< Previous| KSA AWARDS | 50 DECEMBER 2023 In 2023, the Infrastructure Project of the Year was claimed by KEO International Consultants for its MASAR, King Abdulaziz Road Project in the kingdom. The winning project was commended by the judges for not only becoming a great addition to the city it is being built in, but is sure to be the centrepiece of the industry, as well as meeting an objective of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Nominees in this category were judged based on their contribution to the surroundings and how they demonstrate construction best practices, technological advancement, and strategies. The award for the Hospitality Project of the Year was won by U+A for its Six Senses Amaala, Triple Bay project. The resort earned the title after competing with a long list of candidates in the region. The 64 rooms, six suites, and 25 branded residences were inspired by the region’s traditional coastal villages, which seamlessly integrate with the naturally occurring topography and use locally sourced materials. The category was open to any hospitality or tourism-related project that has been completed during the eligibility time period. Moreover, the highly commended winner for this category was bagged by DEPA for its Banyan Tree, AlUla development. Highly commended: Banyan Tree, AlUla – Depa Highly commended: OXAGON Business Community – Infrastructure – Mofarreh Al Harbi & Partners HOSPITALITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT OF THE YEAR SIX SENSES AMAALA, TRIPLE BAY – U+A MASAR, KING ABDULAZIZ ROAD PROJECT – KEO INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANTSDECEMBER 2023 51 | KSA AWARDS | Regarded to as the future of the industry, the Modular Project of the Year award was won by a project that has proven how it contributed to fast, cost-eff ective, and sustainable solutions. This year, the award was lifted by ARENA Group for its SEDRA 1 Residential project. The project was steered to be harmonious with its surrounding environment, keeping in mind the importance of utilising sustainable building solutions. Developed by ROSHN, the SEDRA community is a 20 million square metre development located at the heart of Riyadh. It will be divided into eight phases featuring more than 30,000 homes if diff erent sizes and types. A popular category at the CW KSA Awards 2023 is the Residential Project of the Year. This year, the award was handed over to Lifestyle Developers for its The Vue project. The winner was highly praised by the judges for constructing a residential project built in harmony with the natural landscape, all while embracing the design inspired by traditional buildings. Dubbed as a boutique development, The Vue off ers a unique blend of beachside and cosmopolitan living, with interiors inspired by the city’s coastal setting and rich heritage. Due to the large number of nominees in this category, the judges chose two high commended winners who came extremely close to The Vue. These were ROSHN Group’s SEDRA development and Mofarreh Al Harbi’s Sindalah Island Cluster 3 and 4. MODULAR PROJECT OF THE YEAR RESIDENTIAL PROJECT OF THE YEAR SEDRA 1 RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY – ARENA GROUP THE VUE – LIFESTYLE DEVELOPERS Highly commended: SEDRA – ROSHN Group and Sindalah Island Cluster 3 & 4 – Mofarreh Al Harbi| KSA AWARDS | 52 DECEMBER 2023 Nine project managers made the cut this year for what was again a highly competitive category. The award for the Project Manager of the Year went to Ebrahim Ragab, Senior Project Manager at Compass Project Consulting, who was recognised for his attention to detail, time management, and organisation skills as well as his support towards other existing projects. Overall, the category placed leading PMs under the spotlight for contributing to the development of major projects shaping the kingdom’s evolving landscape. Highly commended: Nicholas Gibson – KEO International Consultants and Abdulrahman Saleh Alkraidee, Diriyah Company Highly commended: Aishwarya Chengappa, Egis and Talal Ali AlHenaki, ROSHN PROJECT MANAGER OF THE YEAR EBRAHIM RAGAB – COMPASS PROJECT CONSULTING Every year, the Rising Star of the Year award goes to the individual who has exhibited remarkable professional growth and is recognised as someone to keep an eye on in the future. In 2023, Noura Albilal, Assistant Project Manager at Compass Project Consulting was crowned as the winner. Albilal was applauded for making an outstanding contribution to the organisation, the projects she was associated with, and the industry as a whole. The winner guided all key stakeholders and partners on critical decisions made within the company, proving her ability to make quick choices and strategies. RISING STAR OF THE YEAR NOURA ALBILAL – COMPASS PROJECT CONSULTINGDECEMBER 2023 53 | KSA AWARDS | In roles ranging from engineers and project managers to HR and sustainability advocates, directors, architects, mentors, and leaders, women are forging a path for themselves, their colleagues, and aspiring young girls looking to establish careers in construction and engineering. The shortlist in this category included names from companies such as Parsons, AESG, Omnium International, Compass Project Consulting, Egis, and more. The winner for this year was Ghada Othman Alrumayan, Group Chief Marketing & Communications Offi cer at ROSHN. Highly commended: Suha Alyami, AlBawani and Jayne McGivern, Sports Boulevard Foundation Highly commended: Asmaa Abouleish – Egis INSPIRING WOMAN OF THE YEAR GHADA OTHMAN ALRUMAYAN – ROSHN This year, the Engineer of the Year award was won by Mohamed Al Malaki from Diriyah Company. Al Malaki was acknowledged not only for his exceptional technical expertise but also for his explicit commitment to enhancing effi ciencies and ensuring the adherence to project delivery timelines. This year’s highly commended winner in this category is Asmaa Abouleish from Egis. Annually, the Engineer of the Year award goes to the engineer who exhibits the most signifi cant impact on their construction- related business within the eligibility