ABU DHABI | Sky Tower | Architectonica & R.W. Armstrong

[JVS]

Este projecto eh louco. Mais um dos EAU.

Sky Tower groundbreaking launches construction of Sorouh's Shams Abu Dhabi
July 2006

Sorouh Real Estate today began construction work at the site of its flagship project, Shams Abu Dhabi, with a groundbreaking ceremony for its 83-storey, 379-meter high Sky Tower which will be the tallest building in Abu Dhabi.

H.E. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan receiving a "golden falcon" gift from Sorouh Real Estate at the groundbreaking ceremony for Shams Abu Dhabi.

Shams Abu Dhabi, Sorouh's prestigious launch project, is located on Reem Island, 300 meters across from the northeastern shore of Abu Dhabi city. Top executives of the company, who were on hand to brief Abu Dhabi and Dubai-based journalists at a media tour of the island site, described Shams Abu Dhabi as the face of the new and emerging Abu Dhabi.

The Sky Tower, the world's 15th tallest building according to current ranking, is part of The Gate District of Shams Abu Dhabi. Apart from the Sky Tower, the Gate District will include seven breathtaking buildings that will offer a broad choice of commercial, residential and retail opportunities.

H.E. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Amiri Flights, was the special guest at the ceremony, held at a specially erected tent on the Shams Abu Dhabi site. On behalf of Sorouh's Chairman Saeed Al-Ghafli, Vice Chairman and Managing Director Faris Al Yabhouni addressed a gathering of Sheikhs, diplomats, investors, VIPs and the media. Sorouh CEO Mounir Haidar briefed the media and made a presentation about the most important and attractive features of Shams Abu Dhabi.

Al-Ghafli's address, read out by Al-Yabhouni, noted the important role being played by the UAE's real estate sector in the national economy. "It is well known that the vision and the wise policies adopted by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the UAE, and His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Commander of UAE Armed Forces have played a crucial role in the current real estate boom," he said.

"Sorouh Real Estate has become a major player in the real estate industry by conceiving and launching sizeable and significant projects in Abu Dhabi, such as Shams Abu Dhabi, which is poised to become a landmark development in UAE's real estate sector. The project comprises residential, commercial and retail amenities, hotels, gardens and parks, in addition to infrastructure facilities that are designed to offer maximum comfort and fulfillment for the residents. As you know, our corporate promise is "Life in Perfect Balance", and Shams Abu Dhabi is designed to deliver this promise," Al-Ghafli added.

Al-Ghafli also thanked H.E. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan for patronizing the groundbreaking ceremony for Shams Abu Dhabi, which is a major milestone for the company.

During the tour of the island, Al Yabhouni described Shams Abu Dhabi as a unique project that will play a major role in positioning Abu Dhabi among the most modern cities of the world. He said when completed, Shams Abu Dhabi, with its proximity to Abu Dhabi's mainland and its pleasing and imposing visual impact, will become the face of the capital city.

Al Yabhouni also added that the grandeur and scale of the Gate District at the entrance to Shams Abu Dhabi, combined with the beauty of the surrounding island environment, will make the city one of the most attractive for residents and visitors.

Al Yabhouni noted that the project embodies Sorouh's vision of 'building communities in perfect balance", offering residents a living and working environment that promotes an overall sense of well-being by providing for their physical, intellectual, spiritual and social needs.

Mounir Haidar, CEO of Sorouh, said that the Sky Tower, which is one of the eight buildings on the Gate District, will host 598 residential and commercial units. Recreational facilities including swimming pools, tennis courts,and sports and fitness centers, restaurants, coffee shops as well as a shopping mall,with all essential outlets, will also be a part of the development. "The Sky Tower offers a unique combination of facilities that will enable it to support all the essential needs of its occupants on site. This distinguishes it from other major projects in the region," he said.

Occupants of the Sky Tower will also have the luxury of an excellent panoramic view of the Arabian Sea on the one side and Abu Dhabi city on the other.

Haidar said Sorouh has appointed reputed and experienced international architecture consultants Architectonica & R.W. Armstrong as consultants for the Sky Tower.

Elaborating about the Sky Tower's special architectural features during a presentation, Haidar said the creative and unique building design will include energy-saving and other environmentally friendly features. The project efficiently and aesthetically combines the beauty of the surrounding environment and the needs of residential and commercial occupants. The commercial, residential and recreation facilities in the Sky Tower are designed in a contemporary style with a focus on luxury, he added.

The uppermost floors of the Sky Tower offer super-luxury duplex mansions with expansive vertical spaces. Below these are levels of luxury residences with three and four bedrooms, followed by suites with one, two and three bedrooms. The lower floors will provide commercial space and will provide the ultimate in A Class user-friendly working environments.

Sorouh Real Estate PJSC was established on 26th June 2005 with a capital of AED 2.5 billion with the objective of developing world-class properties in its home market of Abu Dhabi. It is listed on the Abu Dhabi Securities Market.

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News (old, from february)
Sorouh celebrates AED 2.3 billion contract with ACC to build Sky Tower and sister tower

Sorouh, Abu Dhabi's leading real estate developer, yesterday celebrated handing over the Sky Tower and its sister tower construction site to major contractor Arabian Contracting Company (ACC).

The Sky Tower is part of the Gate District and will be built at Sorouh's flagship project, Shams Abu Dhabi on Reem Island.

Mounir Haidar, CEO of Sorouh said: 'ACC's portfolio of prestigious projects and its exceptional reputation in the market led to their selection from a shortlist of eight construction companies that had originally participated in the tender. We truly believe they will excel in meeting our expectations of quality, efficiency and on time delivery by adding value through the spirit of partnership approach between Sorouh and ACC'.

'While landmark developments are a common feature for ACC, we were impressed with their keenness to play an instrumental role in the creation of the capital's new skyline' Haidar continued.

Work on the Sky Tower and Tower 2, the 65 storey residential tower as well as the podium is well under way with work running to schedule.

The piling and excavation work, which was awarded to Al Habtoor-STFA Soil Group, consisting of 1080 main piles, the majority of the enabling works for the excavation is completed, allowing work on the basement to start on schedule. To date more than 96,000 man hours have been spent on the project and under the present progress the raft foundation will start within early part of March.

In addition to the construction of the Gate District, towers and podium, the infrastructure works at Shams Abu Dhabi continues with more than AED 500 million worth of contracted work - incorporating the dredging and reclamation, earthworks and sewers and marina and seawalls - underway.

Highlights include the resort site where 100,000m3 of sand was dredged in just four days. This was in addition to a total of 480,000m3 of dredged sand into reclaimed areas; production of 5754 pre cast concrete blocks for the construction of the Marina and Seawalls; shifting of 410,000 tons of rock and 450,000m3 of sand used to reclaim land.

In addition, 800 LM of rock revetment wall at the top of the Marina to allow land reclamation either side of the proposed marina has been completed - the reclamation in this area will require 1,300,000m3 of sand. Moreover work for the road embankments is currently underway; deep sewers network had been completed.

Scheduled for completion in 2009, the elliptical shaped Sky Tower is Sorouh's high-end offering in Shams Abu Dhabi, on Reem Island which is 300 meters across from the northeastern shore of Abu Dhabi city. The building will be housed in the Gate District, the majestic entrance to Shams, which has been projected by Sorouh as the face of the new Abu Dhabi. Sky Tower will offer luxury high-rise residences and a contemporary office environment with spectacular panoramic views of the Gulf and Abu Dhabi.

IN http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=516916&page=5