Thursday, June 2, 2011

Back Home

Now that we have been back home for a few days, I have had an opportunity to reflect on the amazing opportunity that FTR International provided me. It certainly was a trip that will have a lasting impact on the rest of my life, and I am sure the rest of the team as well.

One moment that stood out to me was at the Lebanese Flower. (By the way, Thank You to Ron for selecting this restaurant.) After finishing our meal, i asked Nazir to tell our waiter that the food was the best we had on the entire trip and I would tell everyone in America about it. The waiter made the comment that "We are all people."

I thought about those four words for several days and later told the guys that those words were what this trip was all about. To expose us to something different (International Construction). To open our eyes as to how flat the world really is and how we are all people. Nizar, Bruce, Salim, Ron,  and every employee at FTR International that made this trip such an amazing experience, Thank You!

I thought this was a good pic of the team
-On a side note I've had many opportunities over the past three days to correct some of bad myths that the Middle East has picked up. Many people are very interested once they hear how safe it really is. 

Purdue BCM's last few days at KSU

The Purdue Team had many opportunities to learn from the experienced FTR Team all week on site.  Pictured here is the team on one of the final days learning about QA and QC. 

Group shot of the team out on site of KSU while on their QA/QC Walk.

Pictured above is one of the many tower cranes on this massive site.  This picture was taken on top of one of the buildings that allowed us to see the entire campus and all of Riyadh.

This is a picture of all the scaffolding that was located in the campus's speech auditorium.   When the king comes to the campus in October, he will be making his speech in this very spot. 

Picture of group while out on their Safety Walk.

Richard with FTR International, explains rigging to Bryan and Nazir before the next critical lift takes place.

Tableside Experiences


One of my favorite things about the Middle Eastern culture is their tremendous hospitality toward guests. I believe that I speak for my colleagues as well when I say that there was never a time when I felt unwelcomed in Riyadh, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi. In this culture relationships are of extreme importance and often developed over a good meal. It is my pleasure to share with you our tableside experiences.

FTR President and CEO, Nizar Katbi, along with distinguished host, Saleh treated the entire FTR family to a meal at Matam Sit El Sham (The Lady of Damascus). This luxurious restaurant has great food! It was equally great to be able to converse with the FTR staff in a more relaxed environment. Richard, an FTR employee, talked about how he had worked on every continent besides Antarctica and Australia, and further expressed that after he was bit by the ”travel bug” the urge to continue became simply irresistible. It is through these conversations that I realized how truly global this industry can be.

Our host Khaled took us to a small restaurant in Riyadh named Alkariya el Najdeeya (The Village of Najdy). This meal defined the phrase “dinning experience”. After the main course served within the restaurant we moved to the outdoor courtyard and enjoyed tea and dessert under the stars. Khaled kept us all laughing with his lighthearted comments as we lounged around on pillows enjoying each other’s company.

One of the best conversations I had on the trip did not occur with industry professionals but with my peers from the King Saud University (KSU). From the time we first met this great group of Civil Engineering students we had been planning to meet up again. This opportunity came toward the end of our time in Riyadh with the help of the KSU staff. The staff took the entire group of us to a Chinese restaurant in downtown Riyadh. Through talking with the students I realized that there were so many more similarities between us than differences. Our time with them was truly eye opening and I hope we had as much impact on them as they had on us.

On the last few days of our trip Ron, of FTR, served as both host and tour guide as we were treated to a wonderful meal in the world’s largest mall. The Dubai Mall is a 440,000ft^2 shopping center that contains ever shop anyone could ever imagine. Dinning there was a real experience and a great treat for the group. There we enjoyed a great Syrian meal that turned out to just be a preview for what was to come. Our last meal in Abu Dhabi was at the restaurant Lebanese Flower. The food was only surpassed by the congenial staff. Our waiter’s response to our praise of his wonderful service was simply “we are all people”. This served as a four word wrap up to our entire Middle Eastern experience.

Sincerest thanks to all our hosts. 

