news, data, analysis and strategic insights for architects

DECEMBER 2011 / VOLUME 5 / ISSUE 12
An ITP Business Publication
NEWS, DATA, ANALYSIS AND STRATEGIC INSIGHTS FOR ARCHITECTS IN THE GCC
r
e
Pow
25
The region’s largest
architecture firms
PLUS
ANALYSIS
CASE STUDY
INTERVIEW
Adrian Smith delivers keynote
speech at Green Build Congress
Leigh & Orange’s impressive
Equestrian Academy in Qatar
dwp’s new design director on
working in ‘danger’ markets
POWER 25 | FEATURE
KEO
2,190 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 240 ARCHITECTS
Top spot goes to Kuwait-
1
based firm KEO, with its
whopping team of 2,190
staff in the GCC.
The multi-disciplinary
practice boasts regional
offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al
Ain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
Bahrain and Oman.
Key projects include the QP
District in Doha (pictured) and the
Kuwait Investment Authority’s new
headquarters in a 200m-tall tower
In Abu Dhabi, KEO is working on
Nation Towers on the Corniche,
and is also behind several school
projects for ADEC.
In addition, KEO provided full
design and supervision services
for 23 Marina in Dubai Marina,
which is now recognised as the
tallest residential tower in the
world at 395m.
EAS
ATKINS
550 STAFF IN THE GCC
1,770 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 200 ARCHITECTS
One of the surprise finds
This year’s runner up is UK-based
Atkins, a company behind some of
the Gulf’s most postcard-friendly
buildings such as the Burj
Al Arab (pictured) and
the spiky Bahrain World
Trade Centre.
The firm has been
working in the region for
more than 40 years and has
2
3
this year is local firm
Eng Adnan Saff arini
(EAS), which boasts 550
staff and an undisclosed
number of architects.
The company was formed in
1968 and has offices in Abu Dhabi,
Sharjah, Ajman, Al Ain, Ras Al
Khaimah and Qatar.
A key project involves the
10 offices in the UAE, KSA, Qatar,
provision of two 400-bed General
Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Education Hospitals for the
Atkin’s yearly revenue for the
Ministry of Health in Iraq. The
Middle East, as of March 2011,
complex covers 10,000m 2 and
totalled US$218.5m.
construction is underway.
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.designmena.com
27
FEATURE | POWER 25
AEB
region’s largest practices
5
404 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 70 ARCHITECTS
with 246 staff and 90
architects in the GCC.
Led by founder Mohamed
Al Assam and executive
director Ammar Al Assam,
Founded in 1966 as the first
architectural and engineering
the total consolidated revenue in
consulting firm in Qatar, Arab
2010, in the Middle East, totalled
Engineering Bureau (AEB) took off
AED108.7m (US$29.6m).
in 1991 when it was acquired
by current managing
director Ibrahim
Mohamed Al Jaider.
The firm has regional
4
The company was behind the
DEWAN
jaw-dropping Al Bateen School for
Aldar Academies, which recently
246 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 90 ARCHITECTS
opened in Abu Dhabi and featured
as a Building Focus in MEA’s
October issue.
offices in Doha and Abu
Dewan also designed the 750-
Dhabi with further bases in
With offices in Dubai, KSA, Qatar,
Manila and Kuala Lumpur. Key
Iraq, Libya and Egypt, Dewan
key Fairmont Hotel and Resort
projects include the tallest hotel
has taken major strides since its
(pictured) for Breakwater Island
in Qatar, the 62-level Kempinski
formation in Baghdad in 1971.
in Abu Dhabi. Elsewhere, it is
Residences and Suites, and Doha’s
The company has grown from a
working on a 28-floor tower in Al
Al Sharq Village & Spa resort.
two-man firm in 1984 to one of the
Khobar, KSA.
MZ ARCHITECTS
the GCC, with a total of 200 staff
200 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 70 ARCHITECTS
comprising 70 architects.
The practice’s most famous
design is undoubtedly the
Aldar HQ was voted the ‘Best
Futuristic Design’ by The Building
Exchange (BEX) Conference held
in Spain.
curvaceous Aldar Headquarters
The shape of this project
Headquartered in Lebanon, MZ
building in Abu Dhabi, one of
- the first circular building of
Architects has further offices
the most quirky and distinctive
its kind in the Middle East - is
in Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Libya, and
buildings in a country that’s
Morocco. The company has an
known for audacious
impressively large workforce in
developments.
achieved through the use
6
of a structural diagrid, a
diagonal grid of steel.
Another key scheme
for the company is
Eko Atlantic City in
Lagos, Nigeria, in which
MZ Architects provided the
masterplan.
