Gulf Construction Online - Major landmarks near completion

Kuwait

The new Palace of Justice complex ... more than 58 per cent of the works completed.

Major landmarks near completion

01 April 2023

Having recently handed over facilities at the new campus of Kuwait University, leading multidisciplinary consultancy firm Pace is gearing up to mark the completion of another landmark in Kuwait – the New Maternity Hospital, which is expected to be ready this year.

Yet another striking edifice that originated from the drawing boards of the Kuwait-headquartered architecture, engineering and planning firm is the new Palace of Justice complex, which is already an eye-catching addition to the capital city’s skyline.

Pace is involved with numerous other projects in a wide array of sectors that have tested its design teams on several challenging projects.

One of the region’s largest privately-owned design and engineering consultancies that operates internationally, the practice has been delivering projects across the fields of healthcare, hospitality, major infrastructure and retail, through its three main sectors – Planning, Property Development and Infrastructure Development.

In the entertainment and leisure sector, a major project in Pace’s hands is the redevelopment of the famous 120-year-old Souk Al-Mubarakiya, in the heart of Kuwait City.

“Additionally, Pace is currently working on a new medical utilities compound, an exciting project on which we will soon be revealing more information….,” Tarek Shuaib, CEO of Pace, tells Gulf Construction.

Pace has also been entrusted to work on various projects at the Hessa Al Mubarak District, the first-ever comprehensive, mixed-use district in Kuwait.

Shuaib points out that Pace’s focus remains on sustainable development across all sectors of the economy.

“Pace has many LEED-accredited professionals and Green Associates. Many of our projects are accredited under LEED certification in recognition of their environmental credentials. Innovative technologies introduced in these projects include rainwater harvesting, solar energy production, and passive shading of buildings to reduce energy demand,” he adds.

A look at some of Pace’s key projects:

Palace of Justice ... the design is symbolic.

Palace of Justice

Construction is progressing steadily, utilising innovative fast-track technologies, on the new Palace of Justice complex, with more than 58 per cent of the works completed to date, after the ground was broken during the first quarter of 2019.

Slated to be the largest judicial building in the Middle East with an area of 33,385 sq m, the landmark tower is situated in the heart of Kuwait City, and overlooks the Arabian Gulf. It will offer more than 141 courtrooms and around 131,000 sq m of office space spread over 26 floors.

Pace is responsible for the design and construction supervision of the project.

“The design of this building is truly symbolic, one that reflects Kuwait’s commitment to justice, with every feature functioning as a space for both the people and the government. Its solid plaza and two floating cantilevered towers, or wings, depict the scales of justice. The two fractions of the monolith structure create a glittering hollow expanse in its centre, which resembles a golden geode inspired by the traditional geometry of the Middle East,” he says.

Beneath the towers is an open, welcoming public plaza which forms the entryway into the entire facility. Traversing between the geode segments is a 20-storey atrium, interwoven with bridges, that creates a rich sense of movement and circulation.

“As you proceed into the building, soft strands of natural light bathe the golden mesh façade of the hallways. Optimal window sizes offer a generous amount of natural sunlight cast through the golden geode, which can improve the wellbeing and productivity of the building’s occupants. Views from inside the building overlook the outdoor courtyard where visitors may relax and take in the surrounding sea and cityscape.

“Using hanging metal bars over the plaza, we created the illusion of a storm cloud, and a visitor’s perception of it would change relative to his position in the building – our ‘Storming Skies’ design was imagined to blur the line between pure landscaping and art,” Shuaib explains.

Souk Al Mubarakiya

Pace’s scope of work on the Souk Al Mubarakiya redevelopment project includes the construction of a new mosque, a 117-key international boutique hotel, a museum and tourist information centre, and an open theatre for the public, all designed with the same modern architectural language that is inspired by the local traditional elements. This involves enhancing a variety of souk amenities and navigation throughout the market to make it simpler and more enjoyable.

