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Samsung Group’s battery manufacturing unit Samsung SDI is set to construct an electric car battery plant in Hungary.The KRW40bn ($357M) facility will be able to produce electric batteries for 50,000 vehicles annually. The project — to be located in Goed, at 25km north of Budapest — will allow Samsung SDI to create a triangular production structure along with existing plants in Ulsan, Korea, and Xian, China.Samsung SDI executive vice president Jeong SehWoong said: “By launching construction for the plant in Hungary, we now can set up the global triangular production structure for electric vehicle batteries.“We can especially provide higher quality services to European customers in Europe by generating synergy with SDIBS.”The plant is scheduled to start commercial production in the second half of 2018.
Goodyear (Thailand) is set to invest $162M in the expansion of its factory in Pathum Thani province, Thailand.The expansion project will enable the production of radial aviation tyres.According to Goodyear’s managing director Finbarr O'Connor, the development will help the company’s current market demand as commercial airlines are rapidly converting their fleets to radial tyres from bias tyres.O'Connor further said that the world's aviation fleet is expected to double in size over the next two decades.The expansion will be carried out in three phases, with phase one expected to start operations by 2018. The project will create 100 new jobs.
Galfar Engineering and Construction has secured a contract to build a fishery port and related marine and road works at the Special Economic Zone in Duqm, Oman.The contract has been awarded by Duqm Special Economic Zone Authority (SEZAD), and is valued at OMR60.69M ($157M).The project will include dredging and land reclamation works, construction of breakwaters, quay walls and concrete floating pontoons with berthing facilities.The facility will anchor a world-scale Industrial Fisheries Cluster at Duqm, and, once finished, is set to be the largest fish harbour project in the country. Construction work is expected to be complete in 30 months.
London and Quadrant Housing Trust (L&Q) has received approval for the development of a mixed-use project in Whitechapel, East London.Whitechapel Central, designed by architectural firm Stockwool, is set to transform the former Safestore facility into a ‘new urban quarter’.The project — to be located on a site near Whitechapel’s Crossrail station — will include the construction of 564 homes, 149 of which will be affordable.It will also feature 3,500sq m of commercial space and storage facilities, as well as shops, a gym and a cafe.L&Q’s group director of development and sales Jerome Geoghegan said: “The Whitechapel Central development will be an excellent contribution to the area masterplan and regeneration of Whitechapel.“We are very pleased to be granted approval to progress these exciting plans to create much needed high-quality residential and commercial space in London.”Work on the project is set to start in early 2017, with first completions on site expected in 2018.
MidAmerican Energy Company has secured approval from the Iowa Utilities Board to construct a 2GW wind project in Iowa, US.The project, known as Wind XI, will include 1,000 wind turbines. Wind XI will consist of multiple sites across Iowa, which are still being finalised. The wind sites will be placed into service over a three-year period.MidAmerican Energy president and CEO Bill Fehrman said: “This is an exciting day for our customers, the state of Iowa and MidAmerican Energy. We thank the board for its support and for moving quickly to deliver this ruling.“Wind energy helps us keep prices stable and more affordable for customers, provides jobs and economic benefits for communities and the state, and contributes to a cleaner environment for everyone.”Construction work is set to commence soon with completion scheduled for the end of 2019.
Bouygues Construction subsidiary Bouygues Travaux Publics has begun work on phase one of Monaco’s offshore urban extension project.The €1bn maritime development — part of the Portier Cove land reclamation project, which is being led by Monaco-based company SAM Anse du Portier — will include the construction of an eco-neighbourhood primarily consisting of housing, public facilities, a public car park, and an extension to the Grimaldi Forum.It will also include a marina with pedestrian wharves, a landscaped park, a seafront promenade and a walkway.Bouygues will use a fill enclosed by a band of 18 trapezoid reinforced concrete caissons — 26m tall and weighing 10,000t each — equipped with absorption chambers in the project’s construction.These precast units will help reduce breaches by strong swells and protect the exposed areas.Bouygues Construction chairman and CEO Philippe Bonnave said: “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to take part in the development of the Principality of Monaco by way of this new land reclamation project which will create six hectares of habitable space, meeting the highest ambitions with respect to sustainable development and environmental protection.”The eco-neighbourhood is targeted to achieve many recognised environmental certifications, including HQE Aménagement, BREEAM and the Clean Ports label.
