Airports are a symbol of mobility. Aviation gives the main resource — time, giving the opportunity to get to the right place in a few hours instead of a few days or even weeks. Unfortunately, our country has significantly reduced its aviation infrastructure over the past decades. Today, only 19 airports operate commercial flights, that is, not even every regional center of Ukraine has air connections with the world. According to the most conservative estimates, two-thirds of the operating airports require modernization, and the degree of wear and tear of some of them reaches 95%. The government has recovery plans. Sometimes they call 30 regional airports, sometimes 15. Investments in the modernization of one airport are estimated by experts at $ 40 million. But besides the problem of finding financial resources, there is also the issue of creating and implementing modernization projects.
UVT GROUP is one of the few domestic companies that has airport projects in its portfolio and is actively expanding this direction.
Challenge projects with an engineering component
UVT GROUP was created in the crisis year of 2008. "We immediately focused on designing exclusively with the use of digital tools and BIM technologies. Therefore, even in 2008-2009, no matter what we talked about the crisis, there was a lot of work - both current projects and new orders," says Andrey Antonenko, founder and managing director of the UVT group of companies.
Andrey Antonenko, founder and managing director of UVT GROUP
At the start, in 2008, the company focused on designing engineering systems. Later, in 2016, together with Alexey Agafonov, UVT GROUP was transformed into a project organization.
To date, about 60 UVT GROUP employees have implemented more than 20 unique projects in Ukraine and the world.
Among the company's projects are the new terminal of the Zaporozhye airport, reconstruction of the Karavan shopping center (Kyiv), BIM of the Blockbuster shopping center and many other things in Ukraine and the world. Civil aviation facilities are recognized as the brightest projects, business cards not only of the company, but also of the cities where they are located. The terminal of the international airport in Zaporozhye was put into operation last year, at various stages of implementation — the international airport of Dnipro, Vinnytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk, Chernivtsi.
As reported by Alexey Agafonov, the state expertise of the Dnipro airport project has been passed, the terminal project in Vinnytsia should be examined in the near future, the expertise of the Metropolis shopping center has been received, the renovation project of the Karavan shopping center in Kharkov has passed the expertise.
"We develop all directions, except for "pure" housing. We are attracted by complex, interesting tasks from the point of view of construction of engineering networks, dilution of flows - commercial real estate, airports, industry. There is no clean housing, but it is like a part of multi-functional complexes," explains Alexey Agafonov, chief architect of UVT GROUP.
The new modern airport in Dnipro is being built in accordance with all international standards under the UVT GROUP project
Andrey Antonenko explains the relatively small part of residential projects in the company's portfolio: "The initial strategy was that we do all projects without exception using BIM technologies, and in Ukraine the prices for designing residential projects are lower than ours. Therefore, now we are competing in the market of more complex, point projects."
Aviation will be returned to the cities
The civil aviation sector is one of the most problematic, one might even say, launched in Ukraine. For more than 30 years, the infrastructure has not been systematically updated. The exception is several projects for Euro-2012, when runways and terminals were built in the cities hosting the games (Kiev, Lviv, Donetsk, Kharkiv) with credit and investor funds. And just a few years ago, Odessa finally received not only a new terminal with investor funds, but also a new strip.
With the exception of several projects for Euro-2012, the aviation infrastructure in Ukraine was not systematically updated
"In Ukraine, the non-participation of the state in the global development of airports has led to the fact that there are very few professional specialists in this industry on the market. We aim to become experts, we combine airport and engineering technologies," says Antonenko.
UVT GROUP gained experience in creating civil aviation projects during the preparation for Euro-2012. In particular, the company completed the design and installation of the engineering networks of terminals A and C, and the complete design of terminal D. During this time, the backbone of the UVT GROUP was formed.
The new terminal of Zaporozhye International Airport has an area of 12,3 thousand square meters. sq. m. Its capacity is 400 passengers per hour with a potential increase to 500. Bright facades, interiors and structural solutions are designed using BIM technologies
More or less, the situation with the renewal of aviation infrastructure is resolved in large cities, but it is much more difficult for non-millionaires to find resources for the construction of a terminal and arguments for the central government to allocate funds for the renewal of lanes (the lanes are state-owned).
But there are positive cases, and they were implemented by UVT GROUP. In particular, the Zaporozhye Airport was recognized as the best public project of 2020 at the EE Real Estate Forum and as the best industrial project at the CRE Awards.
Development without rules
The peculiarity of the Ukrainian market — the underdevelopment of the infrastructure — is exacerbated by the lack of actual standards for the design of terminals.
