Project name: Boulevard Plaza

Programme: Twin office towers

Area (GFA): 63000 sqm

Position: Architect for Aedas Architects (Project Designer and Lead Consultant)

Developer: Emaar Properties

Project description:
The almost identical office buildings – one 36 storeys high the other 30 storeys – take their shapes from a classical Islamic form: the pointed arch. The project is comprised of several podium levels which contain the parking and on top of this a semi-private podium roof garden. The office spaces were handed over to the Owners as shell & core, while all public areas were finished to the highest standards. The glazing patterns on the long sides of the two buildings are random stripes of darker glazing dropping down from the apex of the long elevations, which allow for significant solar gain reduction which reduces mechanical cooling loads.
The ground floor allocates several retail stores and F&B outlets which open the project to the street creating a pedestrian-friendly environment around it.

Key stakeholders: Emaar Properties, Samsung C&T Corporation, Al Basti Muktha Contracting Company and local Authorities

Main responsibilities: Review and approve project documentation and carry out architectural inspections; ensuring overall quality of the architectural works for the project.

Major achievements: Delivering a project during world recession with a high requirement of design value engineering to protect the Developer’s investment without compromising the quality of the end product. Another major challenge was transitioning between two Main Contractors to maximize Developer’s investment half way through the project.

Project status: Construction completed June 2011.