Department for International Trade appoints Resource Futures for UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

Department for International Trade appoints Resource Futures for UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai

As construction begins on the eye-catching UK Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, the Department for International Trade has tasked independent environmental consultancy, Resource Futures, to lead a team to explore decommissioning possibilities.

Resource Futures, with a team that includes Construction Scotland Innovation Centre (CSIC) and Victoria Bond Consulting, will assess the future of the UK Pavilion post event. The centrepiece of the design will be a 20-metre-high cone-shaped, cross laminated timber (CLT) construction, which will be the focus of the UK’s presence at the international exhibition from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021.

In accordance with Expo’s target for the site to be restored post event and for each Country Pavilion to redeploy, recycle or return 75 percent of construction materials back to the manufacturer, Resource Futures and collaborators will focus on ensuring the maximum amount of materials are diverted from landfill.

Resource Futures also aims to provide a framework for future decommissions where options can be scored against metrics such as carbon savings, legacy, ease of logistics and cost to help assess future concepts.

Allan Sandilands, Principal Consultant at Resource Futures, said:

“The UK at Expo 2020 Dubai project team are an exemplar in terms of valuing deconstruction as much as construction itself, setting the example for the construction industry on an international stage”.

“Far too often, decommissioning and end of life is an after-thought which results in unnecessary wastage and missed opportunities. We look forward to helping to develop a strategic, sustainable outcome for the decommissioning of the UK Pavilion.”

Laura Faulkner, UK Commissioner and Project Director for Expo 2020 Dubai, said:

“Delivering a strong legacy for the UK’s participation in Expo 2020 Dubai is an integral part of the project. As a nation, we are at the forefront of sustainable construction techniques and so I am delighted to be working with Resource Futures on the physical legacy of the UK Pavilion. Their expertise and proposed solutions will feed into our overarching legacy ambitions, including digital, business and cultural benefits as a result of the UK’s participation in this major world event.”

The UK Pavilion will be built using sustainable construction methods, local suppliers and responsibly and sustainably sourced materials.

Pico International has been awarded the Construction contract for the UK Pavilion, working with their sub-contractor, McLaren.

Expo 2020 Dubai is expected to receive 25 million visits from across the world. The UK Pavilion will showcase the best of British innovation, creativity and expertise to the world, with an accompanying six-month programme of activity to engage business and consumer audiences for six months.

About Expo 2020 Dubai 
Expo 2020 Dubai is taking place from 20 October 2020 to 10 April 2021 with 192 nations participating, and some 25 million people expected to visit. It is a great exhibition that will showcase the achievements of world nations. A festival of human ingenuity, Expo 2020 aims to create opportunities for all, wherever they live, to reinforce and re-energise progress towards a sustainable future. The UK will be participating at Expo 2020 Dubai with a self-build Pavilion based on the theme ‘Innovating for a Shared Future’. It will showcase an innovative and creative design to promote the UK’s international agenda and British innovation, creativity and leadership. Find out more on gov.uk/ukpavilion2020  

About the Department for International Trade (DIT) helps businesses export, drives inward and outward investment, negotiates market access and trade deals, and champions free trade. We are an international economic department, responsible for: 

• supporting and encouraging UK businesses to drive sustainable international growth
• ensuring the UK remains a leading destination for international investment and maintains its number one position for international investment stock in Europe
• opening markets, building a trade framework with new and existing partners which is free and fair
• using trade and investment to underpin the government’s agenda for a Global Britain and its ambitions for prosperity, stability and security worldwide.  

About Construction Scotland Innovation Centre CSIC supports Scotland’s construction related businesses to innovate, collaborate and grow by matching innovation requirements with business support and academic specialists. Focusing on innovation support around Business models, Products, Processes and Service models, CSIC offers advice, funding, facilitation and access to cutting edge equipment and expertise, improving Scotland’s global competitiveness and delivering social, environmental and economic impact. CSIC facilitates collaboration with Scottish businesses, academia (through 13 partner universities) and public sector organisations, enabling projects to benefit from Scotland’s world-renowned skills and expertise in areas such as BIM, Advanced Materials, Automation and Robotics, Low Carbon Solutions, Virtual and Augmented Reality and Smart Cities.

About Victoria Bond Consulting
Victoria Bond Consulting Ltd provides UK and international waste and resource management consultancy services to a variety of public and private sector organisations. With staff having lived and worked in the UK, Australasia and the Middle East, we can provide real expertise with local knowledge, utilising our own experiences and where necessary, liaising with our global allies.