< Previous10 CW EGYPT JULY 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM The Egypt-2052 long-term urban development strategy puts Egypt in a unique position to create state-of-the-art smart city infrastructure, at scale. However, leveraging this opportunity to the full extent will require a vibrant ecosystem of solution providers, who can translate this vision into reality. Netix Global B.V., one of the MENA region’s leading smart building solutions providers, will launch its Netix Novus Partner Program in September 2021 – an initiative that could be the ideal mechanism to address this need. Netix Global B.V. is set to launch its Netix Novus Partner Program, in September 2021, at Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa. Through this Program, the company plans to empower its network of certified partners - and the building owners and operators who are their customers - with cutting-edge training, support, and digital building automation tools. Sanjeevv Bhatia, CEO Netix Global B.V and Chairman of SB Group International, spoke with us to share details of the initiative, and why it could potentially become a crucial enabler of the Egypt-2052 strategy, and the Brownfield Revolution in open protocol building automation solutions, in the nation. CW: What impact has Netix been able to create, in the UAE building automation sector, and do you think that you can achieve similar success in Egypt? SB: As a smart building solutions provider, Netix couldn’t have asked for a more receptive market than the UAE. To share one example, ODS Global, a Dubai based company that has successfully implemented Netix Solutions in several of their projects within the UAE, has signed up as the first Platinum Partner under the program. Netix’s IoT and AI-based open protocol solutions played a crucial role in ODS Global being awarded maintenance contracts for 19 vertical communities, by Emaar, across Downtown Dubai and Dubai Creek Harbour, and a three- NETIX GLOBAL B.V. TO LAUNCH NOVUS PARTNER PROGRAM, AIMED TO DRIVE THE BROWNFIELD REVOLUTION IN EGYPT BUILDING AUTOMATION Sanjeev Bhatia, CEO Netix Global and Chairman SB Group, and Priyesh Bhatia, GM ODS Global Q&A By: Saadiya AhmadJULY 2021 CW EGYPT 11WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM year maintenance contract for the building automation systems of 24 DAMAC Properties towers. This is the first time a single company is taking on the maintenance of seven or eight different brands of BMS, which would be locked to the OEM or their agents, in the past. ODS Global also won the upgrade and maintenance of 3 Mazaya Towers’ buildings, where the client saved 75% of their costs since they didn’t have to replace the complete system, by upgrading to Netix Solutions instead. Other projects awarded to ODS Global include system integration at the Jafza Convention Centre, the BVLGARI Resort in Jumeirah Bay, the Pullman Hotel, and the Emirates Airlines Staff Accommodation in Dubai, to name a few. The Netix Novus Partner Program is designed to bring similar success to multiple regions, and benefit both partners and clients/building owners alike. Moreover, many Government-led initiatives, such as the UAE Energy Roadmap, and the upcoming Expo, which includes sustainability as one of its key pillars, are setting global benchmarks. At the same time, the real estate industry in the UAE is proactively adopting open-protocol, plug and play building automation solutions. Our solutions are part of several major projects, such as the Accelerator Building in Masdar City Abu Dhabi, the Zero Six Mall in Sharjah, multiple properties owned by Mazaya Business Avenue in Dubai, several Emaar communities, etc. We’ve recently added add 11 branches of an esteemed bank in UAE to that list. The 29 cities being built from scratch, as part of the Egypt 2052 strategy, are an obvious opportunity for the Egyptian government to replace outdated technologies and ensure that these new cities are future-ready, from the beginning. Netix’s vendor-neutral technology will allow these developments to take a Plug and Play approach, so when any new technology is introduced, the Netix driver will ensure seamless integration with existing assets. We are currently talking to multiple partners and working on some major developments in Egypt’s new commercial business district, which also boasts the tallest building in Africa – the Iconic Tower. CW: What was the reasoning behind developing the Netix Novus Partner Program? SB: Nowadays, there is an extensive reliability to building automation/ building management systems, life safety and emergency lighting systems, lifts, lighting control, etc. Except for BMS, all of these systems can be serviced by any qualified service company, either by its Civil Defence Approved Service Provider for Life Safety Systems, or by Police Approved Security Services maintenance companies. However, legacy Building Management Systems, due to them being intrinsically complicated systems, are programmed and locked by the OEMs or their agents. This is the