< PreviousWWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM20 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JANUARY 2022WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM F1 SAUDI DELIVERING INTERVIEW BY DISHA DADLANI | PHOTOGRAPHS BY UNIMACJANUARY 2022 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 21 F1 SAUDI WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMWWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM G ON A S peed and agility are characteristics borne by racers and contractors alike. In terms of the Formula 1 (F1) Saudi Arabian Grand Prix Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which is the fastest street circuit in F1 history, the contractor’s race to the finish line came with its set of challenges and pressures. Much of a racer’s agility, speed, and confidence is linked with the associated contractor and designer’s ability to design and construct a circuit. Riyadh-based UNIMAC executed the construction of the Jeddah Corniche Circuit within a tight timeline of only eight months, ensuring a smooth track with a high grip. It recently hosted the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. UNIMAC carried out the 27-turn track circuit through its unit UNIMAC Special Projects Division and was appointed by the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation (SAMF) following a “competitive” tendering process featuring major local players. The stakeholders associated with this project were SAMF, Ministry of Sport Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) as well as Germany-based Tilke Engineers & Architects as the designer and architect, who also supervised the construction to ensure it was as per prescribed specifications. Speaking with Construction Week, Fadi Hatoum, CEO of UNIMAC explains: “The Jeddah Corniche Circuit is a temporary track, and the permanent facility will be constructed within Saudi Arabia’s Qiddiya gigaproject. He adds: "Eventually, the track will be demolished and turned into a normal roadway or a corniche for the public in Jeddah to enjoy. This could happen in three to five years’ time, but we won’t be surprised if the client, the SAMF decides to extend the demolition of the street circuit. The reviews about the track have been very positive; the fans and drivers were very satisfied.” Majority of UNIMAC’s scope of services entailed demolitions of previous structures and infrastructure, earthworks, MEP works, electrical works, construction of the track including the tarmac, land reclamation works, complete rehabilitation of the lagoon, and other complementary services. Additionally, UNIMAC Environmental Division, which was established by the contractor to oversee and manage all the sustainability aspects of the project, was involved in the complete environment monitoring and assessment of the area F1 SAUDI 22 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JANUARY 2022WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM before, during, and after construction. Meanwhile, the circuit’s asphalt design was by UNIMAC Laboratories Division. On being asked if a contractor should be concerned about racer’s speed and performance and how it could eflect in its scope of work, Hatoum suggests that a racer’s confidence is primarily gained from the track surface quality. “We made sure that the track surface was smooth and the grip was high enough to ensure minimal unwanted vehicle slippage during turns and maximum brake effectiveness when applied. The more comfortable and confident the drivers are on the track, the faster they can drive,” he says. When you build a street circuit you don’t just work on the circuit. You work around the surrounding infrastructure and underground utilities as well as intangible aspects such as the track tolerance limits, and are presumably bound by tight timelines and logistical challenges. As the Official Circuit Construction Partner of the F1 event, UNIMAC was shouldering a national responsibility. Hatoum delves further: “The FIA, who the cities. "One of the fiber lines we found was an intercontinental submarine cable that came in from Africa, which is very expensive and could cause us millions of Saudi riyals per minute upon any damage!” Majority of the obstacles in UNIMAC’s course to completion were discovered “by fluke,” says Hatoum. Resolving such issues could take months, but UNIMAC found support in the SAMF alongwith Jeddah Municipality, who helped fast-track approval processes and eliminate layers of bureaucratic procedures that a contractor would otherwise have to undergo while working around a certain utility. He adds: "This particular need for speed and agility when dealing with tight deadlines and urgent projects of this magnitude, is what brought about our Special Projects Division, which built the project." To execute a project of such scale and national prominence, communication is key