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A word from Ireland

We’re fortunate to be part of First Q having diverse strengths, interests and excellent people around us to weather the storm. Despite the market conditions we have continued to invest in improvements to our service offerings to ensure our clients get the best possible value.

Like many other First Q members we have also invested in the exploration of new markets. Our endeavours in the Middle East have brought some notable opportunities in Saudi Arabia, we are active in Romania and exploring other opportunities abroad – namely in Greece – together with our First Q colleagues.

In this issue of our newsletter we will show you some recent projects, innovations and the increased diversity of the member companies which remains the keystone of First Q’s continuing success.

Glenn Nunan
Director – Ethos Engineering (First Q Ireland)

National Plan for Radiation Oncology (NPRO) Dublin, Ireland

First Q’s Dublin office was appointed the MEP Consultant of a design-build team headed by BAM Contracting for the construction of two radiation oncology buildings being built simultaneously on two separate hospital campuses in the North and South of Dublin. The construction of these two buildings has a combined value of €36m and is an important part of the Irish Government’s strategy to develop centres of excellence for cancer treatment. Each building includes the following features; • Four Linear Accelerator Treatment Rooms     • Two CT Simulator Rooms • MRI/Consultant Suites                               • Brachytherapy Treatment Room

In addition to Part L Building Compliance, the local authority (Dublin City Council) have a tough energy policy requiring a minimum Building Energy Rating of A3. This has been achieved through enhanced building façade perfromance combined with renewable technologies such as solar hot water. Both buildings are on site with construction scheduled for completion at the end of 2010.

Finland

Niemi & Co Oy is developing together with other FMC Group companies a new service to landlords who wish to reconstruct their housing premises. This package will include all services including project management, architectural design, building services design, structural design and supervision services. There is a huge demand for these services, as most of the multi-story residential units built in the 60´s and 70´s are at the end of their life time.

Greece

Antem is continuing its important role as local support in Greece for First Q members whose clients are active in the Greek market. New projects are in the pipeline for a large commercial development in Thessalonica together with First Q’s Irish partner. Phase one includes of total area of 100.000 m2 of mix use development, and a second phase of primarily residential development is planned for the future.

Holland

Smits Van Burgst has grown its maintenance management side of the business in addition to developing its Building Information (3D) modelling capacity. It has also obtained BREEAM International accreditation and has been a very active member in the sustainable task force work with REHVA.

Italy

Manens Intertecnica has been appointed LEED Consultants on ‘Garibaldi Republica’ a very large business centre in Milan valued at €50m.  This commission is in addition to the works management that was also contracted.
Manens are also carrying out the MEP design on ‘Porte Parodi’ the redevelopment of the old Genoa sea port into commercial, restaurant and leisure activities with sustainable credentials.

Ireland

Ethos has formed an alliance with an Irish Civil/Structural company and another Irish MEP Company for work in the Middle East.  This company is called TPE and has entered into an agreement with a Saudi based engineering company, DAR Engineering. Together, they presented joint bids for a number of large scale projects in Riyadh and throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ethos also sub-consulted work to FocusGroup.NLA Design Consultants for work in Romania and plans to further develop this relationship for 4-5 additional projects which are currently in the pipeline.  Ethos is already using this model with its First Q partners, namely the UK and Greece.

Portugal

LMSA has been appointed for the MEP design of a psychiatric hospital near Tripoli.  The unit, promoted by LIDCO, will have a gross area in excess of 33,000m² and forms part of a broader programme to modernise public facilities in Libya.
LMSA continues developing its strength in Angola with several new commissions there, both for design and site management, and continues to develop the building management side of its business through its subsidiary LMGE.

Spain

Grupo JG has been certified by the Spanish Green Building Council as a member company, reinforcing its standing in the market as a leader in the effective pursuit of sustainable solutions for the built environment.
Its subsidiary Test, has also become a member of the Spanish Association of Energy Efficient Companies (A3E).

Sweden

Among unabated competition in a slow market, Sweden is seeing a revival of its aggressive drive towards energy efficiency and ‘eco-design’ as a marketing tool and sales argument. Many design players however are pushing the limits of this drive to extremes, requiring a very careful analysis of what is and what is not a long term beneficial solution for developers and end-users. The role of the M+E consultant is of paramount importance in this analysis by looking at energy efficiency solutions integrated in a vaster quest for sustainable design.

United Kingdom

EDCM are appointed to work alongside Foster Partners on the Warner Bros. International theatres eight screen cinema complex in Central Market, a major regeneration scheme in ‘downtown’ Abu Dhabi, UAE. This is the first of four cinemas that EDCM are working on at present in Abu Dhabi, which include Al Ruwais, Noor Al Ain and Yas Island. The latter location will stage the Formula One Grand Prix at the end of 2009.  All cinemas are planned for opening during 2011.
ECDM completed the MEP services (incl. BREEAM Assessment) on Canon and Priory House, a 1960’s office refurbishment. The building achieved a BREEAM Excellent rating.