Within months of having broken ground, the iconic 50-storey twin-tower Bahrain World Trade Centre (BWTC) is rapidly rising above two leaf-shaped footprints at the Bahrain Commercial Complex, adjacent to the Sheraton Hotel.

Standing at more than 240 m in height, the spectacular twin towers are expected to be the tallest in Bahrain when completed in June 2006.
The BWTC, which is designed to be an intelligent building, will dramatically enhance the skyline while offering more than 35,000 sq m of prime office space over 43 levels.The development will also include almost 150 additional retail units in an extension to the existing mall along with top-quality restaurants, leisure and business facilities.  
The Sheraton Hotel, meanwhile, will undergo a complete refurbishment and will also become an integral part of the Bahrain World Trade Centre.
The two towers – dressed in state-of-the art cladding and glazing systems – rise above a podium retail element with decked car-parking.  At ground level, the podium provides access to both the office towers as well as the retail area.  This then links into an existing retail environment, which has, for the past 25 years, been regarded one of Bahrain’s most exclusive shopping destinations.
The offices – which range in area from 294 sq m to 1,142 sq m – incorporate all modern-day Smart functions to include security, power and telecommunications.  In addition, they will feature raised access floor system, VAV air-conditioning, flexible floor plates, communal toilets, communal kitchenettes, impressive entrance lobbies – all enhanced by superb sea views. The retail units – 148 in total – range in size from 22 to 196 sq m in a shell and core condition with glazed frontage each facing a communal mall. An anchor store covering 2,060 sq m on the ground level has a 374 sq m basement storage space.
 An official ground-breaking ceremony for the project took place in August with Nass Murray and Roberts –  a joint venture between South African contracting major and the local AA Nass – having taken on the charge of building the landmark. The project has been designed by the architectural firm Atkins. Hisham Abdulrahman Jaffar (HAJ) is the client’s representative and cost manager while DTZ, the international property adviser, will head the letting and management of the BWTC.
At its full strength the current workforce will increase to between 1,400 and 1,500 labourers. Nass Murray and Roberts has already launched procurement works for major subcontract packages such as lifts, cladding and MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) services.
Tabreed Bahrain has been selected to provide the district cooling system for the project. Under a 25-year contract, the firm will provide 3,800 tonnes of refrigeration to the BWTC.
“Work on the project is progressing as per schedule,” Nizar Ahmed, the chartered quantity surveyor with HAJ, told Gulf Construction.
Among the innovative plans for the BWTC is a project to incorporate wind turbines to generate power for the complex.
Ahmed explains: “A feasibility study – due for completion next month – is being conducted through a specialist consultant to look into the possibility of utilising wind turbines within the project. If the report is positive, the owners of the Bahrain World Trade Centre aim to procure and install three wind turbines connecting the two towers.
“If it goes ahead, this will be the first building in the region to have such a unique feature. The wind turbines are expected to generate sufficient power  to cater to the service areas. This initiative reflects the owners’ concern to save Bahrain’s energy resources."
Plans for the BWTC will make it more than just an office building; it is set to become Bahrain’s most prestigious address, offering tenants and visitors a complete business environment, incorporating extensive facilities to develop and enhance trade opportunities, as well as providing technically sophisticated commercial services, meeting rooms and conference facilities. 
Traditionally, the 300-plus World Trade Centres in more than 100 countries have a strong profile, attracting business investment and relationships and enhancing the commercial environment of the cities in which they are situated.  They are all  linked to the World Trade Centre Association. 
Robin Williamson, general manager of DTZ, comments: “We are proud to be moving on with this project at an impressive pace.  The Bahrain World Trade Centre will reinforce Bahrain's commercial strengths and enhance its position as a major commercial hub for trade and finance in the Middle East and the global market place.”

Sheraton facelift
In line with the construction of the twin towers, various upgrade and refurbishment works have been planned at Sheraton Bahrain, says Ahmed. The external works includes construction of a multi-storey car-park building for 200 vehicles adjoining the hotel, a facelift of the main entrance and construction of a linkway from the hotel to the shopping complex.
The entire external facade of the hotel will be treated so as to match the adjoining developments.
“Internally, the lobbies, guest rooms and ballrooms will undergo refurbishment commencing immediately after the Formula One race scheduled for April 2005,” says Ahmed. “The capacity of the Iranian restaurant and the health club will be increased to meet the demand.
A covered Garden Court will be constructed between the hotel and the twin-tower complex and the main lobby of the hotel – which overlooks the Court –  will be extended.
 The entire works are expected to complete by May 2006 along with the BWTC project.
 The owner has appointed Decovar Orient as the interior designer for the project while WS Atkins and HAJ are extending similar services to the upgrade as on the towers project.
Nass Murray and Roberts are also involved in the external works of the hotel.
Tenders for the internal refurbishment works are expected to be issued in the first quarter of this year.
The work on the car park is in progress and the remaining works will follow on as per the construction plan. In total, the development will incorporate 1,700 car-parking spaces providing a high ratio of spaces for both office tenants, visitors and shoppers.