Work under way on the Arraya complex.
Towering project takes shape
01 December 2001
Work is under way on what is expected to be the tallest tower in Kuwait City when completed in early 2003.
Standing about 130 m high, the Arraya complex will include a shopping centre, a 310-room hotel and an office area within a 34-storey tower, a convention centre, a plaza area and a multi-storey car-park.
Under a second phase to be completed in August 2003, a 40-storey office tower will be built.
Ahmadiah Contracting & Trading Company is the main contractor on the KD18 million ($60.48 million) project for Salhia Real Estate Company.
The complex enjoys a prime downtown site measuring32,000 sq m. The ground floor, mezzanine 1 and 2 will house the shopping centre that will have a floor area of 10,247 sq m. The tower will be connected to the shopping centre and will have house the hotel on 24 levels and offer office space on seven levels starting at the 25th floor above the hotel floors, according to a spokesman for Salhia.
The building also has two basement levels housing services and the main kitchen for the hotel.
The plaza area will have coffee shops and dining outlets.
The four-level car-park will accommodate 1,400 vehicles and is connected to the shopping centre via pedestrian bridges.
"A striking aspect of the tower is the atrium and ceiling height of the lower floors - the second floor reaches a height of what would generally be the seventh floor on other buildings," he says.
Marriott International signed a agreement with Salhia in October to manage the hotel at the complex.
Known as Courtyard by Marriott hotel, it will have a lobby lounge in the eight-storey atrium, two cafes and a speciality restaurant.
Other features of the hotel include a 900 sq m conference area, a rooftop swimming pool, a health club and a 24-hour business centre.
Work has currently reached the 10th floor of the tower.
The project has a total built-up area of 35,832 sq m.
- Asbestos-free ceiling tiles gain ground
- Burhan buoyant on restructuring success
- College extension on track
- Diabetes centre gets off the ground
- Looking up
- New Landmarks nearly complete
- Paschal wins major government project
- Police club takes shape
- Projacs offers professional services worldwide
- Projacs poised to manage major jobs
- Public office goes up
- Recent major contracts
- Shuwaikh campus jobs keep
- Towering project takes shape
