By: Iqra Wazir | Photo courtesy: YH Associates
Mr. Yousuf Hasan, completed his Engineering education in 1968 from the Government College of Technology in HVAC and obtained B. Tech in Mechanical Engineering. He is the founder of Y. H. Associates established in 1994, leading Consulting Engineering Firm. Y. H. Associates, a multi-disciplinary global Consulting Engineering Firm, partners with Building Owners, Architects, Project Managers and Vendors, to deliver Consulting Engineering Services and state-of-art building design solutions for HVAC, Electrical and low voltage systems, plumbing and Fire Suppression systems, Building Automation And Security Systems. He is passionate for innovation through knowledge and vision. He has designed the District Cooling Plants, HVAC, Mechanical and Plumbing systems of various Residential, Commercial, Healthcare Facilities and Industrial Complexes. He is one of the founder members of ASHRAE Pakistan Chapter, Life member of ASHRAE, Pakistan HVACR Society and NFPA. His work envelopes USA, UK, Italy, Greece, Germany, UAE, Bangladesh, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Tashkent, Turkmenistan, Kirghistan, Jordan, Japan etc.
ARCHI TIMES (AT): Before we begin talking about your engineering, it would be good to know your educational background?
Yousuf Hasan (YH): I did a 3-year bachelor’s in mechanical from Government College of Technology and then B. Tech. After that, I did a one-year specialization course in America. I got 3 months’ training in World Trade Centre which was a memorable experience. Then I joined a prestigious firm A. Saadat & Co. as Design Engineer and later on became a partner and continued for 23 years. In 1994, I decided to get separated due to the conditions of the city, and central Asia was being liberated at that time.
I have four sons, all engineers, a staff of 70 plus employees, 26 CAD stations and the company is flourishing by the Grace of the Almighty. Every year we call 4 students each from the Electrical and Mechanical Department of Ned University and help them in conducting their final year project because we want to pass on the knowledge that we have, to young professionals. We advertise for jobs in the Middle East and Saudi Arabia as well because there are lots of people who want to come back to their country and get a tremendous hiring response.
AT: Also tell us about your professional career experience, it’s up and downs as you are working for so many years?
YH: I started this firm in 1994. My eldest son joined me in 2001 and we never had to wait for projects Alhamdulillah. I started getting projects immediately and worked with big names i.e. all the Leading Architects of the Country. We also get the chance to work with International Architects i.e. Tom Payette (USA), Asia Pacific Consultants (Australia), Arif Bin Toak (Dubai), CPG Singapore, Expotek Consultancy (South Africa), etc. I have done most of the Pharmaceuticals, Hospitals in Pakistan, and also came through commercial projects like Faysal House, Central Depositary Company Building, Arif Habib Bank, Fakhri Trade Center, and City Towers.
We are doing the Pakistan liver and kidney Project which is going to be Asia’s largest Hospital. By the grace of Allah, every single person in our firm is busy with work. I never had to face issues regarding projects and got a smooth flow from the beginning. I do work for my passion and satisfaction, money is not everything. Currently, there is a boom of projects in the market which was not the case four years back and we have lots of projects going on. There are two sectors in Pakistan where projects never stop happening which are pharmaceutical and Hospitals as the population is so huge in number. The major issue we have here is education, Education is the most neglected sector in our country. Special attention should be paid to the improvement of the standard of education.
AT: What are the considerations for building safety and what important tips you would like to give designers and the public at large?
YH: Complete Fire Fighting System as per NFPA should be provided in the Buildings. It should include the Sprinklers system, Pressurized staircase, smoke evacuation shafts, portable fire extinguishers, CO2, Novec, and Energen fire extinguishers for the safety of buildings, especially in high-rises where firefighters generally can’t reach easily. We are trying to do what is happening internationally and not risk lives. We did Jinnah Bai Shireen Building, Ibn e Zuhur Building, CIME building i.e. Centre for Innovation in Medical Education in Pakistan. It is the second building after New York to have robots and mannequins. It is a very special building. We have done a lot of Hospital projects i.e., Memon Hospital, Liaquat National, South City, SIUT, etc., and proud to say that we did an extension of Mary Immaculate Hospital in New Jersey from the Karachi office. Similarly, we have done projects all over Central Asia, Bangladesh, UAE, etc. Pakistan has abundant talent and there is no issue following codes for the safety and security of the buildings.
