Tall building design and construction standards in the Middle East need to be improved to incorporate the lessons of last year's collapse of New York's World Trade Center towers, according to international civil engineering company Hyder Consulting.
The firm, an exhibitor at Cityscape 2002—the international commercial architecture, property design and development show, to be held in Dubai, in December—asserted that planners and developers in the region need to look carefully at the regulations governing the structural integrity of future tall buildings.
"The attack on the World Trade Center towers will have an effect on the desire to 'build tall' as the industry comes to terms both with what happened and the need to re-define standards for tall building design and construction," said Rod Stewart, Hyder Consulting’s country manager for Dubai.
"Pre-September 11, British design codes were unique for considering disproportionate collapse of buildings due to accidental damage. In future, all codes will need to consider the vulnerability of buildings to collapse from accidental damage, natural disasters or terrorist attacks."
Hyder Consulting, lead consultant and structural and civil engineers on Dubai's Emirates Towers project, also believes planners and developers must pay greater attention to the whole life cost of projects, instead of seeking an immediate return, and sustainability, to ensure the best balance of cost, expediency and environmental impact.
"By taking more care with the design and construction and, if necessary, spending a little more on design, it is possible to create a development that will retain its usefulness and marketability for longer with lower maintenance costs," said Stewart.
"Issues of sustainability will impact on the planning of buildings and the use of materials, while the introduction of freehold ownership will influence the public's perception of the places in which they live, driving changes in the design of living spaces."
Organized by the Institute for International Research (IIR), Cityscape 2002 will bring together world renowned property investment and development experts and world class property designers and architects, from the US, Europe, Middle East and Australasia.
The exhibition that will be held in conjunction with the 4th International Property Investment and Management Conference (IPIC), will take place at the Emirates Towers Hotel, from December 14-17. Both events are officially supported by the Dubai Development and Investment Authority. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
