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Buildtech Yangon 2017 Goes Green with Special Focus on Quality Finishes

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BuildTech Yangon is Myanmar’s leading trade exhibition platform for the construction and development sector.

BuildTech Yangon is Myanmar’s leading trade exhibition platform for the construction and development sector.

The latest in green building technologies as well as quality and interior finishings are some of the key features at the 4th edition of BuildTech Yangon, Myanmar’s leading trade exhibition platform serving the fast-growing construction and development sector. Held at the Myanmar Convention Centre from 18 to 20 May, this highly anticipated trade show will bring together 4,000 visitors and 80 exhibiting brands from across the world in an expansive 10,000-square-metre space.

Organised by Sphere Exhibits, a subsidiary of Singapore Press Holdings (SPH), and co-organised by the Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association (MCEA), leading companies from China, India, Italy, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand will showcase the latest equipment, machinery and solutions in a wide selection of exhibits catering to the construction, machinery, building materials and mechanical engineering segments.

According to BMI Research, the Asia construction sector’s growth is expected to hit 5.3 percent this year, with growth in emerging and frontier South and Southeast Asian markets, supporting the soft demand in China and many developed countries. Increased efforts by governments to encourage private participation in infrastructure projects will also boost the sector, with Myanmar being one of the brightest spots for construction in the world.

U Tha Htay, President of Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association (MCEA), said, “Myanmar’s construction industry is forecasted to grow at an annual average rate of 10.37 percent over the next five years, with a total worth of US$13.5 billion by 2020. This is driven by the government’s commitment to updating essential services and infrastructure, and providing better housing as the country re-engages the international community and the global marketplace.”

“This presents a tremendous opportunity for companies looking to participate in Myanmar’s growth and BuildTech Yangon 2017 provides an ideal platform in Yangon where international firms can meet the important decision makers driving Myanmar’s building boom.”

Myanmar’s Growing Focus on Green Buildings and Sustainability
2017 will also see the launch of the inaugural Green Building Conference which will bring together keynote speakers and thought leaders such as Tai Lee Siang, Chair of the World Green Building Council as well as subject matter experts from Myanmar and around the world.

Dr. Swe Swe Aye, Chairman of the Green Building Committee, Building Engineers Institute of Myanmar and co-organiser of the Green Building Conference, said: “As Yangon’s construction activity continues to expand, there is a desire by developers, government agencies and the public to build buildings and facilities that are able to leverage new thinking for green building technologies and materials to be better for the environment and the people who work, live and play in them. The Green Building Conference is a good opportunity for learning new ideas and technologies and I look forward to learning and exchanging experiences and knowledge with many experts and practitioners who will be attending.”

This highly anticipated trade show will bring together 4,000 visitors and 80 exhibiting brands from across the world.

This highly anticipated trade show will bring together 4,000 visitors and 80 exhibiting brands from across the world.

Mr. Chua Wee Phong, Chairman of Sphere Exhibits Pte Ltd, said, “Sustainable and green development is key to the construction industry as we help create homes and work spaces for the growing urban population. It plays an essential role in building a vibrant, creative and productive city – by ensuring healthy living and reducing the impact on the environment. As the leading trade show in Myanmar for the construction sector, we believe that BuildTech Yangon 2017 has an important role in sharing the best practices and knowledge from green developments around the world as an extension to its ongoing efforts supporting the development of Yangon as a mega city.”

Recognising Innovators and Leaders of the Construction Industry
This year, a special brick laying competition will be introduced to the trade floor. This project is open to construction companies and will showcase a live assembly of a set prototype of a model building.

MCEA will also be hosting its annual Gala on the 19 May, where a select group of delegates and luminaries of the construction sector will come together to network and celebrate the achievements of their peers in the 3rd Construction Entrepreneur Awards.

The Awards were conceptualised to recognise the best and brightest of construction professionals who have succeeded in raising local standards and skills, and in incorporating the latest construction technologies into the entire ecosystem. Sphere Exhibits & MCEA will jointly award four main awards: Best Contractor Awards, Best Project Awards, Individual Awards and Builder of the Year Awards.

This year's exhibition will showcase the latest in equipment, machinery and solutions.