Preserving its old-world aura, Pace is refurbishing five key areas within the markets, in addition to the adjacent municipality park, as well as improving traffic and pedestrian access and circulation within the entire facility, to boost its appeal to domestic and international visitors. This also involves providing underground parking for more than 1,600 vehicles.

The focus of the design is on revamping the entrance to the souk to enhance its prominence, utilising the large roof areas to harness renewable energy sources, increasing planted areas with seating and reinforcing the central plaza as the core of the souk.

New Maternity Hospital...three times larger than the existing hospital.

New Maternity Hospital

Located on the coast of Kuwait Bay in the Sabah Medical Region, the New Maternity Hospital is expected to be ready this year.

Three times larger than the existing hospital on the site, its large towers can accommodate 780 beds over a dense clinical podium, adjacent to the out-patient clinical buildings, parking and a multi-level entry atrium. An emergency department – part of the critical care component of the facility – ties to the wider emergency response network of the region.

“The spectacular site provides an ideal location to develop an environment with strong connections to the sea. The hospital is designed in such as way that 70 per cent of the in-patient rooms have a view of the adjacent bay and coastline, a particular requirement made by the Ministry of Health,” says Shuaib.

Hessa Al Mubarak District ... Pace is engaged on multiple projects within the development.

Hessa Al Mubarak District

Pace is also engaged on various projects on multiple plots at the Hessa Al Mubarak District, comprising a total area of 18,246 sq m. These plots will house two 13-storey commercial office towers, two clinics of 13 and 16 storeys respectively, one 28-storey serviced apartment building and a range of food and beverage and retail units, as well as underground parking facilities.

“The design of the commercial and residential towers revolves around the concept of creating shared courtyard spaces that bring people together and inspire collaboration. The unique podiums have clear layering, reminiscent of the geology of canyons and natural rock formations, providing a continuous protected walkway to the courtyards,” Shuaib explains. “The tower element of the buildings continues to reinforce the courtyard theme with stacked frames to provide space for environments that are diverse and nurturing for their varying functions.”

“This project will introduce a new dimension of the live-work-play experience, balancing a vibrantly urban scene, alongside green and sustainable settings designed to match the aspirations of a modern living and work culture,” Shuaib says.

The Central Administration Facilities at Kuwait University ... newly completed.

Kuwait University

Work on the recently completed Kuwait University project involved the study, design, and construction supervision of the Central Administration Facilities at its new campus and was carried out with US architectural, urban planning and engineering firm SOM.

The facilities comprise seven separate buildings, involving a total built-up area of nearly 3 million sq ft, each with distinct purpose and character. Set to be an iconic ‘gateway’ to the new campus, these buildings include a library, cultural centre, mosque, visitor’s centre, conference centre, a central administration building along with a ‘pearl-like’ convocation hall as the centrepiece, to be used for graduation and other ceremonies.

“The main goal in their design – from the exquisite Convocation Hall to the beautiful façades that adorn each of the seven buildings – was creating a unified architectural language for the buildings, each with distinctly different programmatic requirements, mitigating the effects of the harsh desert climate of Kuwait and creating a design that drew inspiration from local vernacular architecture.

The Central Administration Facilities at Kuwait University ... inside.

The design was executed using a system of unique shading screens that are lightweight and elegant in construction, enveloping each building, and form an interplay of light and shadow throughout the campus. The screens not only deliver vital shade but also form a cooler micro-climate zone in the surrounding area of each structure. Though modern in form and material, the screen designs were inspired by traditional Islamic shading screens used in the Middle East and by the abstract calligraphy of Kufic scripts, with verses taken from Arabic poetry and the Koran.

Rather than the traditional central ‘quad’, Pace created smaller, protected exterior gardens or plaza spaces for each building, thus providing multiple spaces where students, faculty staff and visitors can meet. The combined effect is a lush garden environment with filtered light, native plants, and water features.