Recap of Mekarcube’s Virtual Workshop on Future-Ready Campuses

Cambodia’s education system has made remarkable progress in recent years, with increasing efforts to enhance quality, upgrade facilities, and foster more dynamic learning environments. However, in a world defined by rapid change, it’s time to move beyond short-term fixes and start envisioning schools that are built for the future. The concept of “future-ready campuses” is a forward-thinking learning spaces that anticipate the evolving needs of students, educators, and communities. These campuses integrate smart design, adaptable infrastructure, and sustainable technologies to ensure Cambodia’s next generation thrives in a modernized, resilient, and inclusive educational ecosystem.

Shaping Cambodia’s Educational Future: A Recap of Our Virtual Workshop on Future-Ready Campuses

With this vision in mind, Mekarcube Construction hosted a virtual workshop on June 21, 2025, titled “From Vision to Reality: Strategic Project Management for Future-Ready Campuses.” The event convened university students, young professionals, and industry leaders to explore how thoughtful design and smart project execution can transform Cambodia’s educational infrastructure. The workshop served as both an introduction to Mekarcube’s multidisciplinary approach and a platform for equipping the next generation with practical tools and future-focused strategies.

The agenda of this exclusive virtual workshop began with remarks from MKC Directors, who shared the firm’s strategic direction. This was followed by a technical presentation on project management methodologies applied to complex educational infrastructure projects. Additional highlights included a showcase of student-led submissions and an interactive quiz designed to reinforce key concepts. The event concluded with a summary of insights and closing remarks, encouraging reflection and fostering ongoing dialogue among participants.

Turning Vision into Action: A Framework Built on Integration

The workshop featured a presentation from Mr. San Chanritthy, Managing Director of MKC, who introduced the concept of Future-Ready Campuses as human-centered, adaptable, and resilient environments tailored for the evolving needs of students and institutions. But more importantly, the session explored the power of MKC's project management on how strategic planning, coordination, and execution come together to turn bold visions into reality.

The decision to focus on school campuses emerged from internal discussions during a recent economic downturn. Rather than defaulting to typical residential projects, Mekarcube identified education infrastructure as a strategic area for long-term local investment. However, the event’s core message centered not just on schools, but on the application of smart project management across all types of development. Drawing from his own experiences in public education, Mr. Chanritthy urged students to reimagine schools as more than buildings as dynamic ecosystems that embrace technology, well-

being, and evolving modes of learning.

The evolution of hybrid learning, especially during COVID-19, further underscored the design gap between public and private schools. While private institutions advanced interactive learning, public schools relied heavily on one-way broadcasts due to limited resources. Future-ready campuses must bridge this divide with systems that support engaging, interactive learning. He also raised issues like overcrowded classrooms and climate vulnerability, especially in coastal regions. Modular infrastructure and long-term resilience planning were proposed as essential design strategies.

Concluding his remarks, Our managing director reaffirmed the importance of smart project management as the foundation for delivering these ambitious ideas and transitioned the session to a deeper discussion on cost efficiency.

Cost Leadership: Ensuring Financial Clarity from Start to Finish

The workshop’s next segment transitioned into technical discussions, beginning with Mr. Sokha Pratna Nisay QSM, Quantity Surveyor Manager at Mekarcube, who presented a framework for cost control across the project lifecycle. He detailed the critical role of the quantity surveyor during the pre-construction, construction, and post-construction stages, emphasizing the importance of cost transparency, contractual accuracy, and proactive risk management. Key elements included the preparation of accurate Bills of Quantities (BQ) based on precise drawings and specifications, along with internal budgeting for labor, materials, equipment, and subcontractors.

During the construction phase, he highlighted the need for diligent cost tracking, timely subcontractor payments, and effective management of variation orders. In the post-construction phase, the focus shifts to final account preparation and compiling supporting documentation. Mr. Nisay also stressed that breaking down the BQ into specific work packages such as structural, architectural, and MEP components enables more efficient progress monitoring and quicker response to any discrepancies or changes.