Alexey Agafonov, chief architect of UVT GROUP
"In Ukraine, there are no standards for the design of modern airports, there are construction standards from the 80s. And today, the terminal of the international airport is designed according to the norms of public buildings, and they do not even come close to airport technologies. It is necessary to find options so that the internal technological processes of the terminal are not violated within the framework of state building regulations. I research every airport I visit, and I've been to almost a hundred. A specific scrupulous analysis of technologies, operation of luggage equipment, and engineering departments was conducted at 15 airports. Also, we constantly monitor information from around the world, we study the norms for the construction of airports in developed countries," says the chief architect of UVT GROUP, Aleksey Agafonov.
In Ukraine, the terminal of the international airport is designed according to the norms of public buildings, and they are far from airport technologies
Andrey Antonenko adds that the situation with state cost norms is so advanced by the state that UVT GROUP even thought about writing the draft norms themselves. "In essence, what we are doing now is the creation of Ukrainian standards for airports. We study international experience, consult with operators of existing domestic airports, refine solutions," says Antonenko.
Museum of modern art, or calculated functionality
Agafonov notes that there are only two trends in the development of airports in the world. "Or from the terminal to make an "exhibition of modern art", and it doesn't matter what the budget is, the main thing is to "wow", bigger and better than everyone else's. Either a carefully calculated budget, functional planning, restrained design," Agafonov describes.
Ukrainian regional airports should rely only on the second option. "Earlier, there was also a trend in Ukraine for large, "bloated" spaces - every airport was built with ambitions to become a hub. We are following the path of an optimal, rational area," says Antonenko.
The terminal is the face of the city. But since the exterior is very dependent on the budget, architects have to find a compromise between the amount of money and beauty
For example, one of the projects of the Zaporozhye airport, which was considered by the customer, assumed a terminal area almost twice as large as that proposed by UVT GROUP. "But we were able to place all the necessary functions and processes on 12,3 sq. m and defended their proposal. Moreover, our optimization made it possible to provide even more bandwidth than planned. A similar story with other airports. "Rational planning makes it possible to pay off investments in the terminal faster," says Antonenko.
Agafonov adds that thanks to BIM, it is possible to make all the engineering as compact as possible and, as a result, it will free up the space of the terminal for passengers as much as possible. Such a rational approach gives significant savings both during the creation of the project and during its operation.
"When creating airports or shopping malls, we study the region, the site and choose the best architectural solution. For example, where is the best place to place engineering — above ground, underground. We calculate the flow of people, passengers and personnel inside buildings, traffic flows around the building, taking into account the delay at traffic lights, checkpoints, etc. We model evacuation calculations. We trace large-sized vehicles, calculate turning radii," says Agafonov.
And, of course, the exterior is important. "He is the face of the city - everyone understands this. But every time we face the fact that the exterior is very dependent on the budget, we have to find a compromise between the amount of money and beauty," shares Agafonov. This is a difficult task, but feasible: Alexey Agafonov managed to create a concept with renderings for the Zaporozhye Airport in just one day, which impressed the customers and was finally implemented.
Thanks to BIM, it is possible to make all the engineering as compact as possible and, as a result, free up the space of the terminal for passengers as much as possible. Such a rational approach gives significant savings both during the creation of the project and during its operation, which means that it allows for a faster return on investment
Aviation gives the main resource — time, giving the opportunity to get to the right place in a few hours instead of a few days or even weeks
The new terminal of the Zaporozhye airport has already been commissioned and launched. "It was a difficult project, for the money of the budget. We made it completely in BIM - all the engineering, on-site sections, the master plan, and we worked out a lot of design processes on it. As a result, the project turned out to be very interesting. Now we are planning the implementation of two galleries with two teletraps, we hope to successfully pass the examination this year, so that the customer has the opportunity to implement the project when it is needed. We are practically at the final stage of Zaporozhye. It is developing remarkably, there is a great management," notes Antonenko.
The Vinnytsia Airport was supposed to be the second implemented aviation project in the company's portfolio. "We already managed to complete the "project" stage, but due to the lack of finances, it was frozen for almost more than a year. We hope to take him to the expert examination in the near future," says Antonenko.
"Dnipro" Airport is included in the "Big Construction" program, an investor was found for the construction of the terminal - DCH
Vinnytsia project — reconstruction of an existing building. "It is necessary to understand when entering terminal reconstruction projects that no one has been involved in aviation infrastructure for the past 30 years. For example, during the inspection of the terminal building in Vinnytsia, we found that the foundations need to be strengthened, the bomb shelter reconstructed, and much more," says Antonenko.
