Royal University for Women

Project Overview

Construction of the university campus for the Royal University for Women (RUW), the first private, purpose-built, international university in the Kingdom of Bahrain dedicated solely to educating women. The University has educational collaborations with the McGill University in Canada and Middlesex University in the UK.

The scope comprised of a 2-storey building to accommodate offices for the University President and the University Administration Department (3,825m²), a single-storey Registration and Student Affairs building (1,680m²), a 2-storey Student Union, a Food Court and Cafeteria building (4,825m²), three 2-storey blocks forming the College of Design and Informatics (10,480m²), a Gymnasium & Swimming Pool complex (890m²), a 4-storey Dormitory building (5,000m²), a Maintenance and Services building (1,300m²) and a substation.

Additionally, the scope involved infrastructure works, waterproofing, boundary walls, extensive external paving, including asphalt roads and concrete block paving to open and sheltered car parking areas, landscaping, irrigation and general earthworks.

The building structures mainly consist of in situ concrete structural frames with precast hollow-core suspended slabs. External walls and internal partitions are mainly in concrete blocks with plaster and paint finishes. Structural steel framing is also used in specific instances.

For internal floor finishes, extensive use was made of porcelain and ceramic tiles. Other types of finishes included granite, carpets, vinyl, parquet and epoxy floorings, as well as suspended gypsum and other type ceilings. Architectural interest was provided through the use of feature skylights, shade structures, decorative GRC/GRG works, architectural and wrought iron metalwork.

GPZ’s specialised manufacturing divisions provided bespoke joinery and aluminium works, while the mechanical, electrical, plumbing and lift service installations were executed by GPZ’s MEP Division.