Youssef Ouchagour, construction industry analyst at Timetric’s Construction Intelligence Center, analyses the current state of the global data centre construction market and presents five of the largest data centre projects currently under construction in the world.
Youssef Ouchagour, construction industry analyst at Timetric’s Construction Intelligence Center, looks at the current state of the healthcare construction market and presents five of the largest healthcare projects currently under construction in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.Building adequate and effective healthcare facilities has become an urgent priority in the GCC region as the pressure continues to grow on the existing healthcare infrastructure due to a number of regional factors, including rapid population growth, higher life expectancy, a higher per capita income and a rise in lifestyle related diseases. GCC healthcare construction market outlookAccording to Timetric’s Construction Intelligence Center (CIC) project database, there are 119 active healthcare projects in the GCC countries with a combined value of $46bn. As expected, the majority of these projects are located in Saudi Arabia, the country with the largest population in the GCC, followed in order by the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and Bahrain. 40% of active projects in the GCC region, with a combined value of $21bn) are under execution, with the remaining 60% of projects at various pre-execution stages, with a combined value of $25bn. This shows that there is a wealth of future opportunities within the healthcare sector for the GCC construction industry.The expected growth of the Healthcare Sector in the GCC region over the next few years will be mainly driven by the GCC governments’ efforts to strengthen and modernise their healthcare system — 68% of the active Healthcare projects in GCC countries are publicly funded projects; these have a combined value of $39bn. Privately funded projects represent 25% of the total number of active healthcare projects in the region and have a combined value of $4.5bn. The total investment in healthcare projects through public/private partnership is around $2.2bn. The number of projects funded by the private sector is set to grow over the next few years due to the high demand for high quality healthcare facilities and services and the rise of the medical tourism trend in the region. The same is expected for projects funded through public/private partnerships as the GCC governments are looking for alternative ways to fund healthcare projects due to budget restraints.
High-rise urban housing projects have undergone a renaissance in recent times – despite many failed projects from the 20th century that became associated with poverty, the latest generation of structures are designed for luxury.
New York’s LaGuardia Airport has faced criticism for many years, but now the domestic airport is due to be reconstructed as part of a $4bn plan announced by New York governor Andrew Cuomo.
As delays in projects go, being held up by almost 350 years is a big one. The idea of building a shipping canal across Thailand’s Kra Isthmus, reducing the usual trade route for ships between the Indian and Pacific oceans by more than 1,200km, was first mooted in 1677. However, despite the proposal resurfacing in the 20th century, fears over the environmental impact and the potential for it to divide the country have held it back. Now, the Korea Railroad Research Institute (KRRI) has put forward the idea of a ‘dry canal’ to carry ships across the south of Thailand, from Kra Buri to Chumpon Bay in the Gulf of Thailand, bypassing the Malacca Strait.
Tall buildings of the future could be looking down as well as up, following a proposed concept from Luca Curci Architects to build ‘skyscrapers’ based on the sea bed.
Sydney’s current 235m height limit on buildings in the city should be overlooked to accommodate future population growth, architectural practice Bates Smart has proposed.
Tall buildings of the future could be looking down as well as up, following a proposed concept from Luca Curci Architects to build ‘skyscrapers’ based on the sea bed.
After the Spanish housing construction market was severely damaged during the recession, the country’s crane manufacturers had to look abroad and expand their portfolios. Daniel Searle reports from Zaragoza.
A strong period for the UK construction industry is reflected in a growing crane rental market, with new projects and investments in fleet expansions taking place. Daniel Searle reports.
Lifting in New York poses a unique challenge overseen by high levels of regulations. Quickly-built and tightly-spaced skyscrapers combining with busy streets, problems with electricity supply, and mazes of subways. Now NYC Department of Buildings plans to prohibit the use of older cranes. Will North reports.