Girls Campus at King Saud University (KSU) Introduction - FTR International



The Girls Campus at King Saud University (KSU) is a new university campus with 34 major buildings and a campus-wide infrastructure system with ancillary/accessory structures, access roads, parking, landscape and hardscape, and mechanical and electrical site utilities. The facilities are connected to a central plant by a one kilometer long utility service tunnel and covered walkway spine that runs the entire length of the Campus.  Located in the northwest section of Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia the Girls Campus covers a land area of approximately 340 acres or 138 hectares on a rectangular parcel of land about 1.8 km long x 0.8 km wide.
 
Construction commenced in early January 2009 and it is scheduled to be completed by October 31, 2011.


The project is being constructed by Saudi Binladin Group (SBG), the largest construction contractor in the Middle East.



The project includes:

Zone A – College of Science, College of Computer Science, College of Applied Medical Science, College of Medicine, College of Nursing, Kindergarten, Gates and Security.

Zone B – College of Pharmacy, College of Dentistry, Sports Hall, Auditorium Complex, Research Center, Gates and Security.

Zone C – University Administration, Deanery of Post Graduate Studies and Community Services, Student Affairs Administration, University Restaurant, Central Library, Grand Foyer & Central Plaza, Student Center Shop & Main Prayer Area & Restaurant, Festival Hall and Exhibition Building.

Zone D – College of Arts, College of Education, College of Administrative Science, College of Language and Translation, College of Law and Political Science, Kindergarten, Auditorium Complex, Gates and Security.

Zone E – Student Hosing, Multipurpose Area, Staff Member Housing.

Zone F – Central Kitchen, Supporting Central Facilities, Sewage Treatment Plant, LPG Depot, Electrical Sub Station.

Zone G – Utility Tunnel and University Spine.

Zone H – External Works, Hardscape, Landscape, Boundary Walls, Gates and Parking.

Zone J – Riyadh Techno Valley, Physical Fitness College.

Zone K – Business Administration College and Deanship Building.

KAPSARC Introduction - FTR International


The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and
Research Center (KAPSARC) is an iconic symbol of Saudi Arabia’s insight into future world energy needs and will foster an in depth and forward thinking attitude towards global environmental energy management.  The research center will focus on four primary concerns: (1) Oil price drivers and movements. (2) Solar energy market incentives for Kingdom wide adoption with policy perspectives. (3) Review of national energy efficiency initiatives. (4) The framework for carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) program in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  The project is designed by world renowned architect Zaha Hadid who brings a new and fresh design approach using a cellular structure of crystalline forms.  A network of three dimensional, six sided cells with many junctions and bonds, its design is based on the concept of connection.  The modular, adaptive building will be made up of a series of shaded outdoor spaces, courtyards, entrances, meeting areas, indoor gardens, corridors, underground tunnels and roof terraces.


Drake and Scull is received a Notice to Proceed from Saudi Aramco in the beginning of December, 2010 with a scheduled completion on August 31, 2012.  KAPSARC will be the largest LEED Platinum project built in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  The site is located in the northwest section of Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and it covers a land area of approximately 139 acres or 56.3 hectares.  The project has an area of 473,537 gross square feet or 43,992 gross square meters and includes a unique canopy and tunnel system that connects the five (5) major buildings together. The canopy unifies the major building sand develops an outdoor environment with water features and filtered light that is spectacular at night.  The development will also include a complete infrastructure system with ten (10) ancillary/accessory structures, access roads, parking, landscape and hardscape.


We all had the opportunity to work on this project with FTR International who is working closely with Drake and Scull on this project.


We do not have any personal pictures from this site due to its policy of no photography.


If you have not already, please check out this video of the project and some of its details.





Home Sweet Home

Branden Here:

The crew is home and back safely in the States.  We have actually been home for a few days and most of us are trying to get caught up on sleep and resting before our big internships start; while others are already working.  I just want to let you all know that our blog does not stop here.  We will continue to post blogs and pictures that we have not yet touched on.   All of us were impacted in so many ways and look forward to sharing all our stories with all of you.  Thank for all your support this far and please keep following our blog, there is more to come.