Turner & Townsend, the global professional services firm, has strengthened its leadership team in Hong Kong and Macau with multiple senior appointments. Oliver Sneath takes on the role as Head of Real Estate for Hong Kong and Macau, while Helen Cheng assumes the role of Director for Sustainability and Net
An urban renewal project in the Parisian suburb of Clichy-La-Garenne will become the largest low-carbon building in France. The bustling 47,000m2 urban campus, known as BLACK, is set to provide users with a true ‘workplace of tomorrow’ by creating a sustainable and inspiring modern workspace within commutable distance from La
Seoul, South Korea: almost 10 million inhabitants and an extraordinary economic-financial structure that places it among the world’s strongest economies. This is home to the headquarters of some of the most famous multinationals, embedded in an incredibly high housing and demographic background. Offices, industries, trade centres, banks and financial institutions
Dubai is one of the world’s most sought-after destinations for luxury living and vacationing. The city is home to some of the most luxurious apartments available, making it a paradise for those looking to find affordable luxury. This article explores the best 1 bedroom apartments in Dubai, UAE. This article covers
Bridge works specialist Spencer Group has been appointed to create a bespoke access system to inspect the stay cables on a new Canadian bridge. The Pattullo Bridge, which crosses the Fraser River near Vancouver, British Columbia, is a key connection between the municipalities of Surrey and New Westminster. The Pattullo
Peikko has been selected as a supplier for Jorvi Hospital’s new extension in Espoo, Finland. The order includes 5.4 km of DELTABEAM® Green composite beams and nearly 80 PETRA® Green hollow-core slab hangers. Peikko’s deliveries to the site will begin in August 2023 and continue until September 2024. Hospital operations
With the ‘Quarter of the Dancing Couples’ KCAP (urban design and architecture), Studio Vulkan (landscape) and Raumanzug (sustainability) win the competition for a new residential neighbourhood with 279 apartments in the vicinity of Zurich. Wangen-Brüttisellen is a fast-growing municipality which is planning to densify. One of the plots designated for
Neinor Homes today announces that it has raised a green loan of 140 million euros with a three-year maturity (2026), demonstrating the company’s creditworthiness and its ability to raise both project and corporate financing. A joint deal has been structured for this financing transaction, backed by Banco Santander, BBVA and
Five partners with over a century of combined experience in the international construction industry have decided to join forces to form Inframara, an advisory firm for the global construction sector. Inframara aims to help by sharing first-hand experience and best practice with clients to avoid the classic pitfalls of complex
Global modular building specialist, Volumetric Building Companies, which has recently announced its expansion in the UK, has secured a contract worth more than £10m for the offsite construction of a 500-bed hotel for the Tropical Islands resort near Berlin, one of the world’s largest waterparks. Worldwide leisure park operator Parques
Turner & Townsend, the global professional services firm, has strengthened its leadership team in Hong Kong and Macau with multiple senior appointments. Oliver Sneath takes on the role as Head of Real Estate for Hong Kong and Macau, while Helen Cheng assumes the role of Director for Sustainability and Net Zero Advisory for Northeast Asia. Sabrina Li also joins Turner & Townsend as a Project Director, with significant programme management experience in real estate across the banking and finance sector. The new leadership appointees form an important part of the firm’s market management team for Hong Kong and Macau, further expanding its capabilities in delivering major projects, programmes, and portfolios for global corporate and public sector clients. They also enhance the firm’s sector-specific decarbonisation and digital advisory services that are integral in their industry-leading programme, project and cost management service. Oliver Sneath joins from Turner & Townsend’s London office where he served as Head of London Occupier, transforming performance of major projects and programmes across the UK and EMEA. Oliver will bring his deep expertise in servicing global corporate occupier clients to Asia, together with experience in public sector and industrials, science and technology (IST). Helen Cheng has also relocated to Hong Kong from Turner & Townsend’s Singapore office. She brings more than 25 years of architectural and construction delivery experience in Australia and Singapore to the role, having worked on complex construction projects across Australia, Singapore, China, India and Bangladesh. Sabrina Li also joins the Turner & Townsend Hong Kong team this month, taking on the role of Project Director focused on delivering regional portfolios in the financial services sector. She brings close to two decades of programme management experience in delivering real estate projects for global corporations including Abbott, Microsoft, Macquarie and MasterCard. Oliver, Helen and Sabrina will be joined by Daniel Cheung, Director of Infrastructure, Northeast Asia, who will chair the new Hong Kong and Macau market