major context where we have identified a crucial need for developing open protocol solutions that enable building owners not to pay a fortune on maintenance and spare parts. Furthermore, emerging building automation solutions are enabling new standards in energy efficiency, sustainability, and system integration, and Netix Global B.V. wants to enable a large-scale shift to this model. We realized that our network of partners could drive this Brownfield Revolution, which led to the development of the Netix Novus Partner Program. The program will be launched during a conference cum launch at Dubai’s iconic Burj Khalifa, in September 2021, at a first-of-its-kind hybrid industry event for the region with more than 1000 attendees - in person, as well as those joining the live-stream across 20 countries. The event will feature eminent experts and thought leaders in building automation and maintenance. CW: How has the industry responded to the announcement of the Netix Novus Partner Program? SB: Netix partners in nations like the UAE, KSA, Qatar, Egypt, Oman, and India, have already expressed strong interest. As previously mentioned, ODS Global, a Dubai-based company, has signed up as the first Platinum Partner under the program. Discussions are on with a very large partner in Oman as well, for the implementation of our solutions across 450 properties. The Middle East is one of the most proactive regions globally, in adopting technology to enhance sustainability and energy efficiency in buildings. The demand for open-protocol, plug and play building solutions is particularly robust in the region, with an emphasis on upgrading BMS and Automation, without adding to costs and complexity. CW: What benefits can partners derive, from the Netix Novus Partner Program? SB: The Netix Novus Partner Program will enable our certified partners to deploy open-protocol solutions and eliminate yearly vendor-specific licensing and contracts. It will give them access to specialized training and certified courses, and on-site as well as remote support. Partners will benefit from discounts, incentives, and rebates, based on Platinum, Gold, and Silver membership tiers; in addition to existing Approved memberships. The Netix Novus Partner Program will unlock additional revenue streams for our partners, through annual maintenance contracts, followed by upgrades, economical refurbishments, retrofits, spare parts, ultimately landing into cloud based energy management platforms, where our partners will be live monitoring their clients properties, from the recently built Netix Konnect Intelligent Command & Control Center (iICCC). We have built two of these, so far, one in Dubai and the other one in India. We also have Netix Konnect iICCCs being built in Abu Dhabi, Singapore and the Netherlands. The partners will be able to share these solutions over Netix Cloud either through their own Netix Konnect iICCC or through a built-in, dedicated iICCC on client’s premises. Another significant benefit is that our Platinum Partners, by using Netix Konnect Intelligent Integrated Command and Control Center- iICCC, can control up to 84% of building energy consumption, and save as much as 28% in energy costs. These advantages are the reason why we believe the Netix Novus Partner Program will drive the Brownfield Revolution in facility management, across the globe, beginning with the Middle East and Asia. For more information please visit: https://www.netixglobal.com/ Q&AINFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH 12 CW EGYPT JULY 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Egypt’s leading construction firm, Hassan Allam Holding, speaks to Construction Week’s Editor Ashley Williams on how they can make a “huge contribution” to not just Egypt, but the MENA region While the global spotlight has been mainly shining on construction activities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE for many years, Egypt’s pipeline of world-class projects and its can- do attitude is beginning to become more noticed from a regional perspective. Regarded as the engineering hub for the Middle East, Egypt is vastly becoming more than just a tourist destination. As part of the country’s plans to grow and diversify its economy, infrastructure development is being placed at the forefront to cater to Egypt’s surging population and with the goal of ultimately resolving traffic congestion, a constant issue in the country’s capital city. Supporting the government’s movement for infrastructure development is leading construction firm, Hassan Allam Holding. Founded in 1936, Hassan Allam Holding is one of Egypt’s leading corporations and comprises engineering, construction, and infrastructure investment and development companies, operating in diverse sectors. With operations worldwide in Egypt, Algeria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Morocco, Iraq, Gambia DRC, and Libya, the company has a huge focus on complex engineering and construction projects, building materials, electrical and mechanical turn-key