< Previous20 CONSTRUCTION WEEK AUGUST 2020 EDITOR’S LETTER WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM As we look towards the future after, quite frankly, an unforgettable year, the main talking point on everyone’s lips at the moment is the accelerated shift towards the use of modular construction. While off-site development has been known in the Middle East for quite some time, the pandemic has perked up the ears of construction stakeholders across the region with promises of leaner costs and sufficient speeds of development, which are now likely to matter more than ever. Contractors are now having to work around the clock to ensure on-time delivery, and with a huge pipeline of projects across the Middle East, the prefab and modular industry is now being considered as the only option to fast track the completion of works in line with the UAE’s Vision 2021 and Saudi Vision 2030. But how do you ensure clients that there will be no compromise in the quality of work and output? These are all dilemmas that are now being considered across the region. There is no question that infrastructure will have to be adapted to adhere to government guidelines of social distancing, which looks set to stay to prevent a second wave of COVID-19. As corporate offices re-open, it’s going to be very challenging to get employees back into the current infrastructure while ensuring there is enough space between them. Many organisations simply do not have enough extra space in the workplace to allow everyone to work while maintaining a two-metre distance between employees. To discuss all the pros and cons of modular construction, Construction Week partnered with Losberger De Boer Middle East for our debut episode of our brand new webinar series – The Hard Hat Chat. Joining the webinar was Losberger De Boer’s regional sales director Waleed Khaled and Ramboll’s head of project management for buildings Brian Sweeney to discuss how rapidly deployable structures can be used for extra office space, additional meeting rooms, a temporary canteen or dining area, or even a temporary workshop or production space. We also explored how the hospitality, retail and education sectors will also need to find ways to create additional space. One of the most intriguing points from the webinar came from Waleed Khaled, who said construction can often begin within days or even hours of receiving an enquiry for a temporary and semi-permanent solutions. He added that temporary and semi- permanent solutions can be operational within days in many cases, enabling businesses to maximise operations. In almost every sector, business owners are asking themselves how they can adapt to the new social distancing reality without it having an adverse effect on their revenues. While many will hesitate to ‘jump on the bangwagon’, it seems that the positives seem to outweigh the negatives for the construction method. Modular construction: is it just a phase or here to stay? As COVID-19 accelerates the shift towards off-site development, industry figures have touted modular construction as the future within the region “THE PREFAB AND MODULAR INDUSTRY IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED AS THE ONLY OPTION TO FAST TRACK THE COMPLETION OF WORKS” Ashley Williams EditorFOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT WWW.COMMERCIALINTERIORDESIGN.COM/cid-AWARDS OR CONTACT ONE OF OUR TEAM TODAy For sponsorship enquiries: Laura Collinder Sales Manager Tel: +971 4 444 3576 Mobile: 971 55 401 1628 Email: laura.collinder@itp.com For NOMINATION enquiries: JANE O'NEILL EDITOR Tel: +971 4 444 3626 Email: jane.oneill@itp.com For event enquiries: daniel Fewtrell Director of Awards & Marketing Tel: +971 4 444 3684 Email: daniel.fewtrell@itp.com For Table sales enquiries: anthony chandran table sales executive Tel: +971 4 444 3685 Email: anthony.chandran@itp.com silver SPONSOR category SPONSORs Social media SPONSOR WEDNESDAY 25th November Good luck to all our nominees! PRESENTED BY GOLD SPONSORS #CIDAWARDS FIT-OUT PARTNERINTERVIEW 22 CONSTRUCTION WEEK AUGUST 2020 The Emirate of Sharjah is becoming smart and sustainable through projects such as Arada’s Aljada community and the Sharjah Sustainable City. Disha Dadlani finds out from the authorities spearheading the projects – what does it take for a city to be smart and sustainable? In 1998, Sharjah received the title of the Cultural Capital of the Arab World by UNESCO. Cut to more than two decades later - the emirate is undergoing a smart and sustainable makeover with game- changing projects such as the upcoming Sharjah Sustainable City and Aljada community, while still staunchly echoing the UAE's culture and heritage. Is the incorporation and adoption of tech and green elements enough for a city to be both, smart and sustainable? For starters, sustainability is three-fold, chief executive officer of Sharjah Sustainable City, Yousif Ahmed Al-Mutawa explains. The $544.5m (AED 2bn) mixed-use development is being developed on a 668,901m2 plot, featuring 1,120 villas. The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) and Diamond Developers are working joined forces to develop the project. “Sharjah Sustainable City's environmental sustainability accelerates a low carbon footprint through solar energy generation. Other environmentally sustainable practices include indoor and outdoor farming and recycling of water and waste. The economic sustainability of the city WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEE WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Working towards a smart and sustainable Sharjah Photo courtesy: Pixabay [representational] covers schemes which are aimed at reducing the cost of living. For example, the utility bills for the residents at Sharjah Sustainable City will see a reduction of 50% or more in comparison to other similar homes in Sharjah." Sharjah Sustainable City is also actively leveraging "the smart use of high-quality building materials, equipment and construction systems, including well- insulated precast concrete," Al-Mutawa adds. Also, buyers are offered smart home features to improve the operability and security of their homes. “For example, smart meters and sensors will effectively collect and analyse data, to continually improve the operation of the houses and common areas for a cleaner, more sustainable future." Lastly, social