2 HEIGHTS EDITORIAL Productivity, the Engine of National environmental ratings standards and modern practices by the construction In the modern world, there are many practices. Finally, we want to assure a industry, the goal of a highly skilled, factors at play in the marketplace. high living standard for our high-paid workforce can become Financial strength, business diversity, entire population. reality, making the other three a well-trained labour force, visionary strategic thrusts easier to achieve. leadership, global competition, KLCC Property Holdings and environmental concerns and Putrajaya Holdings are to be Nothing is more important, in our sustainability are all components commended for their initiative in view, than a commitment to of economic health, for individual this effort by adopting BREEAM productivity. It is the engine of companies and for nations. standards for all their projects. The national growth, and without it little science-based rating system was first else matters. But productivity has We face many challenges in Malaysia developed in the UK in 1988. Using its many faces. There are numerous in the coming years. We have metrics, independent auditors rate ways in which Malaysia’s construction witnessed progress toward the goals buildings for overall sustainability industries can be transformed, but that were defined by the Construction in numerous categories, including as we move forward together to meet Industry Transformation Programme energy and water use, health and the goals set in 2016, we must also in 2016, and we fully expect to wellbeing, pollution, transport, recognise that this national agenda continue on the path that was materials, waste, ecology and requires ongoing commitment envisioned when the Four Strategic management processes. and focus. Thrusts were defined: Internationalisation The focus of this edition of Heights Quality, Safety and is productivity because it is such Professionalism With an increasing level of global a vital component of growth and competition, efforts must be development. Malaysia’s goals for the These fundamentals are primary redoubled to assure that local future depend on it, and the entire concerns if Malaysian construction construction players are equipped to nation and all its people will reap firms are to assume a place on the meet challenges not only at home, the benefits. world stage. There is no acceptable but also at the international level. We alternative for high quality, increased can accomplish this by encouraging safety, and a level of knowledge Malaysian firms to improve their Dato’ Ir Ahmad ’Asri Abdul Hamid and performance that demands the competitive capabilities, to adhere Chief Executive of CIDB Malaysia highest standards of performance and to higher standards, to seek out compliance throughout the industry. specialised and highly technical contracts, and to increase their Environmental Sustainability knowledge of internationally approved materials and workmanship. Environmental consciousness has led to a new agenda designed to build Productivity an infrastructure hub in Malaysia that is resilient and sustainable. Productivity provides the leverage Malaysian buildings and construction that brings improvements in resource industries can serve as a beacon for use and effectiveness of construction, emerging nations, with efficient waste thus being the driver for GDP growth management systems, a low carbon as a whole.Beginning with the footprint, and high compliance with adoption of new technologies and GLOBAL NEWS HEIGHTS 53 Commercial Building Lows Negatively Affect Construction Rates The United States construction industry was found to be stagnant in terms of spending in January of 2018, after 2017 experienced the slowest amount of spending growth in the last six years. While single-family home construction increased at a modest rate of 0.6%, the reason for the stagnant spending in the country was due to a decrease of project spending in commercial real estate and certain other areas. The construction of office towers, apartments, power plants and other construction types fell. Spending on commercial building went down 2.7% at the beginning of this year. While the construction industry did not see overall growth in January, one sector that could help improve productivity of United States builders looking for projects is that of the public sector. Construction spending on state and federal projects has increased during this same time. UNITED STATES January showed increases of 4.4% for road and highway construction projects and of 2.1% for schools, among increases in other public sector areas. GLOBAL Sky Bridge Being NEWS Developed Will Become Biggest of CHINA Its Kind in World When an aerial bridge is completed in Chongqing, China by Singaporean developer CapitaLand, it will become the largest example so far of a “horizontal skyscraper” anywhere in the world. This structure will act as a sky bridge that goes across four towers. One section is already completed of the planned 400m bridge called the Conservatory, and the anticipated completion date for the rest of the project is the middle of 2018. The Conservatory will provide a viewing deck to see the city of Chongqing, as well as places to eat and sky gardens and swimming pools to enjoy. “Some of the world’s most advanced construction and engineering techniques have been deployed to install this megastructure,” said the president of CapitaLand, Lim Ming Yan. The sky bridge was designed by architect Moshe Safdie from Canada, while the structural design was conducted by consulting engineer Arup from the United Kingdom. 4 HEIGHTS GLOBAL NEWS The United Kingdom Faces a Lack of Quality in Its Construction Industry The United Kingdom is currently having problems with quality in the construction industry. The Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) began a Construction Quality Commission in October 2017 after some serious construction failings came to light in the United Kingdom. The commission’s research found that “more than three-quarters of construction professionals believe the industry’s management of quality is inadequate.” The commission questioned industry professionals, related sectors and the public. Some problems that were highlighted in the research included deficient management of quality that negatively affects workmanship and signing off work. Instead of focusing on quality management, the industry in the UK has been making price and program its main components. Research findings also noted that quality in construction is not adequately covered in educational programs. UNITED KINGDOM Based on this research, the CIOB will make recommendations to improve quality within UK construction. These include creating a qualification or certification that’s focused on quality, developing a quality code with best practices and standards, and improving the GLOBAL focus on quality within education. NEWS “Plantscrapers” Could Be Answer SWEDEN to Feeding an Increasing Population A Swedish project is showing that construction can help with some of the world’s pressing problems. This is the case with a recent project idea known as “plantscrapers” created by Plantagon, a Swedish food-tech company. These “plantscrapers” are office buildings that feature indoor farms taken care of hydroponically, which is a method that doesn’t use soil. Plantagon offers “plantscrapers” as a solution to provide enough food to a growing population. As the world population could go up to close to 10 billion people by 2050 and create the question of how to feed this number of people, one of these buildings could contribute by feeding 5,000 people with its indoor farm. Construction is underway of Plantagon’s first “plantscraper” known as The World Food Building, which started in 2012 and has an anticipated completion date of 2020. This $40 million building is located in Linkoping, Sweden, and it will make use of robot technology to create a mostly automated farm. Plantagon hopes that this idea will grow to different cities throughout the world. GLOBAL NEWS HEIGHTS 5 Firms Named to Complete Montreal’s Light Rail System Project Canada has a planned project to connect Montreal suburbs with the city and airport through a light rail system. The firms that will conduct this project have been named, and they include firms from Canada, the United States and France. Canadian companies SNC- Lavalin, Aecon, Pomerleau and EBC will handle the engineering and construction aspects of the project. American Aecom and Dragados Canada will also provide engineering. French firms Alstom Transport and SNC-Lavalin will handle the supply of rolling stock. The $5.3 billion construction of this rail system will start in April 2018 with an expected completion date of 2021. The light rail, which is known as the Reseau Express Metropolitain (REM), is planned as Picture Source: ESO/L. Calçada a 67km electric and automated network with 26 stations that will provide improved public transportation to the Montreal area. “We’re excited to soon see a brand new public transportation network built with cutting-edge technology in Greater Montreal,” said Canadian CANADA pension fund CDPQ Infra’s chief executive, Macky Tall. GLOBAL Robots Infiltrate the NEWS Construction Industry Across the Globe GLOBAL As a range of industries from technology to automotive increasingly rely on high-tech capabilities, the construction industry is keeping up with this forward movement. A main way the construction industry is using technology is through robotics. Construction