solutions, building projects, and utility investment and development. Speaking exclusively to Construction Week, Hassan Allam’s Group CEO, Eng. Hassan Allam, shares his views on the Egyptian market and what to expect for the company. “Hassan Allam has historically been an infrastructure contractor. We’ve developed over the years, but infrastructure remains part of the company’s culture,” says Eng. Allam. “Egypt has recently launched an infrastructure development programme whereby construction stakeholders are building desalination plants to overcome water scarcity, reduce pollution and to help preserve the environment, while also allowing to better utilise the Nile water.” Elaborating on its plans for water infrastructure, Allam believed the firm are the “leaders” in this sector and its experience in water treatment, waste treatment and desalination is “second-to-none”. “We have a vast experience in this particular sector and therefore when the government has challenging large scale programmes that fall within the domain of our area of expertise, we are one of the leaders who participate in these programmes because we are entrusted with effective and efficient pricing, timely delivery and very high quality standards.” One of its key water projects driving Egypt’s infrastructure programme is the El-Hammam agricultural wastewater treatment plant – the largest of its kind in the world. The El-Hammam wastewater treatment plant was awarded to a consortium of four companies in March 2021, with Hassan Allam being one them. Eng. Allam told Construction Week that he expects the plant to be up and running by 2022. “It [El-Hammam] is the largest agricultural wastewater treatment plant in the world and it is expected to collect agricultural waste water from Alexandria and neighbouring cities into one treatment plant. It will then be used to provide water for agricultural reclamation in the western side of Egypt; helping the agri business grow; helping exports grow and serving the local market,” explains Eng. Allam. “The first 500,000 acres are planned to be harvested or developed from this plant with more to come. I think we are looking at significant agricultural investment from the government based on this plant.” He adds that Hassan Allam was awarded the project as they “INFRASTRUCTURE REMAINS PART OF OUR CULTURE” Eng. Hassan Allam speaks with Construction Week in Cairo, Egypt [Image: Supplied]INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH JULY 2021 CW EGYPT 13WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM previously worked on the Al Mahsama agricultural waste water treatment plant, which was delivered last year, alongside Metito and was the largest in the world at the time. “Based on this success, the government decided to move forward with El-Hammam, which is six times the size of Al Mahsama and we brought on board other partners to build this project in record time. We hope to see it up and running in 2022.” As well as the water sector, a large part of Hassan Allam’s backlog is focused on transport infrastructure, according to the Group CEO. “I would say that 30% of our business is focused on transport. We employ north of 15,000 people in this particular sector with a mix of engineers, qualified technicians and labour,” explains Eng. Allam. “Cairo Metro Line 4 is probably the biggest of these projects that we’re currently executing, which is followed by the LRT, which is a light rail transit system connecting the 10th Ramadan city to the new capital, and then the national road programme. “The Cairo Metro project is a new challenge for us and the LRT development is expected to be completed this year, but we are also operating on a challenging schedule.” He adds: “We expect soon to be working on Egypt’s high speed rail programme where we will be building turnkey stations in key locations plus relevant bridges and infrastructure associated with high speed trains.” As Hassan Allam Holding continues to grow its project pipeline, the firm also revealed plans to expand its business in the African market over the next five years. Eng. Allam revealed exclusively to Construction Week that there is a strategy to grow its business in Africa; not just as a general contractor but as a utilities solution provider, a water solution provider, and a building materials manufacturer. Hassan Allam Holding’s Group CEO also revealed that they have big plans to grow Hassan Allam’s subsidiary, PGESCo, who have delivered landmark projects for energy and industrial sectors in the Egypt and the MENA region for more than two decades. “We come with different roles. Within the group, we have one of the largest power and water engineering and project management players, which is PGESCo,” Eng. Allam tells Construction Week. “They have helped Egypt over the last 30 years to design, develop and build an unbelievably solid power infrastructure programme. Egypt produces close to 50,000 megawatts, which have been designed and project managed by PGESCo and has offered the same services in Libya and Iraq.” He adds: “We expect with the rebuilding efforts that will take place in Iraq and Libya that PGESCo will play an important role along Hassan Allam Construction, which is an engineering and construction giant, and other subsidiaries with it. We also want to do this in Africa.” Eng. Allam elaborates that the demand for infrastructure in Africa is “growing” across different sectors, power, energy and water, which PGESCo, Intech, Hassan Allam Utilities and BIOWORKS could make a huge contribution. Intech is one of the largest Egyptian EPC firms in the wastewater, water treatment and purification field. It specialises in the design and execution of waste water treatment plants, water treatment plants and desalination plants. BIOWORKS offers a whole variety of services and was established as a broadly based engineering company and having assembled a multidisciplinary team. BIOWORKS provides design & build of complete waste water treatment plants, equipment production and quality control, logistical support and services, commissioning, design and manufacturing of control and automation systems, training and support of operation and maintenance team, after sales service and research and development. Hassan Allam Utilities, is the group’s infrastructure investment and development platform. “Demand for power, and energy in particular, as well as water infrastructure is there and we believe that we have a significant competitive advantage; allowing us to bring our expertise into Africa,” adds Eng. Allam. Concluding the interview, Eng. Allam felt confident that despite a challenging schedule ahead for the business, it could thrive under the challenge. “For us, it’s not unusual, it’s our backyard. It is only normal for Egypt to lead such an initiative in a continent where we belong,” Eng. Allam concludes. The Cairo Metro Line 4 is one of Hassan Allam’s biggest projects for its transport backlogWWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM CCS 14 CW EGYPT JULY 2021 DIGITAL WILL BOOST EFFICIENCY IN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR The construction industry – one of the least-digitalised industries globally – can improve its efficiency and productivity, and regain its competitiveness, if it digitalises, says construction and engineering software solutions firm RIB CCS CEO, Andrew Skudder. “The Covid-19 crisis is leading to a mindset shift in terms of digitalisation, but we are still only working on the fringes of true digital transformation; collaboration and communication tools are present in every company. “The industry must recognise the potential of using digital technologies, and the Covid-19 crisis has shown construction companies how much data goes unused and is lost. Having a platform that integrates and makes information accessible to all roles and parts of processes anywhere and at any time will not only help to capture data, but also ensure that data is used to improve all processes and decision- making,” he adds. RIB Software, RIB CCS’s parent company, has created a platform that provides fit-for-purpose tools for the entire built environment asset, industrial facilities and the infrastructure value chain, including design, build and operate. The objective of RIB CCS is to enable clients to gather and structure data, analyse it to provide real-time information and enable the use of new analytical tools, including deep learning and predictive analytics. “A digital platform approach enables the sector to leverage the increasingly important asset that is data to make better decisions and ensure that projects are delivered more efficiently, on time and within budget.” RIB CCS’s solutions rely on data from the whole range of construction activities to improve the performance of each component, as well as the RIB CCS CEO Andrew Skudder comments on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on digitalisation, and the path ahead to truly realise its potential in the construction sectorWWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM CCS JULY 2021 CW EGYPT 15 entire value chain, from estimating to construction and operation of the built environment asset. “By having a digital solution at the estimating stage, companies can plan all related and subsequent activities accurately, and have an understanding of the costs and resources required. “Specifically, this type of digital twin solution allows design changes requested during construction to be modelled, costs and the impact on delivery determined and the full scope of work planned,” he explains. RIB CCS calls its platform a five- dimensional building information modelling (5D BIM) construction cloud management solution that connects all project contributors along with their processes and data on one platform, which is founded on the principle of integrating the virtual and physical worlds. This digital twin platform helps to collate data – providing a single source of information – and companies to plan out in detail according to their own practices and processes, the schedule of work, equipment, tools and