< Previous30 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEE WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM Construction Week’s Digital Editor, Ranju Warrier speaks to Mohammed Al Atwaan, Project Manager of Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, developed by Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), on planning, design, construction, delivery and legacy of the world's first fully dismantlable stadium built for FIFA World Cup 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 RAS ABU ABOUD STADIUM "A SYMBOL OF INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY" The Ras Abu Aboud Stadium has been built keeping sustainability at its core as it aims to attain a 4-star Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) certi cation [Image: Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy]JULY 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 31 FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 A new kind of venue is taking shape in Qatar that is gearing up to host the FIFA World Cup 2022 tournament. The venue is one of the eight stadiums designed and constructed for the event called the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, and it is the first ever “fully dismantlable” stadium in the world. Qatar’s Ras Abu Aboud Stadium has a distinctive story that not only defines new standards for the design and construction of stadiums globally but explores ways in which such infrastructure projects could be executed through modular construction methods and technologies. For football aficionados, visitors, and spectators, the stadium will represent a boldly colourful and thoroughly modern structure that will appear like it is made from building blocks. On our quest to decode what it means to be the only stadium that is 100% dismountable, post the FIFA tournament, Construction Week sits down exclusively with Mohammed Al Atwaan, Project Manager of Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, who shares details about the planning, design, construction, delivery, and legacy of the stadium. In line with Qatar’s commitment to sustainability, the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium has been built keeping sustainability at its core as it aims to attain a 4-star Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) certification. GSAS is a green building certification system that guides and assesses projects by measuring their ability to deliver sustainable design features, construction practices, and post- construction operational performance, issued by the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD). “For Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, we are targeting four-star GSAS rating as a minimum, in line with other FIFA World cup venues,” Al Atwaan notes. “The GSAS System is also the new FIFA approved environmental rating system.” For Al Atwaan, the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium is “a symbol of innovation and sustainability”, and he is quick to explain this to Construction Week. He says: “We are setting a new standard in sustainability and have introduced new ideas and legacy plans.” “When we submitted the bid for the 2022 tournament, sustainability was one of the key objectives along with a long-lasting legacy that will benefit the generations to WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM RUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM A first time, yet again, for any stadium, the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium has been constructed using 974 shipping containers, which according to Al Atwaan, matches the Qatar's "international dialling code". Talking about the design phase of the stadium, Al Atwaan says: “When we thought of having a modular or fully dismantled stadium using modular blocks, we selected the shipping containers as the fundamental component of the stadium along with the steel structure that carries these containers. The innovative design was developed with Fenwick Iribarren Architects, which is the lead designer of the stadium and has designed several sports venues across the world.” “Using shipping containers was an ideal option,” Al Atwaan adds. “It is not just the low impact on carbon footprint and the cost effectiveness, the containers also provide the ease of flexibility, which is moving them from one place to another, easily and swiftly.” The stadium is developed by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, which is responsible for overseeing all the construction and infrastructure projects for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Located near Doha’s port and opposite the West Bay shoreline, the stadium takes inspiration from the city's maritime history. "The location itself is distinctive and prime, as Ras Abu Aboud is the only stadium with a waterfront," Al Atwaan explains. "It The Ras Abu Aboud Stadium has been constructed using 974 shipping containers [Image: Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy] come.” “Everything we plan, we touch base on sustainability, and we have three modes for the design of the stadium. These are set for pre-tournament, tournament, and legacy mode, and they were the main focus when we were planning the design of the stadium. Sustainability with the innovative design will be the way forward for any future development designs, and it continues to be a part of everything we do for the tournament,” Al Atwaan explains. He adds: "The World Cup has always been considered as a catalyst to maximise the use of and the development