Monthly Archives: April 2015

Maga to construct Rs. 10.3 b worth South Asia’s first-ever ‘Green University Town’

(Daily FT : 20 November 2013)

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National School of Business Management facility in Homagama to help Sri Lanka’s quest to be a knowledge hub

By Shabiya Ali Ahlam As part of an overall effort to make Sri Lanka a knowledge hub and marking a turning point in the country’s education landscape, work on South Asia’s first-ever ‘Green University Town’ was kicked off yesterday. The construction contract for the National School of Business Management (NSBM) Green University Complex in Homagama was ceremoniously handed over to MAGA Engineering Ltd., with Minister of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Dullas Alahapperuma as the Chief Guest. NSBM CEO Dr. E. A. Weerasinghe, NIBM Chairman Prof. Lakshman Jayathilake, MAGA Engineering Chairman/Managing Director M. G. Kularatne, Bank of Ceylon General Manager D.M. Gunasekara, Ministry of Higher Education Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navarathne and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Skills Development Secretary K. A. Tilakaratne were amongst other Government officials at the event. Conceptualised by NSBM, which is linked to the National Institute of Business Management (NIBM), the green university will cost Rs. 10.3 billion and State giant Bank of Ceylon will finance it. Construction work is expected to start on 18 December 2013 on an auspicious note.

The university The NSBM green university, designed by engineering consultants, will be built in Pitipana, Homagama, on 26 acres of land with a construction cost of Rs. 8.615 billion. Expected to reach completion in 24 months, the facility is expected to house 30,000 local and international undergraduates. The upcoming university will have the faculties of computing, management and engineering and will feature state-of-the-art lecture hall facilities, laboratories, libraries, modern auditoriums and cutting-edge tech labs, offering the highest standards of education. It will also offer hostels, free study areas, cinemas, expansive lounge and walking areas, swimming pools, modern gymnasium, and a business unit. The objective of having such facilities is to offer students a complete education and a live-in facility, bringing the university experience of 21st century to their doorstep.

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Knowledge hub Minister Alahapperuma said the building of the Green University Town brings Sri Lanka a step closer in becoming a knowledge hub in the region. “Sri Lanka is on a fast track to development and the NSBM Green University Town will provide the necessary platform to develop human resource suiting its future. Modern education is about creating global graduates through innovative and experiential learning. This Government is proud to take the helm in delivering this change which would transform the nation into the ‘Wonder of Asia’,” he added. The Minister also said the project would contribute greatly to the national economy since along with the growth of the knowledge base; the foreign direct income earned via international students will also increase. Sharing similar sentiments, NSBM CEO Dr. Weerasinghe affirmed that the Green University Town will help promote Sri Lanka as an educational hub in the region. “Sri Lanka has amply demonstrated the strength of its education system with its highly-skilled and knowledgeable human resource base. However, despite the potency of our system, we have struggled to position ourselves amongst the top educational institutes in the world. NSBM is a proud catalyst in changing the future and the education potential of the nation. We are privileged to work with some of the best talent in the education and construction sphere to deliver this ground breaking project,” expressed Dr. Weerasinghe.

Highly efficient team in place MAGA expressed confidence on the timely completion of the unique building within 24 months with accepted quality as it has a ‘highly efficient team,’ according to its Chairman. Speaking to the Daily FT, Kularatne shared that the company in fact hopes to complete the project ahead of schedule, just as it has done with many other project. Although this is not the first time MAGA is taking over a university project, it is the first time it will construct a green university. Kularatne noted that the idea of the Green University Town is about the performance of the buildings using minimum power. In addition to the maximisation of natural lighting and ventilation which will achieved by having expansive open spaces in the buildings, other ‘green’ characteristics of the project include, green rooftops, rainwater harvesting, solid waste management, and preserving the natural green environment in the complex. While the NSBM project is amongst the top contracts MAGA has successfully bagged in the recent past, in terms of human resource the company will allocate approximately 1,500 persons in total, of which 200 will be staff, and 30 will be chartered engineers

http://www.ft.lk/article/217372/MAGA-to-construct-Rs--10-3-b-worth-South-Asia%E2%80%99s-first-ever-%E2%80%98Green-University-Town%E2%80%99-

Maga Engineering wins Excellence in Engineering award for 2013

(Daily FT : 02 October 2013)

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Maga Engineering Ltd. won the coveted Excellence in Engineering award for 2013 too from the Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), for its achievements in the sphere of Infrastructure Construction. Maga received the award, which is the highest recognition for excellence in the construction sector in Sri Lanka, during the IESL Engineering Excellence Awards Ceremony held recently in Colombo.