management team. The team will report to Brian Shuptrine, who was appointed Regional Managing Director of Turner & Townsend’s Asia business based in Hong Kong on 1 May, this year. Turner & Townsend has been operating across Asia for more than 30 years. Working across infrastructure, real estate and natural resources, the business helps clients maximise their investments in the transportation, housing, health, education, commercial and industrial sectors, as well as supporting government, developers, corporate occupiers and retailers to achieve their outcomes. Brian Shuptrine, Regional Managing Director, Asia for Turner & Townsend comments: “We are charting a bold path for our Hong Kong and Macau business to further position ourselves for exceptional growth in Greater China. These strategic appointments to our senior leadership team ensure that our clients, and our growing pool of talent, have access to the very best industry expertise. “Consolidating our sectorial specialisations, particularly for global corporates and public sector clients, and strengthening our market-relevant technical capabilities in areas like programme management, sustainability and net zero enables us to meet the changing demands of the industry ahead, while retaining a focus on transforming performance.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
An urban renewal project in the Parisian suburb of Clichy-La-Garenne will become the largest low-carbon building in France. The bustling 47,000m2 urban campus, known as BLACK, is set to provide users with a true ‘workplace of tomorrow’ by creating a sustainable and inspiring modern workspace within commutable distance from La Défense, Paris- the busiest business district in Europe. BLACK is a unique project which has been designed with sustainability at its core. Situated right beside Parc des Impressionnistes, the project’s ethical design blends nature’s elements with unique architecture to create a space that sits in harmony with its surroundings. The distinctive timber cladding has undergone the Japanese charring technique of Shou Sugi Ban. This ancient art involves burning the wood to create a decorative and protective layer of charcoal on its surface. By opting for a façade using Accoya timber that has been treated using this process, the architect saved 1,000 tonnes of CO2 without compromising on performance. The carbon savings resulted from the fact that the initial design had recommended the use of aluminium. The decision to replace this with charred Accoya wood was one of a number of material decisions made to enhance the building’s environmental performance and credentials. Overall, the use of low-carbon materials resulted in a saving of 3,000 tonnes of carbon[1]. The charred wood façade is installed on the GRAD railing system to combine modernity with the traditional. The GRAD system holds the wood in place whilst remaining completely hidden to preserve the building’s unique biophilic design. Emmanuel Combarel, director at Emmanuel Combarel Dominique Marrec Architectes (ECDM), said: “At the genesis of the project, there was the belief that a workspace should be conceived as a response to the aspirations of our time. The aim was to create a less secluded place, and therefore more open to our environment. […] The park was the starting point for us to develop offices within a garden. “The project takes place in a location where the city is transforming. […] The building is black and understated; it speaks of material and work on the material, of wood and protective carbon. It is black, without color, it addresses the daylight or nighttime to reveal multiple reflections, a shell that already carries a lot of history. […] Many elements of the facade […] allow for modulation of its relationship with its environment and natural control of its climatology.[2]” Laurens Notenboom, head of sales for France at Accsys, added: “Using Accoya aligns with the sustainability criteria of the project. BLACK embodies a vision for urban developments of the future. Its low carbon credentials place it amongst the most ambitious projects in France. “We worked closely with Henry Timber, who supplied the Accoya, profiled to the specific size for this unique project. “The project is another result of the great partnership between Accoya, Henry Timber and Les Bruleurs de Bois within the established value chain in the French market– and the first one involving a low carbon cladding application. The GRAD clipping system has been used with the ultra-high performing wood; with Accoya being chosen for its durability, stability in Shou Sugi Ban form and its high sustainability credentials.” Henry Timber worked with Les Bruleurs de Bois, who completed all the charring on Accoya for the BLACK’s exterior. Les Bruleurs de Bois are one of few manufacturers in France mastering the art of charring wood using the ancestral Japanese Shou Sugi Ban technique. Project information: [1] https://alts.axa-im.com/responsible-investing/esg-strategy/black [2] https://www.realestate.bnpparibas.fr/fr/actualites-enquetes/black-un-campus-urbain-ecologique-engage-dans-la-reduction-de-lempreinte Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Seoul, South Korea: almost 10 million inhabitants and an extraordinary economic-financial structure that places it among the world’s strongest economies. This is home to the headquarters of some of the most famous