Strategic Leadership Amidst Uncertainty: Case-Based Reflections

At Mekarcube, we recognized that true leadership emerges not during moments of ease, but in times of uncertainty and pressure. Drawing from real project experiences, our Project Director, Mr. Christian B.Gusaypo offered case-based reflections on navigating complex project challenges. One of the first issues discussed was tender evaluation, where scope gaps or misinterpretation of the Bill of Quantities (BQ) can result in under-scoped contracts. Resolving discrepancies between the BQ and drawings early in the process is essential, particularly since drawings often take precedence due to functional, aesthetic, or client-driven requirements.

Another major challenge involves decision-making under pressure. Delays often stem from unclear coordination and hesitation. Our project director emphasized the importance of strong planning, clearly defined roles, and consistent follow-through. Effective leadership requires putting all concerns on the table, prioritizing issues, and sticking to the plan, especially when facing consultant demands, budget constraints, weather disruptions, or manpower shortages.

On-site issues also demand proactive leadership. Minor oversights or unclear instructions can cause significant delays. Anticipating pressure points, communicating early, and taking ownership of resolutions are all critical to avoiding blame-shifting. For instance, misunderstanding the scope of finishes led to rework, underscoring the importance of referring back to project provisions to maintain alignment and avoid budget overruns. These reflections framed leadership not just as a role, but as a daily discipline rooted in clarity, coordination, and accountability.

Project Management in Action: A Discipline of Integration, Detail, and Delivery

Strategic project management is not a linear checklist but an integrated system, an ecosystem where each discipline operates with defined responsibility and mutual reliance. From Project Directors and Managers to Quantity Surveyors, Structural Engineers, Architects, and MEP specialists, every role contributes to delivering resilient, inclusive, and future-ready campus environments.

During the workshop, Mr. Heng Lyhorng, Project Manager at MKC, emphasized that project success begins long before construction starts. Feasibility studies and cost-informed space planning lay the groundwork, aligning architectural vision with technical viability. The first pillar, Planning & Scheduling, emphasizes the development of master plans and milestone-based timelines that align design intent with institutional objectives, helping to prevent delays and manage complexity. The second, Budget & Cost Leadership, ensures financial clarity from early estimates to final variation orders, supporting value-driven decision-making.

The third pillar, Design & Technical Coordination, fosters close collaboration between architects, engineers, and MEP specialists to minimize design clashes, improve buildability, and ensure smooth execution. Quality & Risk Management forms the fourth pillar, with continuous inspections, compliance checks, and environmental risk planning safeguarding both construction standards and long-term performance. Finally, Handover & Operational Readiness focuses on ensuring that campuses are fully functional from day one through systematic commissioning, end-user training, and comprehensive documentation. Together, these pillars reflect Mekarcube’s commitment to delivering educational spaces that are not only technically sound but also inspiring and future-ready.

Discipline in Design: The Role of Structural, MEP, and Architectural Coordination

A structured project management approach relies on seamless coordination across technical disciplines. Our Structural Technical Manager, Mr. Ork Somneang highlighted the pivotal role structural systems play in both feasibility studies and long-term functionality. From the outset, the structural team aligns architectural vision with MEP planning to ensure stability, performance, and spatial coherence. During the detailed design phase, precise drawings are produced to support accurate cost estimation and buildability analysis. On site, the role shifts to hands-on management overseeing inspections, resolving design conflicts, and leadingnecessary adjustments when site conditions demand change. The structural system is far more than a backbone; it anchors the campus vision and ensures the environment can safely

stand and serve students and staff for decades to come.

In parallel, Mr. Seang Sovann, the MEP Manager outlined how mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems must be seamlessly integrated to support the safety, efficiency, and longevity of each campus. Pre-construction efforts involve clash detection, technical validation, and milestone planning. During execution, the MEP team closely manages installation timelines, material verification, shop drawing reviews, and weekly coordination meetings with all relevant trades. Site-level MEP progress is monitored daily through inspections and RFIs. Finally, MEP commissioning ensures systems are tested, functional,

and prepared for long-term usage whether it’s climate control, lighting, or energy systems. This attention to integration guarantees that the campus does more than just look modern.

