Construction Management (CM) is an innovative approach in Latin America but is widely used in the rest of the world. SYASA is gaining experience in managing complex and significant construction projects in the region as a Construction Manager. The company has worked and continues to work in various sectors, including the hospitality industry, historic restoration, various types of real estate development, and infrastructure projects.
Notable examples of his work include the Hotel Carrasco in Uruguay; the construction and renovation of the Teatro Colón, the Faena Hotel, Los Molinos, Aeropuertos 2000, and ports in Argentina; more than twelve high-rise smart buildings in Panama; and several buildings currently under construction that are set to receive LEED certification, including corporate offices and shopping centers.
Series program:
"Restoration and Revitalization of Buildings" - Architect Luis Angel Ficco Santamaria - Monday, October 3.
Architectural heritage is part of a community’s identity and culture; therefore, in projects involving the conservation, renovation, and revitalization of historic buildings, it is crucial to preserve their identity and historical style while incorporating the modernity and functionality required today.
We must take great care to ensure that the splendor of the past once again illuminates the landscape of which these buildings have been a part, and to preserve the valuable legacy that previous generations have bequeathed to us. This conference featured successful case studies of the restoration of iconic buildings in the region, such as the Teatro Colón—a project that has won international awards—the Faena Hotel, and the work carried out to date at the Hotel Carrasco, to name a few examples of projects in Latin America.
Architect Ficco Santamaria works for SYASA as an architect on the Hotel Casino Carrasco (Montevideo) and the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires. He has received several awards for competition entries in collaboration with various architectural firms, notably the award received by SYASA for the Teatro Colón project, recognized by the Construction Management Association of America as the best international CM project in 2010.
"Construction Management" – Engineer Rodolfo Seminario – Tuesday, October 4.
The speaker provided an in-depth discussion of this method of executing construction projects, which has recently been adopted in some Latin American countries and has been widely used since the 1960s in other parts of the world. He described the procedures, advantages, and disadvantages of the model. He analyzed the reasons behind the development of the contracting system and the approach to various challenges in the different scenarios that arise in a construction project.
He also analyzed the application of the methodology to projects with different characteristics. He explained why the system promotes direct dialogue and integrated organization. The stakeholders involved participate in decision-making without any potential conflicts of interest. The project is thus enriched by the contributions of the various participants, generating consensus-based, efficient solutions that increase its value, providing greater assurance that it will be completed without conflicts and within the agreed-upon or improved timeframes and costs. At the conference, he presented successful projects where these outcomes were achieved thanks to the CM’s efforts.
Mr. Seminario is the President and Founder of SYASA. He holds a postgraduate degree in Civil Engineering from the Bradford Institute of Technology in England. He is a member of the American Association of Cost Engineers, the Society of American Value Engineers (SAVE), and the Construction Management Association of America.
"Value Engineering in Construction Projects" - Mr. Rodolfo Seminario - Wednesday, October 5.
An important responsibility of the CM service is to achieve the same or better project functionalities while reducing costs or improving the perceived value of the project for the investor and/or the end client. The Value Engineering (VE) process is the work carried out by the CM to maximize the value of the final product while minimizing costs. This process should ideally take place during the pre-construction phase and then when the design reaches the detailed design stage. This practice allows for a reduction in the total project costs through the analysis and suggestion of alternative technical solutions to the proposals. The goal is to achieve the lowest total cost while fulfilling the required function and essential characteristics of the project. VE seeks to achieve a greater perception of value among the project’s end users, either with identical performance and lower costs, or with similar costs.
SYASA has two million square meters of projects underway in the sectors of Architecture, gas, oil, and infrastructure. It employs over 270 professionals who, distributed throughout Latin America, manage projects ranging from Mexico to Argentina. The company executes projects using the Construction Management contractual methodology. It serves developers, investors, and clients in general. When participating in construction projects, it applies a distinct and advantageous approach to contracting that allows the contractual relationship to adapt to technological and environmental changes, without potential conflicts of interest.