When I began my career in the built environment, over 30 years ago, I never imagined that our industry would be integral to the delivery of social change and climate action. I never considered that we would play a critical role in tackling gender inequality or in embracing the latest technologies and innovation.
As I sit down to write this introduction to our first edition of Perspective for 2023, it isn’t lost on me what an amazing industry we work within and, in my role of Global Chair of RLB, what amazing thought leaders we have at RLB who are sharing their insights on all these subjects, and more.
In the context of ever-changing geo-political situations and stresses on supply chain and labour markets, we need professionals with deep understanding of the marketplaces they work within, expertise in their sectors and a steady hand to guide our clients through to their long-term ambitions. And it is these professionals I am meeting and chatting with daily here at RLB, whether in our Oceania or Stateside offices, over in mainland China, in the African regions or in our European offices. I am proud of the independence of our collective thoughts, our insights and our intelligence that help shape the built environment and the world around us.
In this publication we hear from my global colleagues about technical issues such as mining projects for renewable energy regeneration and BIM maturity in terms of policy, people, technology and process. There are also articles around wellbeing within the workplace and how we utilise peer reviews to drive best practice.
I hope this edition of Perspective educates, inspires and challenges you and your outlooks on our industry and our world. As always, if you have any comments, thoughts or would like to discuss any of the subjects further, do reach out to the individual authors or myself as Global Chair, as we always welcome conversations that help create a better tomorrow.
PERSPECTIVE INSIGHTS
Peer Review
These days there just doesn’t seem to be enough architects to handle the number of projects out there, with aggressive timelines for projects, owners and their teams want things done efficiently and effectively. Keeping projects on time, budget and with…
Navigating modern day mining projects
Global warming and climate change are arguably in the top 5 most important problems facing the world today. Countries, sectors, industries, and individuals alike are focused on and striving for net carbon zero targets in the very near future and…
A pressing need for FM strategy in the UAE’s existing buildings
Facilities management (FM) is a critical aspect of the built environment that deals with the maintenance, repair, and ongoing supervision of a building’s physical assets to ensure the preservation of that property’s value. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), there…
Airport construction takes off
With a dramatic downturn in passenger traffic in early-to-mid 2020, the industry has observed a steady return of activity close to pre-pandemic figures. An easing of Covid restrictions has brought long lines and hours-long waits to airports around the…
Connecting with Country
Gurriny Yealamucka means “good healing waters” in the language of the Gunggandji peoples – and the health service that bears its name is a place that helps the people of Yarrabah in Far North Queensland to heal and reconnect with…
Super low energy buildings tailored for the tropical climate
In half a century, global energy consumption more than doubled from 68,792 terawatt-hours (TWh) to 176,431 TWh. In comparison, Singapore’s energy consumption per capita increased 4.5-fold in the same period, placing her in the top 3 energy consumers in the…
Women in construction: the fight against inequality
It is a fact: women are severely underrepresented in the construction industry. And although it has been a male-dominated field for many years with women facing numerous challenges and obstacles in trying to break into this space, it seems that…
ESG reporting is good for society and your bottom line
As the business world increasingly embraces the importance of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting, it’s noteworthy that the idea that companies should focus on not only revenue and society but also the planet which should be nothing new. In…
Preserving old memories and making new ones
When work began on the new Galleries of Remembrance project at Melbourne’s Shrine of Remembrance, it had all the hallmarks of a challenging project: an immovable deadline, an ambitious design, and a sacred heritage building dedicated to Australian service and…
Retrofit: today’s new process will be tomorrow’s best practice
At the beginning of 2023, the UK Government published ‘Mission Zero’. This independent report was commissioned to review the UK government’s approach to delivering its net zero target, aimed at identifying how the UK could meet its net zero commitments…
A balanced wellness approach in the workplace
The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles which lead to a state of holistic health. This definition suggests that wellness is not a static state or a destination but rather an active pursuit. …
Fast-tracking construction projects offers both risk and reward
Between the pandemic and the current economic situation, businesses of all kinds are rethinking the best way to get things done. Fast-tracking first gained broad awareness when used to develop COVID-19 vaccines, it is an effective strategy used in many…
BIM maturity level in terms of Policy, People, Technology and Process
According to NBS National BIM Report1, there has been a significant rise in the adoption of BIM in the past decade, with 73% of construction companies reporting that they are aware of BIM and are using it within their companies,…
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