This year’s exhibition will showcase the latest in equipment, machinery and solutions.

BuildTech Yangon 2017 is supported by the Association of Myanmar Architects, International Facilities Management Association, Singapore Chapter, Italian Chamber of Commerce (Singapore) Green Building Committee, Building Engineers Institute of Myanmar, Myanmar Engineering Council, Myanmar Engineering Society, Myanmar Industries Association, Malaysia Heavy Construction Equipment Owners Association, Master Builders Association Malaysia;; Malaysia Timber Council, Singapore Business Federation, Singapore Green Building Council, Singapore Institute of Building Limited, Vietnam Building Ceramic Association, Vietnam Electronic Industries Association and the Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineering Association and WSH (Asia).

Visitors can click here to pre-register before May 9, 2017 to attend the trade show or the Green Building Conference. Delegates attending the conference are entitled to continuing industry development points by the Myanmar Engineering Council.

For more information, click HERE.

TCC Group and Frasers Centrepoint to Build US$3.5 Billion Integrated District in Bangkok City Centre

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One Bangkok is the largest private sector property development initiative ever undertaken in Thailand.

One Bangkok is the largest private sector property development initiative ever undertaken in Thailand.

TCC Assets (Thailand) Co., Ltd. and Frasers Centrepoint Limited (“FCL”) will jointly develop ‘One Bangkok’, Thailand’s first and largest fully integrated district built on people-centric principles and a focus on environmental sustainability and smart-city living. Out of the total land area of 16.7 hectares, the project has a generous allocation of 8 hectares of green and open space to the city centre. It promises to become a new global landmark when its first components open in 2021.

The project, called One Bangkok, is the largest private sector property development initiative ever undertaken in Thailand with an estimated investment value of approximately US$3.5 billion. The project promises to become a new global landmark when its first components open in 2021. Mr Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, Chairman of TCC Group and FCL, said, “The fundamental aim in the planning and design of One Bangkok is to enhance Bangkok’s stature as a key gateway city in Asia.”

One Bangkok is a fully integrated “city-within-a-city” district. When all components are completed in 2025, it will have a gross floor area of 1.83 million square metres, comprising five Grade A office towers built to LEED and WELL standards, five luxury and lifestyle hotels, three ultra-luxury residential towers, a comprehensive array of retail offerings within differentiated retail precincts, as well as a rich variety of civic areas, and art and culture facilities.

Eight hectares of its total land area of 16.7 hectares is dedicated to greenery and open spaces. The land is leased from the Crown Property Bureau and enjoys a prime location right next to Bangkok’s largest central park – Lumphini Park – with direct linkages to the city’s mass transit systems, as well as easy access to the expressway network.

An estimated 60,000 people will live and work in the district when complete. Image courtesy of Atchain.

An estimated 60,000 people will live and work in the district when complete. Image courtesy of Atchain.

Mr Charoen said, “We are honoured to be entrusted by the Crown Property Bureau to turn this important plot of land in the heart of the city into a showpiece district. It is a responsibility that I am privileged to carry and I affirm my commitment to ensure the creation of something exceptional and transformational.”

He added, “With One Bangkok, I hope to enhance global confidence in Thailand as the epicentre of ASEAN and a key gateway and lifestyle city in Asia, as well as bring prosperity to all associated with the project, whether as tenants, owners, or business partners.”

“To accomplish this game-changing endeavour, I have placed my confidence in two TCC Group companies that perfectly complement each other, combining the financial strength and local knowhow of TCC Assets with the enormous international property development expertise of Frasers Property,” Mr Charoen noted. He added that One Bangkok ‘s design will be sensitive to its social and cultural context, incorporating Thailand’s heritage, and make the district an integral part of the city. TCC Assets holds 80.1 percent, and Frasers Property Holdings holds 19.9 percent.

One Bangkok is the first project in Thailand to target LEED Platinum certification. for Neighborhood Development. Image courtesy of Atchain.

One Bangkok is the first project in Thailand to target LEED Platinum certification. for Neighborhood Development. Image courtesy of Atchain.