China Railway Construction has secured a $1.85bn contract to build a light railway line in the state of Kano, Nigeria.The contract — awarded by the Ministry of Works, Housing & Transport — will involve the construction of about 74.3km of rail lines, which will have the capacity to carry trains travelling at a top speed of 100km per hour.The company did not disclose details regarding when the project is expected to commence, but said that phase one and two of the project are expected to last for two years each."This award is subject to the fulfilment of all conditions spelled out in the letter of intent from the financing bank and the final approval by the presidency of Nigeria," said China Railway Construction in a statement issued to the Hong Kong stock exchange.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has awarded two engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts for the construction of two national highway projects worth INR16.46bn ($245.4M) in Jharkhand, India.One of the contracts has been awarded to Ashoka Buildcon and will involve the development of the 57km-long Govindpur-Chas-Jharkhand/West Bengal Border section. The project will include 38km of national highway with four lanes and 19km with two lanes, as well as four railway-over-bridges, one railway-under-bridge and a 5km-long bypass to Maheshpur town. This section will facilitate the transport of coal and steel, thus contributing to industrial development in the country. The INR9.46bn ($141M) project is expected to be complete in two years.The second contract has been awarded to Ramky Infrastructure for the construction of the 41km-long Barhi-Hazaribagh section.The scope of the work will include the construction of five major bridges, three elephant crossings, two vehicular underpasses and an 11km-long bypass to Hazaribagh city.The project aims to improve connectivity of Hazaribagh, Ranchi and Jamshedpur cities to Delhi-Kolkata corridor through NH-2.The development, valued at INR7bn ($104.3M), is expected to be complete within 21 months.
Abu Dhabi-based developer Aldar Properties has awarded Fibrex the main contractor package to deliver its Shams Meera residential development in Shams Abu Dhabi on Reem Island.The AED258M ($70M) project will be located a short walking distance from the planned Shams Park, the Shams Marina and the East Shams public beach amenities. The scope of the contract will include the construction of two 25-storey towers. The towers, featuring 400 apartments, will share an underground basement car park, swimming pools, a children's play area and a garden. The development will also include canal walks, parks, a public beach, community mosques, schools and hospitals, healthcare facilities, and retail outlets.Aldar Properties’ CEO HE Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said: "From day one the response to Shams Meera has been really encouraging, showing us that there is significant demand for high quality mid-market homes in Abu Dhabi's prime destinations."Shams Meera, located adjacent to Abu Dhabi's thriving CBD will offer an enriched community living experience, and we look forward to the development's completion and the positive impact it will have on Shams Abu Dhabi and surrounding area."
Absher Construction Company has been awarded a $174M contract by Sound Transit for the construction of Northgate railway station in Seattle, Washington.The scope of the contract will include the construction of an elevated station at Northgate, a parking garage with 450 stalls for transit users, and a transit island for light rail and bus connections.Construction work on the project is set to be complete in 2020, while construction work on underground stations in the Roosevelt and U District neighbourhoods will commence in 2017.Once service opens in 2021, the Northgate station will serve as the northern terminus for light rail until Lynnwood Link opens in 2023.The station is part of the $1.9bn Northgate Link extension project, which extends light rail 6.9km north from the University of Washington to a station next to the King County Northgate Transit Center.
An engineering solution devised by heavy lifting specialist Mammoet will be used in Malaysia to assist with the placement of large reactor vessels, as part of an expansion at a petrochemical complex.The expansion project includes the installation of new reactor vessels ranging up to 650t and over 100m tall.To overcome the site’s constraint operating area and low pipe rack, Mammoet has come up with a “unique solution” to install the vessels. The use of one of its PTC 35 ring cranes — with a capacity of up to 1,600t — will enable the vessels to be installed from a main road and lifted over the pipe rack. Mammoet APAC manager solutions Roel Wesel said: “Mammoet was able to provide our client with a unique solution that would optimize the handling of heavy vessels. Less movements on site results in reduced risks, reduced costs and a faster completion, reducing the overall time-to-market for our client.”
