Ghinwa Salloum is a Senior Mechanical Engineer who has worked at Dar since 2002.  

1. What drew you initially to mechanical engineering? And what motivates you to remain in this field today?

Ever since high school, I have had a passion for solving technical problems, and I was always interested in math and physics, in algebraic and quantum theories, and the like. Mechanical engineering was a natural choice because it combines all of these interests within a challenging and fulfilling career path. It’s also easy to stay motivated, first because mechanical engineering is a wide domain, and it’s continuously developing. It has expanded even beyond its boundaries to become more of a multidisciplinary domain. And, of course, because Dar is always involved in a very wide diversity of projects, so we’re never bored.

2. What aspect of your job do you believe has the most impact and why? What aspect of your job do you love the most?

The most exciting part of our job is definitely our ability to experience diverse projects – airports, hospitals, hotels, and so many others – with different clients who also have various perceptions and backgrounds. And, of course, with Dar’s liability in the market, we have to build trust with each and every client by meeting their requirements in terms of project objectives and aspirations, costs, and delivery time as well as the requirements of international and local codes and standards.

3. How has the field of mechanical engineering changed since you began? (new standards, new ways of design, innovations, changing best practices, etc.)

I started working at Dar in August 2002, and since then, there have been many developments in the engineering field. Most notably, we transitioned from using 2D modelling with AutoCAD to 3D modelling using building information modelling software mainly REVIT. In addition, mechanical engineering design is being challenged nowadays mainly in energy reduction and water consumption. These new requirements were due to significant global environmental challenges which required adopting energy efficient measures for achieving sustainable building design and especially where green building certifications are targeted by clients. New standards and new design methods were created, ventilation rates were reduced, VFD systems were considered, the list goes on.

4. Tell us about a highly complex engineering challenge that you have faced and resolved.

In 2014, I was working on a new food facility, set in Dubai, for a globally-recognised client in the food and beverage industry. Our client requested that we consider all necessary hygiene measures as per international standards. As such, we conducted very extensive research and contacted many suppliers in order to understand needs and provide solutions that satisfy requirements. Accordingly, we then adopted unique mechanical equipment such as hygiene air handling equipment for cooling, fibre ducts for air distribution, Armstrong brain for hot water, etc. The project was very successful, client requirements were satisfied, and we acquired expertise in new and specialised technologies.

5. You have worked on a wide variety of projects – including airport facilities, university campuses, hotels, and marine bases. What are the types of projects that you have found to be the most demanding, and which types of projects have unique requirements in mechanical engineering design?

Most projects at Dar are considered demanding and have their special design requirements. I would say the most challenging ones are generally airports – this is due to the mechanical system integration within complicated building architecture which demands a lot of interdepartmental coordination. On the other hand, healthcare facilities (hospitals, clinics, labs, etc.) require unique design consideration for HVAC systems in addition to other complex design requirements such as those related to the medical gas, plumbing, and fire-fighting systems. In healthcare facilities, an engineer should be aware of all international medical standards in order to achieve the best indoor air quality for all medical spaces, including patient rooms, without compromising on selected HVAC systems.

6. Tell us about a project that you engaged in – either professionally or personally – that impacted you significantly or that you are most proud of.

During my career at Dar, I have been fully committed to my work, and I am proud of all my achievements at the company, especially my contributions and involvement in several global projects. Moreover, I am mostly proud of being able to balance between the demands of my professional career and my personal life. I am an active mother who fulfils the daily needs of her children, and I am also the founder of a NGO that works to develop the spirit of citizenship among the rising youth. I also participated in several awareness campaigns addressing multiple topics such as sustainable development, citizen’s rights and duties, and other topics that I feel are important for people to know about. We recently organised an exhibition in which we displayed paintings drawn by children reflecting the devastating explosion that took place on the 4th of August 2020 in Beirut. Donations for this event were distributed to a group of those affected.

7. How do you see the future of the mechanical engineering profession? And what would your advice be to a girl thinking of a future in mechanical engineering?

Considering the quick development in technologies, the numerous environmental problems, and the new requirements that emerged after the COVID-19 pandemic, the mechanical engineering profession will become more challenging. There is a misconception that mechanical engineering is physically demanding. But mechanical engineering is more about intellectual work including design, research, analysis and planning. This major applies for all genders including females who have everything they need to succeed in this field: the capability, passion for problem solving, and love of the challenge.