multinationals, embedded in an incredibly high housing and demographic background. Offices, industries, trade centres, banks and financial institutions make it the New York of East Asia. Yeouido – the district where most of the banks and the Seoul Stock Exchange are located – is referred to as “Korea’s Wall Street”. A melting pot of cultures and influences, where the Made in Italy flag is also held high by Caesar, which has furnished the floors and walls of the Hall of an imposing Office Building with the quality of its marble-effect porcelain stoneware. The Anima Futura collection, laid in two different colours – Amazing Silver and Majestic White – dictates the majestic and solemn mood of the premises, with its timeless marble look. Astonishing and enlightening are the musts of slabs that change the connotations of the environment, making it shine and extending it. A scenic presence that also imposes itself on the eye thanks to the different features characterising all surfaces: sharp or hinted veins, striking colour transitions, delicate or complex visual textures. If the delicate veins of Majestic White run across the ceramic tile and characterise spaces with their fascination, Amazing Silver stands out for its noble elegance, thanks to its intricate pattern of veins ranging from anthracite to bronze. An impactful combination in the name of refinement and taste, for a memorable and unique environment. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Dubai is one of the world’s most sought-after destinations for luxury living and vacationing. The city is home to some of the most luxurious apartments available, making it a paradise for those looking to find affordable luxury. This article explores the best 1 bedroom apartments in Dubai, UAE. This article covers location, floor plans, prices, amenities, features, shopping, dining, transportation, outdoor activities, nightlife, and entertainment. This article explains Dubai’s affordable luxury. Dubai’s stunning coastline and cultural attractions attract apartment hunters. Location Considerations Dubai has many 1 bedroom apartments in various locations, providing many exciting opportunities to explore and experience the city’s vibrant culture. When choosing a neighborhood, consider school proximity and safety issues. Researching the city’s transportation system is also important to determine how easy it will be to get around. Location affects floor plans and prices for luxury 1 bedroom apartments in Dubai. When choosing a place to live, consider utilities and community amenities. It’s also important to compare prices since some complexes offer discounts or special promotions that can save you money over time. Living in Dubai means having access to world-class shopping centers, restaurants, and other attractions. Before committing long-term, research the cost of this luxurious lifestyle. Use online resources like real estate listings and reviews from previous tenants to maximize your rental budget while enjoying Dubai’s attractions. You’ll find an affordable luxury 1 bedroom apartment that meets your needs with these considerations. Floor Plans and Prices Dubai one-bedroom floor plans and prices show options. Space planning finds cheap luxury apartments. Comparing rents shows the best deals. Tenants can compare Dubai neighborhoods. When looking at floor plans, tenants should consider whether there are enough windows to let natural light into the apartment if the living room is big enough to host guests, and if there are balconies or terraces with stunning city skyline views. Furnished apartments vary. Location, apartment size, landlord amenities like gyms or concierge services, security deposits, and utility bills affect rent. Tenants should shop around before signing a lease. Compare floor plans and prices to find a Dubai one-bedroom apartment that meets all needs without breaking the bank. Amenities and features will be explored in Dubai’s affordable luxury real estate market. Amenities and Features Amenities and features determine Dubai’s one-bedroom apartments. Many affordable luxury apartments have private pools, fitness centers, and other perks. Home gyms and pools make exercise convenient. Add high-tech security, 24/7 concierge services, and stylish finishes. Amenities vary. Tenants should compare complexes before choosing. Doing so ensures they get all the features they need within budget. Some luxury complexes have better recreational facilities. If they fit a person’s lifestyle, luxury apartments can be worth the extra money. Researching all options will help people choose a Dubai apartment that suits their needs and budget. With this information, shoppers can find nearby shops and restaurants. Shopping and Dining Dubai residents can shop and dine near their apartments. From pet-friendly cafes and restaurants to luxury stores, tenants will find the perfect fit: Affordable luxury apartments in Dubai offer shopping and dining options for everyone. With so many options, tenants can explore the town without worrying about transportation costs or availability. There’s something for everyone who wants an unforgettable shopping and dining experience, from downtown districts with handmade vendors to high-end boutiques in upscale neighborhoods. Transportation Options Dubai’s transportation makes sightseeing easy. Dubai’s buses and metro lines move people quickly and cheaply. Taxis are an alternative for