Now the mood in the market is cautiously optimistic. The state has begun to slowly invest in the restoration of infrastructure, is taking the first steps in the reconstruction or construction of runways. "And immediately the question of engineering networks, which are in a terrible state, arises. "The critical situation is almost all over the country, with the exception of the capital, Odessa, Lviv and Kharkiv, where serious work was carried out in preparation for Euro-2012," Antonenko notes.
For UVT GROUP, the project in Dnipro is the largest in the portfolio, which includes the general planning of 25 hectares of territory, the terminal of the airport "Dnipro" with an area of 26 square meters. sq. m, VIP terminal, repair base, etc.
The Dnipro airport, which is included in the "Big construction" program, has great prospects, and an investor - DCH - has been found for the construction of the terminal. "On the Dnieper, we have the largest project in our portfolio today. We are doing a large volume according to the General Plan, almost 25 hectares. We own the terminal and the entire complex. The terminal will be about 26 sq. m - we have already issued the working documentation, weak current systems remain. The project of the VIP terminal is already ready for examination, there will also be a repair base, a block of auxiliary structures, a bomb shelter, a pumping station, a boiler room, a transformer substation, fire tanks and much more," says Agafonov.
BIM tools help to find cost-effective solutions
UVT GROUP shows the effectiveness of BIM on the example of its projects. "We use BIM from start to finish in all our projects. We also have central models, all our employees work through them, which can happen remotely, and everything is also displayed on VR," says Antonenko.
The advantages of BIM are meticulous detailing of specifications and mobility. "Even at the stage of the sketch, we work out details, shafts, the passage of engineering communications and try to speed up the time for issuing working documentation. BIM makes it possible to make quick changes according to the customer's wishes," says Agafonov.
He expresses the company's goal — to create models of the highest level, to improve the qualifications of personnel in order to be competitive on the international market.
"On the domestic market, we work exclusively in BIM - on our own initiative and because we cannot work any other way. It does not cost our customers additional money. But objectively, you need to understand that it takes more time for us to coordinate systems, architectural and design models. At the initial stage, such coordination takes a significant amount of time — for people's adaptation, training, and strengthening the ability to work in a team. But then it pays off in speed. We can quickly move from the concept stage to the "P" and "working" stage, - Antonenko explains the advantages.
Thanks to digital tools, UVT GROUP manages to increase the efficiency of projects from the start
For the customer, this turns into additional bonuses — saving time and high accuracy when conducting tenders. After commissioning, the model can be handed over to the customer, and the project continues to develop with it. After a few years, the BIM model can be refined and reconstructed.
UVT GROUP is constantly expanding its product line. "Among the new referrals, we recently opened airport design consulting (clients in Tajikistan). We also already offer complex solutions — creation of a project concept from scratch with calculation of the economic component. Financial indicators "fit" into the BIM system, this is now very much in demand," says Agafonov.
Also, it is thanks to the company's digital tools that it is possible to increase the efficiency of projects from the start, including "squeezing out" higher GLA figures in shopping malls. For example, already at the level of the shopping mall concept, architectural solutions are offered that minimize the need for expensive engineering solutions for the customer, primarily fire protection. Or - as in "Metropolis" - during the reconstruction, it is proposed to move the ventilation equipment to the roof, due to which the space on the second floor is freed up for rent.
In general, in shopping center projects, customers now want to see more public spaces, more light in the interiors. "The rest area is being enlarged and made more expressive in order to make spending time inside the mall attractive. Food courts, a place where people have a snack between shopping or going to the cinema, are being replaced by food halls, areas with full restaurant seating," says Agafonov.
UVT GROUP uses BIM at all stages of the project
In addition to domestic projects, the company actively participates in international ones - in the USA, Germany, Canada, Israel, Angola. For example, for a hotel in the Caribbean with an area of 18 thousand sq. m, the general design of all engineering systems (heating, ventilation and air conditioning, fire systems, low-current systems, electricity and sewage) was carried out, the pool was designed for 2 thousand sq. m using Revit. We made two stages: Schematic Design and Design Development. The object is made according to American standards, has been approved by local authorities for the issuance of a construction permit.
"We strive to enter several new countries and participate in projects there, not only as a performer of part of the work, but to implement the entire spectrum. We need to learn to work with international markets," says Antonenko.
In Ukraine, the company plans to expand its segments. "Interesting multifunctional complexes with housing and apartments. Interesting country real estate. We have concepts of settlements, but point projects are unlikely. Many requests for logistics and industrial real estate. Perhaps the stations. And we still have a dream - to restore the airport "Donetsk". When he returns to us, the airport will have to be reconstructed. We are ready."
