The striking transparent roof structure over the atrium of the Mercato Town Centre is a creation of the UAE-based specialty subcontractor Mero Middle East.
The classic filigree single-layer roof structure comprises cable and steel profiles resembling the strings of a tennis racket. This structure is suspended between the adjacent wings of the building, creating a closed interior space of approximately 2,500 sq m, where special events can take place.
Mero Middle East is an affiliate of the Germany-headquartered Mero, a market leading specialty subcontractor providing design/engineering, supply and erection of custom architectural structures and their cladding.
These structures are used for atriums, canopies, facades, stadiums, large roofs, contemporary overhead and vertical glazing and their support.
Mero's product portfolio includes architectural steelwork, spaceframes, cable nets, tension elements, structural glazing, point supported glass, skin glazing, curtain-walls, skylights, patch glazing, conventional roofing systems, fabric and translucent systems.
Last year, Mero completed a number of major projects in the UAE and abroad. Among the Middle East projects are the National Bank of Abu Dhabi headquarters, Dubai Convention Centre, the Al Ain VIP grandstand, and the Sahara Centre, all in the UAE and the transit hall of Cairo Airport in Egypt.
In hand are a number of current and newly-acquired projects including BurJuman Centre in Dubai, the Terminal 2 of Munich Airport, the massive Lehrter Bahnof railway station in Berlin, and the Volkswagen facility in Dresden, all in Germany, and the General Motors global headquarters in Detroit, US.
Backed by strong international demand, Mero focuses on exploring its potential in the hi-tech segment of international building construction. Within the parameters of this overall strategy, three product divisions - construction, floor and exhibit systems - are being constituted.
The Mero headquarters at Wuerzburg continues to support Mero Middle East, which is poised for further expansion in the region.
'For the year 2003 we expect positive growth in the international building market, and we are planning further growth of our business activities, especially fuelled by the major projects Mero is currently acquiring worldwide,' says a company spokesman.