and has to be “fluid and frequent,” while ensuring that communication is efficient rather than time-consuming. It was here that UNIMAC emerged as the “underdog” despite a highly competitive tender, according to Hatoum. With prior circuit construction expertise and an admitted knack for “rushed projects,” UNIMAC showed the ability to eliminate or minimise multiple levels of decision making on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. Commenting on the tender, Hatoum says: “When you have to get a project done in eight months, there should not be multiple levels of decision making. Decisions have to be made on the spot.” Since the contractor was working around tight timelines, Hatoum found himself being personally involved on site as decisions were required to be made on the spot. “I have been on site through the eight months and have spent 90% of my time making decisions associated with the project.” Explaining that this was achievable with were frequently contacted and updated about the project, had to approve the construction and ensure it was done within their specifications, without which they would not have certified the track. "FIA was integral to the whole process and they were following up with us every week to ensure progress.” He adds: “There was no room for failure or for mistakes and no time to go back and fix errors.” Tight timelines aside, UNIMAC was working around existing infrastructure for the Jeddah Corniche Circuit and hence, a “jungle of underground utilities,” something that Jeddah is known for. In building the temporary track within the city centre, the contractor found fiber lines, electrical cabling, electrical lines, pipes, storm lines, and water and sewage lines. Elaborating on how UNIMAC navigated through this, Hatoum says: “We had to be extremely careful in detecting every single underground utility to make sure that none of them were damaged or hit. You can imagine if we cut a fiber network, it would mean shutting down the communication of many of the homes and offices around UNIMAC found support in its client SAMF alongwith Jeddah Municipality, who helped fast-track approval processes for the Jeddah Corniche Circuit The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) regularly monitored UNIMAC's progress on the project during the construction F1 SAUDIJANUARY 2022 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 23 F1 SAUDI WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM a complete change in managerial mindset, he explains: “When something was needed on site, a request was made and approved within hours, and resources were procured within 24 hours if locally available. "If resources were to be procured from remote locations or from abroad, UNIMAC was working very closely with forwarders and transporters to find the quickest possible ways to receive resources." He adds: "We had to complete every task no matter the obstacle and no matter the cost. It just had to be done, and we knew that if it wasn't, then such a failure would have been detrimental to the entire project.” UNIMAC has previously worked on the Formula E circuit in Diriyah, which it delivered in 2018. As Hatoum puts it, the Jeddah Corniche Circuit is about 30-40% of the circuit UNIMAC delivered in Diriyah. In 2019, the contractor rebuilt that track as per the new design. In addition to the scale and size, the technology and specifications for both circuits are very different. Elaborating on this, Hatoum says: “When we first looked at the specifications of Formula 1, it blew me away; we literally had to build a track within a tolerance of millimetres. With Formula E, the tolerance is very relaxed as it only entails resurfacing the track and ensuring a proper drainage.” Apart from timely delivery UNIMAC has had many boxes to tick along its journey for the F1 Jeddah Corniche Circuit. The contractor ensured among the highest Saudisation rate in construction as well as the highest female ratio of Saudis working on any project in the Kingdom and also achieved project completion in adherence to prescribed safety and sustainability targets. Commenting on this, Hatoum says: “It was very important to us that the track and its infrastructure was built using locally-sourced resources and materials, constructed by Saudi contractors and subcontractors. More than 90% of the materials were locally manufactured and sourced, and 100% of the work was executed by Saudi companies, making the Jeddah Corniche Circuit truly ‘Made in Saudi Arabia’.” With asphalt comprising aggregates sourced from a mountain in Mecca and the bitumen from Aramco, and special additives locally blended by Saudi companies, nearly all the MEP related resources were manufactured in the Kingdom. UNIMAC adopted a backward integrated approach to source and manufacture equipment and machinery related to the project, and in order to ensure adherence to