sustainability plays out interestingly in the development model for the city, through "world-leading education in a school that incorporates sustainability education in its curriculum." To add to this, Al-Mutawa explains that the city will offer health care facilities and active lifestyle elements and a utility park for knowledge sharing with the schools, universities and community at large. While appropriate adoption of technology and green elements facilitate the building of smart and sustainable cities, mobility plays equal part in building these cities. Deema Aburizik, who is the design director - master planning for developer Arada, which is building Sharjah's upcoming Aljada community, says: “A city is smart when significant investment in social and physical capital, such as mobility and IT, takes place in order to fuel sustainable economic development, high quality of life and the careful management of resources." Arada's 2.2km2 and $6.53bn (AED 24bn) Aljada megaproject features residential areas, a leisure and entertainment complex – the Central Hub, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects – and a large business park. Aljada's residential areas include Areej Apartments, The Boulevard, East Village, Misk Apartments, Nest, Sarab Community, and Rehan Apartments. Aljada’s first homes are scheduled to be handed over to owners in Q3 2020. Earlier this year, the developer launched Madar, which is a 55,741.8m2 complex in the Aljada community. While planning the community of Aljada in the Muwaileh district of Sharjah, and as in the case of any smart city, “the first step AUGUST 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 23 INTERVIEW WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM RUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM is to ensure the implementation of next- generation and ultra-secure 5G digital infrastructure," Aburizik says, adding that digital infra forms the backbone of Aljada. “Once that is in place, we can then focus on the other four key areas that we have earmarked at Aljada: mobility, utilities, the ‘circular economy’ and waste management. In each of these areas, technology embedded throughout the project will make life more convenient for residents." Is Sharjah on its way to a sustainable future? “The road to sustainable infrastructure in Sharjah is long. Still, the developments underway at Sharjah Sustainable City demonstrate that with the passion for creating sustainable communities, this objective is not only right, but also realistic,” he says. Aburizik concludes: “New technologies have always driven innovation in construction and building design. Today, drones, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, 3D printing, big data, and the Internet of Things are just some of the recent additions to the designer’s toolbox.” COVER STORY WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM24 CONSTRUCTION WEEK AUGUST 2020 “Diriyah is the jewel of the kingdom” INTERVIEW BY ASHLEY WILLIAMS | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY DGDA Diriyah Gate Development Authority’s (DGDA) chief design & development officer, Jonathan Timms, speaks exclusively to Construction Week’s editor Ashley Williams on re-imagining authentic Najdi-style living, coupled with world-class amenities of todayFOLLOW CONSTRUCTION WEEK @CWMIDDLEEAST COVER STORY WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMAUGUST 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 25COVER STORY 26 CONSTRUCTION WEEK AUGUST 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Diriyah Gate’s streetscape is set to be the “fi rst glimpse” of the project The developer is using post-tensioning concrete, which not only helps reduce cost but builds the structure effi ciently Inspired by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince HRH Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, Diriyah Gate is among the kingdom’s long list of highly anticipated gigaprojects taking shape along the north west of the country’s capital Riyadh. Celebrating Saudi Arabia’s rich history, the 7km2 site is set to be the world’s largest cultural and heritage development incorporating Najdi-inspired architecture that overlooks the UNESCO World Heritage site At-Turaif. Described as the “jewel of the kingdom”, Diriyah Gate recently announced that major works had started on the “must-visit” site. Speaking exclusively to Construction Week, Diriyah Gate Development Authority’s chief design & development officer, Jonathan Timms, said the masterplan aims to recreate how Saudis lived hundreds of years ago, while incorporating some of the modern amenities of today. “Diriyah Gate is a unique development because it’s right around what is really the jewel of the kingdom in terms of our UNESCO world heritage site,” says Timms. “We’re developing an integrated cultural and heritage masterplan, which celebrates the region’s rich past with a range of individual experiences from cultural, entertainment, retail, hospitality, education, as well as offering residential areas.” The project aims to restore the 15th century city of Diriyah that was established on the banks of Wadi Hanifah in 1446 AD and became the capital of the first Saudi state in 1744 AD. Timms added that the gigaproject will provide a “new way of living for Diriyah’s residents” and is a type of development that currently “doesn’t exist in Saudi Arabia”. “It is the intersection of authentic Najdi-style living coupled with world- class amenities all within the convenience of a mixed-use urban community,” explains Timms. “It’s a unique opportunity where people can come and live or recreate in an authentic environment, but also have some amenities that you don’t get around Riyadh or other parts of Saudi Arabia.” Diriyah Gate Development Authority recently announced that it had started major works on the development, which they said was a fast-track programme and aims to have the whole site completed by 2025. Timms elaborated that this was an “ambitious undertaking” but remained confident that it would be finished on schedule. “We’ve started in a range of areas: firstly our major infrastructure programme and there’s an enormous amount of excavation that has to be done,” explains Timms. “Our main excavation is around nine million cubic metres of soil that we’re removing and building sub-surface