The Third Bosphorus Bridge in Turkey has opened to traffic.The hybrid cable-stayed bridge is part of the $5bn Northern Marmara Highway project that will link the cities of Odayeri and Paşaköy. The $3bn bridge — built in less than three years by IC Ictas and Astaldi consortium — holds the following records: • The only suspension bridge in the world with a deck that includes eight lanes for motorway and two railway lines at the same level; • The widest suspension bridge in the world at 59m; • The tallest A-shaped towers in the world at 322m — taller than the Eiffel tower; • The longest suspension bridge in the world with a deck that features a railway line. Paolo Astaldi, chairman of Astaldi Group, said: “The Third Bosphorus Bridge is a bridge of firsts that brings the industry of professional engineering to new heights. “Astaldi is proud to have played a leading role in this ground-breaking project that demanded the very best in engineering skill and advanced technology.“The bridge will not only bring new growth to the region and alleviate traffic pressure within Istanbul, but it will also create a new important link between Europe and Asia.”Construction work on the remaining sections of the motorway is underway.
The Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH) is seeking a design team and contractor for the £190M fourth phase of its redevelopment programme.RIBA Competitions, part of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), has launched a competitive dialogue process on GOSH’s behalf to select the multi-disciplinary team.Phase 4 will involve the replacement of out-dated facilities, as part of GOSH’s programme to rebuild two-thirds of the hospital’s site over a 20-year period.Peter Steer, chief executive of Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are excited to see how the world’s best design and construction experts can reflect our vision to create a building that supports our staff in their important work and nurtures our patients and their families through some of the most testing times of their lives. “We’re also looking forward to seeing how the designs can express the things that are special about GOSH, including our focus on carrying out world-leading research to find new treatments and cures that transform young lives.”Steer added: “Our guiding principle at GOSH is The Child First and Always, so it goes without saying that the design of the building must prioritise their needs. It should also celebrate the children and young people who are at the heart of everything we do.”Between three and six bid teams will be shortlisted and invited to participate in a three-month competitive dialogue programme to start in October 2016. The submission of final tenders will occur in February 2017. For more information please visit RIBA’s Memorandum of Information.
The International Organisation for Standardization (ISO) has laid down the design principles to create earthquake-resistant cranes. The new ISO 11031 can be used to calculate seismic loads, and sets out the design principles for cranes destined to work in seismically-active regions and for cranes required to be seismically-resistant.Klaus Pokorny, secretary of the ISO subcommittee working on design principles and requirements for cranes, said: “To make sure that cranes are safe, we first need to calculate the seismic loads that show how a crane will respond in moderate to severe earthquakes. Then you can use design limit states provided in two forms: serviceability limit and ultimate limit. “The serviceability limit state (SLS) ensures that the crane can withstand the effects of moderate earthquake ground motions throughout its service lifetime and continue to operate as intended. The ultimate limit state (ULS) requires that the crane structure should not collapse during severe earthquake ground motions, and that the suspended load or any other part of the crane should not fall or harm the public, operators and workers.” Pokorny added: “Any evaluation should take into account the regional seismic conditions as well as the ground surface conditions at the crane location. It’s also important to consider how the crane will be used and any risks that could result from seismic damage.“Not only will ISO 11031 add a layer of confidence to the industry, it also provides a common technical language so that manufacturers, users and owners understand each other clearly, no matter where they are — a boost for global trade.” The need of a standard to ensure seismic-resistant cranes was first highlighted by Japan, after the 1995 earthquake in Kobe.
Sustainable urban and business space solutions provider Ascendas-Singbridge is set to build a $400M IT park in Gurgaon, India. The new 60-acre International Tech Park Gurgaon (ITPG) will feature 743,000sq m of business space, as well as social amenities to meet the needs of 60,000 professionals. It will also include food courts along with banking, transport and covered parking spaces.The first phase of the project will include two buildings offering 93,000sq m of Grade-A business space. Work on the first building is currently underway, and is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter of 2017.Ascendas-Singbridge’s deputy group CEO Manohar Khiatani said: “ITPG will be our eighth IT Park in India and we are convinced that this development will enhance the attractiveness of the National Capital Region and help create quality jobs.”Ascendas-Singbridge India operations CEO Sanjay Dutt said: “Gurgaon is the focal point of economic growth in NCR and second largest office market in India with significant investments made by large multinational corporations. “With over two decades of experience in India, we will bring our best practices to ITPG and provide best-in-class business space and asset management services in Gurgaon, offering our clients an attractive business environment to operate in.”
