the alliance was formed, Al Touki admittedly told Construction Week that it worked “better than they had expected”. “We have high hopes for the future of the alliance,” Al Touki tells CW. “Both of our firms have been able to provide our clients with best practices in terms of construction and energy law advice, market knowledge, and the managing of disputes in the kingdom.” While the Saudi Arabia built environment is progressing rapidly, Randle said this will bring “multiple challenges” to delivering projects for the kingdom.JULY 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 23 THE LEGAL TABLE avoid.” Despite echoing Al Touki’s views on the opportunities that Vision 2030 presents, Randle said there have been some “setbacks” for the agenda such as funding, COVID-19 and oil prices. “There has been a clear build in momentum over the past 12 months with the Vision 2030 agenda, but clearly there have been some setbacks such as funding over a period of time, and the latest global pandemic hasn’t assisted along with the other challenge of the oil prices,” explains Randle. “The impact of the oil price on the funding of these huge projects will cause challenges going forward.” Randle also went on to discuss the main dispute resolution methods adopted in Saudi Arabia. “Fundamentally, the two main resolution forums are through Saudi Courts and Arbitration. Arbitration is something we see often as a pre-agreed dispute resolution mechanism in the kingdom. “Arbitration is through a private process and not in the public domain. You can choose the arbitrator suitable for the dispute. The other aspect that is quite attractive is that it gives parties much more control in terms of time tabling, budgets and issues to be WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM RUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM addressed.” Al Touki also touched upon the new procurement law that came into force in Saudi Arabia in November 2019, and how the alliance is helping stakeholders to adapt to the new law. “The new procurement law is envisioned to resolve a lot of problems that the government witnessed through the old law. They have adopted many principles and best practices that allows the government to be much fairer to both the contracting community and to make the government more agile and flexible for conducting contracts.” Al Touki added: “We have been helping clients to see how they can include this in their business model and that there will be more transparency on their projects.” Concluding the webinar on Saudi Arabia’s outlook for the construction sector, Randle believed the kingdom won’t be “held down” in terms of its ambitions for Vision 2030 and construction, but admitted that it wouldn’t be a smooth process. “I think in terms of investments and future projects that there may be some bumps in the road. "However in the long-term, it’s a positive outlook for the construction industry in Saudi Arabia.” “It’s our responsibility to take care of the entire project – and that’s the ultimate benefi t at the end of the day” Photo courtesy: Metito “We are involved with major infrastructure developments across the kingdom and the obvious problem that occurs repeatedly is funding, cash flow and for instance, the contractor may have been performing its services perfectly well within the contract, but they are not being paid on time,” says Randle. “This presents very interesting challenges in terms of how can a contractor approach this? You can’t be too aggressive with your client. The challenge for us is being able to get the balance right between the contractual entitlements under the contract in terms of suspending work, issuing notices, threatening termination, which will enable contractors to receive payment.” Among the project challenges that Randle has faced during his tenure at Fenwick Elliott includes the Riyadh Metro. “Fenwick Elliott are actively involved in three international arbitrations related to the Riyadh Metro, and some of these arbitrations have been going on for around two years, and possibly could carry on for a further two years,” he adds. With regards to progression in Saudi Arabia’s legal field compared to a decade ago, Al Touki elaborated that the kingdom has witnessed a “vast transformation”. “The Ministry of Justice are currently in the middle of a digital transformation for legal services that will make our sector much more advanced than countries around the world,” says Al Touki. “Within the last few weeks, we have seen online course sessions for the first time in Saudi Arabia, so the possibilities are very promising to construction companies to receive fast and efficient justice.” Fenwick Elliott and Hammad Al-Mehdar have also been heavily involved in supporting clients wishing to be part of the Vision 2030 agenda. “Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 agenda has a very concrete plan with various ambitious projects such as NEOM and The Red Sea Project. We regularly keep in touch with them and we are able to help our clients to figure out how they can support these initiatives and be part of Vision 2030,” says Al Touki. He adds: We are able to give our clients a