Big Project Middle East Construction and Sustainability Awards of Excellence 2014
The 2014 edition of the Big Project Middle East Construction and Sustainability Awards of Excellence was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Conrad Hotel on November 18, 2014. Celebrating the achievements of the construction industry, the awards saw more than 350 guests attend the presentation ceremony and dinner. The awards themselves were spread across […]
The 2014 edition of the Big Project Middle East Construction and Sustainability Awards of Excellence was held at the Grand Ballroom of the Conrad Hotel on November 18, 2014.
Celebrating the achievements of the construction industry, the awards saw more than 350 guests attend the presentation ceremony and dinner.
The awards themselves were spread across 12 categories, with the winners chosen by an independent panel of judges from a short-list of nominees complied by the CPI Construction editorial team.
The night was sponsored by:
Mouchel – Platinum Sponsor
FAMCO – Gold Sponsor
Dubai Economic Council – Official Government Partner
Category Sponsors: Hyder Consulting, Foamglas, Al Rajhi Building Solutions, Autodesk and WSP.
Supporting Partners: The Big 5 Dubai, The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, The Society of Engineers – UAE, The CIOB and The British University of Dubai.
Here are six of the winners of the 2014 Big Project Middle East Construction and Sustainability Awards of Excellence:
ALEC wins Big Project ME’s Contractor of the Year for 2014
Al Jaber L.E.G.T. Engineering and Contracting (ALEC) was named Contractor of the Year at the Big Project ME Awards 2014.
The award recognises the efforts that a contractor has put in to turn a project into a success.
Nominees for this year were: ALEC, Al Shafar General Contracting and China State Construction Engineering Corporation.
Hercu Viljoen, Managing Director, Related Businesses at ALEC, received the award on behalf of the firm.
“It’s fantastic. It’s fantastic to be recognised as a leading contractor. We obviously try and do the right thing all the time and [the award] is kind of evidence,” Viljoen said.
“Obviously after 2008, the industry was a little bit depressed for a number of years, for five years. But now there’s a chance again to start growing. And that’s an exciting time that lies ahead. So we obviously got the same plans to start growing and giving opportunities to our people and making a contribution to His Highness’ vision here,” he added.
ALEC has $1.16 billion worth of work in hand thanks to successful tenders for the year, along with a forecasted turnover of over $952 million for 2015. Projects the company is currently working on include the Doha Festival City mall and Meraas’ Bluewaters project in Dubai.
WSP wins Big Project ME’s Consultant of the Year for 2014
Beating reputed consultancies Buro Happold, Hyder Consulting, Lacasa and Mace, WSP was adjudged Consultant of the Year at The Big Project ME Awards 2014, held in Dubai on 18 November 2014.
The awards’ jury unanimously honoured WSP for the work it has undertaken this year on prestigious projects such as Dubai Mall Expansion, Sharjah Expo Centre and Education City People Mover System in Doha.
“We’re delighted to have won this award tonight, especially because we’ve done some really good work over the past year,” Greg Kane, director at WSP Middle East said.
“I’m incredibly proud of the projects we have worked on, and given our line-up of projects for the future, I’m looking forward to picking up another award next year.”
Yas Mall adjudged Development of the Year at Big Project ME Awards 2014
Yas Mall, Aldar Properties’ sprawling retail facility at Yas Island raced past National Museum of Qatar, New York University – Abu Dhabi and Heydar International Airport (Azerbaijan) to be crowned Development of the Year at The Big Project ME Awards 2014 in Dubai last night.
Aldar’s Peter Smith, director of retail development at the company said he was thrilled to have picked up award on the same day as the inauguration of Yas Mall by members of Abu Dhabi’s ruling family.
“I’m very privileged to be here tonight. His Highness Sheikh Hazza bin Zayed Al Nahyan, National Security Adviser and Deputy Chairman of Abu Dhabi Executive Council, opened the mall this evening (Tuesday, 18 November 2014), and mall will open its doors to the public at 10 am tomorrow.
“Yas Mall is one of the best projects I have worked on, and I’m proud that the project has been recognised tonight.”
Yas Mall is linked to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Ikea in Yas Island, Abu Dhabi. It is one of the largest developments built in the locality, which Aldar has previously stated will continue to grow in the near future.
Dubai’s RTA Chairman bags Outstanding Achievement in Construction at Big Project ME Awards 2014
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) received the Outstanding Achievement in Construction award at the Big Project ME Awards 2014.
The award celebrates leaders of the construction industry, honouring them for their life’s work and for their contribution to the construction industry in the region.
RTA Chairman Mattar Al Tayer was chosen for the award in recognition of the agency’s work on the development of the city’s transport infrastructure and road networks, with particular attention paid to the completion of the Dubai Tram this month.
Abdulla Yousif Al Ali, CEO of the Rail Agency, RTA, collected the award on behalf of Al Tayer.
“It’s my pleasure to receive this award on behalf of our chairman,” Al Ali said. “I would like to thank CPI Media Group to present this award. It’s been a lot for us.”
Commenting on the recent milestone achieved with the opening of the tram, Yousif added: “We finished this project as we promised the people that we’ll deliver it on 11/11 and we achieved that project on time. One of the main reasons to achieve the project on time is our leadership, and that’s why he deserves this award.”
Faria Latif wins Big Project ME’s Project Manager of the Year Award for 2014
WSP Global’s Faria Latif, a senior project manager at the firm’s Dubai offices was awarded the title of Project Manager of the Year at The Big Project ME Awards 2014.
WSP’s Latif is currently working on the Middle East’s energy-efficient tram system, the Education City People Mover System in Qatar.
Latif said she hopes her achievement will attract more women to participate in the local construction industry.
“I am very excited to have won this award. I hope it encourages and empowers more women to join this sector.”
Overtaking Craig Griffen of Alec Contracting and Michael Callianiotis of Faithful + Gould to win the award, Latif said the local construction sector is an inclusive market, and that there is “nothing to be intimidated about” while working in the industry.
“If I can do it, then anyone can,” Latif added emphatically.
Scott Madigan wins Young Construction Professional of the Year at Big Project ME Awards 2014
Touted as a ‘rising star’ in the construction industry, Scott Madigan, project manager at Brookfield Multiplex, was presented the Young Construction Professional of the Year award at the Big Project ME Awards 2014.
At 28, Madigan is project manager for Etihad Airways’ largest business class lounge in the world and their largest flight simulator facility. He has earned accolades from both within his company and from his clients.
The other nominees in this category were Engi Jaber of Dewan Architects and Engineers and Mohammed Imran Shaikh of CKR Consulting Engineers.
“It’s great. It’s a really good experience,” Madigan said about winning the award. “I’ve been with Multiplex now for ten years… And I’m sort surprised that they put me forward for it. It’s a really positive thing.”
“At the moment I think over the next few years as things pick up more and more, I think it’s about taking opportunities that present themselves. Particularly in Abu Dhabi where I’m working at the moment I think things are going to kick off pretty soon. And for myself and also a lot of the other guys at work along with me, it’s about putting your hand up and going ‘If there’s an opportunity, I want to take it,’” he added.
Part Two of the Awards ceremony will be coming up shortly…