timelines. Hatoum explains: "We decided the best way forward was to take control and eliminate any external suppliers. We sourced the machinery and acquired an eco-friendly asphalt plant, which is now the best-performing asphalt plant in the country. It is the highest tech asphalt plant in the market and produces the best quality of asphalt, consuming the least amount of diesel, and releasing the least amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.” In terms of safety, UNIMAC achieved 950,000 hours without lost time injury; there was not a single major incident recorded on site. Corporate investigations and risk consulting firm Kroll was hired to monitor satisfaction and safety of the labour during the construction. Hatoum explains: "We scored a 100/100 by Kroll, which is one of the highest ratings the firm has ever given to a contractor." As the 33rd country to host a round of the F1 championship, Saudi Arabia is giving its nod to sports and entertainment construction. The Kingdom's inaugural edition of the F1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix is additional proof. Reflecting on this, Hatoum explains: “The Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix will definitely fuel sports construction in the Kingdom. Also, there is a growing interest in motorsports. There will be a lot of tracks built in the Kingdom just to fuel that interest.” The temporary Jeddah Corniche Circuit, which currently sits along the Jeddah seafront, will soon see its purpose-built version within Qiddiya, the Kingdom’s future capital of entertainment, sports, and the arts. On a concluding note, Hatoum shares excitedly: “We want to pitch for the upcoming circuit in Qiddiya, which will be larger than the one in Jeddah.” F1 SAUDI UNIMAC achieved 950,000 hours without lost time injury on the Jeddah Corniche Circuit project UNIMAC Environmental Division was established by the contractor to oversee and manage the sustainability aspects of the projectCOVER STORY 24 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JANUARY 2022WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMWWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM24 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JANUARY 2022COVER STORY JANUARY 2022 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 25WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMWWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM On 13 December 2021, Construction Week hosted the 17th annual Construction Week Awards honouring the individuals and businesses from the Middle East’s construction industry who have excelled over the past 12 months. It was a record breaking year for Construction Week Awards as we received 250+ nominations from over 84 companies and across 21 categories. 2021 showed signs of recovery as the construction industry went from strength to strength. The awards was a celebration and recognition of the achievements of the people and companies who stood out for their resilience and innovation. JANUARY 2022 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 25ALEC made it four years in a row of claiming the most coveted prize of the Construction Week Awards 2021 – the Contractor of the Year honour. The contractor once again blew away our judges for its sustainable growth, successful project deliver; and has been applauded for working on an impressive array of projects, maintaining tight delivery schedules, placing health and safety at the fore, delivering highly- complex projects while optimising budgets efficiently. The Contractor of the Year category is arguably the biggest of all categories. This year the shortlist saw some of the biggest names in the construction sector. These include NUSSLI Group; Orascom Construction; The Arab Contractors Company (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.); ASGC; China State Construction Engineering Corporation Middle East (CSCEC ME); Hassan Allam Holding; Multiplex Constructions; Alqabdah Global Building Contracting; Douglas OHI; Voltas Limited; and Al Bawani. Winning the accolade in what is touted as the toughest category at the Construction Week Awards, ALEC stood out among the shortlists for fostering a culture of innovation, which is reflected through its portfolio and work, as well as its participation at the Expo 2020 Dubai where it was associated with the construction of Mobility Pavilion, Opportunity Pavilion, UAE Pavilion, KSA Pavilion, ICD Pavilion, ENOC Pavilion, DP World Pavilion, among others. HIGHLY COMMENDED Orascom Construction 26 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JANUARY 2022WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM SILVER SPONSORGOLD SPONSORGOLD SPONSORGOLD SPONSORGOLD SPONSOR CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR WINNER: ALECSobha Realty scooped the award for the Developer of the Year at the Construction Week Awards 2021 held at