Advanced engineering and sustainable architecture
General Engineering: The Middle East faces unique challenges such as extreme weather, unpredictable soil conditions, and ageing infrastructure. These factors compel the need for innovative engineering solutions that ensure community resilience. Ali Amiri, Egis’ Building Engineering, Façade and Sustainability Director for the Middle East and South Asia, plays a key role in translating these principles into tangible project outcomes. His approach includes adopting eco-design principles and utilising sustainable materials that enhance resource efficiency and reduce energy consumption.
Furthermore, the ever-evolving technological landscape necessitates the adoption of cutting-edge Building Information Modelling (BIM) and digital engineering tools. These advancements streamline the design process, allowing for a holistic and comprehensive consideration of a project’s lifecycle and its impact on surrounding communities.
Architecture: Today’s architectural demands in the region extend beyond aesthetic appeal and prioritise functionality, user-centricity, and sustainability, while respecting and understanding the region’s cultural identity. Pedram Rad, who leads Egis’ Architecture Division for the Middle East and South Asia, is keenly aware of this evolving landscape when it comes to architecture, master planning, interior design and landscape.
His approach pushes design boundaries to meet each project’s specific needs, with user experience at the forefront and energy efficiency as a core principle while preserving the distinct architectural character of the Middle East.
Water, energy, and environment integration
Water and energy: Addressing water scarcity in the Middle East through sustainable infrastructure projects is crucial, given the pivotal role water plays in regional planning, infrastructure development, and energy systems.
With Laure Russier, Director of Water, Energy, Ports and Marine Ecology for the Middle East and South Asia, Egis leverages its expertise in water desalination, wastewater treatment, and smart irrigation systems to promote water conservation and resource efficiency across the entire project lifecycle, demonstrating Egis’ commitment to sustainability.
Environment: Successfully integrating environmental considerations throughout a project’s lifecycle is a cornerstone of Egis’ strategy. Yassmin AlKhatib, who leads the regional environment team, brings extensive expertise to tackle any environmental challenge that may arise during all project phases. Egis has committed that all eligible projects will be eco-designed or eco-operated by 2030, emphasising the importance of adopting eco-friendly practices early in the infrastructure and building process, continuing into the construction and operations phases.
Water, energy, and the environment are highly innovative areas for Egis. Their teams of engineers develop operational solutions specific to environmental challenges, such as nature-based solutions, protecting biodiversity, mindful use of energy, recycling materials, etc. This includes award-winning solutions that have been implemented across the region, such as Seaboost, which employs 3D solutions to restore marine ecosystems.
Holistic approach to project delivery
Traditional project management often suffers from compartmentalisation, where each engineering discipline works independently, hindering optimisation opportunities. For instance, the General Engineering team’s proficiency in BIM is shared across divisions to optimise project design and resource allocation.
Similarly, insights from the Water and Energy team on renewable energy integration can inform design decisions made by the Architecture and General Engineering divisions. This cross-functional knowledge transfer allows for a unique collaborative strength, leveraging integrated in-house capabilities, from its architecture design centre in Jordan, to its international network of 19,500 employees worldwide.
Fostering knowledge transfer
Outside of traditional project boundaries, international engineering consultancies can extend impacts far beyond by prioritising knowledge transfer.
By empowering local communities and developing a local workforce, Egis is contributing to a more sustainable future, equipping communities with the knowledge and tools to address challenges and maintain vital infrastructure projects long after initial involvement. This commitment is evident with the launch of various graduate programmes throughout the region that cultivate local expertise and foster long-term community development.
Flagship projects
Egis is involved in multiple projects across the region with prominent developers and clients. Some of these projects include Aldar’s Nikki Beach Residences, multiple projects in NEOM, DHRE Hospitality Assets, DGDA, Four Seasons, Expo City, and more. Egis is also working on a one-of-a-kind project in Saudi Arabia—a timber office building with the goal of creating an office space that meets high standards of sustainability and well-being, incorporating an international building rating system.
**As published in Construction Week Middle East