Ms Su Lin Soon, a real estate professional and Chief Executive Officer of One Bangkok, said, “Accessibility, connectivity, and sustainability are top priorities in our urban planning. New quality standards, international best practices and diversity in the mix of uses and architecture are fundamental features of the master plan, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. Supported by local expertise from Plan Associates, and A49, the master plan combines both international and local experiences from the most influential architectural and urban planning firms.”

She added, “One Bangkok will also be the first district in Thailand to be built entirely around sustainability principles and to LEED for Neighbourhood Development Platinum standards.

Laguarda.Low Architects Unveils Designs for Tokyo’s Grandberry Lifestyle Centre

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Laguarda.Low’s design removes an existing street to unify Grandberry Centre with nature.

Laguarda.Low’s design removes an existing street to unify Grandberry Centre with nature.

New York City-based architecture and urban planning firm, Laguarda.Low Architects, recently unveiled the design for Grandberry Centre, a new 750,000-square-foot transit-oriented development in Machida, Tokyo. Set on the city’s Tokyu Denen-tonshi train line, Laguarda.Low designed Grandberry Centre to be the centre of commerce and activity for Machida – a city in the west section of the Tokyo Metropolis.

The new Grandberry Centre development replaces an existing mall and train station and creates a modern, landscaped shopping village with a direct connection to the newly-designed Tsuruma Park. The new train depot, with its undulating roof, tiered gardens, and waterfall, creates a dramatic sense of arrival. From the platform, a grand stair leads visitors to the multi-level shopping Centre experience, inclusive of a local food market, retail stores and a cinema. The retail village is organised as a simple loop, referencing a European town typology, with parking positioned in the Centre. Throughout the loop, visitors traverse a series of open and covered plazas that provide dynamic spaces for socialising, leisure and entertainment.

The buildings are composed of a mix of stone, steel, wood, glass and green walls. The form, scale, and materiality of the buildings were designed to create variation within the development and to blend with the surrounding residential neighbourhood.

The main promenade features lush cherry blossom trees, and a designed new landscape plan with designated spaces for a skate park, urban farm, a sculpture garden and more.

The main promenade features lush cherry blossom trees, and a designed new landscape plan with designated spaces for a skate park, urban farm, a sculpture garden and more.

“Grandberry Centre provides a warm and modern ambience with sophisticated design that enlivens the surrounding neighbourhood for local residents and visitors,” said Pablo Laguarda, Principal of Laguarda.Low. “Its location as an entertainment and lifestyle destination is unique and we look forward to showcasing this development to the Machida community.”

Situated amidst Tsuruma Park, Laguarda.Low’s design removes an existing street to unify Grandberry Centre with nature. To combine the two parcels, a new park entrance transforms the natural slope in grade into a dramatic stair, with the ground rising to create a green roof for a new restaurant at the threshold of the park. The firm also designed the main promenade, which features lush Cherry Blossom trees, and a designed new landscape plan with designated spaces for a skate park, urban farm, sculpture garden, children’s playground, expansive lawn and library.

. Set on the city’s Tokyu Denen-tonshi train line, Grandberry Centre will be the centre of commerce and activity for Machida.

. Set on the city’s Tokyu Denen-tonshi train line, Grandberry Centre will be the centre of commerce and activity for Machida.

Construction of Grandberry Centre will begin in May 2017, with an estimated completion of September 2019. Grandberry Centre is expected to officially open in November 2019. Granberry is one of seven Laguarda.Low-designed developments in Japan. Most recently, the firm was the silver award winner of International Council of Shopping Centres (ICSC) New Development category for their design of AEON Mall Okinawa Rycom, the largest multi-story commercial facility in Western Japan.

AECOM and Asia Society Announce Imagine 2060

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The Manila launch will be followed by waterfront-focused events in Sydney , Los Angeles , and New York

The Manila launch will be followed by waterfront-focused events in Sydney , Los Angeles , and New York

AECOM, a fully integrated infrastructure firm, and Asia Society, a global non-profit institution, today announced a three-year partnership in the form of Imagine 2060: Delivering Tomorrow’s Cities Together.

Each forum is an opportunity for leaders in urban design, infrastructure and public policy to connect with a common goal – imagining a long-term vision for each city supported by innovative ways to achieve it. The first year of the partnership launched on 30 March, 2017 in Manila before moving to Sydney, Los Angeles, New York and culminating in Hong Kong.

