‘All About High Rise’ conclave kicks off tomorrow

The conference ‘All About High Rise’ kicks off tomorrow at the BMICH presenting the key areas of a high-rise building. It will give a complete eye over high-rise buildings covering the structural and architectural designing, façade technologies, MVAC, MEP, vertical transportation and fire and safety aspects. 
The agenda of the conference is to bring right knowledgeable professionals under one roof and focus on how the new high-rise buildings can be made to match the global standards and deliver quality to urban structures. The conference is supported by Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Sri Lanka and the main sponsor Alumex PLC. 
The highlight of the conference will be its eminent international speakers, who hold the experience of working on the super high-rise buildings of more than 60 levels. Migara Alwis of Design Consortium, Sri Lanka with experience of working on one of the well-known buildings of Sri Lanka, Hyatt Regency, will speak on high rise architectural design and detailing. 
The concrete technology and structural designing techniques will be presented by  Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Sri Lanka President Eng. Shiromal Fernando, who has the experience of more than 20 years of contributing towards the construction industry and associated with renowned projects like Consultant to the 350 m tall Colombo Lotus tower for Sri Lanka Telecommunication Regulation Commission, Keells City project, local responsible structural engineer for Balmond Studio, UK, Six Star Sheraton Hotel. 
Girish Dravid, Sterling Engineering Consultancy, India, will talk on high rise structural design and detailing. He is responsible for many high-rise buildings in India that include the prestigious 320 m tall Palais Royale at Mumabi, eight million square feet Dhirubhai Ambani International Convention Centre. 
Tony Keepa, DGL, New Zealand will share his 30 years of expertise on high-rise façade technologies and its relevance. ASHRAE Sri Lanka Chapter Past President and Inaire (Pvt.) Ltd Chairman/MD Eng. Wimal Jayakody, who is serving the HVAC industry from past more than 30 years, sharing his knowledge on several international forums, will present on MVAC challenges in high rise. MEP designing for high rise will be addressed by Indradeva Mendis, ORCL, Sri Lanka.
Nalini Raghavan, Director, TAK Consulting, India, the consultant to many super high-rise buildings like Supertech Supernova Spira and North Eye, will introduce the delegates with the vertical transportation in high rise. TAK Consulting has the understanding and experience of over 400 projects and has handled a portfolio of over 5000 units. 
The fire and safety aspects for high rise will be discussed by M.I. Fire E (UK) Chief Fire Officer Sri Lanka P.N.R. Fernando. He will share his experience of working with the Sri Lankan construction industry and the codes which can resolve certain challenges faced during the fire crisis in high-rise buildings.
This conference will be a fruitful platform for the construction industry professionals, since it is designed keeping in mind the upcoming development and new buildings in Sri Lanka. 
The conference will be open for the Construction Industry Development Authority (CIDA), Institution of Engineers Sri Lanka (IESL), Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau Sri Lanka (CECB), Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA), Institute of Quantity Surveyors Sri Lanka (IQSSL), Institute of Project Managers (IPM), Society of Structural Engineers Sri Lanka (SSE SL), Fire Department, Urban Development Authority (UDA), ASHARE, Building Department, Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat Sri Lanka, University of Moratuwa, University of Peradeniya and University of Ruhuna.
Showcraft International (Pvt.) Ltd Director Namit Gupta said, “It will bring in the opportunity of knowledge exchange and open the market for accepting the global standards. A building involves not only money and material but it requires the appropriate use and mix of money, mind, technique and tools. There is a saying from legend architect Frank Lloyd Wright, ‘The good building is not the one that hurts the landscape but one which makes the landscape more beautiful than it was before the building was built’.”  
Showcraft International (Pvt.) Ltd is the organiser of this conference.