good view into what they need to consider to be able to participate in these exciting projects. We manage the overall legal aspects such as contracts and knowing what is customary in Saudi Arabia, and we are able to advise clients on what they need to Toby Randle, Fenwick Elliott's lead partner for Saudi Arabia Ali Al Touki, Hammad Al-Mehdar partnerCOVER STORY WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM24 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2020 Constructing Constructing Qiddiya: Qiddiya: The “Home of Disruptive The “Home of Disruptive Entertainment Experiences”Entertainment Experiences”FOLLOW CONSTRUCTION WEEK @CWMIDDLEEAST COVER STORY WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMJULY 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 25 INTERVIEW BY ANUP OOMMEN | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY QICINTERVIEW BY ANUP OOMMEN | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY QIC The chief executive officer of the Qiddiya Investment Company, Michael Reininger, and chief development officer, Kareem Shamma, talk to Construction Week’s deputy editor Anup Oommen about building the 366km2 entertainment city, while curbing COVID-19, supporting sustainability, rehabilitating reserves, and focusing on the region’s flora and faunaCOVER STORY 26 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Located across a 200m-high escarpment, 40km west of Riyadh, Qiddiya will present itself in a number of development nodes across its topography of lower and upper plateaus The developer is using post-tensioning concrete, which not only helps reduce cost but builds the structure effi ciently Take a moment to soak this in: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is building a 366km2 entertainment city – its “capital of entertainment, sports, and the arts” – which is more than half the size of the island city-state of Singapore. The entertainment city gigaproject is being developed by the Qiddiya Investment Company (QIC), which is chaired by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince HRH Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and backed by the kingdom’s sovereign Public Investment Fund (PIF). In conversation with Construction Week, the chief development officer of QIC, Kareem Shamma, says: “Qiddiya’s vision is to create a city, recognised on the world stage as the home of the most innovative and disruptive experiences in entertainment, sports, and the arts, built upon an existing unserved market, and catalysing demand from domestic, regional, and international markets. “Once complete, we will offer unparalleled entertainment experiences, programmes, and events to all audiences – from families and groups to couples and individuals. We support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and will make Qiddiya a central component of the kingdom’s strategy to elevate tourism as a major contributor to economic diversification.” Located across a 200m-high escarpment, 40km west of Riyadh, Qiddiya will present itself in a number of development nodes across its topography of lower and upper plateaus. In the lower plateau, Qiddiya’s Resort Core will be home to theme parks and entertainment attractions, including Six Flags Qiddiya, a Speed Park, and a Water Theme Park, all arranged around a central Retail, Dining, and Entertainment spine. Perched on the edge of the upper plateau and overlooking the theme parks below, the City Centre will be a vibrant mixed-use village that will comprise of major sports stadiums and arts venues, as well as a Creative Village quarter that will be home to companies operating in sports, arts, and other creative realms. Shamma adds: “The Motion Zone, which is also in the lower plateau, will contain a wide range of adrenaline-fueled, high- speed experiences. It will be the ultimate playground for high-performance motion on both two and four wheels. “Our private and exclusive Golf Community will include an 18-hole championship golf course offering panoramic vistas, with an array of residential offerings, in addition to a luxurious Golf and Spa Resort, as well as equestrian facilities. “Additionally, Qiddiya’s Eco Zone will focus on all things outdoor, from luxury tented resorts to extreme sports, animal encounters, nature trails, and rambles.” Construction during COVID-19 At the outset, construction is progressing on schedule at the entertainment city gigaproject, despite the COVID-19 outbreak. Qiddiya has implemented a number of precautionary measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus pandemic and ensure business continuity. Speaking exclusively to Construction Week, the chief executive officer of QIC, Michael Reininger, says: “Before leaving the offices, we ensured that all staff members were given remote access to our shared folders, and we installed video conferencing applications on everyone’s laptops, so that they could continue to meet with their colleagues. It really has felt like business as normal. “Work on site has also continued – while adhering to all guidance and restrictions. So, we continue to be a productive team, while progressing on our project.” Shamma adds: “On site, we