The development consists of
business, residential, commercial
and leisure areas spread on
17,000m 2 of reclaimed land. The
scheme will be home to a quarter
of a million people.
As well as masterplanning, MZ
Architects will also be responsible
for architectural, engineering and
construction management of a
number of towers in the city.
28
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.designmena.com
FEATURE | POWER 25
RMJM
178 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 65 ARCHITECTS
Scotland-based firm RMJM
has long been a regional
stalwart, although its
GCC staff numbers have
shrunk since the downturn.
7
It is currently working on
two mixed-use towers in the King
Abdullah Financial District in
Riyadh, a luxury commercial office
in Manama, Bahrain, a shopping
BURT HILL
Hospital, ADEC Headquarters,
and the masterplan for Union
140 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 34 ARCHITECTS
Properties’ 3.5 million m 2 Motor
City in Dubai. Key components of
mall in Abu Dhabi and a financial
the project are Dubai Autodrome
education facility in Bahrain.
Acquired by the Stantec Group in
and UpTown Motor City.
Its Middle East offices are located
December 2010, US-based Burt
The Stantec Group offers services
in Abu Dhabi, Istanbul, Bahrain
Hill is another firm to have
and Muscat.
cut GCC staff numbers in
RMJM was presented with the
recent years.
Nevertheless, the firm
‘Overall Project of the Year’ and
in planning, engineering,
8
architecture, surveying,
environmental sciences,
project management
‘Commercial/Mixed Use Built
still makes the top 10,
Award’ at the 2011 Cityscape
with 140 employees in the
Awards for Architecture in
UAE including 34 architects.
Emerging Markets, for Capital
Burt Hill’s Dubai branch opened
approximately 11,000 operating
Gate in Abu Dhabi.
in 2003 to tap into the emirate’s
out of 170 locations worldwide.
emerging real estate market.
Its acquisition of Burt Hill is part
which is the world’s inclined tower,
Among the firm’s UAE projects are
of its quest to become one of the
is due to open this month.
the multi-billion dirham Al Mafraq
world’s leading design practices.
RW ARMSTRONG
Abdulrahman, BD regional leader.
The much-anticipated project,
126 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 30 ARCHITECTS
and project economics
for infrastructure and
facilities projects, with
In addition to architecture,
the firm offers planning,
design, interiors, programme
management, project
Founded in 1961 in Indianapolis,
management and construction
RW Armstrong has 18 offices in
management.
the USA, UAE, Libya, Egypt, Guam
and Azerbaijan.
9
30
Its UAE offices, in Abu
Dhabi and Dubai, were
Its expertise includes building
services, infrastructure, aviation,
transportation and water services.
RW Armstrong’s Sun and
established in 2006 and
Sky Towers (left) won the GCC
now employ a total of 126
Residential Project of the Year at
staff with 30 architects.
the Construction Week Awards
Key individuals in the regional
2011. The project was acclaimed
firm include vice president Mona
for its innovative technical
Salem, development sector
strategies to solve complex
leader Jeff rey Decker and Zaky
construction challenges.
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.designmena.com
POWER 25 | FEATURE
WOODS BAGOT
120 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 100 ARCHITECTS
Winner of Large Architecture
Practice of the Year, at the Middle
East Architect Awards 2011,
Woods Bagot is behind some of
the GCC’s most recognisable
landmarks such as the
stunning Qatar Science
and Technology Park in
Doha (right).
The firm was established
10
in Adelaide by former
architect-in-chief for the South
Australian Government, Edward
John Woods.
Since then the firm has grown
into a significant multi-disciplinary
practice operating in Asia,
Australia, the Middle East and
North America.
NORR GROUP
NAGA ARCHITECTS
DWP
Established in 1938, Norr
Naga Architects was founded
With a total of
by Dr Shams Naga in 2000 and
107 staff in the
has experienced steady growth,
Gulf region,
currently employing 110 staff
dwp employs 59
including 42 architects. This year
professionals in its
the practice claimed the inaugural
Dubai office and 48 staff
the group has worked on icons
Building Information Modelling
in Bahrain.
such as Atlantis-The Palm, Burj
Award at the Middle East Architect
Khalifa, Emirates Towers and
Awards, for its exciting Sawari
Mansoor as general manager and
the National Bank of Dubai
Residences project in Al Khobar,
Fariborz Hatam as design director
Headquarters.
Saudi Arabia.
for its Dubai office.
110 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 44 ARCHITECTS
has 900 professionals in
25 cities globally. In the
GCC it employs 110 staff
including 44 architects.