Maga has won a record of 57 National Construction awards within a span of 20 years, as well as the National Business Excellence Award in the Construction and Engineering sector from the National Chamber of Commerce for the past five consecutive years. The company continued to play a leading role in the infrastructure development in Sri Lanka in 2012/13, executing work on 12 building projects with a total floor area of over 2,900,000 sq. ft., five water supply schemes serving over 310,000 residents and road networks spanning over 643 km, several bridges and a flyover.

“During the year, the company has completed several landmark infrastructure projects such as the A-9 road, Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Kalladi Bridge, A-35 road, Northern Road Connectivity Project, Point Pedro Water Supply Project, Greater Kandy Water Supply Project, Hambantota Port Administrative Complex and ‘Sethsiripaya Stage II’. In doing so, the company has also created employment and supported the livelihood of over 2,100 persons from the local communities of former war-torn areas,” commented Maga Engineering Chairman M.G. Kularatne.

The company’s substantial growth in the water supply sector, was evidenced by Maga being recognised as the Best Contractor in the Water Supply Sector by the NWS & DB, on the way to becoming a key stakeholder in the national goal of providing safe, pipe-borne drinking water to the entire population by 2025. Maga also heightened its focus on large-scale community development projects, including a LKR 100 million contribution to the ‘Api Wenuwen Api’ housing project of the Ministry of Defence for the differently-abled war heroes.

In late 2012, the company carried out landmark environmental educational programs in the Eastern province in collaboration with the Central Environmental Authority. Its pioneering focus on sustainable buildings has manifested through two landmark high-rise building projects viz the 32-storey Fairway Sky Gardens and the 45-storey Clear Point Residencies, which will become the tallest green building in the world. Maga Engineering has the distinction of being the only Platinum rated construction company in the Corporate Accountability Index of Sri Lanka.

http://www.ft.lk/article/196290/Maga-wins-Excellence-in-Engineering-award

Maga Engineering hosts Engineering and Construction Forum

(Daily FT : 09 September 2013)

Engineering forum

Sri Lanka’s leading construction firm Maga Engineering hosted its inaugural Engineering and Construction Forum in Colombo recently. The session was a meeting point for over 325 managers, engineers and key staff of the company in an effort to promote the exchange of new ideas and trends whilst discussing the future potential of the construction industry. The development of key infrastructure and the company and industry’s role in supporting the development drive of the State was one of the key areas of discussion at the forum. Governor of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka Ajith Nivaard Cabraal was the Chief Guest at the inaugural session

http://www.ft.lk/article/186926/Maga-Engineering-hosts-Engineering-and-Construction-Forum

Ground-level living in the sky

(Daily FT : 13 December 2013)

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  • Units now up for grabs of the world’s tallest residential vertical garden ‘Clear Point Residencies’ Kotte
  • First of its kind sustainable high-rise apartment complex to finish construction in 2016
  • Hopes to achieve ROI in 2014

By Cheranka Mendis

Sri Lanka’s first ever sustainable high-rise apartment complex Clear Point Residencies, which is also deemed to be the world’s tallest residential vertical garden, is now selling units after a gala launch Tuesday evening.

The Rs. 6 billion development project is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka and is a 46-storey structure accommodating 164 bedrooms with four apartments per level.

Having attracted a staggering response both at the launch and the morning after, Architect Milroy Perera, under whose eyes the building was designed and developed, is confident that the Return on Investment (ROI) of the project could be earned back very soon, possibly within the next few months.

Perera noted that one buyer even showed interest in purchasing 28 apartments on the whole. As a special feature, any buyer that purchases two apartments receives a tempting 30x13, 4ft private plunge pool.

Another surprising fact that was revealed was that the majority of inquires came from returning Sri Lankan expats.

Designed in an unique eco-friendly approach by Perera and his team of environmentally conscious architects of Milroy Perera Associates Ltd., together with Maga Engineering Ltd., the complex has been drawn up with large terraces filled with plants and greenery, creating a sensation of ground-level living with the panoramic views of a high-rise abode.

With self-sustaining gardens and energy-saving systems, Clear Point Residences, addresses the usual modern conveniences of apartment-living by providing privacy on an open terrace and a tranquil environment within a bustling city.

Why the tallest tower?

After a wait of five years to get all approvals in place, construction for the single tower in Kotte stated in June this year and is now steadily progressing.

