Gulf Construction Online - $258m worker homes set new benchmark

UAE Focus

Saadiyat Construction Village ... masterplanned by Singapore’s Surbana Corporation.

$258m worker homes set new benchmark

01 March 2009

A $258-MILLION housing facility for construction workers in Abu Dhabi, billed as one of the most advanced of its kind in the Middle East, will be inaugurated next month.

Situated on Saadiyat Island, the Saadiyat Construction Village, a signature 27-sq-km leisure, residential and cultural destination island adjacent to Abu Dhabi, will set a new benchmark in the region for accommodation and facilities for construction workers, according to Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), Abu Dhabi’s leading tourism developer.
“The first accommodation cluster in Phase One of Saadiyat Construction Village opens next month and will house 5,000 workers in facilities that match or exceed international standards for personal space, public utilities and leisure and recreation facilities,” says Lee Tabler, CEO of TDIC.
“By July, three additional clusters of Phase One will be opened, accommodating an additional 15,000 workers. TDIC has the potential to add clusters in the future to accommodate a total of 40,000 workers when required.
Investment in Saadiyat Construction Village’s first phase will total Dh950 million ($258 million) and includes halls of residence, dining areas catering to a multitude of ethnic tastes, sports and leisure amenities, shops, internet booths, parks and laundry facilities.
The village is situated on the beach to the south of the island and has extensive landscaped areas with parks, tennis courts, basketball courts and a cricket pitch. One of the core rationales behind the decision for the village is to foster a sense of home and community for the workers on the island.
The village was masterplanned by Singapore’s award-winning Surbana Corporation. The buildings are designed with environmental considerations including the installation of an energy-efficient cooling system.