tourists. Taxis cost less. Ride-hailing services like Uber and Careem make traveling cheaper and easier for budget-conscious and direct-route travelers. Dubai’s many options simplify exploration. This vibrant destination has extensive public transport, taxi, ride-hailing, and other transportation networks. Dubai’s parks, malls, deserts, and mountains are easily accessible. Dubai’s waterparks, beaches, and desert safaris are easily accessible by public transportation. With so many options, finding affordable luxury apartments in Dubai is easier. Outdoor Activities Dubai has waterparks and desert safaris for locals and tourists. The Arabian Gulf coastline offers many beach options. From Jumeirah Beach Park to Al Mamzar Beach Park, public beaches offer swimming, sunbathing, and outdoor sports like volleyball and soccer. Dubai has several parks with dune bashing and other adventurous activities like camel riding. Activity Location Swimming/Sunbathing Jumeirah Beach Park & Al Mamzar Beach Park Outdoor Sports (Volleyball & Soccer) Jumeirah Beach Park & Al Mamzar Beach Park Dune Bashing Rides & Camel Riding Various Parks Across Dubai Family-friendly city theme parks. Waterpark Atlantis The Palm has thrill rides and shark and ray encounters. Motiongate Dubai has 27 thrilling rides inspired by Hollywood films. In contrast, Legoland Dubai has over 40 interactive LEGO-themed attractions for all ages, including roller coasters and educational experiences like building a LEGO car. Dubai’s luxury and adventure attract tourists. This vibrant city has night markets, live music, rooftop bars, dance shows, and more. Nightlife and Entertainment Dubai’s vibrant markets, live music, and rooftop bars offer exciting nightlife and entertainment. This lively city has sports bars, speakeasies, and more. Nightlife venues in Dubai include: Dubai nightlife surprises! You’ll find something to please your senses wherever you go, whether you prefer traditional or modern experiences. It’s easy to see why tourists flock to this amazing city with many nightlife options. Conclusion One-bedroom apartments in Dubai offer affordable luxury. When choosing an apartment, consider location, floor plans and prices, amenities and features, nearby shopping and dining, transportation, outdoor activities, nightlife, and entertainment. These factors can help tenants find a 1-bedroom apartment that fits their budget and lifestyle. Dubai’s many affordable luxury apartments allow anyone to enjoy the city’s benefits without breaking the bank. Read more on the official website https://dubai-properties.sale
Bridge works specialist Spencer Group has been appointed to create a bespoke access system to inspect the stay cables on a new Canadian bridge. The Pattullo Bridge, which crosses the Fraser River near Vancouver, British Columbia, is a key connection between the municipalities of Surrey and New Westminster. The Pattullo Bridge replacement will provide major improvements for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians when it opens in 2024. Opened in 1937, the existing bridge does not meet modern design standards and a new bridge is needed to maintain this critical link between the two communities. Working on behalf of Fraser Crossing Constructors GP, Hull-based Spencer Group is designing, manufacturing, testing and commissioning a semi-permanent access system to enable maintenance engineers to inspect all elements of the bridge’s stay cables. The cradle element, which transports personnel to the desired inspection location, operates similarly to a cable car, moving up and down a track rope on the four lane, toll-free bridge. The cradle will be electrically hoisted up and down the main track rope and will vertically move up and down to enable personnel to inspect the stay cable wires throughout the lifespan of the bridge. Gordon Neilson, Principal Engineer at Spencer Group and a leading industry expert in bridge gantry design, is behind the design for the Pattullo Bridge cable fan access system. The design stage of the access system project is already underway and is set to be complete by early May. Manufacturing and testing will take place in the UK before the whole access system is shipped to Canada for installation. Fraser Crossing Constructors GP will be designing the bridge to interface with the stay cable access system, before it is tested and commissioned by Spencer Group. Steven Bunting, Project Director at Spencer Group, who is leading the project and coordinating the various stages of the design and build, said: “We’re delighted to be able to draw on our industry-leading expertise to complete this project, supporting Fraser Crossing Constructors GP. “We’re also really pleased that our excellent track record of addressing unique challenges in the bridges sector and our engineering skills are being recognised and called upon internationally. “Our unique design on this project will be transferable to other cable stay bridges all over the world. It addresses challenges faced with the need to carry out tactile inspections of cables from a dedicated work platform, at difficult to reach locations at significant elevations.” The new bridge will provide a safer crossing for bridge users with modern, wider lanes, separated by a centre barrier, dedicated walking and cycling lanes separated from traffic by a barrier on both sides of the bridge, and better connections to, from and near the