Dubai's latest commercial-cum-residential complex, offering a total built-up area of 532,431 sq ft of space at the main intersection of Al Maktoum Road and Al Ittihad Road, is due for completion this month-end.
The Al Shoala Complex, which will house the Al Naboodah Group's new corporate offices among other renowned establishments, enjoys easy access to all major highways.
It is in close proximity to Dubai International Airport and the City Centre shopping mall and is ideally placed in the heart of the business, financial and shopping centre of the emirate, according to the Al Naboodah Group.
The development essentially comprises five blocks harmoniously combined into a composite structure. Three five-storey residential blocks in the centre of the complex are flanked by two office blocks at each end, which rise eight levels above the second-storey level within attractive semi-circular glazed towers. All the blocks have a common basement, and ground, mezzanine and first floor levels.
Externally, the building, which extends over a length of 196 m and is 52 m wide, offers two different elevations. The front elevation includes recesses to demarcate the various blocks whereas the rear combines the residential blocks into one unit with the towers standing gracefully at each end.
Al Naboodah Contracting Company, the main contractor, started work on the Dh157 million ($43 million) project in mid-1997.
Describing the project, Steve Higson, chief quantity surveyor with Al Naboodah Contracting, says the two office blocks - denoted Block A and E - have eight offices on each floor with approximately 1,125 sq ft of space, which includes a toilet and kitchenette. All offices are provided with state-of-the-art electrical, telephone and data systems. Lighting and central air-conditioning are co-ordinated to allow internal partitioning to suit the tenant's requirements.
"A multi-purpose hall - equipped with seating, speakers and sound barriers and specially designed for conferences, seminars, annual events, lounging and other social activities - is located on the second floor of each office tower," he says.
Three blocks in the centre of the projects - Blocks B, C, and D - have a total of 56 two-bedroom and 32 three-bedroom luxurious apartments located on floors Two to Five. All floors are typical with eight three-bedroom (ranging in area from 2,335 and 2,368 sq ft) and 14 two-bedroom apartments (ranging between 1,250 and 1,410 sq ft). Each apartment is centrally air-conditioned, fitted with an intercom system, telephone outlets, radio and TV master antenna system. The complex also has a 24-hour security service.
There are two health clubs on the sixth level of the residential complex with private and separate entrances for ladies and gents. Both clubs are equipped with sauna and steam rooms, a gymnasium and an open-air swimming pool with gardens and walkways.
The complex also offers 475 parking spaces on four levels - the basement, the ground and mezzanine (behind the showrooms) and the first floor - controlled by automated barriers.
The Al Shoala complex has eight showrooms at the ground level (ranging in size from 2,150 to 6,350 sq ft) offering access to the mezzanine floor (of similar area) via a private staircase. The showrooms are said to be ideally positioned as a major focal point with beautiful granite arches providing a rich and elegant facade.
A total of 12 Mitsubishi lifts - three each in office blocks and two in each of the three residential blocks - service the building. The six lifts in the office blocks have a 750-kg capacity with 1.75 m/sec speed, while those in residential blocks have a 750 kg capacity and 1.00 m/sec speed.
"The work on the project was carried out in three phases with the first phase covering the residential blocks (B, C and D); phase two comprised work on Block A and the third phase includes Block E, which will house the Al Naboodah Group's new corporate offices.
"While work on first two phases has been completed, the third phase is due for completion on March 31, 2000, due to the large fit-out requirements of the Al Naboodah Group," says Higson.
At the peak of construction in June 1999, some 760 men (including subcontractors) were on site. The main contractor was responsible for overall co-ordination and supervision on this multi-faceted project.
The structure comprises traditional reinforced concrete. The towers are curtain-wall clad with Azurlite SS14 glazing, while external walls are clad in Indian Pink Panther granite.
Offices are finished with plasterboard/GRC combination ceiling, carpet tiles, demountable partitions, skirting trunking and structured cabling.
"Apartments are finished to five-star standards with separate entrances from offices," he says.
One of the special requirements for the project, he says, was access, in more than one respect. "Access had to be maintained to adjacent buildings; access was required to allow revision of the road junction which was being modified from one with a roundabout to a signallised junction. Access was also required to allow for Dubai Municipality main drainage contracts to be implemented. The problems set by limited access for pumps and wagons meant that special slab casting sequences had to be set.
On unusual aspects of the project he says the building is cast on a 1-m-thick raft rather than piles, which has proved to be more cost-effective.
Window-cleaning equipment has been installed which allows for all-around cleaning of the building although glazing is not continuous, he adds.