“These are some of the most exciting and vibrant cities on our planet but they share common stresses caused by growth, urbanisation and densification which are only going to intensify with the predicted level of population growth,” says AECOM Asia Pacific President, Sean Chiao. “If we want future generations to flourish in these cities, it is up to those in positions of influence today to lead the way and create a legacy they can be proud of.”

The initiative will cultivate a connected global community of “city shapers” who are committed to sharing their experience and best practices, all aimed at enhancing the quality of life in Manila, Sydney, Los Angeles, New York and Hong Kong.

“This is the start of a new conversation between the brightest minds in urban design, business, economics, infrastructure design and public policy,” continued Sean Chiao. “The series will explore cities through five key lenses of wellbeing, economic development, culture, mobility and innovation in project delivery. It is our belief that the right balance of these elements leads to the best outcomes for cities and their citisens.”

Asia Society’s Executive Vice President, Tom Nagorski says, “What we are asking, essentially, is ‘Where do the great cities of our world need to be, a half century from now?’ And then ‘What must we do now to be sure that those dreams are realised?’ There are few more pressing questions for the planet’s future. Ultimately Imagine 2060 will be a guide not only for the five cities involved, but for any major metropolis interested in creating a roadmap for the future.”

2017: At The Water’s Edge
In its inaugural year, Imagine 2060 will examine issues involving the urban waterfront under the heading “2017: At The Water’s Edge” is a wide-ranging examination of how the diverse approaches to their proximity to water have shaped the quality of life for citizens of these five cities in radically different ways.

The world premiere of the five-city series took place on Thursday, 30 March, 2017 at The Manila House in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, Manila. It explored how citizens of the Philippines’ capital city can reimagine the original ideas of a “City Beautiful”, created by renowned urban planner Daniel Burnham back in 1905.

Throughout the Imagine 2060 series AECOM and Asia Society will compile the main findings from each city, build upon the discussions and publish the key insights on their website so they are available for further input and development.

The Manila launch will be followed by waterfront-focused events in Sydney, Los Angeles , and New York before the first year of the program is brought to a conclusion in Hong Kong.

Next year, AECOM and Asia Society will explore creative and resourceful strategies for land use by cities. The third and final year of Imagine 2060 will look at the futuristic-sounding, but all too real, prospects or use of aerial space and air quality.

MSWG Develops Exclusive Wellness Concept for Dachsteinkönig Family Hotel

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The Dachsteinkönig Family Hotel opened its doors in December 2016 and is a wellness paradise for the whole family.

The Dachsteinkönig Family Hotel opened its doors in December 2016 and is a wellness paradise for the whole family.

The Dachsteinkönig Family Hotel, which opened its doors in December 2016, is a wellness paradise for the whole family. Whilst the hotel specifically targets families, it has done a fantastic job of offering wellness and fitness within their concept. With the babies and children able to be cared for up to 13 hours a day, the hotel has managed to create enough “alone time” for the parents to be able to relax and enjoy the exclusive, adult-only wellness and sauna facilities, all of which measure up to top international standards. The team at MSWG created this concept, which harmoniously combines this wellness relaxation within the family hotel.

“The key challenge at Dachsteinkönig was to create attractive, technologically innovative and well-designed experiences tailor-made for this environment”, explains Markus Strasser, International Sales Consultant at MSWG. In the end, we achieved a romantic environment in the Private Spa Suite; light and friendly, easy to maintain saunas in the Family Chalets; and a wide variety of attractive wellness experiences in the main spa.

A Spa With Extraordinary Saunas, New Materials and Modern Technology
“The newly developed saunas for Dachsteinkönig were a particular highlight from a technical viewpoint.” These innovations included the automatic Bio Ambilight Event Sauna where light and sound effects can be combined, or the innovative Mineral Steam Bath where Magnesium Chloride helps sooth the skin, Iodine-Selenium is used for strengthening the immune system and Lithium is used for mental strength. Also the Salt Relaxation Room with its large salt-stone wall made out of real Himalayan salt and comfortable heated water bed loungers offers a special oasis to rest and free your respiratory system.

At the automatic Bio Ambilight Event Sauna, light and sound effects can be combined.