bridge. The existing bridge will remain in use until the new bridge is open to traffic in 2024. Once the Pattullo Bridge replacement is open, the existing bridge will be removed. Spencer Group has carried out maintenance and repair works on some of the UK’s most iconic bridges, including major refurbishment work on the Menai Suspension Bridge, which crosses the Menai Strait between the island of Anglesey and mainland North Wales, ahead of the structure’s 200th anniversary year in 2026. Locally, the company is carrying out major restoration work on the historic Corporation Road Bridge in Grimsby. The full refurbishment will include key structural works, as well as aesthetic improvements, preserving the bridge’s heritage status and protecting the landmark for years to come. For more information about the Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project, visit www.pattullobridgereplacement.ca/ Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Peikko has been selected as a supplier for Jorvi Hospital’s new extension in Espoo, Finland. The order includes 5.4 km of DELTABEAM® Green composite beams and nearly 80 PETRA® Green hollow-core slab hangers. Peikko’s deliveries to the site will begin in August 2023 and continue until September 2024. Hospital operations in the new premises are expected to begin in 2026. SRV is the main contractor on the 259 M€ project owned by HUS Helsinki University Hospital. Three architects collaborated on the five-story building: Lukkaroinen Architects Oy, UKI Architects, and Tähti-Set Architects Oy. The structural design is prepared by A-Insinöörit. Low carbon has been taken into account in this project in many ways. The on-site solar power system will enable carbon neutral energy production and all the equipment in the buildings have been selected with energy efficiency in mind. Flexible and versatile spaces allow for adjustments throughout the building’s lifecycle, which is supported by the lower carbon footprint of the DELTABEAM® Green beams.“Out of the Peikko’s six hospital construction sites currently underway in Europe, Jorvi represents Peikko’s largest project within this sector. It’s great to supply the DELTABEAM® Green composite beam system for such a significant project. Our composite structure provided an effective solution, with a carbon footprint that is half that of conventional beams “, comments Topi Paananen, CEO of Peikko Group Oy. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
With the ‘Quarter of the Dancing Couples’ KCAP (urban design and architecture), Studio Vulkan (landscape) and Raumanzug (sustainability) win the competition for a new residential neighbourhood with 279 apartments in the vicinity of Zurich. Wangen-Brüttisellen is a fast-growing municipality which is planning to densify. One of the plots designated for redevelopment is the Erni-Areal, a former industrial estate located close to the railway station. The aim was to create a dense and liveable neighbourhood in a contrasting, almost cacophonous context. Mobimo, one of the leading real estate companies in Switzerland, invited five teams to redevelop the former Erni-Areal in Wangen-Brüttisellen. This partially built up site is to be transformed into a high-density neighbourhood with housing, offices, retail and gastronomy. The plot is surrounded by small-scale housing, compact tower blocks and various industries – including a high-bay warehouse for Coca-Cola. With the company currently expanding its activities, this increases the differences of scale. Furthermore, noise pollution heavily influences the site since it’s located near a highway exit, along a busy thoroughfare, and directly under the approach route to Zurich airport. Such a challenging location called for a precise design solution. KCAP proposed a concept that reacts to the heterogeneous context with a very clear stance of its own. It confidently confronts nearby large-scale projects such as Brüttiseller Tor, the Coca Cola high-bay warehouse or the Ringstrassenquartier. Instead of grand gestures and high points, the quarter offers a contrast with compact, low-rise development. Its high density allows for a world of its own inside and thus creates different cosy, small-scale niches. A backbone of interlocked public spaces create a liveable, sheltered environment. The staggered arrangement of the buildings acts as a noise barrier, doing justice to the complex noise situation while retaining an open character. Housing is to be found mainly in the more protected blocks, while the busy thoroughfare and highway exit are bordered by blocks with flexible office spaces and penthouse apartments. At the same time, Erni-Areal remains embedded in its context through a variety of physical and visual connections. Many small openings and entrances along the hard edge allow for a high degree of permeability. The new quarter is marked by four different typologies: the atrium house, the linear house, the point house and the twin house. Each typology is deployed twice, creating pairs which appear to be ‘dancing’ with each other due to their arrangement and orientation within the plan. Limiting the number of buildings and apartment typologies made for coherence as well as optimization, creating a measured balance between repetition and variety. “We took the Waltz, a dance for two in a closed stance with quick turns and a fixed step pattern, as our inspiration,” explains Ute Schneider, partner