Gudaibiya Government Offices
Construction of a 4-storey facility plus basement for government offices and multi-purpose reception hall.
Project Overview
Construction of a 4-storey facility plus basement for use as government offices and a multi-purpose reception hall. With a total built-up area of 25,000m2, the building contains office complexes for a number of ministers, various offices for under-secretaries and directors, luxurious suites for VIP guests, a reception area for greeting overseas and domestic dignitaries, a 140-seat dining room, a 70-seat Majlis, additional private Majlis and meeting rooms, a fully equipped kitchen, and all necessary facilities for office staff. Adjacent to the main building, a three sided arcade structure with guards’ accommodation forms a courtyard for ceremonial guard welcomes of VIPs.
The main building structure consists of in situ concrete construction with a basement raft slab founded on cap rock, basement retaining walls and four upper slabs, precast hollow-core slabs and in situ beams to roof, and clay brick and concrete block cavity walls to external sides of the building. The structure is topped by a 15m diameter and 12m high golden GRP dome. The arcade structure consists of painted structural precast panels and blockwork within in situ concrete columns and ground beams, all supported upon 98 in situ concrete piles 12m long. The external façades are clad with pink Indian sandstone (8,000m2) and painted pre-cast wall units (7,000m2), together with double-glazed aluminium windows.
All mechanical, electrical and building services installations were executed by GPZ’s MEP Division. Electrical installations comprise of sophisticated dimmer systems, low voltage lighting, general lighting, fire alarm systems, music and satellite TV systems, paging systems and audio-visual facilities, plus lightning protection and external lighting. Mechanical installations comprise of plumbing and sanitary installations, sweet water system, gas installation for the kitchen, fire protection and gas-based fire suppression systems, plus boilers and pumps. Two 65-person lifts, five additional passenger lifts and two service lifts are provided in the main building. The HVAC system is served by five chillers. The high-end system combines variable air volume and energy conservation technology and is linked to a BMS to ensure high comfort levels and energy efficiency.
High quality interior decoration works include intricate marble and granite finishes to floors and walls, timber panelled and special paint finishes to walls, suspended ceilings either of highly decorative gypsum with cornices and mouldings or tile construction in GRG, aluminium and mineral fibre, and beach timber doors with decorative panels. Automatic fully-glazed sliding doors are installed in pairs at all building entrances, with lobby areas in between. Ornate steel gates and trellises abound within the arcade structure.
External works consist of the 6,500m2 courtyard paved with flamed Chinese granite of various colours, a services yard, agricultural and irrigation facilities, security and inspection areas, access roads, 3,000m2 of car parking space largely under the cover of decorative shades, plus soft landscaping including grassed areas, mature palm trees, shrubs and seasonal plants.