of mega events, which will further support the nation’s goals in achieving the ultimate, Qatar National Vision 2030." When it opens, the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium will have a capacity of 40,000 seats. Al Atwaan notes: “It is a unique stadium with an even more unique concept. It uses modular features for construction, and is made up of shipping containers, which makes it look vibrant thanks to the different colours of the containers.” "WHEN WE THOUGHT OF HAVING A FULLY DISMANTLED STADIUM BUILT USING MODULAR BLOCKS, WE SELECTED THE SHIPPING CONTAINERS AS A FUNDAMENTAL COMPONENT OF THE RAS ABU ABOUD STADIUM"EXPO EXCLUSIVE 32 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM is a historic location and used to be the headquarters of Qatar Petroleum, which is one of the leading companies in the region and the oil and gas industry." While the story of how Ras Abu Aboud Stadium came to life is exceptional in many ways, there is one thing that also sets the stadium apart and that is the very fact that the venue has been built on a former industrial land that belonged to Qatar Petroleum. “The team transformed a former industrial site into a new development where a lot of decontamination was done for the soil and water,” Al Atwaan states. “A lot of work and processes were implemented at an early stage, where we were also carrying out the enabling works to commence the main construction of the stadium.” Looking back in time, when it all began for the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, Atwaan takes Construction Week through the timeline of the entire project. “The planning for the stadium was carried out in 2015-16, where we carried out an assessment of the available locations in Qatar, and later the current location [Ras Abu Aboud] was selected,” Al Atwaan recalls. “We had to do a lot of coordination with Qatar Petroleum in terms of surveys and land handover to the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.” of soil and water was carried out based on the regulations and the permits mandated by the Ministry of Environment in Qatar. "Transforming a former industrial site into a new destination for the tournament, and for any future development, is an achievement that we have attained by meeting the sustainability and environmental commitments as well as various aspects, which were part of our bid According to Atwaan, in 2016, the soil was excavated and the demolition scope, as part of the preparation for the site, had commenced. “We also carried out removal works of all of the previous utilities. Plus, we did the decontamination and mitigation as well as the asbestos removal that was carefully carried out.” He explained that the decontamination The innovative design of the stadium was developed with Fenwick Iribarren Architects, lead designer of the stadium, and has designed several sports venues across the world [Image: Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy] All of the containers were “fabricated and fully tted out” by the world’s largest container manufacturer, China International Marine Containers Group [Image: Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy]JULY 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 33 FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM procurement and all of the programme- wide strategies,” Al Atwaan notes. Interestingly, the site originally had around 1,000 trees. “We had to re-plant 850 trees to the Supreme Committee’s nursery and those trees are now being distributed among all other stadiums, as well as the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium.” Supporting the timeline of events was the appointment of the main contractor Hamad Bin Khaled (HBK) Contracting, a local contractor based in Qatar, in 2017. Construction work on the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium commenced in 2018 in terms of excavation, dewatering since it is located in close proximity to the sea. “We started the construction of the required utilities including the primary substation,” Al Atwaan explains. “Since this is a design-and-build contract, we had to develop the design prior to any fabrication of the material.” In 2019, the team started fabrication works and gradually received the materials on site. “We then commenced steel prime erection along with container placement in the final location. First, the steel and containers were fabricated and were erected on the site, next we commenced the main activities, mainly with the stadium building process.” All of the containers were “fabricated and fully fitted out” in China by the world’s largest container manufacturer, China International Marine Containers Group. Located near Doha’s port and opposite the West Bay shoreline, the stadium takes inspiration from the city's maritime history [Image: Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy] While the stadium’s concept to design and construction stage speaks of a journey that is diverse compared to many conventionally built stadiums, the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium has had FIFA’s interests picked right from the beginning. “FIFA was interested in the design, since it is the first ever stadium being fully built using containers plus it is fully compliant with FIFA’s requirements for stadiums,” Al Atwaan excitedly says. “Hence it was interesting for them to see such an innovative design, while also looking at the sustainability aspects being met.” Currently, the final stage set of MEP works are being finalised at the stadium. “We are going with