skills required. Further, construction companies can model the impacts of any changes or interruptions accurately, as well as model and test different design concepts using accurate data derived from past and current projects. “5D simulation is a powerful tool to understand the costs and constructability of a project and, even on site, professionals can use it to make decisions on sequencing to optimise and shorten construction time before construction starts.” Similarly, identifying a design flaw and fixing it without impacting on construction makes the process more efficient. “Data is the key to improving the construction sector, and one of the main reasons to digitally transform. Having information to better manage pain points and improve outcomes will enable companies to improve their competitiveness without sacrificing profitability and the long-term sustainability of the industry.” More efficient construction projects and infrastructure development provide a holistic benefit to society, and ensures that societies can achieve greater development with the available resources, he adds. Case studies of the impact of 5D modelling have shown a 30% improvement on collective project integrate data and link it to digital twin models is particularly powerful,” says Skudder. Additionally, construction companies can link their suppliers and information into the business partner management solution of the platform. “The core aspect in a construction platform environment is workflow management, which means enabling the flow of information to and from stakeholders in the project, whether suppliers, contractors or clients.” Further, the construction platform solution is customised to suit each company’s practices and processes. “A digital construction platform can readily be adopted and used with existing mobile device and collaboration solutions deployed in the industry. The key differentiator is that it enables construction-sector companies to progress with their digital transformation,” concludes Skudder. costs, procurement efficiency and productivity, while also reducing waste. “Being able to design and virtually construct a project before you go to site helps to eliminate a lot of waste, avoid additional costs, and leads to cost and time savings. We can also then start to bring in other technologies to add data, such as the Internet of Things and sensors on equipment, to monitor the productivity of each equipment piece and of the whole project.” Similarly, new technologies, such as drone-based inspections of sites and structures, can be deployed and integrated into a company’s database to provide information to all relevant systems. “This makes the company’s entire suite of digital tools more powerful, and there is a need to bring all the data into one platform and use it. The industry often has disparate tools, with the data kept in separate silos. The ability to Digital technology has the ability to improve ef ciency and streamline operations for the full value chain across the construction sector. Image: Shutterstock16 CW EGYPT JULY 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMWWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEE WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Construction innovations are at the core structure of the Infinity Tower in New Cairo Capital INTERVIEW The Infinity Tower is an impetus for revolutionising the construction sector in EgyptJULY 2021 CW EGYPT 17WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM The recently launched Infinity Tower in New Cairo Capital is an impetus for revolutionising the construction sector in Egypt, says SSE Managing Director, Dr Assaad Salama. “Located in the epicentre of the New Cairo capital, we applied the amalgamation of our experience from Dubai into this project specifically,” he says. Naturally, he sought to upgrade conventional construction methodologies. Premium materials have been used with a higher characteristic concrete strength of 120 MPA, as well as super high-quality steel at yield strength of 700 MPA. “This is a first not only in the MENA region but quite possibly the world,” he says. “We created awareness with various criteria related to Class A office building, including vertical transportation, elevators waiting time, cabin arrival time, air conditioning and quality of air, fire & life safety, etc….” According to Dr Salama, the Covid pandemic era inculcated many lessons which are applied to Infinity Tower. “We enhanced ventilation within the closed offices by increasing the amount of fresh air and reaching 100% fresh air as opposed to the conventional 10% to 20% maximum in similar buildings.” Construction innovations are at the core structure of Infinity Tower, reveals Dr Salama. One is top-down construction which speeds up the super-structure and reduces the cost for high rise and low rise zones of the office building. “We began by casting the raft foundation after excavation 20 m, deep to (- 20.00) and we jumped up to (+30.00); i.e., 50 m air gap from the foundation level,” he