At the automatic Bio Ambilight Event Sauna, light and sound effects can be combined.

Through the use of special stone resin materials for seating and the avoidance of mosaic tiles in the Steam Rooms where the expanse of grouting can promote build up of unhygienic matter, MSWG ensures both a longevity of the experience and substantially reduces the maintenance and cleaning requirements, an advantage, which also passes through to lower personnel requirements in the wellness and spa area. The guests are fully assured of a wonderful spa experience with the highest level of hygiene.

Furthermore, the concept was designed to be easily adaptable with for instance the ability to upload new videos on to the sauna multimedia screens. Such flexibility alone permits the operator to quickly and easily change the environment and without wholesale changes create the feeling of a new experience for guests who may be regular visitors to the spa.

Schneider Electric Launches Next Generation of EcoStruxure

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Schneider Electric empowers customers and partners to augment operations to reach new levels of operational efficiency, sustainability, asset performance and people productivity.

Schneider Electric empowers customers and partners to augment operations to reach new levels of operational efficiency, sustainability, asset performance and people productivity.

Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management and automation, today announced the launch of its next generation EcoStruxure™ architecture and platform to deliver IoT-enabled solutions at scale for building, grid, industry and data centre customers. The enhanced architecture and platform is open, scalable and interoperable, connecting the three core layers of Schneider Electric’s technology stack, from connected products, to edge control, to applications, analytics and services. This next generation EcoStruxure delivers enhanced value around safety, reliability, efficiency, sustainability, and connectivity of IoT-enabled operations.

Next Generation EcoStruxure Delivers Advanced Value
EcoStruxure enables Schneider Electric, its partners and end-user customers to develop scalable and converged IT/OT solutions that deliver innovation at every level to an organisation or enterprise. Leveraging connectivity and data to create controls and actionable business insights, with the combined power of analytics and closed-loop applications, Schneider Electric empowers customers and partners to augment operations to reach new levels of operational efficiency, sustainability, asset performance and people productivity. EcoStruxure fosters open innovation and interoperability and is developed in partnership with leading standards organisations and best-in-class technology leaders.

“EcoStruxure combines our history in pioneering in automation, energy management and deep domain expertise with data-driven metrics and analytics to help us maximise the value of the Internet of Things for our customers,” said Damien Dhellemmes, Country President, Singapore, Schneider Electric. “EcoStruxure gives our customers the platform, architecture and roadmap to quickly and easily implement IoT in an enterprise, extending the benefits of IoT beyond the device layer to create a more intelligent, efficient and secure operation.”

Delivering Innovation at Every Level of the Technology Stack
EcoStruxure builds on Schneider Electric’s long-standing product and system leadership to provide the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of interoperable and cloud-connected and/or on-premise technologies organised around its three layers of technology innovation:

  • The first layer builds on Schneider Electric’s core competency in developing connected products with embedded intelligence, such as sensors, medium and low voltage breakers, drives and actuators.
  • The Edge Control layer gives organisations the critical capability to manage their operations on-premise as well as from the cloud depending on their needs. This includes connected control platforms with remote access, advanced automation and operator override capabilities. Local control and firewall protection is included to maximise the benefits especially for mission-critical applications.
  • Schneider Electric’s focused investment in R&D and product development in the critical areas of software, analytics and services, coupled with the integration of recent acquisitions such as Invensys, Telvent and Summit Energy forms the third layer of the stack – a portfolio of apps, analytics and services. EcoStruxure enables the most extensive breadth of vendor-agnostic apps, analytics and services on open IP protocols in order to work with any hardware, system, or control.

Delivering Advanced Platform Capabilities
EcoStruxure is designed to meet the core customer challenge of implementing IoT solutions seamlessly, cost-effectively and at scale. The redefined IoT platform bridges the IT/OT gap and connects the three core layers of Schneider Electric’s innovation technology stack to maximise value for customers.

