2022 Vol. 1

PERSPECTIVE

Bringing imagination to life since 1783

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Taryn Harbert

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Taryn Harbert

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Perspective
Market Insights

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The year is 1783. The treaty between the United States and Great Britain is signed in Paris, formally ending the American Revolutionary War. The Montgolfier brothers send up the first hot air balloon. Mozart’s Great Mass is performed for the first time in Salzburg. And the firm that is now Rider Levett Bucknall opens its doors for the first time.

A history spanning nearly 240 years is extraordinary, and one which brings pride to every member of RLB’s team. But we are not a firm to look back. We are focused on the future – and on the ideas, collaborations and opportunities ahead as we bring imagination to life around the world.

At RLB we deliver proactive and innovative client services and successful project outcomes to shape the future of the built environment. As an independent construction cost consultancy, RLB boasts a team of 4,000-plus that delivers the best outcomes to thousands of clients throughout Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, the Middle East and the Americas.

We are a powerhouse of global construction market intelligence. We are trusted partners dedicated to achieving our clients’ goals and to making a difference to the lives of people around the world. 

Perspective Magazine, our flagship global publication, showcases just some of the ways we inspire fresh perspectives on age-old problems. I am proud to see our team contributing to public discourse as trusted sources of factual information and insight.

This edition of Perspective focuses on progressive and thought-provoking pieces on big picture topics from the power of data to the future of working in a virtual environment. We also drill down into market-specific stories that are applicable around the world. These include trends in residential developments in Hong Kong, the cost of building in Africa and the dramatic rise of design build procurement in Qatar. 

We reveal what’s ahead for sports venues, examine the role of public art in placemaking and feature the latest trends in data centre development. 

RLB’s people are powered by a clear purpose: to create a better tomorrow. We have been doing this for well over two centuries. While our future story is unwritten, one thing is certain: a better tomorrow is only possible through flawless execution today.

PERSPECTIVE INSIGHTS

The future of healthcare facilities

The future of healthcare facilities

Oct 4, 20227 min read

There are many factors involved in the recent evolution of healthcare, but one thing is for certain: Covid-19 exposed major deficiencies and sped up the need for innovation. Many of…

Mega mind shift

Mega mind shift

Oct 4, 20227 min read

In a developing country, economic climate change and compliance with regulations and legislation within the construction industry have proved to be major stumbling blocks for property developers. To exacerbate the…

Delivery of crucial infrastructure projects in a heated market

Delivery of crucial infrastructure projects in a heated market

Oct 4, 20226 min read

The world’s infrastructure gap is growing. It’s estimated by the Global Infrastructure Outlook to be in excess of $15 trillion, driven by growing populations, change in demand, and the need…

Navigating uncertainty in the short term

Navigating uncertainty in the short term

Oct 4, 20225 min read

Whether here in the UK, or across the world in Oceania, there can be no doubt that those in the built environment have moved from advising clients on certainty of…

Reducing financial risks for the lender

Reducing financial risks for the lender

Oct 4, 20226 min read

Financing construction projects can be a risky business for many reasons. Major risk to schedules and budgets are all too common – amounting to what can be a costly minefield…

Digitalisation in Hong Kong’s healthcare developments

Digitalisation in Hong Kong’s healthcare developments

Oct 4, 20226 min read

The prevailing pandemic is a wake-up call for governments around the world. The healthcare infrastructure in most if not all countries or regions is grossly inadequate or outdated to cope…

How small infrastructure can make a big difference

How small infrastructure can make a big difference

Oct 5, 20225 min read

A new hospital or a highway attracts headlines and political headspace in Australia. Institutional investors are increasingly on the hunt for childcare, student accommodation and social housing assets. But other…

Energy security: The latest challenge for the power-hungry data centre sector

Energy security: The latest challenge for the power-hungry data centre sector

Oct 6, 20225 min read

‘Energy security’, i.e. access to reliable, continuous and affordable power supplies, was a concept that didn’t demand a huge amount of attention prior to the Russia/Ukraine conflict. However, with the…

Rethinking stadiums

Rethinking stadiums

Oct 6, 20225 min read

Almost 50 major league stadiums will turn 30 by 2030, leaving team owners, municipalities, and investors to decide whether to renovate or replace, as has been the case for six of…

Managing construction inflation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Managing construction inflation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Oct 6, 20228 min read

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 is building entire cities in a bid to future-proof its economy. Yet, when Vision 2030 was announced in 2016, nobody could have…

Why the future is in five dimensions

Why the future is in five dimensions

Oct 6, 20225 min read

The future of 5D BIM has been a long time coming. Way back in 1962, engineer and internet pioneer, Doug Engelbart, painted a clear picture. The architect of the future,…

Future skills: Building a better built environment

Future skills: Building a better built environment

Oct 6, 20225 min read

The skills required in our industry are evolving daily and with digitalisation, many jobs are now being replaced with more efficient ways of working. However, unlike in other sectors, the…

Project managers: Know your workforce

Project managers: Know your workforce

Oct 6, 20226 min read

The number of considerations that go into starting a construction project are almost too numerous to count. Contracts, materials, labor, deadlines, even weather, to name a few.  They vary from…