THE SR2-billion ($533 million) Lamar Towers project – a luxury development in Jeddah comprising two stunning skyscrapers that rise above a crescent-shaped lower-rise podium – has made considerable headway with the award of several construction packages on the project over the past year.

Construction work on the superstructure of the project, which was officially launched in 2007, began last June with the award of the main construction contract to the UAE-based Arabtec in joint venture with Al Saad of Saudi Arabia.

Located on Jeddah Corniche, the two towers – one rising 322 m and the other 293 m – incorporate residential, office and commercial units as well as a five-star hotel. Their one-to-four bedroom apartments, three-bedroom lofts, half and full-floor penthouses will offer spectacular views of the Red Sea.
A 13-storey commercial podium will curve its way beneath the two towers and offer offices in various sizes and a hotel. Each floor on the podium will be equally divided into offices and hotel. All will have access to a stunningly-appointed executive floor with a selection of meeting and conference rooms, plus covered parking, and a high-tech security system.

The mixed-use development occupies a 33,200-sq-m plot and offers a total gross floor area of approximately 415,500 sq m. The project is owned by Zahran Real Estate Company, construction management is done by Turner Construction Company, RMJM did the initial conceptual design while Saudi Diyar Consultants is responsible for the detail design. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012.
Lamar means molten gold in Arabic, and the name was inspired by the way the setting sun will reflect off the glass walls of the tower, “turning them into dazzling sheets of molten gold”, according to a spokesman for Zahran Real Estate.

Apart from the main construction contract, other major packages have been awarded to various companies, including the electromechanical package to Drake & Scull International, UK; vertical transportation to Otis Elevators, US; and external cladding deal to Shenyang Yuanda (CNYD), China. The enabling package was carried out by Kasktas Arabia, Turkey.
Speaking of the current progress on Lamar Towers, a spokesman for Zahran says: “Following the construction of a 3-m-thick raft foundation of both towers, execution of the core walls for the towers is in progress and has reached to a height of 20 m above the foundation. In addition, the podium partial slab concrete has been poured up to ground level, while the partial slab at the ground level of Tower One is also complete.

“The MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) contractor has completed installation of the earthing system and mechanical inserts for structural works at both towers and the podium. Work has also been initiated on the vertical transportation services for both the towers and the podium.”
The project faced a number of challenges in the initial phases of foundation works with excess ground water – a common occurrence in the Jeddah area ­­– having been encountered due to the large growth of corals. Geotechnical experts were called in who recommended that the only solution was to make a grout blanket. This grout blanket has also been 100 per cent completed. Three dewatering pipelines, 1 m diameter each and with a total capacity of 10,000 sq m, have been installed. The dewatering system is functioning adequately, he says.

PROJECT FEATRUES
The 322-m Tower One will offer a total built-up area of 84,000 sq m with 71 levels, 58 of which will accommodate residential apartments. The 293-m Tower Two, with a built-up area of 68,774 sq m, will have 63 levels, 50 of which will be dedicated for residential purposes.
Below the residential levels of the towers is the commercial podium providing retail facilities on the first three levels with the offices and the hotel occupying levels four to 13. A 9,288 sq m spa will be located on top of the podium building.

The five-star hotel, which has 300 rooms, will be operated by an international hotel operator and cater to business and leisure travellers. It will include an executive floor, a business lounge, a business centre, approximately 3,430 sq m of meeting and banqueting areas including two 1,000 sq m ballrooms with separate entrances for men and women, three boardrooms, seven fully-equipped multi-purpose meeting rooms, and large pre-function areas.
It will also have food and beverage facilities including an all-day dining restaurant, three specialty restaurants, a coffee shop, and a lobby lounge. The leisure and recreation facilities will include a health club, pool, convenience retail store and a prayer room.
The towers will have ample parking. There will be two underground levels for parking and utility support, while a 10-storey multi-storey car-parking will be located on the east side of the project. The built-up area of the basements will be 61,527 sq m and that of parking building will be 72,879 sq m.

The towers and podium will be served by 40 elevators and 20 escalators.
There will mechanical and utility support levels located at level 13 for the podium, level 36, 70 and 71 for Tower One; and Level 29, 62 and 63 for Tower Two.
Zahran Real Estate is considered one of the most prominent Saudi companies operating in the field of property development. The company has handled several major projects. It is on this basis that the company was able to contribute actively to creating more opportunities for real estate investment as well as aiding in the development of real estate properties in the kingdom. Zahran also have ventures in Dubai and Egypt.
Turner Construction Company is over a 100-year-old company headquartered in New York, specialised in building construction. Internationally it has been active for almost four decades in almost all the continents. In the Middle East, Turner has been active for over three decades, and maintains a strong presence in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Egypt.
Saudi Diyar Consultants is one of the leading multidiscipline design firms in the Middle East with a diverse portfolio of commercial, institutional, residential, hospitality, healthcare, as well as urban design projects.