says to erect the first level, which is suspended between two core walls supports. This, will be followed by jumping the tower from 50 m to 200 m; a newly-developed construction methodology never implemented before in Egypt. With this, Dr Salama and his team benefited from going higher in a minimal time with a low cost and low budget while shifting/postponing the five-basement parking cost. “This is 30% of the total built-up area from the project to the very final stage of the project,” he explains. “Instead of front-loading the project budget, we are back-loading the project budget by shifting 20% of construction from the last six months of the project.” Secondly, a deep excavation to reach the five-basement parking was another innovation. Dr. Salama elaborates, “This is the first underground five basement parking built in Cairo and Egypt overall and enables sufficient parking space for both tenants and office owners. It also avoids Cairo’s major problem of surface parking surrounding the building by allowing 10% of parking capacity to valet & visitors parking. Due to an absence of ground water table, it was made possible to achieve this deep excavation through an engineered open cut without the need of shoring structure. Third, a new conical shape atrium developed with their architect NORR Dubai, which he says results in maximum natural light with minimum area loss. “It helps with fire safety, it also allows for maximum smoke extraction in case of fire, and minimises the area lost in this atrium,” he says; this is in addition to the introduction of tapered "I am looking forward to transfer the acquired experience into newer projects as a consultant, while offering the market new innovative projects able to change the real estate ‘scene of super tall buildings’ in the MENA region..." SSE Managing Director, Dr. Assaad Salama reveals Cairo’s Infinity Tower raises the bar of Egypt’s construction industry. SSE: transforming construction methodology in Egypt with In nity Tower INTERVIEW Atrium, a new architectural feature, which is Jamais-Vue. The 15 m air gap separated the 8000 m² boutique mall from the office block as depicted from perspective, creating the first commercial roof-top. A 25m crown height was also designed by NORR, offering the best view over the Central Business District of the New Cairo Capital. With these innovations, Dr. Salama points out that this building can considered column-free and rather include two core walls with a supporting floor plate in-between. “This allows a large floor plate of 1500 m2 with a height of 4.5 m which adds a magnificent office space which can be utilised by one tenant, two tenants or even a six-tenant scenario,” he explained. With innovative architectural design, structure, material use, and Class A expansive office space, SSE have taken a step forward to bring highly experienced international consultants from all over the world. “These world-class consultants guaranteed the best of vertical transportation, elevator and parking designs, as well as enhancing architectural sustainability,” he says. “We are raising the bar upwards and encouraging other developers to seek out the best and to enhance the construction industry.” SSE have already successfully implemented several constructions in the GCC region, at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library (MBR), Al Nasr Stadium, and Prince Abdullah Al Faisal Stadium in Jeddah, along with numerous projects for Expo 2020. With such immense experience, Dr Salama is looking forward to new projects in the Gulf Region and Egypt; whether these projects are in Cairo or the new Administrative Capital itself. He concludes, “I am looking forward to transfer the acquired experience into newer projects as a consultant, while offering the market new innovative projects able to change the real estate ‘scene of super tall buildings’ in the MENA region as a developer.” 18 CW EGYPT JULY 2021 Q&A WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Dr Mohamed Talaat, founder of Mohamed Talaat Architects (MTA), speaks with Disha Dadlani about the company’s portfolio, which is instrumental to shaping Egypt’s New Administrative Capital Cairo-based design and architectural firm Mohamed Talaat Architects (MTA or MT Architects), founded by Dr Mohamed Talaat, has been engaged in projects significant to shaping Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, which is being developed 35km east of Cairo, as a smart and sustainable city at its core. These include Egypt Mosque; the new government neighbourhood in the city; and the 22-floor Pyramids Tower, among others. The architectural design firm launched in 1996 has been offering interior design, engineering, construction, landscaping and urban planning services since its establishment. In his capacity, the founder of the firm, Dr Talaat has worked on an insurmountable number of projects, including within the residential, corporate, hospitality and administrative sectors. “Raising the level of architecture in Egypt” Speaking with Construction