Dohaland, a unit of Qatar Foundation, has appointed US-based Burns & McDonnell as the executive architects for the next phase of Musheireb, its $5.5 billion flagship project.

As per the agreement, Burns & McDonnell will provide architectural design, engineering and construction administration services for the Musheireb development.

The world's first sustainable downtown regeneration project, Musheireb will regenerate 35 hectares site in the historical downtown Doha. The project aims to transform the old commercial and business district into the vibrant, cohesive and culturally alive city centre that it once was.

The unique mixed-use project will simultaneously address issues of congestion, sustainability, and maintaining the aesthetic and social individuality of Qatar, said a senior official.

“This award is an important milestone in the progress of the Musheireb development which is on schedule for completion in 2016, it will be a chance for the world to see what modern Qatari architecture is all about,” said Issa M. Al Mohannadi, CEO, Dohaland.

On the project win, Mike Roark, principal with Burns & McDonnell said, “Qatar is on a path toward sustainable prosperity and environmental responsibility in all its development activities. We have been challenged to design projects that are as unique and sustainable as Qatar itself and we are proud to accept that challenge.”

Burns & McDonnell currently serves as executive architect for the phase 1A of the project helping to restore and regenerate the historic core of Qatar’s capital city.

The phase 1A included construction of several significant buildings in the Amiri Diwan Quarter including the Qatar National Archive, the Amiri Guard residences and the Diwan Annex office complex. The 135-member, multi-disciplined Burns & McDonnell project team includes architects, engineers and other technical professionals.

The upcoming phases will include design and construction supervision of a multi-use cultural forum, a central luxury hotel and serviced apartments, offices, townhouses, a primary school, a mosque, a shopping street and central power plant.

Major consultancy service’s agreements for Musheireb have previously been executed with a number of International firms.

As executive architects fro the project, Burns & McDonnell will collaborate on the design and construction activities with UK-based firms Allies and Morrison Architects, mossesian and partners, John McAslan & Partners, and Adjaye Associates.

The Musheireb site is bordered by Al Rayyan Road to the North, Jassim Bin Mohamed Street to the East, Musheireb Street to the South, and Al Diwan Street (part of Ring Road A) to the West.

The mixed-use development contains hotel, retail, residential, mosques, cultural, heritage, school and government buildings ranging from 3 to 30 stories, Dohaland said in a statement.-TradeArabia News Service