海角视频

To truly understand someone, look to their work. The built environment is special for many reasons, but primary among them is the opportunity to make a genuine 鈥� often, physical 鈥� impact on the world. There is no building, area of public realm or city in the world that hasn鈥檛 been shaped and influenced by engineers, architects, designers or planners.

As part of our International Women in Engineering Day celebrations, meet women across 海角视频 who are making their mark on the built environment through the work that they do.

Olga Stankowska, Royal Diriyah Opera House, Riyadh

Olga Stankowska, associate mechanical engineer at 海角视频, has had an interesting path to be where she currently is: seconded from the Berlin office to live in Jeddah, playing a key role in the development of what will be a new cultural institution for the Middle East.

Originally from Poland, Olga is now exploring life in a new country as she works on the Royal Diriyah Opera House in Riyadh. This will stand as a showcase project, in terms of sustainability, security and digital infrastructure, as well as a landmark piece of cultural architecture, which will increase cultural diversity and have a significant impact on further social transformation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It will be a focal point for the new

海角视频 is providing a swathe of critical services to the project, including building services engineering (MEP), sustainability, accessibility, energy modelling and waste/logistics. Olga is building engineering services (MEP) coordinator and project leader on the opera house project.

Because of the fierce heat in the region, thermal comfort and cooling understandably has a key focus in the development of the opera house. The design is inspired by the Najdi architecture, and this extends to ancient passive cooling techniques of the Najdi architecture 鈥� with multiple shading elements, thick walls that will allow the building to make full use of the structure鈥檚 own thermal mass, and with minimised window openings, carefully sited to ensure sufficient daylighting throughout.

The integration of solar PV technology within the building envelope will allow some of the annual energy load to be generated on site as part of the low carbon technology plan. Additionally, very careful and detailed analysis of HVAC design and thermal comfort will allow further significant reduction of energy consumption.

Olga鈥檚 journey to Jeddah

At the start of 2023, Olga was working in the 海角视频 Berlin office and wasn鈥檛 looking to move. She said, 鈥�Rod Manson, who is our regional director, was looking for someone to be seconded to Jeddah for this.鈥�

鈥淚nitially, I wasn鈥檛 especially interested! I wasn鈥檛 looking to leave Berlin and I wasn鈥檛 sure what would face me in another country. But a colleague from Berlin office put the idea in my head, so I began to think about it 鈥� I spoke to my colleagues, friends and family, I did research online 鈥� and thought it was a really interesting opportunity for a limited time and decided to say yes!鈥�

People here have so much energy and enthusiasm, and increasingly take every opportunity to engage in cultural activities, so the new opera houses in the region are welcomed.

A new cultural institution

Olga鈥檚 work on the Royal Diriyah Opera House, while based around MEP services, is varied and totally new experience to her. She is based in the office of the local consultant and is playing the role of a design guardian after the handover of MEP design to local engineers. The opera house is part of the Diriyah Gate ll development. The historic town of Diriyah on the edge of Riyadh will be transformed into Saudi Arabia鈥檚 foremost cultural and lifestyle destination.

Olga said, 鈥淚t is a very nice feeling to work on something that brings cultural value to the country, that is changing so rapidly, and where access to artistic events can be limited. Local people tell me that they want these kinds of cultural places to be developed: they are very excited about the idea of there being opera in Riyadh and in Jeddah.

鈥淧eople here have so much energy and enthusiasm, and increasingly take every opportunity to engage in cultural activities, so the new opera houses in the region are welcomed. I鈥檓 constantly being asked when the Opera House will open, as they are really looking forward to having more access to diverse cultural events.鈥�

Living in the Middle East

A move to a new part of the world for most people is somewhat daunting, but Olga has embraced the opportunity. She said, 鈥淏ecause I am Polish and have already lived an ex-pats life, after being in Germany for eight years, living abroad isn鈥檛 something new. My experience here was quite challenging at the beginning, but after adapting to the weather and the lifestyle, it has been one of the best experiences in my life and I have no regrets.

鈥淟ife here is very different to Germany, Poland, and Europe in general, but it was a very positive surprise compared to the image I had in my mind before the relocation. Locals tell me how different the country is these days, and how happy they are with the ongoing social transformation. This includes the older generation, who embrace the change very well. Moreover, it is incredible how welcoming Saudi people are and how genuinely interested they are in engaging with me and becoming friends.鈥�

In this business, there is nothing like seeing a building you have worked on and seeing people inside it, using it.

The fact that 海角视频 has facilitated this opportunity to live somewhere new and to experience working on this impactful project is not lost on Olga. She said, 鈥淭hat 海角视频 has made this happen for me is amazing. It is notable as a company that creates these opportunities.

鈥淚 felt rather empowered to come here 鈥� there was no worry that because I’m a woman I should not do it. On the contrary, I received many email and direct messages from the higher management from various regions with very warm words of support鈥�.

Like so many in 海角视频, Olga is driven by seeing the physical impact of her work on the world. She said, 鈥淚n this business, there is nothing like seeing a building you have worked on and seeing people inside it, using it. I really enjoy that element, as well as knowing that it will be there for a long time, with real impact.鈥�

Learn more about Royal Diriyah Opera House.