THOUGHT LEADERS SERIES: STEVE DANIELS

The Windows, Doors & Facades Event (WDF), the largest event dedicated to the windows, doors and facades industry in the Middle East, ​ will host Steve Daniels as a key speaker this year. The Global Facades Leader at Aurecon will be delivering a presentation on "How to Engineer an artwork: the Constellation at Founder’s Memorial in Abu Dhabi" at WDF's Future of Facades Summit, on September 24.

Here's what he told us ahead of the event:

In your opinion, what are the major trends in the facades industry today?

I’ve been in the industry for 30 years and in that time not much has changed: we’ve seen mainly improvements in the technology of glass and coatings.

However, what has changed is computer technology, and computing power.

This has allowed the architects to develop much more wonderful forms in design, and the facade industry has had to keep up with that and develop technology that can produce these designs. It’s a truth that necessity is the mother of invention! 

What are the major challenges you face when it comes to facades engineering and design in the GCC? And how do you overcome these challenges?

We cannot get away from the fact that we are a financially driven market. We have to help our clients understand the value in whole-life costing.

What this means in facades is that if our clients pay a little bit more for the engineering, the design, the architecture, the installation, these projects will last longer and deliver better performance for a longer period of time and actually deliver better value for the clients.

What can industry professionals expect to learn by attending your presentation at WDF?

I'm really excited to be able to talk about the Founders Memorial and the Constellation at the Future of Facade Summit.

Delegates will learn that facade engineering is not what they think it is. They will learn some interesting facts about designing an artwork, and they will learn how my wife's jewellery was instrumental in the design.

Why should industry professionals attend an event like Windows, Doors & Facades?

A big, well-attended event is always a good opportunity to catch up on what's happening within the market. It's also an opportunity that we shouldn't miss to catch up with our clients, our colleagues, our friends within the industry and to network with them.

Register and attend for free Steve Daniels' presentation by clicking HERE. ​

^{About Steve Daniels}

^{Steve Daniels is Aurecon’s Global Facades Leader and has more than 30 years of international experience in project management and consultancy on some of the world’s most iconic buildings - including the Dubai Creek Tower, Burj Khalifa (Dubai), The Constellation at Founder’s Memorial (Abu Dhabi), MOTIONGATE Theme Park (Dubai), Petronas Towers (Malaysia), Swiss Re Headquarters (United Kingdom), and International Finance Tower (Hong Kong).}

^{Steve has particular experience in super high-rise and geometrically complex buildings. His key attribute is ‘sense maker’ and he enjoys the challenge of making the complex simple. Steve’s professional ‘why’ is seeing clients recognising and appreciating the value which he brings to their projects. He takes particular pleasure in developing young professionals into exceptional engineers.}