Aldar Properties said the construction work on its headquarters building was “on track for timely completion' next year.  

To date the key milestones achieved on this project include the completion of excavation, piling, basement works and finishes, and the reinforced concrete lift cores.

When finished in 2009, the award-winning facility will be the first occupied building within the Ultimate Waterfront City, Al Raha Beach, said a company official.

Thirty per cent of the steel structure that will give the facility its spherical shape has been constructed. This steel frame will rise up to 23 storeys and is connected to two large concrete cores to transfer the loads of the exterior weight to the central concrete cores.

Overall, 93 per cent of the design is finalised and around 35 per cent of the construction is complete. This status has been achieved with over 2.5 million safety hours reached, the official said.    

Ronald Stephen Barrott, CEO, Aldar Properties pointed out that the Aldar headquarters building was progressing as per schedule.

'The evidence of its progress is clear as the steel framing to create the spherical structure is now beginning to take shape. The Aldar team looks forward to moving into its new home, and to witnessing the successful progress of the other landmark buildings on the Al Dana precinct on Al Raha Beach,” Barrott observed.

Prominently located in Al Dana precinct, the commercial and financial hub of Al Raha Beach, the Aldar headquarters will be a landmark within Al Raha Beach development.

Designed by the world-renowned architects, MZ & Partners, the building shot to prominence after bagging the “Best Futuristic Design” award at The Building Exchange (BEX) Conference held in Valencia, Spain.

In adherence to the Leed (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system guidelines, the building will feature extensive use of recyclable materials, prefabricated elements, and an automated vacuum waste system to ensure minimum waste creation.

Standing at approximately 110 metres in height, the building requires 5,700 tonnes of steel, 25,000 cubic metres of concrete, has an area of glass of 25,000 cubic metres, and has a volume of excavated sand of 90,000 cubic metres.-TradeArabia News Service