The launch of the EcoStruxure platform provides a secure, IoT-enabled technology backbone with three core technology capabilities:

  • Embedded connectivity and intelligence that enables smart sensing, embedded computing, IP networking and edge analytics
  • A foundation for smart operations to serve as the building blocks for control, management, automaton and optimisation
  • The infrastructure for cloud-connected digital services that enables the delivery of cloud-based connected apps, analytics, services, control and monitoring

Future-proof Reference Architectures
Schneider Electric delivers these efficiency and sustainability solutions to customers through a set of core reference architectures. The architectures build on the company’s deep domain expertise and portfolio and are tested, validated and tailored for its core end markets of Buildings, Grid, Industry and Data Centers, with even more specific architectures also available for industrial plants, industrial machines, and power distribution. The architectures give customers access to documented and standardised system reference designs that can be used in the implementation of interoperable, sustainable, efficient and connected systems.

Schneider Electric also announced that it is working with established partners such as Microsoft and Intel, and new partners who the company will be working with to create or co-create customer solutions and applications. For more information on this ecosystem of partners, see the accompanying press release.

For more information on EcoStruxure, click HERE.

WATG Unveils Design for Four Seasons Tianjin, China

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WATG-Four_Seasons-Interior_view_2

Interior view of Four Seasons Tianjin (Image courtesy of WATG)

WATG , one of the world’s leading integrated design firm, has unveiled the design for Four Seasons Tianjin, located in the heart of China’s fourth largest metropolis.

 

Rising above the city’s Central Business District and steps away from the main retail area and historic quarter, the 210-metre tower and podium offer 259 hotel guest rooms, 90 residential units and 5,000 square-metres of retail space.

WATG’s vision for the property was to honour the rich urban fabric and commercial district that surround the site, while providing a world class experience for the guest. Incorporating refined details and elegant fittings, each room is designed to embody a home away from home for those travelling to the city. Central to the concept for the hotel was to allow natural daylight to filter through to all public areas and weaving the architecture seamlessly into Tianjin’s bustling cityscape.

WATG’s design for the 52,000-square metre hotel encompasses two elaborate ballrooms, three artfully designed restaurants, the luxurious L’Océan Spa, and a state-of-the-art fitness centre. Additionally, amenities such as a spaciously designed business centre, residential club lounge and meeting rooms cater for business travellers to the city.

 

WATG-Four_Seasons-Exterior_view_3

Exterior view of Four Seasons Tianjin

An impressive 18-metre high atrium within the podium forms the focal point of the building, connecting the ballroom levels and key public facilities. Taking inspiration from an urban piazza, the atrium creates a central point where guests can gather.

By day, the signature all-day dining restaurant, Cielo is filled with natural light created by grand windows and a glass ceiling. By night, cosy fireplaces and atmospheric lighting transform the restaurant into an intimate social space. An expansive outdoor garden pavilion provides a lush dining experience, suspended high above the bustling city below.

WATG’s design for Four Seasons Tianjin is hotly anticipated to attract both local and international visitors, bringing a world class experience to this international port city.

 

Top 3 Most Expensive Cities for Construction in Asia

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Singapore remains the third most expensive Asian city to build in, after Hong Kong and Macau, according to the International Construction Costs Index published today by Arcadis, the leading global Design & Consultancy firm for natural and built assets. However, Singapore moved down 5 positions on the global ranking from last year, making it the fifteenth-most expensive city in the world to build in.

The annual Arcadis index, which analyzes the relative cost of construction across 44 major cities, finds that world cities, including New York and Hong Kong, continue to be some of the most expensive locations in the world in which to build, but a slowdown in the global economy led by China and in resource economies, such as Brazil and Saudi Arabia, points to wider changes affecting the world’s construction markets.

Singapore’s construction market has seen continuous correction since 2014, caused by over-supply and a slowing economy. This year’s output forecast is currently estimated to be between US$ 27bn and US$32bn, representing a stable market after a steep correction. Sustained workload in the public sector, such as public housing and civil engineering, has supported the industry during the correction. As a result, prices have remained broadly stable.

Tim Risbridger, Country Head for Singapore commented: “With Singapore government’s continued investment in infrastructure through projects such as Changi East Development, PUB’s Deep Tunnel Sewerage System (DTSS) and Singapore to Kuala Lumpur High Speed Rail, the construction industry in Singapore will remain positive with a forecast output of 2% increment per year. However, it is not without challenges. Among them, a shortage in both labor and expertise could potentially hinder productivity if not being addressed effectively. We believe investment in technology and initiatives which will increase industry productivity, are essential in order to meet the challenges in the coming years.”