Week, Dr Talaat explains the firm’s mandate and efforts in shaping the architecture for the New Administrative Capital. “We have focused our efforts on curating works and designs that are aimed at raising the level of architecture in Egypt. Given the expansion the state is undergoing at present, we at MTA remain committed to the reconstruction of select areas in the country.” The new capital city is aimed at enhancing and diversifying Egypt’s economic potential by creating new places to live, work and visit. Aligned with this mandate, MTA is contributing towards a “civilizational transition” at a “remarkable speed” in the New Administrative Capital. “We are intensifying our efforts to build the New Administrative Capital, MT ARCHITECTS IS “RAISING THE LEVEL OF ARCHITECTURE IN EGYPT” Dr Mohamed Talaat, founder of Mohamed Talaat Architects, is recognised as one of the leading gures in Egyptian architectureJULY 2021 CW EGYPT 19 Q&A WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM alongwith notable local consultants in Egypt and internationally,” Dr Talaat says. Technology & sustainability-first Dr Talaat further states that projects operating within the New Administrative Capital are expected to reach the highest standards in terms of sustainability and technology. “The state supports this mandate with all its energy. Developers operating within the New Administrative Capital are expected to achieve sustainability on 30% to 40% of their project. In addition, developers’ projects must fulfil all requirements to become a smart building or a smart project.” In general, Dr Talaat explains, cities that thrive on “culture and the will” to be smart and sustainable are fueled by architects, designers and consultants who are aware of the importance of technologies and sustainability elements associated with the project(s). While smart and sustainable solutions form the very core of a “city of the future”, human centricity is equally significant to the process. Dr Talaat reiterates: “The basis of design, art, and architecture is human life. Hence, all design and thinking must be centered around - and in the interest of - human life.” Egypt: A receptive market The Egyptian market is one that is “eager” to adapt to new ideas, Dr Talaat states, citing a case-in-point as Cairo’s Smart Village, which is the largest-gated business community in Egypt. Furthermore, he notes that MTA is aligned with Egypt’s emerging technologies. “We at MTA use the Building Information Modeling (BIM) system to coordinate internally and to facilitate architectural outputs.” Leveraging BIM enables the MTA team to accurately produce outputs as per the customers’ requirements, Dr Talaat explains. He adds: “Furthermore, we use parametric architecture in our design to ensure integration between design, construction and electromechanical processes.” MT Architects, which prides on its use of emerging technologies, relied on a parametric algorithmic process for its recently-concluded Pyramids Tower project, displaying the future of design. The benefit of leveraging such a solution was to allow the designers to test many iterations. Using this parametric technology provided better access to data for the project, and therefore, led to improved coordination, flexible modifications and better data extraction across multiple disciplines. The algorithmic modeling process enabled the team to make drastic changes to the project without hindering their execution deadline. The software updated the whole algorithm and cut down on repetitive tasks. Moreover, MTA used several tech solutions on the Pyramids Tower including CNC (computer numerical control), fabrication, 3D printing, and interoperability workflows, connecting Rhinoceros (an architecture software) with BIM, and other platforms. Growing within the New Administrative Capital While the company boasts a strong operational pipeline outside of their home base in Egypt in countries including UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and Kuwait, the company has “concentrated” its business within the North African country, Dr Talaat says. MT Architects is growing exponentially and is continuing to work well despite the COVID-19 pandemic, he notes. “In terms of our engineering taskforce, we started with only 20 people, and increased it gradually to 40 and then 60; we are now at 100 people. These numbers are increasing as our project participation increases. We are now engaged in more than 30 projects just in the New Administrative Capital,” Dr Talaat adds. On a concluding note, he says: “One of our key projects is Egypt Mosque, which lies within the Egypt Islamic Cultural Center, and is one of the largest mosques in the world. In addition, Mohamed Talaat Architects is engaged in some ministerial projects and is serving as the general consultant for the largest mall and the largest commercial tower within the New Administrative Capital.” The 22- oor 91,000m2 Pyramids Tower project forms part of Mohamed Talaat Architects’ portfolio within the New Administrative Capital Next >