ISMAIL Khonji Associates (IKA) undertook the structural design of one of the largest canopies of its kind in the world, a structure that is immediately noticeable on entering the King Hamad University Hospital. The canopy is just part of the consultancy’s scope of works on the new hospital as local partner to the main consultant Australian Hospital Design Group (AHDG). IKA was responsible for structural design, provision of site engineers and local liaison on the project as a whole.

IKA’s association with the project dates back to September 2003, when AHDG requested the consultancy to associate with the group in submitting a fee proposal to the Ministry of Works (MoW). When the AHDG/IKA proposals were accepted some months later, IKA teamed with AHDG and provided assistance as the local consultant for the project.

Elaborating on IKA’s role on this striking development, principal Ismail Khonji says: “IKA carried out all the detailed structural design including the structural steel framing for the canopy, which is 44-m wide and cantilevers 36 m.”

IKA also checked and compiled all the tender documents and supervised the construction of the foundations, which was let as a separate early-works contract. IKA says it is proud to have worked on this prestigious project with the Australian Hospital Design Group.

The main superstructure contract was won by a joint venture of Nass Contracting and Burhan International in August 2006 for a sum of approximately BD50 million ($132.6 million).

IKA had structural and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) engineers on site assisting AHDG throughout the contract.

IKA is a multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy based in Adliya, Bahrain. Services provided by the consultancy range from feasibility studies to detailed civil and structural design and supervision of construction including project management. Khonji recalls that “a number of structures initially designed by other consultants have subsequently been redesigned by IKA at the request of the successful tenderer, often resulting in massive savings for both client and contractor”. IKA also has particular expertise in the field of concrete deterioration and repair.

In addition, its joint venture partnership with leading US/UK consulting engineer Montgomery Watson Harza (MWH) registered in Bahrain under the name MWH Khonji offers additional specialist services in the fields of sewerage, sewage treatment, environmental engineering and water supply.

The practice currently employs a staff of more than 50 engineers, architects, project managers, surveyors and CAD specialists. An example of a major project that has been handled by IKA for design and construction is the highway and overhead bridges leading to the Durrat Al Bahrain development. The highway was designed by High Point Rendel (HPR), London, and the bridges by IKA.

Other projects include the first pedestrian bridge in Manama; Model Sports Clubs at four locations in Bahrain and Isa Sports City (in association with L&O, Hong Kong); the 30-storey Diplomat Offices, a twin-tower commercial complex at the Diplomat Radisson Blu (SAS) Hotel; the final phase of the infrastructure contract at Bahrain Financial Harbour; construction supervision of Sofitel Zallaq Hotel and Resort; a major water reservoir in Sharjah (in association with MWH) and a 2.5-km-long windbreaker and repair of a 300-m-long jetty, both for Gulf Industrial Investment Company (GIIC).

IKA has served a long list of clients, some of which are Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), Bahrain Defence Force (BDF), Bahrain Flour Mills Company, Bahrain Hotels Company, Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), Bahrain Telecommunications Company (Batelco), Gulf Aluminium Rolling Mills Company (Garmco), National Hotels Company, Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC), GIIC, Electricity and Water Authority, and the ministries of works and housing.

IKA was founded in Bahrain in 1984 by Khonji, a Fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers and a Fellow of the Institution of Structural Engineers. After gaining his civil engineering degree in London and before returning to Bahrain, Khonji worked for a number of prestigious consulting firms in the UK including Binnie and Partners and Harris and Sutherland. Major projects on which he worked included the Cairo Waste Water, Bombay Water Supply and the Deal Sea Defence schemes. One of the highlights of his early career was working for Bechtel International on the massive Churchill Falls hydro-electric project in Labrador, Canada.