the Jumeriah Emirates Towers Hotel. Introduced as a new category in 2021, the winner is choosen based on its ability to make significant progress on existing projects in the past 12 months. Sobha Realty was applauded by the judges for “redefining the real estate value chain” by leveraging on its in-house capabilities. The judges believed that the developer remained distinct in its approach to working and constructing its projects owing to its backward integration methodology. The developer is currently busy with the developement of its Sobha Hartland master development in Dubai’s Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City overlooking Downtown Dubai. The project is on track for its scheduled handover in 2025. Key projects within the community include Greens, Creek Vistas, Creek Vistas Reservé, Gardenia Villas, Garden Houses, One Park Avenue and Forest Villas. In 2021, the developer also launched the third phase of the Tranquility plots, comprising exclusive plots for customised villa development. The shortlist also included names such as Samana Developers; Dubai Holding Real Estate (DHRE); ROSHN; Diriyah Gate Development Authority (DGDA), and CRC DORRA. HIGHLY COMMENDED Dubai Holding Real Estate (DHRE) JANUARY 2022 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 27WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM LEGAL PARTNER ASSOCIATE SPONSOR CATEGORY SPONSOR CATEGORY SPONSOR CATEGORY SPONSOR CATEGORY SPONSOR SOCIAL MEDIA SPONSOR DEVELOPER OF THE YEAR WINNER: SOBHA REALTYFor the first time ever, Construction Week introduced the Modular Contractor of the Year cartegory at the Constructoin Week Awards 2021. Losberger De Boer, one of the leading global providers of highly integrated temporary and semi-permanent space solutions scooped the award for this category. The company battled other big names in the industry including NUSSLI Group, DuBox, an AMANA company, The Arab Contractors Company (Osman Ahmed Osman & Co.); and Hassan Allam Holding to take home the final accolade, which was for a company that has proved how it contributed to fast, cost-effective, and sustainable solutions for projects across the Middle East and North Africa over the past 12 months. Judges praised Losberger De Boer for its ability to complete “record-breaking” structures within the challenging timeframes and securing the Guinness World Records for one of its most iconic projects delivered this year. The company also took home two awards at the Construction Week KSA Awards 2021 for the Commercial Project of the Year and the Modular Construction Project of the Year for the Jeddah Superdome that won the Guinness World Record for being the largest geodesic dome in the world. Losberger De Boer managed the design- and-build of the Jeddah Superdome being appointed by Sela Sports Company. HIGHLY COMMENDED DuBox, an AMANA company 28 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JANUARY 2022WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM SILVER SPONSORGOLD SPONSORGOLD SPONSORGOLD SPONSORGOLD SPONSOR MODULAR CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR WINNER: LOSBERGER DE BOERWSP Middle East made it for the second time in a row, claiming one of the the most coveted prize of the Construction Week Awards 2021 – the Consultancy of the Year honour. The shortlist for the Consultancy of the Year Award, in addition to WSP Middle East, included AECOM; Cundall; Ramboll; KEO International Consultants; Khatib & Alami; PMKConsult; Turner & Townsend; Atkins, a member of SNC- Lavalin Group; AESG; Hoehler + alSalmy; and EHAF Consulting Engineers. According to the judges, WSP Middle East's "determination" and "project success"over the past 12 months, in addition to its growing geographical reach were strong indicators and made the company stand out among the shortlisted nominees. The consultancy was massively applauded for adopting the formation of a dedicated Project Management Services and Advisory Services on their business units. Furthermore, it was recognised for its relentless focus on delivering project and excellence, and driving the industry forward when it comes to health & safety, gender balance, and sustainability. Some of the projects WSP Middle East has been associated with include One Za'abeel by Ithra Dubai; Opera Grand Tower and II Primo Tower by Emaar; Coral Bloom resorts at Shurayrah Island at The Red Sea Project by The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) in Saudi Arabia. In 2021, the firm appointed Dean McGrail as the CEO succeeding Greg Kane. HIGHLY COMMENDED AECOM JANUARY 2022 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 29WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM LEGAL PARTNER ASSOCIATE SPONSOR CATEGORY SPONSOR CATEGORY SPONSOR CATEGORY SPONSOR CATEGORY SPONSOR SOCIAL MEDIA SPONSOR CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR WINNER: WSP MIDDLE EASTNext >