QATAR’S ‘Tornado’ Tower has been voted the best tall building in the Middle East and Africa by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).
 The other winners of the CTBUH’s annual “Best Tall Building” awards for 2009, which recognise one outstanding tall building from four geographical regions – Americas, Asia and Australia, Europe, and Middle East and Africa – included the Manitoba Hydro Place, in Winnipeg, Canada, the Linked Hybrid, in Beijing, China, and The Broadgate Tower, in London, UK.
One of these structures will be named “Best Tall Building Overall” at CTBUH’s awards dinner on October 22 this year.
The criteria for the awards include seamless integration of architectural form, structure, building systems, sustainable design strategies, and life safety for its occupants. Additionally, the buildings must exhibit sustainable qualities.
In selecting the Qipco Tower – also known as the Tornado Tower because of its shape – the judges commented: “The tower utilises an efficient and lightweight structure that allows for flexible floor plans and efficiencies in economics, construction and energy.”
Aecom Middle East acted as project manager for the QR690 million ($190 million) tower in the Qatari capital Doha, which was completed recently.
Brett Latham, who acted as project manager on the scheme, commented: “It was a great opportunity to be part of such a unique and ultra-modern project. We are delighted that the CTBUH has recognised the work with the award and we look forward to October.”
The CTBUH is based at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, US.