OpenAire, a Canadian designer of eco-friendly roof structures, said it has won a contract to manufacture a huge, aluminium elliptical-shaped dome for a 280,000-sq-ft shopping mall in Sharjah, UAE.

Located less than 10 km from Dubai, the 31-storey complex will rise from the city's waterfront like an oasis of luxury retail and residential space. With an area of almost 300,000 sq ft and over 30 floors of space, the Sharjah Mall will be more than just a shopping centre.

The massive project will include a hotel, luxury apartments, more than 100,000 sq ft of restaurant space, a variety of family entertainment attractions and a spa and is being developed by the International Private Group (IPG). Gambert Architectural is the architectural engineering consultant on the project.

The duo has partnered with OpenAire and Aluminium Light Industries Company (Alico) to complete their flagship Sharjah Mall project.

It will be, in short, a vibrant city within a city, inviting visitors from around the world to enjoy its refreshing, naturally lit environment at the edge of the sea, said the developers.

As its centrepiece, the mall will feature a remarkable aluminium elliptical dome skylight designed and manufactured by OpenAire.

Built with a durable aluminium frame and glazed glass, this skylight will be the largest aluminium dome in the Middle East, standing 74 m long by 47 m wide by 21 m high and casting the main retail areas in vibrant, inviting natural light.  

OpenAire, which recently took part in the Dubai Entertainment Amusement and Leisure (Deal) Show 2016, was chosen to build this complex and unique skylight because of its track record of creating unique skylights and enclosures worldwide, said the project developers.

On the project win, the Canadian firm said it was excited to be a part of this monumental project and looked forward to Sharjah Mall's completion at the end of 2020.

“OpenAire has been given a great chance to showcase our capabilities to the world, and we're creating a skylight that is sure to exceed expectations,” remarked Mark Albertine, the president and CEO.

This aluminium-framed skylight sits atop the centre of the mall on a ring beam, connecting beautifully with the smooth glass, polished concrete and brushed steel of the complex's striking architecture.

The dome will use panels shaped in a non-traditional diagonal geometric pattern, rising from 30.8 m high to a peak of 51.8 m high. The support structure will use an innovative combination of steel nodes and aluminium connecting members, allowing for large glass panels at the centre of the mall, which will give visitors unobstructed views of the UAE's open skies.

"We're working closely with Gambert Architectural and Alico to make the building the best it can be. The mall will be sitting on prime waterfront real estate, close to Dubai and even closer to the Dubai airport. It's going to be a cultural hub for Sharjah, and OpenAire's skylight will be at its centre. It's just an incredible opportunity," he added.-TradeArabia News Service