From the architectural standpoint, our Senior Resident Architect, Mr. Chhay Leng explained how design leadership is carried from pre-tender through final handover. In the early stages, this includes detailed drawing reviews, coordination of BOQs and specs, and contract support. Once construction begins, architecture takes the lead in kickoff meetings, progress reviews, submission tracking, and managing both approvals and variation orders. As the project nears completion, the architect ensures that the final vision is fully realized by conducting inspections, preparing defect lists, and supporting client orientation through training and documentation. It is this end-to-end stewardship that protects design integrity and ensures that the vision becomes a tangible, usable learning environment.

Together, this integrated system of responsibilities led by MKC’s Project Manager, Technical Manager, Directors, Mechanical Manager, and Architects shows that successful campus delivery depends not on isolated task management but on coordinating interconnected disciplines with a shared goal: creating intelligent, inclusive, and future-ready educational infrastructure built to last.

Spotlight on Emerging Talent: The Next Generation of Architectural Professionals - Chanchorornay Se

Photo Credits: Chanchorornay Se Bachelor of Architecture graduate from Paragon International University and Co-Founder of Arch1ve

A highlight of the workshop was the Talent Show Reveal, showcasing emerging voices inCambodia’s architectural scene. Among these was Chanchorornay Se, a recent Bachelor of Architecture graduate from Paragon International University. Currently preparing for her master’s degree, she balances freelance design work through the collaborative Arch1ve. Her team, originally formed during the Impact Hub Build4People competition as AquaBuild, has evolved from student competitions to real-world projects including their capstone, the Koh Kong Eco-Tourism Center. What made this project particularly meaningful was her personal connection to the site, Koh Kong is her birthplace, and she chose the location intentionally to reflect her deep bond with nature. Her design demonstrates a clear sensitivity to context, aiming to bridge ecological awareness with thoughtful architecture.

Though not yet part of a traditional firm, Chanchorornay embraces a path of exploration and continuous learning. Each freelance project, with its successes and setbacks, contributes to her development as an architect who designs with purpose, collaborates sincerely, and learns by doing. Her journey embodies the spirit Mekarcube seeks to nurture, motivated, growth-oriented, and ready to shape Cambodia’s architectural future

Highlights from Mekarcube’s Interactive Quiz Challenge

To engage attendees beyond the presentations, Mekarcube hosted an Interactive Quiz Challenge, designed to reinforce key insights from the workshop in a fun and memorable way. The quiz consisted of 12 carefully crafted questions covering topics such as project management, design coordination, cost control, and future-ready campus planning. Students were invited to test their knowledge and compete for prizes, encouraging active participation and deeper understanding of the workshop content.

From the enthusiastic group of participants, five winners emerged, each receiving exclusive Mekarcube merchandise as a token of recognition. This initiative reflected Mekarcube’s ongoing commitment not only to construction excellence, but also to mentorship and community-building among Cambodia’s next generation of architects and project leaders.

Comprehensive Takeaways and Vision for Continued Innovation

Mekarcube Construction’s virtual workshop on Future-Ready Campuses brought together students, professionals, and industry experts to explore Cambodia’s evolving educational infrastructure. The event highlighted strategic project management, cross-disciplinary teamwork, and cost control as essential to creating adaptable, resilient learning environments.

By continuing to host multidisciplinary workshops, foster collaborative discussions, and offer targeted training programs, Mekarcube aims to expand its impact, drive progress, and build strong partnerships supporting long-term growth across the sector. The event showcased Mekarcube’s dedication not only to construction excellence but also to community development, positioning the company as a leading force in modernizing Cambodia’s educational infrastructure amid a rapidly changing global landscape.