A single development, the tower has been planned using careful calculations Perera said in an interview with Daily FT. A long standing dream to create sustainable living, Perera noted: “You cannot achieve dreams now without calculations. The height of the tower comes from that.” Having included the land, building, value addition and amenity costs as well taking in to consideration the need for space and going by their usual four units per level rule, the number of stories were decided upon, he said.

“There are so many common amenities offered by competitors,” he added. Clear Point will be offering fully fledged tennis, badminton and squash courts along with a fully equipped gymnasium among others.

Sustainability is key

With sustainability as its core, the structure has been designed in an approach that has a minimum impact on the adjoining environment while offering luxurious living in an urban location.

“This was part of the dream,” Perera revealed. Having being involved in developing the famous Kandalama Hotel in Dambulla over 20 years ago, Perera noted that the thought of developing something that is equally sustainable was always on his mind.

“Then, sustainability was at fairly elementary levels. Today things have evolved and people are more conscious about environment.”

But Sri Lanka is not a great polluter anyhow, he added. “Even if we increase cars on the street by another two million, we will not qualify as a great polluter. It was and is part of our culture.”

The word ‘green’ however has now become stale. “It has been commercialised and sold to people. We try to stay away from calling ourselves green.”

A garden in the sky

Speaking on the what inspired the garden concept inspired, Perera stated that various factors were taken in to consideration to finally decide to go with a “tropicalised, Sri Lankanised” building.

Generally in a high rise, if one takes ten steps back from the window what can be viewed is the sky, and if you are lucky you just might see a cloud pass by, he said.

“There was actually an illness called the high-rise blues created by staring at the sky. In England when they started high rise buildings in the 1960s people soon got tired of it and suicide rates went up, because they had nothing to do other than stare at the sky,” he added. “All this has been taken into account world over.”

Perera himself is an avid lover of plants. “I love trees!” he enthused. A variety of plants and trees that are currently on the extinct list will be planted on the terraces.

“What we are trying to do is create a situation where you don’t have to change your lifestyle at all, you get all the luxuries you want and in addition you get a feeling that you are on ground level.”

Reducing its carbon

foot print

Several features help make the building sustainable. In a significant step towards sustainable development and energy conservation, Clear Point will use solar panels to produce electricity for communal areas, while the additional electricity will be sold to the CEB national grid via a net metering system. “We have cut back the intake of electricity from the national grid by 40% with the use of some 13,000 square feet of solar panels.”

They will also recycle the building’s grey water – i.e. water collected from bathroom sinks and showers. They water will be recycled and purified to be less than 10 BOD (Bio Oxygen Demand) and by doing so, they manage to cut another 40% off the national water grid.

The treated water will also be used for drip irrigation. All trees and plants will be automatically watered using a computer controlled system. Moreover, rain water will be harvested and solid waste disposed efficiently.

The design of the apartments with its large terraces also support the cause, as the plants will create a green cover and provide a natural cooling system (no heat gain), while also acting as a buffer for noise, dust and producing fresh natural oxygen for residents.

Timing and demand

“It was fate,” Perera asserted. “When we did Kandalama we always had an idea to do this kind of thing but never had the opportunity to do it. Today the opportunity exists and the time is also right. Things have changed. People want to buy.”

If it is the right kind of apartment or residence there is always a market for it. Those that are not easily sold are either badly built or are in the wrong place. “A person looking to buy an apartment is not just looking for a place to buy; it is a way of life which is higher than anything else they own.”

Certain forums have raised the question of the supply and demand of apartment complexes – with so many residential towers coming in, who will buy the products? This is likely to change with development in the country, he said.

“How long are we going to stay the way we are now? We want to progress. Towns are just shooting up and we are going in to the sea here. We are looking at land. I am architect; I have a responsibility to my country.”

Prior projects

The design firm has previously been involved in the construction of The Fairway and Fairmount Residencies in Kotte, as well as the conceptual design of Sky Gardens. In all these residences, emphasis has been placed on spacious living spaces and breath-taking views, and Clear Point will be no exception to this design philosophy.

However, with Clear Point, in addition to having a beautiful home in a serene environment one will also be playing a part in contributing to environmental conservation and sustainable living.

They were also the local consultants for the British High Commission building, and under its portfolio boast Kandalama Hotel in Dambulla, Blue Waters Hotel in Wadduwa and Access Towers in Union Place among others.

 http://www.ft.lk/article/227498/Ground-level-living-in-the-sky