the traditional way of having the MEP works done. But we are taking into account the dismantling factor, as we are trying to maximise the use of all the materials post the tournament,” Al Atwaan notes. “However, with the containers coming to Doha fully fitted out and with the plug in concept, we placed the containers in their final location and connected it to other utilities at the stadium building.” Al Atwaan tells that the construction team has used 30,000 tonnes of steel to erect the entire structure, with the steel structure being fabricated in Vietnam by Dai Dung Steel structure and Steel buildings. Hamad Bin Khaled (HBK) Contracting is the main contractor of the project along with HBK Engineering, a subsidiary of HBK Contracting, as the MEP contractor. Louis Berger International is the construction supervision consultant, while Prime Qatar as the project management consultant. Baden-Württemberg-headquartered Schlaich Bergermann Partner (SBP) is the structural design consultant. Other stakeholders who have also worked on the stadium are Hilson Moran, who have delivered engineering services together with sustainability consultancy acoustics, vertical transportation, and security consultancy. Complete fit-out works have been carried out by Medtel WN, and BIMTEC was assigned to manage and provide solutions to the Building Information Modelling (BIM) and coordination-related scope of the project. Post the tournament, the stadium will be dismantled. The materials, according to Al Atwaan, could be used after the tournament for both “sporting and non- sporting events”. Al Atwaan is confident about the dismantling process. He smiles while concluding the interview and tells Construction Week: “We will be able to achieve the dismantling factor because of the use of containers and steel. “The [Ras Abu Aboud] stadium with shipping containers will surely create a memorable atmosphere for both fans and spectators and even FIFA." 12 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2020WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEE WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM SITE VISIT University of Birmingham's new campus in Dubai is designed in the shape of a crescent moon and is inspired by the historic Aston Webb buildings in Birmingham [Image: ITP Media Group/ Adel Rashid] "Flexibility is built into the design" Construction Week's Digital Editor Ranju Warrier exclusively visits the construction site of University of Birmingham's new campus in Dubai, and gets in-depth insights about the facility's design and construction from Ben Bailey, Campus Director, and Damien Fitzgerald, Senior Architect at Hopkins ArchitectsJULY 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 35 SITE VISIT The global academic disturbance caused by the impact of the COVID- 19 pandemic has called for education institutions, such as universities, to focus on future-proofing the next generation of graduates. In the UAE, Dubai is home to several international universities with campuses that are future-focused, and the emirate continues to be one of the most attractive destinations for students from across the region and globally. One such university that has been designed to blend in sustainable practices while delivering a modern building that is capable of adapting to changes in the learning environment is the University of Birmingham Dubai, which is building its new campus in Dubai International Academic City (DIAC). Set to open in September 2021, the 5ha Phase 2 of University of Birmingham’s Dubai campus is located at a short distance from the university’s existing building in DIAC. It has been designed by Hopkins Architects. Designed in the shape of a crescent moon and inspired by the historic Aston Webb buildings in Birmingham, the university’s new campus in Dubai coheres the stature of its original Edgbaston campus that was founded in 1900 and imbibes the heritage, tradition, and the beauty of Arabic architecture and culture. A little back story of the tender and initial construction phase of the facility, takes us to as early as 2017, when the tender to build the new campus was issued. Later, in November 2019, ground was broken on the facility, and in early 2020, Khansaheb Civil Engineering was appointed as the main contractor of the project. But it is the design stage of the facility that makes the story of how the new campus is coming to life, even more exciting. To understand what it took to design and build Phase 2 of University of Birmingham’s Dubai campus, Construction Week toured the site of the facility, in what is the campus’ first-ever media site visit. The team got first hand updates from Ben Bailey, Campus Director, University of Birmingham Dubai and Damien Fitzgerald, Senior Architect, Hopkins Architects. “We ran an open tender process and we took submissions. Hopkins Architects came forward with the design and worked in partnership with Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) on the package for the University of Birmingham Dubai's new WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM RUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM campus, which was very successful. "For Hopkins Architects, the question was, how you would do something that speaks to the university’s campus in the UK, but without trying to build a mini-replica in Dubai, by making it sensitive to the context we are in,” Bailey explains. “You have to build a building that is suitable for Dubai. Whether it is the climate or the visual context that you are considering when constructing