As far as the incidents of fire breakouts are concerned, they happen everywhere not only in Pakistan but abroad. Recently there was a fire incident in the UK where 300 people died as they weren’t able to find a way to come out, but there was no news of that on the media. The cladding on the façade was not fireproof which played a major role in risking the lives of those people. If you ask me, I think Karachi’s degrading standards in construction are due to poor plumbing and substandard materials.
We are doing two High Rise Buildings i.e. 50 Stories and 45 Stories around Park Towers where the owners told us specifically not to risk the life of anyone and use the best materials to ensure the building and habitat’s safety. The same is the case with Lucky One Mall that we did which is the largest Mall in South Asia. So, there are both cases happening simultaneously in Karachi. I will quote another example of a high-rise building that is being constructed In the Aga Khan Hospital Complex. All international standards have been strictly followed. Not only this, the construction staff of all trades is complying with the safety standards i.e. wearing safety shoes, helmets, identification jackets, etc. It is a matter of great pride that the quality cautiousness in the construction industry is increasing day by day.
AT: Are you incorporating sustainable design principles in your design? How important do you think sustainability is for a building?
YH: For me, sustainability and the green character of the environment are very important for the coming generations. We did a building of CITI Bank and Alhamdulillah which is gold certified.
In America, they say energy is becoming rare day by day. In view, they are working on zero energy building. It means that such equipment and machinery should be used that require less energy consumption, and local fireproof materials should be used instead of expensive inadequate materials to conserve energy. They have concluded it all in a guidebook called Green Standards. I am a member of ASHRAE and its standards regarding energy conservation is being followed worldwide. We opened the ASHRAE Pakistan chapter and I have been its President as well. HVAC consumes the most energy in a building and the standard explains how to stabilize it.
We had absorption chillers that worked on gas as it was cheaper but their efficiency was not up to the mark. These Chillers are sensitive to gas pressure and do not work in case of fluctuation. Their make-up water is also very high when compared with Electric Operated Water Cooled Chillers. After a lot of research, Electrical Chillers have been introduced some time back which consume less power i.e. 0.57 kW/ton. So, this is a drastic reduction that happened and changed the whole scenario. Similarly, we have invertor-based units. Any building can be made sustainable as long as one has the will to make it that way.
AT: What should be the role of engineers in our society?
YH: We need to change the mindset of people that Plumbers /Mechanics/Electricians will do everything. No, they have to play their role as well. We need to understand that if we are making a house that will give us shelter then we shouldn’t compromise on the quality and should hire a proper Consultant who would do the sizing, preparing Layouts, and design of Electrical & Mechanical Systems. The same is the issue faced by Architects, unqualified CAD operators do the projects just because they are cheaper than Architects.
I think gradually time is changing and people have started hiring appropriate professionals. Otherwise, neither Architects nor Engineers can play their role, and ultimately the user is the big sufferer when problems start at a later stage. If you check the High Rise Buildings especially the Apartments in Karachi, most of the Buildings start deteriorating after two-three years due to poor plumbing works.
AT: The role of engineer you have mentioned, do you think engineers are playing their role today?
YH: Electrical and Mechanical Engineers are playing a vital role and take their job seriously. The consultants have realized that in order to change the mindset of the population, they also need to play a role and give services so adequately and up to the mark that there is no margin for unqualified people to take up the job and do disasters. I did an extension of Abbott Laboratories back in the 1980s, presented the Preliminary Design and Drawings in America, got the approval, and executed it. The Americans were also a bit surprised to see our works so, we need to treat every project like it’s our first project and perform the best. Also, in recent times the collaboration of Architects and Engineers has become very smooth. There was a time when Pakistan didn’t have any upcoming high-rise buildings and now every other building is a high rise that needs professional work and important planning with no loopholes. The design of the project and its completion should be at the right time which means both Architects and Engineers need to work simultaneously. A lot of importance is being given to energy conservation and water utilization in the Buildings.