Environmental remediation work has started on a new $340M mixed-use redevelopment project in midtown St. Louis, Missouri.The City Foundry Saint Louis at Cortex, the new name of the former Federal Mogul Foundry property, is being designed and developed by Lawrence Group.Phase one of the project will involve the creation of 4,500sq m of restaurant and food hall space, 11,500sq m of office space in the City Foundry building complex, 12,000sq m of retail space that will be home to up to 45 retailers, and a 511-car parking garage.The first phase, expected to open in 2018, will also include the creation of amenities such as public plaza spaces, bike share, electric recharge stations and dedicated ride sharing drop-off.Later phases of the project will include the construction of a 279-unit residential tower, 25,000sq m of office, as well as 1,500sq m of retail space.The project will involve significant reuse of the historic structures, and will be funded by Eagle Bank.According to Lawrence Group, Bull Moose Industries has become a major investment partner in the redevelopment.Bull Moose’s CEO Michael Blatz said: “This new investment by Lord Paul represents our continued confidence in St. Louis as well as our belief in the exciting vision laid out by Steve Smith for the City Foundry development.”
KfW IPEX-Bank and Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen (Helaba) have agreed to provide a $160M loan for the construction of the Peralta wind farm in Uruguay.The wind farm — located in the municipality of Cuchilla de Peralta in the department of Tacuarembó in central Uruguay — is being built by German wind turbine manufacturer Enercon and will have a total installed capacity of 117.5MW.Peralta will feature 50 Enercon E-92 wind turbines including a hub height of 108m, a rotor diameter of 92m and an output of 2,350kW per turbine. It will produce enough energy to supply around 150,000 Uruguayan households.The power produced in the facility will be sold to the national energy supplier Administración Nacional de Usinas y Trasmisiones Eléctricas (UTE), which signed a power purchase agreement for a period of 20 years. KfW IPEX-Bank management board member Markus Scheer said: “German and European wind technology is in demand internationally. This is a great opportunity — both for manufacturers and the environment. As a bank, we do our part in helping ideas and projects take concrete shape.”
PCL Construction has started construction on General Electric’s (GE) multi-modal “Brilliant Factory” in Welland, Canada.The plant — the first of its kind in Canada — will initially produce GE Power’s reciprocating gas engines, components for compression, mechanical drive and power generation, and components for GE transportation diesel engines.GE Canada president and CEO Elyse Allan said: “Export Development Canada’s (EDC) commitment to building global business activities and the outstanding support offered by the Ontario government, Niagara Region, and City strongly influenced our decision to build the factory in Welland. “I look forward to continuing our outstanding collaboration to create jobs and economic growth.”The plant is anticipated to create 220 jobs with operations commencing in early 2018. The first phase of the project is expected to cost $165M. According to GE, the multi-modal design enables future production expansion for its other businesses including power, oil & gas, and transportation.
Aguas de Rosarito (AdR), the special purpose project company owned by NuWater and N.S.C. Agua, has signed a public-private partnership contract with the state of Baja California, Mexico, for the design, construction, financing, and operation of a seawater desalination plant.The $490M desalination plant, which will have a daily capacity of up to 100M gallons, will be constructed in two phases.The first phase will have a daily capacity of 50M gallons and an aqueduct to the Mexican potable water system in Tijuana, Baja California. The second phase will have a daily capacity of 50M gallons and an aqueduct to a second delivery point in Tijuana.As per the contract, AdR will operate and maintain the plant and aqueducts for 37 years starting from the commencement of operation on the first phase.AdR has selected Degremont — a subsidiary of Suez Environmental of France — to design and construct the project.Rick McTaggart, CEO of Consolidated Water, N.S.C. Agua’s owner, said: "The execution of a definitive agreement to design, construct, finance and operate the 100M gallon per day Rosarito Seawater Desalination plant in Baja California, Mexico is the culmination of more than six years of development work by the Company and its partners."Phase one is set to be operational within 36 months, while the second phase is scheduled to be operational by the end of 2024.
Skanska USA has been awarded a $399M design-build contract by the Florida Department of Transportation for the construction of the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Florida, US.The contract will include the replacement of the existing bridge over Pensacola Bay with two new three-lane bridges, connecting the cities of Pensacola and Gulf Breeze.Each new bridge will have a length of about 5km. The total project length is about 6km, including the roadway approaches on each end of the bridges.Work on the project is scheduled to commence in the third quarter of 2016 and is set to be complete in August 2020.
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