were able to continue with our construction progress due to the nature of site work, with people working individually in their machines, all in compliance with the kingdom’s Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines. “We are taking a staggered approach to asking our staff to return to the on-site offices and have ensured that our offices The City Centre will be a vibrant mixed-use village, which will comprise of major sports stadiums, art venues, and the Creative Village quartersCOVER STORY JULY 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 27WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM have been sanitised, with PPE equipment provided. All safety precautions have been taken.” In 2020, Qiddiya awarded two key contracts to Saudi companies. The first contract was awarded to Riyadh-based AbdulAli Al Ajmi Company to begin the site preparation and mass grading for the development of two of its anchor development zones: The Resort Core and the City Centre. “This should take around 12 months and will include the sculpting of 7 million cubic metres of earth to ensure the site preparation of a combined area of more than 4km2,” Shamma explains. “It will require upwards of 500 pieces of major earthmoving equipment to grade and develop the plots, in addition to 4,000 tons of steel and 30,000 cubic metres of concrete for storm water management to prepare the area for the next stage of development.” The second contract in 2020 was awarded to Saudi Pan Kingdom (SAPAC) to develop secured access around the entire premises of Qiddiya. As part of the contract, the firm will install 20km of chain link fence, and 23km of low-height tensioned cable barriers. “On site, we were able to continue with our construction progress due to the nature of site work, with people working individually in their machines” Qiddiya Investment Company is building a 366km2 entertainment city – KSA’s “capital of entertainment, sports, and the arts” “IF THIS CRISIS WAS TO HAVE HAPPENED A DECADE AGO, WE WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A VERY DIFFERENT POSITION BECAUSE WE WOULD HAVE BEEN WITHOUT THE NECESSARY BUSINESS CONTINUITY TECHNOLOGY.” Michael Reininger, CEO, QICCOVER STORY 28 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Looking forward, Shamma adds: “This first step to secure the site will allow the commencement of multiple construction projects, scheduled to begin this year. It will enable developers to bring in heavy construction equipment needed for the next phases of the development.” “We are aiming to award two major road contracts – one each for our upper and lower plateaus – to local companies in the next few weeks and months, as well as some major bridge contracts, but our focus at the moment is on completing the mass grading and site preparation.” Qiddiya has also awarded a roadworks contract to Riyadh-based Shibh Al Jazira Contracting Company, to begin work on the first part of the road network. This will provide easy access to the site and enable future construction work. In addition, Qiddiya has begun moving overhead powerlines, which includes the relocation of 110km of medium-voltage (MV) and high-voltage (HV) overhead powerlines and 812 towers, to ensure that construction stays on track. Two Qiddiya site offices have already been built by Dubox, a part of Amana Group on the lower plateau — making them the first ones to be constructed on site. This includes a 21,000m2 complex, which accommodates approximately 150 employees working on Phase 1 of the gigaproject. A second complex is expected to be constructed on the upper plateau. “Qiddiya maintains international design standards, whilst paying homage to Saudi’s rich cultural heritage” caused us to postpone these, but we are exploring the option of creating virtual events. “We hope to create some rather spectacular ones around Q3 and Q4 2020, and this is also positive because an online audience always gives you wider reach.” As part of its business continuity plan, Qiddiya has also assembled a COVID-19 Response Team, which is equipped to respond to all eventualities. “I think Qiddiya has been pro-active, taking every avenue to continue work as usual, and therefore, we feel that our plans are progressing as we had envisaged. Having said this, we have already started preparing “back to office” plans that are currently under review,” Reininger adds. “Marrying nature with technology” Qiddiya’s masterplan has been carefully crafted to respect and enhance the site’s natural patterns, allowing the beauty of the landscape to take centre stage. Shamma says: “In order to create an environment that marries the stunning natural vistas with the latest technological experiences, Qiddiya is built on an open space network that is informed by the natural flow of the water, creating a one- of-a-kind destination.” With regard to its overall timeline, Qiddiya will continue with heavy construction and develop strategic partnerships well into 2022, after which it will move into the testing and commissioning phases, ahead of its grand opening in 2023. Commenting on challenges faced and overcome in 2020, Reininger says: “I am happy to report that