AT: How important do you think Architectural Lighting is in a project?
YH: Architectural lighting is one of the key factors that shape the building as it’s intended to be. Earlier, fluorescent lights or incandescent lights were used but now energy conservation is important, and LED Lighting is more appropriate with less power consumption. Proper selection and quality of light are very important. We have companies like Philips that are producing A-quality products and that is the sole reason for their success. Everything has been defined in the standards and we need to follow them. Coordination with architects is of utmost importance and I never had any bad experience with any. The concept of utilizing natural light is also increasing day by day.
AT: To what degree is your, as a mechanical engineer input in the designing of the building?
YH: We try to give out maximum input overall. At the stage of concept design, we sit with Architects in close meetings and suggest lighting levels requirements of Mechanical systems, placement of shafts, AC Rooms, etc. We look into the layout provided by them and suggest what can be done in order to achieve the requirement. For that, close coordination is required to avoid mismanagement.
AT: Do you face problems with the Owner or Contractor?
YH: There are two kinds of owners, one is the educated and quality conscious who understand the way we work and cooperate with us, second is the type who doesn’t understand the requirement of the Project. But mostly I have come across those who want quality work. As far as the contractors are concerned, some of them are creating issues also because they don’t provide the right manpower or guidance. Similarly, we have A Category contractors whose work is quite methodical with quality and timely completion.
AT: Do you have a dream project?
YH: The thing is that I have done almost every kind of project, be it Hospitals, Commercial Buildings, Pharmaceuticals, etc. But yes, I do have a dream of doing a Zero Energy Building which is, unfortunately, being designed abroad only and not here.
AT: Which is your best project and why?
YH: A creative person is never satisfied with any of his work. I would say I like the projects I have done for Agha Khan, Citi Bank, and Memon Hospital. Especially Faysal Bank which has very less energy consumption than VAV Systems.
AT: What kind of projects do you like to do and What projects do you currently have onboard?
YH: We have a 50 storied building coming up, a couple of 40 storied buildings one of them is with Bahria. As far as what I like doing is concerned, I think doing hospitals, Pharma Factories, and Hotel Projects gives me satisfaction.
AT: How do you feel about the standard of engineering education at our institutions?
YH: It’s very unfortunate that the standards of our engineering education have been degraded over a period of time. Some institutions like NED still maintain the standards otherwise it’s quite disappointing. Workshops should be conducted and talent should be encouraged. Programs benefitting the students should be devised. All TV channels must have one-hour educational / carrier-oriented Programs.
AT: How do you spend your free time and tell us about your hobbies?
YH: After office, I spend time with family and try to keep office and home separate. But yes, from 11:30 to 12:00 at night I check my emails for half an hour and prepare myself for the next day. I have a huge collection of books and read them before sleeping. I wake up in fajr and walk after the office. The bridge is my favorite game which I play on Sunday whenever free.
AT: Any message for young professionals?
YH: First of all, you should be disciplined in life. Pay special attention to your studies, health, and family. Secondly, you should be thankful to God no matter what and never differentiate anyone because of caste and creed in personal and professional life. Humanity should prevail and honesty should become the backbone.
AT: What are your comments on the starting of this Engineers Interview series? Do you think young professionals particularly students will be benefitted?
YH: I think it’s the best way to carve a balanced path between Architects and Engineers. It is providing guidelines to everyone that these personalities have achieved what they have by going through years of hard work and dedication. I will also like to appreciate the efforts of ARCHI TIMES in this field. I have also seen the copy of your Magazine in one of the Seminars in India and it was a matter of great joy and pride for me.
