Work on the BD12.56 million ($33.3 million) Shaikh Isa Library and Conference Hall in Bahrain is on schedule with work on the basement and substructures having being completed.

Fifteen per cent of the total work involving the most complex phase of the contract is now complete, said Islamic Affairs Ministry engineering department head and client representative committee in-charge Khaldoon Aba Hussain.

About 4,000 cu m of concrete have already gone into the structure, with 1,200 cu m for the basement. The project, located near Al Fateh Grand Mosque, is due for completion in September 2004.

Cybarco, the main contractor, started work in October last year. The project is supervised by Mohammed Salahuddin Consulting Engineering Bureau (MSCEB). Arcade from Egypt is the main consultant. Library specialist Tilke & Coch from Germany is also now working on the site, advising the contractors on allocating space for various services including library and computers.

The library project is divided into two parts. Building A comprises the library, while Building B accommodates the main conference centre. The library is expected to house 250,000 titles and audio visual items. It will consist of four big reading halls and an exhibition area. There will also be a children's library.

The three-storey conference centre will include the main conference hall with a seating capacity for 1,000 people. The ground floor will house a BD1 million multi-purpose hall, donated by Investcorp, where the late Amir Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa's collection of books and artefacts will be displayed.

In addition, the complex will also have a parking area for more than 700 cars. The footprint area of the project is 16,000 sq m and the total plot area is 51,000 sq m.