Saudi Arabia’s Knowledge Economic City (KEC) has signed a SR13.59-million ($3.63 million) contract with IBI to design the Madinah Gate project at the city.

 To be built on an area of 37,000 sq m, the project will be undertaken in three main stages.

The first two phases will be completed in 42 weeks.

KEC is a 6.9-million-sq-m zone located 5 km from the Prophet’s mosque on the main axis connecting the airport, train station with the holy mosque providing numerous investment and development opportunities to enable it to be a knowledge industries hub and enabler.

Earlier, KEC awarded the $6.2-million two-phase design deal for its $587.1-million Downtown project to the UK-headquartered architecture and masterplanning studio Chapman Taylor.

Downtown’s feasibility study was completed in March 2019, and KEC said that the project’s initial design aimed at developing KEC’s main commercial market and associated hotel units within Phase One. The first phase of Chapman Taylor’s contract included site studies, preliminary designs and studies, milestone establishment, and estimated costs, while Phase Two would cover detailed design and tender documentation works, as well as the drawing up operational plans for the project.

 KEC said Chapman Taylor was mandated to ensure “the effective use of available spaces” within the site, with elements such as a 12.9-hectare mall, and 12.2-hectare boulevard-style leasable area. The boulevard will feature an interactive museum about Madinah, in addition to an entertainment space and a cinema. Hospitality elements planned within Downtown include three- and four-star hotels with 350 rooms and 150 hotel apartments within Phase One of KEC.

 In March 2019, KEC said that it expected to start excavation and site enablinging work for the Downtown area in Q4 2019, with construction to begin in 2020 and completion expected within three years.