The political protests and related violence over the past few weeks in Egypt have not surprisingly impeded progress on construction projects in that country.  Many international companies have evacuated their employees to their home countries, while local firms have closed offices and asked their staff to remain at home.  Prior to the unrest, those in the industry were looking forward to a successful year as the government had promised to fund several large infrastructure projects and construction projects in general were on the increase.

Engineering News-Record (ENR.com) reported today [8] on the situation after talking with representatives from several firms with ongoing projects there.  A new Novotel hotel being built at Tahrir Square, the center of the protests in Cairo, is a joint project of Egyptian firm EHAF Consulting Engineers [9] and Hill International whose corporate headquarters are in Marlton, New Jersey [10].  After work at the site had to stop due to the protests, army tanks were brought in to “prevent damage or theft” to the nearly completed hotel.

After the social and political climates in the country settle down and construction companies resume their work, there will be even more work which will be needed.  According to the ENR article,

“Egyptian architectural engineer Sherhihan Salama is fielding some offers from a Facebook-posted request to local architects, civil engineers, project managers and designers for pro bono services to redesign and repair damaged buildings in Cairo and Alexandria.”

You can read more comments from those with current projects which are temporarily stalled until Egypt’s stability returns, as well as view a list of some of the major projects affected.