 

The Asian cities ranking in Arcadis’ International Construction Costs Index are below:

Asia Ranking World Ranking City
1 2 Hong Kong
2 5 Macau
3 15 Singapore
4 17 Tokyo
5 21 Seoul
6 27 Brunei
7 35 Shanghai
8 38 Manila
9 39 Bangkok
10 40 Taipei
11 41 Ho Chi Minh
12 42 Jakarta
13 43 Kuala Lumpur
14 44 Bangalore

Whilst economic growth levels in emerging Asian economies such as Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines are way in excess of the developed world, growth rates in established hubs such as Hong Kong and Singapore are similar to those in North America and European cities. Growth rates in many Asian construction markets have eased significantly over the past 18 months mainly due to the peak in commercial and residential development rates. Looking forward, expansion at around 5%-7% per year is the best prospect for many construction markets in Asia.

Alan Hearn, Head of Buildings Solutions, Asia commented: “The future of the construction industry in Asia is looking optimistic. However, we believe that the construction industry drivers for the future will change. Four out of 10 highest value construction projects in 2017 are located in Asia. Among them are One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiatives and the Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor. Mega projects like these are mainly funded by public-private partnership (PPP) and will continue to fuel the development of the construction industry in Asia.”

China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ – A drive for Great British business?

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Barry Piper, Faithful+Gould’s Chief Operating Officer, Industry, Asia Pacific, shares his thoughts on OBOR and its opportunities for British business.

Theresa May remains firm that Britain stays committed to its “golden era” of relations with China, as she and Philip Hammond continue to court Chinese investors, following in the footsteps of David Cameron and George Osborne.

However, many of us are left wondering what is next? President Xi Jinping believes it is his ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative (OBOR), which will transform China, and open up new opportunities for Great British business.

More than 2,000 years ago, China’s imperial envoy Zhang Qian established a network of trade routes from China to Europe via Asia, Africa and Arab. Named after one of China’s most valuable export – silk – the Silk Road has played a significant role in shaping political and economic relations between countries located on the route and helped develop the backbone of what the British Empire was.

Trumpeted regularly throughout last year by the Chinese government, OBOR aims to foster trade and investment growth by creating a continuous trade and investment network that stretches from East, Central and South Asia to UK and Europe, through to the Middle East and Africa. It is an extensive Chinese economic development zone that spans 65 countries.

A view of the Pudong skyline.

A view of the Pudong skyline.

President Xi also launched OBOR’s USD50 billion sister, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), which, together with the Silk Road Fund and the New Development Bank, will fund and finance new infrastructure projects along the OBOR. The first western ally to sign up with AIIB was Britain with investments of up to £40 million – a clear indication of the nation’s intention to remain as China’s ‘golden’ partner.

OBOR and the banks demonstrate China’s commitment to free trade and open markets, which President Xi, an advocate of globalisation, emphasised at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting in Davos in January this year.

Many of the OBOR countries that are modernising their economies will have a need for roads, railways, ports, airports, pipelines, energy, information infrastructure, etc. either now or over the coming years to move up the value chain as well as support the fast growing population and urbanisation. This could bring billions in Chinese investment to Britain and Great British businesses.

China has signed bilateral cooperation agreements with Hungary, Mongolia, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkey. Projects such as the freight train transport, which connects eastern China to 15 European cities including London, commenced in January this year. There are also new rail links to Laos and Thailand and high-speed rail projects in Indonesia. China’s Ningbo Shipping Exchange is collaborating with the Baltic Exchange on a container index of rates between China and the Middle East, the Mediterranean, and Europe. China’s state rail contractor signed construction deals in Africa worth USD5.5 billion. More than 200 enterprises have signed cooperation agreements for projects along OBOR’s routes. These projects are just the start. OBOR will also see the development of six major economic corridors, including the New Eurasian Land Bridge, China-Mongolia-Russia, China-Central Asia-Western Asia, Indo-China Peninsula, China-Pakistan, which last year announced USD46 billion in OBOR investments, and Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar.

