Bids are currently being evaluated for the construction of the estimated SR400 million ($107 million) Granada Shopping Centre, which is expected to be largest mall in Riyadh.

A contract for construction work is expected to be awarded next month with work to commence immediately. The project is being spearheaded by the General Organisation for Social Insurance (Gosi) and is expected to see completion in June 2004. Zuhair Fayez & Partners is the consultant for the project.

The two-storey shopping centre will occupy an expansive 450,000 sq m site in the Granada District lying on the outskirts of Riyadh. Located near the Dammam-Riyadh Highway, the mall has been designed to serve the growing domestic tourism market, while catering to the capital city's burgeoning population.

The mall's total built-up area of 162,000 sq m will consist of a hypermarket, food court and entertainment centre.

The entertainment centre is expected to be one of the largest in the Kingdom covering a total area of 11,000 sq m and geared to providing recreational facilities for the entire family.

The structure is curved in form to offer motorists driving along the highway a full perspective of the complex. An architectural highlight of the mall is the four 40-m-high conical metal-frame towers, which are centrally placed above the main atrium of the mall.

The main atrium has a diameter of 40 m and a ceiling height of 22 m. Each tower features six circular lightweight fibreglass discs which will be specially lit at night to enhance the visibility of the mall from a distance. Besides the main atrium, the mall also features four other atriums, 25 m in diameter, which are surmounted by metal domes above their two-storey height.

The expansive mall measures 550 m from end to end and features seven main entrances - three in front and four at the rear - with 4,500 parking slots arranged around the mall. Some shaded car-parking slots will also be provided. In addition, the roof of the hypermarket will offer parking space for around 350 cars.

The external facades will be clad in precast concrete with the main entrances clad in curtain-walling.

Access within the mall will be facilitated by six escalators, eight public elevators and six service elevators.

Exterior and interior perspectives of the mall.