there have been no major problems that we have had to mitigate. I think if this crisis was to have happened a decade ago, we would have been in a very different position because we would have been without the necessary business continuity technology.” “Busier than ever” In May 2020, QIC inked a five-year framework agreement with Detecon Al Saudia Co. Ltd. (DETASAD). The scope of the agreement comprises a fully integrated system delivered by DETASAD, which includes all requirements and operation of the company’s IT infrastructure, managing ICT hardware, as well as providing hybrid cloud, connectivity, and manpower for Qiddiya’s resources. “Additionally, we toured the site to check on progress in May 2020, and to be frank, we have been busier than ever,” Reininger says. “Naturally, when it comes to large audience-format events, COVID-19 has “QIDDIYA EMBRACES SAUDI’S VISION 2030 GOALS, WHICH INVOLVES CURBING POLLUTION, AND ADOPTING EFFICIENT WASTE MANAGEMENT, INCLUDING REDUCING, RE- USING, AND RECYCLING.” Nicholas Naples AMAALA CEO Kareem Shamma, CDO, QICCOVER STORY JULY 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 29WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM From an architectural perspective, all the assets within the gigaproject will be tied together with a unifying “Qiddiya golden thread”. “Our branding will be present throughout the site, so that whichever location you visit, you can see that Qiddiya stands out by maintaining international design standards, whilst simultaneously paying homage to Saudi’s rich cultural heritage,” Shamma adds. “For example, the rides and attractions at Six Flags have been designed exclusively for Qiddiya. Although some will be record breaking, all of them will be steeped in the rich culture and history of the kingdom.” The Citadel, which is the central hub of the park, will be covered by a billowing canopy form, inspired by traditional Bedouin tents. In Discovery Springs, Qiddiya’s relationship between the desert and the sea will be showcased in its collection of rides and experiences, which play with elements of earth and water. “Meanwhile, The City of Thrills will be the embodiment of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030: a forward-looking, boundary- pushing, future city anchored in Arabic design motifs,” he adds. “The Valley of Fortune will be an exciting land of adventure set amidst the time-worn architectural ruins of old Arabian masonry, enlivened by the bustling trade of fortune seekers from around the world.” when the natural climate at Qiddiya can be severe, but QIC aims to mitigate this by creating microclimates, which ensure that outdoor pedestrian areas will be hospitable and habitable. “This will encourage more outdoor movement all year around, thus creating a healthier lifestyle for visitors and residents. The creation of microclimates will also reduce dependence on unsustainable methods of providing comfortable environments such as air conditioning.” Furthermore, given Qiddiya’s sheer size and scale – both during construction and once operations begin – there is the potential to create large volumes of waste and by-products. Qiddiya plans to efficiently manage waste and byproducts primarily by reducing their volumes, which in turn will also reduce the need to recycle. “When we recycle, we will do so on site, which then reduces our carbon footprint as a result of less fossil fuel consumed in transportation. We also aim to use biodegradables, waste to energy technologies, and avoid single-use plastics.” “Most importantly, water is very special to us as it gave birth to the Qiddiya site. We promote the optimal use of water resources by reducing consumption, and utilising treated and renewable water. Water also aids biodiversity, making it doubly important,” Shamma concludes. Elevating key areas of sustainability The Qiddiya master-developer has also incorporated sustainability into the gigaproject, right from the design and planning stages through to execution. Shamma explains: “Qiddiya enthusiastically embraces and supports the sustainability goals and objectives outlined in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This involves curbing all types of pollution, and adopting efficient waste management, including reducing, re- using, and recycling.” “Saudi’s Vision 2030 calls for fighting desertification, and that’s clearly within our sights. We’re also protecting and rehabilitating Saudi’s natural reserves.” In addition to meeting the kingdom’s sustainability goals, Qiddiya has also identified and elevated the importance of four key areas of sustainability. “We will pay special attention to enhancing biodiversity, microclimate creation, efficient waste management, and conservation of water resources,” Shamma adds. “We will not only preserve the current level of biodiversity, but also enhance it with native flora and fauna that can flourish, allowing the natural ecosystem to reach its full potential. Biodiversity will ensure natural sustainability for all of the desert’s life forms, and will produce a more vibrant site that will be more attractive and enjoyable for visitors.” There are certain times of the year Next >