infrastructure. We also have some assets that are being developed now in and around the Bujairi Precinct.” The Bujairi Precinct will be the first of several areas of Diriyah to experience a major upgrade that will significantly beautify the area, improve infrastructure and enhance the quality of life for the community. “The Bujairi Precinct is opposite and surrounding the world heritage site of At-Turaif. Firstly, in the northern part of the site around the Bujairi Precinct, we’re completing a major infrastructure upgrade. Where the formula e-racetrack is located, we are having to dig up the track and put the surfaces that will underpin all of these future developments,” says Timms. Timms also revealed that towards the end of the year and before February next year, they will be working on the streetscape, which will be the “first glimpse” of the project and will be “new for Saudi Arabia”. “The new streetscape will honour the history of Diriyah with fully indigenous landscaping, new signage and street MAY 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 27WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM COVER STORY furniture as well as natural shading for pedestrian walkways,” says Timms. Other works underway in the Bujairi Precinct comprise the Diriyah Art Oasis – a centre designed to support and inspire the production of contemporary Saudi art and international emerging artists, and the 150-key Samhan Heritage Hotel - a heritage mud hotel property. Construction is also progressing on the Bujairi Dining District. “Bujairi Dining District will have 20 plus high-end through to middle market restaurants in a really unique environment overlooking At-Turaif,” says Timms. “You are going to get new market entrances, as well as Saudi cuisine in what we are certain will be the number one place to dine in the kingdom.” Timms also confirmed that the Diriyah Gate’s arts district is designed to support and inspire contemporary Saudi art Diriyah Gate will comprise 24 hotels ranging from fi ve star to ultra-luxuryCOVER STORY 28 CONSTRUCTION WEEK AUGUST 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM restoration of the historic valley, Wadi Hanifah, has also begun. Wadi Hanifah runs for 110km through one end to the other end of Riyadh, and Diriyah Gate has obtained 2km2 as part of their masterplan. “We’re focusing on rejuvenating and restoring the Wadi palm groves, which were a big part of life going back hundreds of years ago and some of the earliest traces of humanity in this region,” explains Timms. “We want to restore the palm groves and historical agriculture, as well as creating a range of passive and active recreational opportunities including bike tracks, horse bridle paths in addition to cultural experiences within the Wadi for both local people from Riyadh and guests visiting the site.” While the majority of construction on Diriyah Gate is in full swing, Timms teased that there will be more announcements to come in one to two months’ time. “We have got 80 plus assets across the whole masterplan that are all accelerating very quickly. There will be more to add to this list.” Timms also expands on awarding 150 plus contracts in total throughout the design and construction of the development and discusses the appetite for local Saudi contractors across the kingdom’s construction sector. “I think for the whole contracting market, we have to be mindful of capacity. Our largest contracts to date for both our infrastructure works have been for local Saudi contractors,” says Timms. “We would love for the whole project to be built by local Saudi contractors, but as we study the market as some of our bigger packages come on-board, we’re going to have to understand who is in the market, and what their current capacity levels are.” “IT IS A BIG RESPONSIBILITY FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED IN DEVELOPING THE HISTORY OF SAUDI ARABIA. WE FEEL VERY HONOURED TO BE GIVEN THIS OPPORTUNITY.” “We would love for the whole project to be built by Saudi contractors, but as we study the market as some of our bigger packages come on-board, we’re going to have to understand what their current levels are ” Jonathan Timms DGDA chief design & development offi cerAUGUST 2020 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 29WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM COVER STORY While 2020 has posed significant challenges for Saudi Arabia’s construction industry due to the impact of COVID-19, Timms paid tribute to the kingdom’s leadership in how they have “proactively” addressed the pandemic. “They [Saudi leaders] have been very pragmatic in terms of ensuring the lockdowns, but they also offered us the flexibility to get on with the things that we needed to do in a safe way,” says Timms. “As a team, we have looked into how we can progress our project while still being safe for our contractors, customers and our staff. We had very little impact from a delay perspective and from a budget perspective, I think it’s almost negligible.” The world’s largest cultural and heritage development will be the “heart and history” of the kingdom He adds: “There’s no doubt that there is a need for additional capacity whether it’s from new entrants or existing contractor expansions to cover the level of activity that is planned for the kingdom over the next few years.” Hotels are also being regarded as a “big footprint” for the Diriyah Gate development as it aims to target 24 five star and above properties, as well as some being ultra-luxury. “We are engaging with all of the top hotel brands and we have been overwhelmed with demand to be part of this project. Out of the 24 hotels, we’re trying to finalise 19 of those at the moment,” Timms says. Upon completion, Timms concluded that he believes that the world’s largest cultural and heritage development will be the “heart and history” of the kingdom and will have significant meaning for all Saudis. “We feel very honoured to be given this opportunity. It is a big responsibility for everyone involved in developing the history of Saudi Arabia. “It does introduce some complexities as some of our construction techniques are looking to recreate how things were built historically, but I think in terms of driving the authenticity that visitors want to see when they visit, I think this stands us in good stead,” Timms grins. Next >