Page 14 - Building Journal - May 2017

project News

3D printing for entire buildings
or for components in
construction projects

A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
was recently signed between AECOM, an
infrastructure firm and construction 3D
printing organization Yingchuang Building
Technique (Shanghai) Co Ltd, also known as
Winsun. This agreement allows AECOM and
Winsun to pursue opportunities together for
the next three years in order to deliver the
benefits of 3D printing of buildings and their
components to clients around the globe.
3D printing is an additive manufacturing
technique that has been used for several
years to produce small objects less than one normal in the short term and further develop
meter across. In recent years, the scale of with huge potential in the long run as the city
objects that can be printed has increased to evolves.
encompass a wider range of applications,
including in the aerospace and automotive Grade-A Office
sectors. At the largest scale yet, 3D printing On Hong Kong Island, Office demand in
for entire buildings or for components Central s premium buildings remained
in construction projects is emerging as a strong. As tight availability persists, it is
potentially disruptive technology in the expected that Centrals Grade-A office rents
construction industry. The potential benefits to continue to rise in 2017, which will further
of 3D printing for construction project accelerate the relocation of multinational
include, reduced error as the design and and professional services firms. The Kowloon
fabrication are part of an integrated digital leasing market was very active in April, with
process and decreased waste generated on more than 100 deals recorded in the month.
site. Most transactions involved relocation to
AECOM and Winsun are already seeing
potential collaborative project opportunities Kowloon East, reconfirming that cost-saving
motives remained a key demand driver.
for clients in the Middle East and expect
to find many others geographies where the Residential
technology can help overcome particular Residential sales rose another 20% month
local challenges. Developing regions in on month in April 2017, reaching 7,060, the
Asia and Africa are expected to account for highest level since October 2016. According
most of the world's new urbanization in the to the Transportation and Housing Bureau,
coming decades, for example, China's Belt primary housing supply is expected to reach
and Road Initiative is projected to generate 96,000 flats in the coming 3-4 years, the
new infrastructure opportunities where this highest since this data became available in
technology can be utilized.
2004. While on the one hand, abundant
Residential supply to reach a supply and interest-rate rises will help
suppress price growth; on the other hand,
record high of 96,000 units in high land prices and strong housing demand
the next 3-4 years will lend support to home prices, which are
expected to rise another 5-10% in 2017.
Knight Frank launches the latest Hong Kong
Monthly Report. In April, the Kowloon Retail
Grade-A office market stood out. In the Hong Kong s retail sales rebounded 3.1%
residential market, although home supply year on year in March 2017. It is expected
will reach a record 96,000 units in the next 3-4 that Hong Kongs retail market will achieve a
years, home prices are still set to rise further new normal in the short term and that it has
this year amid strong demand. Meanwhile, huge potential to develop, along with Hong
the retail market is set to achieve a new Kongs future evolution.

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