110 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 42 ARCHITECTS
11
Over the past 20 years,
Its significant projects in Abu
107 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 24 ARCHITECTS
13
It recently appointed Qasim
Elsewhere the company is
Key projects include the FTV
Dhabi include Le Meridien Hotel,
working on the Al Khobar Hotel
Hotel in Dubai, the Maysan Towers
Sir Baniyas Island Resort and the
in Saudi Arabia, a 21-storey
in Abu Dhabi and the Makkah
expansion of the UAE Central
Bank. In Qatar, the practice
completed the striking Al Hitmi
complex, which has become a
symbol of the nation.
residential scheme called
12
Octavian Tower in Dubai,
Cultural Gateway project.
Led by CEO Brenton Mauriello,
Ajman University Housing
dwp’s Dubai office was formed in
and a blimp terminal
2007 while the Bahrain base was
building in Dubai.
established in 2005.
www.designmena.com | 12.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT
31
FEATURE | POWER 25
GAJ
105 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 38 ARCHITECTS
14
Egypt, Tunisia and Oman
that are in various stages
of development.
With new offices in Al
Barsha, the management
consists of six partners, five
GAJ is one of the longestestablished UK practices in the
associate partners and eight
UAE. It is behind several of Dubai’s
associates. Managing partner
modern gems, such as Dubai
Brian Johnson won Principal of the
Creek Golf Club, Bab Al Shams,
Year at the Middle East Architect
Arabia Court, Residence & Spa at
Awards 2011 and was described
The One and Only Royal Mirage.
by the judging panel as “an icon
The firm is also working on
of the Middle East architectural
multi-million dollar projects in
landscape.”
HOK
100 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 20 ARCHITECTS
16
HOK appears to have
expanded its presence in
the Middle East, with a
total of 100 staff in Dubai,
Abu Dhabi and Qatar.
Notable projects in the region
include the massive US$10bn King
Abdullah University for Science &
Technology (KAUST) in Thawul,
Saudi Arabia, which is being built
for Saudi Aramco.
The firm is also the design
architect for the US$2bn New
Doha International Airport, the
New Kuwait Central Bank (above)
and the ADNOC headquarters in
AEDAS
Abu Dhabi.
100 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 70 ARCHITECTS
portfolio in Dubai includes the
Louis, Missouri in 1955. The name
twin office towers at Boulevard
derived from the surnames of its
Plaza (above) and the 123-storey
three founders: George Hellmuth,
Pentominium in Dubai Marina.
Aedas’ Dubai office was
established in 2004 and
the company now has
offices in Abu Dhabi,
Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi
Arabia. Its expanding
32
HOK was established in St.
82-storey Ocean Heights, the
15
It is also working on
Gyo Obata and George Kasabaum.
The first office in the GCC was
New Doha International
established in Dubai in 1999 and
Airport in Qatar. Middle
annual turnover in the region is
East turnover for 2010
estimated at US$20m.
totalled US$10m.
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.designmena.com
FEATURE | POWER 25
DSA
80 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 48 ARCHITECTS
Formed in 2002 in Dubai, DSA
has delivered several landmark
hospitality projects in the region.
Its key schemes include
Madinat Jumeirah’s Mina
17
A’ Salam and Al Qasr,
Park Hyatt, The Palace,
Qamardeen and Al Manzil.
It is also behind Old Town
Residences, Fairmont Hotel
and Residences and Golden Mile
Residences on Jumeirah Palm,
as well as the One & Only Royal
Mirage and the new One & Only
The Palm. The office is led by
managing director Steve Kelshaw.
BSBG
70 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 22 ARCHITECTS
18
Under the guidance of group
In addition to the IKEA
projects, BSBG is involved
in the City of Lights - a
mixed-use development
54 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 11 ARCHITECTS
under construction in
Reem Island, Abu Dhabi - that
chairman John Mills, BSBG has
comprises a 60-storey commercial
been operational in the Middle
tower, a 26-storey hotel and a
East since 1976.
34-storey residential block.
Having completed IKEA on
P&T
It also worked on the
Based in Hong Kong, the
19
P&T Group has a history
stretching back 140
years. It has actively
been involved in the
Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, BSBG was
refurbishment of the previously
Middle East since 1998 and
awarded the design of the IKEA
BSBG-designed Emirates Golf
established an office in Dubai back
store in Doha, which has recently
Club (below), one of Dubai’s most
in September 2004.
begun construction.
elegant leisure schemes.
Currently the firm employs 54
professionals in the GCC with a
total of 11 architects.
