Schon Properties, a leading regional property developer, has awarded a Dh82.25 million ($22.4 million) construction contract to Commodore Contracting, in line with its aims to accelerate construction within zones 2 and 4 of the Dh3 billion ‘Dubai Lagoon’ project.

This new agreement, which will involve all concrete & block works, double basement, superstructure, water proofing and related works for both zones with a combined built up area of 1,412,648 sq ft, will pave the way for more streamlined development of the site.

Commodore Contracting joins the project’s existing contractors, Bin Sabt Building Contracting Company, which has almost completed the structure of Zone 1 and Belhasa Contracting and Engineering Company (BHECC), who are already on site with an intensified construction program planned for Zone 3.

With building permits already issued and mobilization of cranes already started for Zone 2, actual construction is expected to start within three weeks and the ground floor will be hit by mid-September, according to the schedule set by the contractor.

At present, Commodore Contracting is setting up its offices on site, and is scheduled to commence concrete pouring in Zone 2 by the third week of May, with Zone 4 to follow after a month.

Other deadlines set under the contract are the 15-month allocation for the superstructure, block work and water proofing, which will start from date of transfer of building permit, and a 4 to 5-month deadline for the double basement.

More than 30 engineers, foremen and executive staff will be working on the project, along with approximately 300 labourers for each of the zones, to ensure the completion by the end of 2012, said a top official.

“With the appointment of Commodore Contracting, we are confident that progress on the project will be stepped up significantly. With accelerated mobilisation, construction will proceed on both zones with a one month lag between the two zones,” said Khizer H. Schön, executive director, Schön Properties.

“Our single focus is on delivery, and we are collaborating with our new partner Commodore Contracting, as well as our project consultant Mazaya to ensure that all deadlines and quality reassurance criteria are met,” he remarked.

Established in the UAE in 1976, Commodore Contracting commenced its operations in Abu Dhabi by successfully being entrusted to build a number of projects such as ‘Sama Tower’, ‘Seba Tower’ and the new headquarters for the ‘International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC)’.

The company’s operations in Dubai including ‘Prism Tower’, ‘Sharjah Residential Tower’, with continuing works being undertaken for Jumeirah Towers in the Dubai Marina area and Fujairah Resort Hotel.

Today, the ISO-certified contractor continues to progressively expand its operations in Beirut, Doha, Tehran, Rabat and Berlin, said Amin Hesdin, chief operating officer and senior VP, Commodore Contracting Company.

'Our unquestionable track record of efficiency has returned superb results in the delivery of major projects, and we are confident that our proven competence will play a crucial role in the completion of the remaining zones of this project,' he noted.

'With reciprocal trust and the best endeavours, Commodore Contracting, Schön Properties and Mazaya Engineers should prove an excellent team with a pragmatic working relationship providing the impetus for all parties to meet the implemented deadlines,' Hesdin added.-TradeArabia News Service