period. The winning engineer could be working in any segment of the construction chain, spanning from suppliers to contractors, sub- contractors, and consultants. ENGINEER OF THE YEAR MOHAMED AL MALAKI – DIRIYAH COMPANY| KSA AWARDS | 54 DECEMBER 2023 In 2023, the Construction Executive of the Year category received exceptional submissions from prominent industry fi gures. The award, however, was picked up by Eng Fakher Al Shawaf, CEO at Al Bawani, for his leadership skills that created a “solid impact” not only on the business, but the entire construction industry. Al Shawaf was applauded for demonstrating the most signifi cant infl uence on Al Bawani’s construction-related business during the eligibility period. Additionally, Paul Doherty, Director at AtkinsRéalis, was recognised as the highly commended Construction Executive of the Year. The entries were judged by a large jury of industry peers, a factor that has given CW Awards an independent and credible reputation. At the 2023 Construction Week KSA Awards, Twintec Saudi was crowned as the Sub-contractor of the Year. The company was praised for its contribution to the industry. They were recognised for their collaboration with several stakeholders on the projects and for supporting the main contractors in delivering the scope on time. Every year, the Sub-contractor of the Year goes to the company that demonstrates the best record of progress and delivery for its clients, while maintaining an exemplary health, safety, and environment (HSE) record, and showing signs of commercial strength and growth during the eligibility period. As a company, Twintec Saudi has proudly set the standards of excellence in interior implementation, as evidence by the delivery of the most iconic projects in the Middle East, Asia, and other regions. Highly commended: Paul Doherty – AtkinsRéalis SUB-CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR CONSTRUCTION EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR TWINTEC SAUDI ENG FAKHER ALSHAWAF – ALBAWANI CONSTRUCTION COMPANYDECEMBER 2023 55 | KSA AWARDS | In 2023, a new category was introduced to recognise the company currently standing at the forefront of digital transformation in the construction industry. The Technology Provider of the Year award is for the company that has successfully utilised technology to contributed towards the development of construction industry in the kingdom in line with Vision 2030. The fi rst ever winner for this category went to OpenSpace for its groundbreaking advancements in construction site documentation and visualisation. OpenSpace, a trailblazing technology provider, has redefi ned the landscape of the construction industry by seamlessly integrating cutting-edge tools to enhance project management and execution. Highly commended: WakeCap TECHNOLOGY PROVIDER OF THE YEAR OPENSPACE Omnium International emerges as the undisputed leader, clinching the coveted Sub-consultancy of the Year award. Renowned for its exceptional performance and unwavering commitment to excellence, Omnium International has set new standards in sub-consultancy services. Its innovative approaches, client-centric strategies, and adept management have placed them at the forefront of the industry. This well-deserved accolade recognises its outstanding contributions, cementing Omnium International’s status as the benchmark for excellence while leaving a prominent mark on the industry landscape. SUB-CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR OMNIUM INTERNATIONAL| KSA AWARDS | 56 DECEMBER 2023 Cundall was crowned as the Consultancy of the Year in 2023 for showcasing determination and project success over the past 12 months, while demonstrating the best record of delivering innovative, original, and consistent expertise on projects during the eligibility period. Cundall’s rapid growth in Saudi Arabia was a large contributor to this recognition, but even more so its design, engineering, and project management services, which has been known for building long-term trusted partnerships. The company’s specialised services can be contracted fl exibly, from niche mandates through to megaprojects. A favourite category, and arguably among the most competitive at the awards, the Contractor of the Year award went to Nesma & Partners. The winner was applauded for working on an impressive array of projects, maintaining tight delivery schedules, acquiring a number of diff erent entities, and delivering highly-complex projects while optimising budgets effi ciently. Established in 1981, Nesma & Partners has delivered innovative solutions to some of the biggest energy and infrastructure challenges in the Middle East. Today, inspired by the kingdom’s Vision 2030, Nesma & Partners is committed to advancing in key construction sector industries to deliver sustainable megaprojects across the region. CONSULTANCY OF THE YEAR CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR CUNDALL NESMA & PARTNERS Highly commended: AlBawani Construction Company and Al-Ayuni Investment & Contracting Company Highly commended: Egis and Turner & TownsendDECEMBER 2023 57 | KSA AWARDS | CW KSA AWARDS SPONSORS GOLD SPONSORS SILVER SPONSORS SUPPORTING PARTNERS Backed by the Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), ROSHN Real Estate Company took home the award for the Developer of the Year, as one of the largest real estate development companies in the kingdom. The developer has been supporting the Saudi Government’s eff orts to increase the percentage of home ownership to 70% by 2030. ROSHN was applauded for spearheading an ambitious programme in the kingdom and for using the techniques, materials, and processes that are locally sourced, produced, and environmentally sustainable. The highly commended in this category was Alsoliman Real Estate Company and Diriyah Company. DEVELOPER OF THE YEAR ROSHN GROUP Highly commended: Alsoliman Real Estate Company and Diriyah Company58 DECEMBER 2023 | MODULAR CONSTRUCTION | THE FUTURE IS MODULAR: SOLVING THE MIDDLE EAST’S QUALITY CONCERNS Kevin Laidler, Sales Director, Middle East and Africa at