An Abu Dhabi office was
opened in January 2007, to
coincide with the awarding of a
major scheme in Reem Island. In
the same year it started work on
the Al-Dana project in Raha Beach
and two hotels in the Mina al-Arab
resort in Ras al-Khaimah.
Elsewhere in the GCC, P&T is
working on the 70-storey Burj
Rafal tower in Riyadh.
34
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.designmena.com
POWER 25 | FEATURE
BROADWAY MALYAN
48 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 28 ARCHITECTS
In 2011 the UK’s Broadway Malyan
celebrated the opening of seven
schools designed for the Abu
Dhabi Education Council (ADEC),
including the Abu Dhabi West
School (right).
This year, Broadway Malyan
also delivered the concept
masterplan for the ‘10x10’
project in Baghdad, Iraq,
comprising a 17km 2 urban
regeneration and extension
20
of Sadr City.
The project is named after
its US$10bn value and 10-year
delivery timeframe.
Other projects include the
masterplan and design of the Al
Bandar residential project on Al
Raha Beach, and the Mina Zayed
masterplan, also in Abu Dhabi.
KMA
DUBARCH
DRAWLINK GROUP
Founded by Dr Mohamed
Established by Canadian-Iranian
This year’s
Amir V. Rahbar and UAE national
runner up for
Dr Ahmed Abdul Rahman Al
the Boutique
Banna, Dubarch has three
firm of the
architectural and interior design
Year at the MEA
offices in the GCC.
Awards, Drawlink
45 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 12 ARCHITECTS
Alaa Mandour, KMA
established its Cairo
office in 1990, followed
by a UAE office in 1995.
43 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 9 ARCHITECTS
21
The firm subsequently
opened offices in KSA and Oman,
The Dubai office was set up in
and has built up a total workforce
1986 while an Abu Dhabi practice
of 45 with 12 architects.
followed in 2007.
Key projects include the Makkah
This year, Dubarch opened an
40 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 20 ARCHITECTS
23
Group has a total of 40 staff in the
GCC, with 20 architects.
Recent projects in the Gulf
region include the Radisson Royal
Gate affordable housing scheme,
office in Qatar, bringing the total
and Hues boutique hotel, both
the Icon development in Al
number of staff to 43 with nine
located in Dubai.
Khobar, the urban development of
Barkah City in Oman, the Ras Al
Hamra development in Muscat and
a Seven Seas complex, also in the
Omani capital.
architects.
22
One of the company’s
The company recently
celebrated the opening of
key projects is Bayswater,
the convention centre for the
a commercial scheme in
Radisson Royal, located on Sheikh
Business Bay, Dubai.
Zayed Road.
www.designmena.com | 12.11 | MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT
35
FEATURE | POWER 25
X-ARCHITECTS
30 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 16 ARCHITECTS
25
Winner of the 2010 MEA
Award for Boutique Firm
of the Year, X-Architects
was founded in 2003 in
Dubai by Ahmed Al-Ali and
Farid Esmaeil.
The company currently employs
30 staff, including 16 architects,
which was just enough to make it
into the top 25.
Since its inauguration, the
company has won a further two
MEA Awards, for Best Mixed-use
Project in 2009 and Principal of
the Year in 2010.
Key scheme include the Mosque
for 2000 Prayers in Abu Dhabi
(below), which incorporates an
existing sculpture plaza to create
an attractive public space.
One of the firm’s most radical
projects is Xeritown, which is
currently on hold in Dubai. The
scheme for 7,000 residents looks
at the desert and local climate and
works with it rather than against it.
X-Architects has also carried out
the urban design masterplan for
Al Nasseem in Al Ain. The under
construction scheme has been
chosen by the UPC’s Estidama as
BEAD ARCHITECTS
for Emerging Markets, for its
Mangrove Elite Residence in Reem
35 STAFF IN THE GCC
WITH 26 ARCHITECTS
Island. The scheme was lauded in
the ‘Residential-Future Category’.
Another key project is
Formed in January 2008,
Abu Dhabi’s Bead
Architects is led by
managing director/
partner Muhannad Assam
an under-construction
24
and comprises 35 staff with
26 architects.
Danet Abu Dhabi.
Bead has also designed
Al Nasser Tower, a Class A
office scheme in the Emirati
capital city.
In 2010 the firm recorded a
turnover of AED13.7m (US$3.73m).
Bead recently picked up a gong
at the 2011 Cityscape Awards
36
residential scheme in
The project is most notable
for its column-free floor space
spanning between vertical steel
support trusses.
MIDDLE EAST ARCHITECT | 12.11 | www.designmena.com
one of its first pilot projects.