Project name: U-Bora Towers

Programme: Mixed-use development comprising of a 58-storey office tower, a 15-storey residential tower and a retail island.

Area (GFA): 119000 sqm

Position: Architect for Aedas Architects (project designer)

Developer: Bando Housing Corporation

Project description:
U-Bora Towers is a group of buildings with a singular 263 m high tower overlooking Dubai’s Business Bay. The U-Bora Commercial Tower distinguishes itself from all other towers because it starts with a relatively small base and swells out and up in a graceful shallow arc a modicum of twist for 58 floors. Around the middle of the arc the floors grow to as much as 2,000 sq m but they diminish a little by the time the top is reached. The two accompanying components of the scheme are a retail and parking podium on four levels and a curving residential block rising from 12 storeys at the end nearest the tower to 15 storeys at the western end.

Key stakeholders: Bando Housing Corporation, Bando Contracting Company, end-users 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.

Project status: construction completed January 2011.