the structure.” He adds: “We have included things like the red concrete casting, which speaks to the red brick of the campus in Birmingham, but it is more sympathetic in the current landscape, because you wouldn't build a red brick building in Dubai. "When you look at the campus in Dubai, you wouldn't instantly say that it looks exactly like the University of Birmingham campus, but you will see hallmarks.” Talking about the design stage of the facility, Bailey recalls the time when Henry Kong, who is an Associate Partner at Hopkins Architects and currently based in Dubai, visited Birmingham to “understand and see the campus in order to be able pick the right elements” that would blend well into the design of the Dubai campus. “Hence, quite a lot of work went into Ben Bailey, Campus Director: "You have to build a building that is suitable for Dubai. However, we have included things like the red concrete casting, which speaks to the red brick of the campus in Birmingham. But this is more sympathetic in the current landscape, because you wouldn't build a red brick building in Dubai." In early 2020, Khansaheb Civil Engineering was appointed as the main contractor of the project [Image: ITP Media Group/ Adel Rashid]EXPO EXCLUSIVE 36 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2021WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM getting to the design stage,” Bailey stresses. During Construction Week’s site visit to the facility, one thing that stood out is how the space has been utilised effectively across the campus. From the atrium to the reception area, the library and the sheltered courtyard to the lecture theatre and the auditorium, “flexibility is built into the design”, according to the Campus Director. This is clearly evident in various elements of the campus where spaces have been designed in such a way that it could incorporate multiple uses and could be transformed from seated to open, from large to small, or from areas with bright sunshine to spaces with movie theatre darkness. In terms of construction, the overall structural work on the campus is 100% complete, meanwhile façade and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) works are over 90% complete. With construction work under full swing, Fitzgerald tells Construction Week that the team expects to “ramp up” the manpower to about 2,000 during the final completion period. “During peak construction period the number of workers on the site was in excess of 2,000,” he adds. At the time of the site visit, with the main contractor Khansaheb Civil Engineering, the team on the site collectively contributed to 4,106,240 safe man-hours without Lost Time Injury (LTI). Other key stakeholders of the project include the groundworks contractor, Concord Stars Contracting, BK Gulf as the MEP contractor, with main consultant Hopkins Architects Dubai Ltd, which is also the lead designer, and MEP consultant Ian Banham & Associates. The project’s architect of record (AOR) is GHD, and the fit-out contractor is Khansaheb Interiors. In addition to traditional construction methods, modular construction elements, such as the use of precast have also been The overall structural work on the campus is 100% complete, meanwhile façade and MEP works are over 90% complete [Image: Supplied/ screenshot/ drone footage] Construction Week toured the site of the University of Birmingham's new campus in Dubai alongside Campus Director, Ben Bailey (left) and Senior Architect at Hopkins Architects, Damien Fitzgerald (right) [Image: ITP Media Group/ Adel Rashid] Damien Fitzgerald, Senior Architect: "All the façade is modular and so are all the precast elements, while the laser glazing predominately uses the stick system."JULY 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 37 SITE VISIT WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM incorporated into the campus. “We can move, change, and shift the services that have been built into three laboratories at the campus so that we can adapt it for various types of disciplines that we have now and those that we must have in the future. We also have the floor box grids laid out in a pattern, which means that we can reconfigure everything from classroom to staff office spaces, in order to further shift change, and adapt,” Bailey explains. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald talks about the use of modular elements for the construction of the university. He explains: “All the façade is modular, as well as all the precast elements, while the laser glazing predominately uses the stick system, and all of the structure is modular and so are the beams.” Another "fundamental" feature of the university's new campus is the projection of natural light across the building. This, according to Fitzgerald, has been possible because of the combination of concrete and glass on the façade. When Construction Week visited the site, it was bustling with activities, and Fitzgerald notes that the team is on-track to complete the work. Once completed the campus will accommodate up to 2,900 students. The facility is located opposite Dubai’s first purpose-built student housing and overlooks parkland and green spaces, which can be viewed through the campus' amphitheatre. Standing on the amphitheatre stairs with the Construction Week team and Bailey, Fitzgerald says: "What is interesting about the parkland is that during winter months students can walk from the student accommodation buildings, across the parkland to enter the university building, climb the stairs straight up to the amphitheatre, and go