Gulf Building Awards 2008: Construction Consultant of the Year

Winner: EC Harris

EC Harris has built up a commendable reputation as one of the Gulf’s hardest-working and most forward-thinking consultants. The list of contracts it has won in the past 12 months is practically a guide to the region’s most exciting projects – from the Al Raha Beach in Abu Dhabi to the Dubai Lagoons (pictured). Its breadth of work is enviable – from project management to cost consultancy to value engineering and dispute resolution. In all these areas, the firm has become a trusted friend to some of the region’s largest clients. In its creation of a joint venture with Sama Dubai, it has shown its commitment to the region. Sama-ECH allows the firm to engage with the Gulf’s construction sector and build a truly world-class integrated project management business in the heart of the region.

Runners up

Currie & Brown

The Middle East accounts for 20% of Currie & Brown's global turnover, and its success in the region has increased actual turnover by 20%. Much of this is down to the company's fast-growing cost consultancy business in the region, which has worked contracts such as Dubai Lagoon. Its commitment to sustainability not only extends to its projects, but also to its internal philosophy - in the past year it has increased conference calls by 30% and cut travel and energy costs by 15%.

Davis Langdon

It's 60 years since Davis Langdon first set foot in the Middle East, and the firm continues to thrive there. In the past two years, it has seen sector revenue rise 167%, and this year it has opened two new offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Its hard-won reputation for superior cost management has been essential for projects such as Yas Island in Abu Dhabi and Nakheel's Palm Jebel Ali.

Faithful + Gould

Diversity is the name of Faithful + Gould's game. It offers a range of services across the spectrum of construction management and this year launched a number of initiatives to improve its environmental and corporate services. A pre-design carbon calculator has helped it win work on sustainability schemes such as the Dubai International Financial Centre Lighthouse, while its Whole Life Value toolkit allows clients to make informed investments based on a building's whole life value.

Hill International

One of Hill's many innovations this year was in health and safety. An engineer was having difficulty finding suitable safety officers for a project, and the client asked Hill to intervene. Through rigorous examination of legal and insurance considerations, Hill was able to set up a system allowing its own health and safety management team to work on the project - without voiding the client's liability. This typifies Hill's work - attention to detail, coupled with an ability to bring project team members together to find a common solution.

KEO International Consultants

The Education City project in Qatar is the best example of KEO's work. This is the largest development in the emirates, covering more than 1400ha, and it is providing construction management for the Dh55bn scheme. As well as overseeing 113 separate contracts, KEO has inaugurated a management system called Principals In Charge - dedicated team leaders who ensure the project is running smoothly and effectively.

Mace

Since Mace came to the Gulf in 1997, it has expanded from a team of five to a team of over 400 people working in more than six countries in the region. Its relationship with developer Majid Al Futtaim has seen it working on 33 developments for the developer, including the Mall of Dubai and Mirdif City shopping centre. Mace has built on its reputation in the Gulf by delivering all aspects of delivery, which explains why repeat orders account for as much as 80% of its work in the region.