But this is more than just physical infrastructure. It is also about softer economic cooperation, policy coordination, trade and financing collaboration, and social and cultural cooperation. By connecting and enhancing the productivity of countries on the OBOR, China hopes that the shared benefits will strengthen and expand friendships.

So I encourage Great British business to see this as an opportunity to share our expertise in financial services, public-private partnerships, legal, design, engineering, construction, supply chains and much more, just as we did for projects in Asia and Africa in the 19th century. The Great British business and its professional services have grown over the last 10 or even 20 years because of the growth in China and Asia, and even before that if we consider the Arab and African worlds.

We have been exporting Great British expertise – that is how we created the British Empire! Great Britain is poised to take advantage, poised to take its expertise and poised to go into OBOR countries and naturally replicate the same story. I am confident we can once again overcome the challenges of language, culture, traditions, legal systems and doing business in new countries.

It’s easy to argue why OBOR won’t work. The economics are questionable. The geographic coverage is unachievable. The financial returns won’t be attractive. And China is facing its economic transition and may get distracted away from OBOR while domestically trying to sort them out.

But the long-term fundamentals of China’s economy are sufficiently strong that we should keep believing in it. OBOR offers an exciting and compelling vision for China’s future as an economic powerhouse and the opportunity for Great British business to participate in future global success.

So do you want to sit on the side of the road and watch OBOR pass by? Do you want to watch what could be the largest trading collaboration that could create a massive shift in infrastructure investment and trade pass by? Or would you rather go for a drive down the OBOR?

KONE Revolutionises Elevator Maintenance with New Customisable Service Offering

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The launch of 24/7 Connected Services comes a year after KONE and IBM announced a multiyear agreement.

The launch of 24/7 Connected Services comes a year after KONE and IBM announced a multiyear agreement.

KONE, a global leader in the elevator and escalator industry, has  launched a unique tailor-made approach for its maintenance services and new 24/7 Connected Services, which uses the IBM Watson IoT (Internet of Things) platform.

The company is bringing new levels of flexibility to elevator maintenance, with the introduction of a fully customisable portfolio of services and advanced tools, designed to meet the individual needs of different customers, such as building owners and facility managers. KONE’s customers will be able to request and customise services to match the specific requirements of their business, their tenants, or their building type, instead of pre-designed service packages.

“With new technologies and connectivity, we are able to even better meet our customers’ changing needs and expectations on speed, transparency and predictability. Our customised approach for maintenance services is designed together with customers, for our customers, to help them to better succeed in their business and add value in totally new ways,” says Henrik Ehrnrooth, President and CEO, KONE.

As part of KONE Care™, KONE has also launched 24/7 Connected Services, which uses the IBM Watson IoT platform and other advanced technologies to bring intelligent services to elevators and escalators. It means a completely new experience for KONE’s customers, with less equipment downtime, fewer faults and detailed information on maintenance work. For people using elevators and escalators, it means less waiting time and more personalised experiences. The system enables vast amounts of data from elevator sensors to be monitored, analyzed and displayed in real-time, improving equipment performance, reliability and safety.

Ehrnrooth continued, “This is just the beginning. With this platform we will be able to bring new services and innovations faster to the market for our customers and consumers. Not only are we able to customise services based on our customers’ individual needs – with better predictability, planning and peace of mind – but we will also bring artificial intelligence for our services, which will help predict and suggest resolutions to potential problems.”

“We are well on our way towards creating a truly intelligent elevator and escalator service platform, which will use Watson’s cognitive capabilities and take elevator and escalator services to a new level.”

The launch of 24/7 Connected Services comes a year after KONE and IBM announced a multiyear agreement in which IBM will provide cloud-based Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and services to drive innovation in the elevator and escalator industry.

Both the new KONE service offering and 24/7 Connected Services have been piloted and introduced in selected markets and will be commercially available broadly during 2017, with roll-out continuing throughout 2018. KONE aims to connect over 1 million additional elevators and escalators to the cloud over the next few years.

To bring a human touch to the technology behind KONE’s 24/7 Connected Services, KONE and IBM have teamed up to demonstrate intelligent services. Discover how different elevators in different countries “talk” to the IBM Watson IoT Platform, live and in real-time HERE.