into the library." Meanwhile, climbing down the stairs of the amphitheatre, Bailey says: “This [University of Birmingham in Dubai new campus] is a long term project. We think of it in the full length of the agreement with the TECOM Group, which is for 32 years. Hence, we think of the building with more than 30 years of long-life. “And that is how we worked to design it with Hopkins Architects and the Dubai International Academic City (DIAC)." He wraps the interview: “We think it can adapt, shape, and change because universities do develop, adapt, and change as we go on to do different things." During peak construction period the number of workers on the site was in excess of 2,000 [Image: ITP Media Group/ Adel Rashid] The amphitheatre stairs lead up to the library at the new campus of the University of Birmingham in Dubai [Image: ITP Media Group/ Adel Rashid]PROJECTS WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COM ON SITE CW provides a collection of its most recent site and plant visits to keep you up-to-date with project progress PROJECT UPDATE FOLLOW CONSTRUCTION WEEK @CWMIDDLEEAST 38 CONSTRUCTION WEEK JULY 2021 WANT TO UPDATE YOUR PROJECT'S PROGRESS, OR HAVE IT INCLUDED HERE? Email the editor: ashley.williams@itp.com FOLLOW CONSTRUCTION WEEK @CWMIDDLEEAST Touted as a rst in the GCC, Hive Coliv, a built-to-rent real estate development and management company that exclusively focuses on co-living communities, has launched in the UAE’s Dubai. Created in partnership with A.R.M Holding, Hive Coliv will help Dubai to be a part of the “global living movement”. Through its establishment, the company will help address the shortage in affordable and exible housing solutions for expatriates relocating to the emirate. The developer will provide all-inclusive, serviced living solutions with exibility, convenience, and a sense of freedom at its core. HIVE CO-LIV Location Dubai Visited May 2021 Construction Week visited the up-and-coming University of Birmingham development in Dubai, which is set to be completed by September 2021. Once completed the campus will cover an area spanning 5ha, and will accommodate up to 2,900 students. The facility is located opposite Dubai’s rst purpose-built student housing, over-looking parkland and green spaces. Sheltered courtyards and social spaces have also been planned to take shape within the campus. UAE- based Khansaheb was appointed as the main contractor for the University of Birmingham Phase 2 and the university is being designed by UK-based Hopkins Architects. UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM Location Dubai Visited June 2021 Set to open in Q3 2021, the Address Fujairah hotel property will be nestled within the Hajar Mountains. The resort will be spread over 578,000 sq feet, featuring 196 guest rooms and suites, 10 privately owned villas as well as four residential buildings with 170 serviced apartments.The resort faces out onto the ocean with views of the Gulf of Oman. The hotel will have four dining outlets, including The Restaurant, which will be the resort’s signature homely concept and all-day dining. THE ADDRESS FUJAIRAH EAGLE HILLS Location Fujairah Visited June 2021PROJECTS WWW.CONSTRUCTIONWEEKONLINE.COMJULY 2021 CONSTRUCTION WEEK 39 The $544.5m (AED2bn) destination, which is being developed by Diamond Developers and under the umbrella of Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), has marked 35% construction completion on Phase 1 of the project. Construction on the rst set of residential villas at the destination has marked completion, with landscaping slated for completion by the end of 2020. Phase 1 will include the construction of 280 villas. The villas will feature three, four, and ve bedrooms, once complete. SHARJAH SUSTAINABLE CITY Location Sharjah Visited November 2020 Expo 2020 Dubai offered Construction Week the chance to be among the rst to experience Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion before it opens to the public later this year. The iconic pavilion, designed by Grimshaw Architects, sets an example for sustainable building design. Built to be net-zero for both energy and water, it features 1,055 photovoltaic panels arranged on a 130-metre-wide roof canopy and atop a series of ‘Energy Trees’. The pavilion also uses cutting- edge water-reduction strategies, water recycling and alternative water sources. SUSTAINABILITY PAVILION Location Expo 2020 Dubai Visited January 2021 Located at Sobha Hartland, the Experience Studio takes visitors on a behind-the-scenes journey of the aspects of its design and construction process. The Experience Studio highlights the quality, materials and efforts that go into delivering luxury living spaces to Dubai’s residents and its attention to detail in every aspect of the execution, workmanship and service. Upon arriving at the Sobha Experience Studio, visitors are welcomed into a theatre, where they can watch an informative video that introduces Sobha Realty. SOBHA EXPERIENCE SHOWROOM Location Dubai Visited February 2021 Khansaheb has recently completed a signi cant expansion of the existing Aquaventure Waterpark at the Atlantis Hotel, Palm Jumeriah in February 2021. The project is approximately 44,000 m2 consisting of a new 46m slide tower ‘Trident Tower’ incorporating multiple slides, a new action river experience, kids slide tower and pool areas, cliff jumping experience, two new F&B buildings, ancillary buildings including towel kiosks, prayer room, lockers and retail units. EXPANSION OF AQUAVENTURE WATERPARK Location Dubai Visited April 2021Next >