at KCAP. All four typologies are united by a slanted roof that includes the three top floors, creating an eave above the fourth or fifth floor. This introduces a human scale, and ensures ample natural light for the public spaces and apartments. Together with the different materialisation of the ground floor, the façades are visually structured into three layers: ground floor, body and slanted roof. By carefully positioning the four ‘dancing couples’, KCAP created a sequence of public spaces in the interior of the neighbourhood. These are all characterised by their own, specific qualities: the innermost courtyards are lushly planted with trees, the areas in front of the buildings act as a buffer zone between the public and the private realm, and the car-free streets are clearly recognizable as such. Due to their naturally planted and shaded design, these spaces also serve as a retention area for surplus rainwater, a cooling measure and a microclimate of their own. Sustainability is an integral part of all KCAP projects and Erni-Areal is a clear example of our approach. The building blocks are designed to be partially built of recycled concrete – used only for the basements, ground floors and building cores – and partially in prefabricated wood. This hybrid approach has financial as well as environmental benefits, because it streamlines the complex building process on this challenging location. In addition to the measures employed to reduce noise, counter heat stress, retain water and improve the microclimate, Erni-Areal features PV panels, green roofs, heat pumps, and a maximum of natural ventilation. The project is both compact and ecological, targeting the SNBS (Standard Nachhaltiges Bauen Schweiz) requirements. The existing ERNI headquarters will be preserved and expanded with a greenhouse, which is set to become a community centre with a focus on urban food production. At night, this glass pavilion will serve as a beacon for the new neighbourhood. Ute Schneider: “We wanted to maintain part of the area’s industrial atmosphere, and add variety as well as coherence, so as to create a true neighbourhood feeling.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Neinor Homes today announces that it has raised a green loan of 140 million euros with a three-year maturity (2026), demonstrating the company’s creditworthiness and its ability to raise both project and corporate financing. A joint deal has been structured for this financing transaction, backed by Banco Santander, BBVA and JP Morgan, reflecting the financial support and appetite from both Spanish and international banks to invest in the Spanish market. The cost of the loan, including the interest rate swap and savings from the various bond repurchases, is 4.17%, which is lower than the interest cost of the bond issued in 2021 before the start of the conflict in Ukraine, and the rise of inflation and interest rates. The loan allows the company to exercise its right to redeem the outstanding balance of its green bond, the principal amount of which amounts to approximately €143 million following the tender offer launched at the end of February 2023. The redemption is expected to be executed on 27 April 2023. The refinancing marks the first milestone in the company’s new strategic plan, of which one of the main pillars is to focus on shareholder returns with the aim of distributing approximately 600 million euros by 2027. Over the same period, the company plans to allocate more than one billion euros to new direct and indirect investments in order to manage its growth in a capital-efficient manner. Jordi Argemí, Neinor Homes’ Deputy CEO and Chief Financial Officer, commented that “The notes’ redemption was key to meeting one of the main drivers of our new strategic plan disclosed to the market at the end of March: delivering shareholder returns of up to €600m between 2023 and 2027. In addition, we are proud to have been able to reduce the company’s net financing cost (from 4.5% to 4%), in the context of ongoing high interest rates.” Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
Five partners with over a century of combined experience in the international construction industry have decided to join forces to form Inframara, an advisory firm for the global construction sector. Inframara aims to help by sharing first-hand experience and best practice with clients to avoid the classic pitfalls of complex infrastructure projects and instead deliver them with better results in terms of time, budget and beneficial outcomes. Their recipe is: experience, early involvement, a collaborative attitude in an appropriate contractual environment, risk management, value engineering and sustainability. Improving Outcomes in the Global Construction Sector The global construction sector has long been plagued by disputes, delays, and cost blowouts. The root cause of these problems invariably lies in the early stage of a project. With Inframara’s involvement at an early stage and by providing a single point of contact for clients and acting as their trusted partner, Inframara is able to help select and de-risk the best solution for each project through early collaboration with key parties and stakeholders. “We are excited to launch Inframara, a company that aims to fundamentally change the traditional approach to project procurement in the global construction sector. Our focus on greater collaboration