Etihad Towers

Hill International’s original contract extended

Hill International, the project manager of the Dh2.5 billion Etihad Towers, has been awarded an extension on its two-and-a-half-year contract by the Department of Special Projects in Abu Dhabi.

Hill’s original contract was worth Dh11.6 million and the new three-year extension has an estimated value of Dh29.8m. Etihad Towers is a mixed-use development located on the coastline of Khalidyah in Abu Dhabi.

“We are honoured to have been chosen to manage such an exciting project,” said Raouf S Ghali, President of Hill’s Project Management Group. “Etihad Towers is another step forward in making Abu Dhabi a world-renowned business and resort destination.”

The development comprises five towers ranging from 49 to 76 stories above a five-level podium with a built-up area of 519,000 square metres. Construction is expected to be completed by December 2010.

Etihad Towers will consist of three residential towers, one hotel/serviced apartment tower and an office tower incorporating more than 65,000 metres of leasable area. Including a retail podium, the towers will be united by a basement car park of four levels, with a capacity for 3,000 cars.

The 60-storey luxury hotel tower will comprise 400 guest rooms and suites as well as 200 fully serviced apartments varying from studios to one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

In addition, the development will include a high-end shopping boulevard, conference and banqueting facilities, a spa and sport and recreation facilities, which will be open to hotel guests, residents and tower tenants.

The hotel will have a private sandy beach for guests. Construction of the tower started in 2007 with Arabian Construction Company as the main contractors. The 40-month contract also includes the construction of the retail podium and parking, as well as external and marine works. Australia’s DBI Design won the lead design consultant contract for architecture, interior design and landscape architecture.

Abu Dhabi Central Bank will provide a term loan facility of Dh2.4bn for 15 years.

Source: business24-7

DBI Design has further cemented its status as a leading international practice by winning a world-wide competition

DBI Design has designed a 5-tower project in the Middle East, valued at more than A$860 million (AED$2.5 billion). DBI Design was awarded the lead design consultant contract for architecture, interior design and landscape architecture on the project. The project, Etihad Towers, will be located on a prominent waterfront site close to the central Abu Dhabi business district, at the end of the Abu Dhabi Corniche. Compromising five iconic towers ranging in height from 55 to 77 floors, in excess of 300 metres high, with a total built up area of 500,000m², Etihad Towers will feature an array of amenities, including an international five-star hotel, a boutique shopping mall, premium office tower, a hypermarket and quality residential apartments. It is set to be one of the most prestigious projects in Abu Dhabi. The Etihad Towers development will consist of three residential towers, and one hotel/serviced apartment tower, centred by an office tower incorporating more than 65,000m² of lettable area. Including a retail podium, the group will be united by a basement car park of four levels, with a capacity for more than 3,000 cars. All hotel rooms, apartments and office floors will have stunning sea views, overlooking the Abu Dhabi coastline. Etihad Towers’ signature building, the five-star hotel, will accommodate 400 rooms and 200 services apartments, to be operated by Jumeirah, operators of the seven-star Buj al Arab in Dubai and many other prestigious hotels around the world. The high-quality residential apartments will total 870, designed in a variety of configurations to suit all buyers. The Etihad Towers complex will also house Abu Dhabi’s largest state-of-the-art convention centra and ballroom, at over 2,500m². Complementing these will be a retail centre incorporating outlets for major international designer and fashion labels; and eight restaurants. Etihad Towers is scheduled to be completed by early 2010.

Source: World Architecture News

Etihad Towers Project is located on the Corniche, in front of the Emirates Palace Hotel.

The project is a prestigious mixed use development approximately 460,000m2 composed of a total of five towers from 53 to 77 floors, a large multi level podium and four level underground parking with a capacity of more than 3,200 cars.

In 2006, Cansult Maunsell was awarded the preparation of Construction Document Stage Documents and Drawings and Construction Supervision by H.E. Sheikh Suroor Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan. The construction of enabling works started in July 2006 and the project is scheduled to be completed by early 2010.
Services

Services to client for this project include detailed design and construction supervision.

Source: Cansult Maunsell