Armstrong Fluid Technology talks about how high-quality and cost-ef cient modular solutions are transforming HVAC solutions throughout the industry Skilled workers play a pivotal role in driving the growth of the construction industry in the Middle East. However, across the GCC, a shortage of labour has become a growing issue in recent years – in fact, the strain on available labour is likely to cost the UAE $50 billion across various industries by 2030. SO WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE IS A SHORTAGE OF SKILLED LABOR? Often quality is the fi rst thing to be compromised. An increasingly cost-centric approach is taken in project management and delivery. Rather than reducing the number of active projects, construction companies choose to adapt by ‘de-scoping’ projects and changing working practices. In other words, they cut corners in an attempt to stretch budgets. The fi rst corner they tend to cut is leveraging skilled labour only where absolutely necessary. This results in a catch-22 situation. The cost-saving solutions implemented often require a higher level of skill to operate. However, with companies opting to save money by using less skilled labour, the work is not always completed to the necessary standard. Ultimately, this jeopardises the end quality of the project and can result in performance issues, delayed delivery, and reputational damage. However, there is a solution that can help mitigate the risk of using less skilled labour - this is where prefabricated design can make a diff erence. MINIMISING COSTS AND OVERCOMING SKILL GAPS A prefabricated system refers to a method where the main components or modules of a structure are manufactured in a factory or off -site location and then transported to the construction site for assembly. Prefabricated systems enable a modular approach since the solution arrives on site and is then simply ‘plugged’ into the wider system. This assembly method minimises costs and overcomes skills gaps by requiring less labour on site for assembly and installation, and reducing the room for error, ultimately helping to maintain quality on site. In my experience with Armstrong Fluid Technology, prefabricated systems can deliver a number of benefi ts that ensure quality and enhance savings. At Armstrong, these systems are designed, sized, sourced, and fabricated in controlled, specialist environments by expert teams. We also take on full responsibility for all aspects of the system, to guarantee single- source control. Let’s use fi re systems as an example. Traditional ‘stick-built’ fi re systems are composed of many diff erent elements, all of which require sourcing from various suppliers and assembling on-site. For installing contractors, purchasing, DECEMBER 2023 59 | MODULAR CONSTRUCTION | Prefabricated systems are built in a controlled factory environment Prefabricated systems offer a greater degree of exibility and scalability compromising on quality. They maintain the same level of occupant safety, while improving the return on investment for building owners. ADAPTING AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH In addition to maintaining quality, prefabricated systems deliver signifi cant cost savings. This is not only due to reduced labour requirements on-site, but also an innovative approach, which completes the design stage in less time and at a lower cost. One contributor to their lower cost is the arrangement of components within the system. Attention to space usage and ergonomics ensures that components are easy to access for maintenance and service replacement. Their modular, fully contained design also makes them easily portable, lowering costs along the entire supply chain. If needed, they can even be removed, transported to a new location and reinstalled, ultimately providing increased fl exibility to serve future requirements. Low lifecycle cost also comes down to component quality. Since prefabricated systems are produced by a centralised team in one controlled environment, it is much easier to guarantee the quality of each material and piece within the build. And this ultimately means that long-term operational costs can also be reduced, such as the need for replacement parts and maintenance. Finally, prefabricated systems off er a greater degree of both fl exibility and scalability. In scenarios where an upgrade or expansion is required, this modular approach means that solutions can be adapted and confi gured to meet the unique requirements of any business. BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS Ultimately, these solutions make it much easier to deliver projects on time, on budget and on spec, without the need for additional skilled labour. These containerised systems therefore represent greater convenience and much better value for money than alternative on-site build solutions. So, when addressing the regional skills challenges faced by the construction industry, the use of prefabricated systems presents multiple benefi ts to all stakeholders. Skilled labour shortages within the workforce cannot be solved overnight, and cost-cutting brings its own risks. However, a modular approach to systems development provides an ideal solution to both concerns. handling, and coordinating all required materials to build a complete fi re pump system on-site is ineffi cient, with its own set of challenges. For example, often pieces get lost or go missing, leading to construction delays. This also poses a greater risk of inconsistent confi gurations from one installation to the next, since it’s crucial for highly skilled labor to be used to ensure proper assembly and utmost safety of the system. In contrast, prefabricated systems, such as our containerised Fire Pump System, are built in a controlled factory environment. Detailed drawings that show the exact dimensions and connection locations are created, signifi cantly lowering the margin of human error during installation. These advantages are centred around cutting costs in a safe way, without Kevin Laidler, Sales Director, MEA, Armstrong Fluid TechnologyNext >