and increased supply chain transparency will bring a fresh perspective to the industry and drive better outcomes for all parties involved” said Kenneth Willems, Managing Director at Vuentica and co-founder of Inframara. Experienced team with international practical know-how The Inframara team consists of five partners, each with extensive experience in the construction industry: Kenneth Willems and Lieven Durt, based in Belgium; David Kinlan, based in Australia; Lukas Goemaere, based in Panama and Jasper Verstreepen, based in Mexico. The team has a wealth of international expertise in project management, tendering, project finance, contract management, sustainability and operational excellence and is ready to share its knowledge with the industry. “At Inframara, our goal is to break the conventional transactional and adversarial approach to construction management, ensuring that all parties involved work collaboratively from the outset and are satisfied with the end result,” said Jasper Verstreepen, co-founder at Inframara. He added “We believe that our approach for project preparation and collaborative contract management in the sector will foster innovation and sustainable solutions. We are confident we will be able to make a real difference in the global sector.” Inframara is committed to bringing a fresh approach to the construction industry, and the company is poised to make a significant impact for its clients in the coming years. With a focus on collaboration and operational excellence, Inframara is ready to tackle the challenges facing the construction sector and deliver better outcomes for all stakeholders. Join Inframara on the journey to transform the construction industry. Contact us today or have a look at our website at www.inframara.com
Global modular building specialist, Volumetric Building Companies, which has recently announced its expansion in the UK, has secured a contract worth more than £10m for the offsite construction of a 500-bed hotel for the Tropical Islands resort near Berlin, one of the world’s largest waterparks. Worldwide leisure park operator Parques Reunidos is investing £22m in the new hotel, which will expand the resort’s facilities by 500 beds and create its largest hotel on the Tropical Islands site. VBC’s contract is for the modular manufacture, furniture production, offsite fitting out and installation of five storeys of guest room accommodation. There will be a range of guest room types, including two- and four-bedroom family suites; double, accessible, and 36sqm deluxe rooms. These will be installed by VBC on to a concrete podium which accommodates the public areas and guest amenities. The new hotel will be clad in grey composite cladding and will be linked to the indoor water attractions. In addition to the manufacture of 155 steel-framed hotel modules, VBC’s contract includes production of a full range of bespoke, contemporary furniture for the guest rooms at its factory in Poland – from beds and sofa beds to shelving, bathroom vanity units, and wood and glass partitions between the main bedrooms and bathrooms. The guest room modules will arrive on site in Summer this year and will be installed in just two months. The hotel is due to open early 2024. Commenting on the project, Wouter Dekkers, Corporate Development Director at Parques Reunidos, said, “We are delighted to be partnering with VBC on this scheme. Their longstanding, specialist experience in hotel construction will help us to create a really fantastic facility for Tropical Islands. The use of an offsite manufacturing solution for the guest rooms will significantly reduce disruption to our existing operations and guests during the build phase. The hotel’s modular construction will also have much less environmental impact – fewer vehicle movements through the park, less material waste, and the reduced carbon footprint of the steel structure.” Wojciech Chyrek, European Commercial Director at Volumetric Building Companies, said, “We are thrilled to be awarded our first modular project in Germany. Our offsite solutions have been widely used in the UK and globally, and the advantages of our approach to hotel construction are clear. We work to stringent and consistent factory quality standards and can help hotel operators achieve earlier occupation and a faster return on investment with our reduced programme times compared to in-situ construction. We are looking forward to developing a long-term strategic partnership with Parques Reunidos.” The attractions at the Tropical Islands Resort include an indoor rainforest which is home to 50,000 plants and 600 species, a beach and 1,200sqm swimming lagoon, spa and saunas spanning 10,000sqm, and the world’s longest double water slide. The park welcomes around 1.2m visitors each year, making it one of the most popular leisure destinations in Germany. Parques Reunidos is one of the fastest growing leisure park operators in the world. It owns and operates over 50 leisure parks across Europe, North America, and Australia – including theme parks, aquaria, zoos, and water parks. VBC has delivered modular projects in the UK, Europe and around the world for a host of global hotel brands, including for Marriott, Hilton, Intercontinental Hotels, Whitbread, and citizenM. For further information, visit www.vbc.co/uk or email enquiries@vbc.co. Building, Design & Construction Magazine | The Choice of Industry Professionals
