Model of the Emirates Operations Centre.
Tall orders
GCM turns the spotligh on Dubai-based Archon Engineering Consultant in the first of a series of profiles of the leading architects in the UAE.
01 May 2004
Archon Engineering Consultant has been busy with a couple of tall orders at the luxurious Dubai Marina.
The practice has designed the majestic Grosvenor House – an ongoing 45-storey hotel complex which rises to a height of almost 211 m as well as another 45-storey tower at the Marina will also soon srat to rise into the skyline.
Its other major projects include a twin tower residential project also at the Marina, the Operations Centre for Emirates Airlines on Airport Road, a luxury beach resort in Jumeirah and a high-rise on Sheikh Zayed Road.
The practice – established in 1992 by Mustafa Al Sheriani and Ashok Korgaonkar with four employees – is today a leading designer of residential, commercial, industrial developments and leisure facilities with a staff of around 80.
“We recognise that today’s building industry is a fast-paced cauldron of multidisciplinary activities, wherein all aspects of the work must be coordinated to achieve success,” says managing director Korgaonkar. “To maintain quality and meet project deadlines, all the design, structure, MEP works and feasibility studies are done in-house under close supervision”.
Korgaonkar has over two decades of experience in the Gulf. Prior to setting up Archon, he worked briefly in Bahrain and then with a Dubai-based consulting firm for 10 years.
Archon says its core strength lies in the clear vision of the management and well-trained and efficient staff.
“We try to employ young professionals who have recently finished their architectural course. We train them and in due course promote them to handle projects independently – under supervision however – to maintain highest levels of quality,” says Korgaonkar. “To maintain a high standard of service , we make every effort to recruit the best architects, engineers and then train them in all aspects of the work, latest developments in the industry, CAD and other technical software.”
Archon follows a policy whereby senior departmental staff and team members are encouraged to interact at every stage of the project. “This trains the younger members to approach every project in a holistic manner,” he says. “This multi-faceted approach to all projects results in speed and efficiency, which clients value and appreciate.”
Archon’s first major projects were for the Dubai Municipality: a mosque in Deira Fish Market, the tourist information centre on Sheikh Zayed Road and four indoor sports halls in different parts of Dubai. Since then, it has designed hundreds of townhouses in Mirdif and Jumeirah and multi-storey commercial buildings for various clients.
“Our commitment and quality-oriented approach has brought in several notable projects such as the Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah for Emirates Airlines, and earned us the appreciation and loyalty of our clients,” says Korgaonkar.
The Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach resort, which opened early last year, is a wing-shaped structure that dominates the skyline between the Al Hajar Mountains and the Indian Ocean, along a 2 km-stretch of the Al Aqah beachfront. Archon was responsible for the complete design, supervision and handing over of the project.
Following this success, the firm was called upon by Emirates chairman Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum to take charge as lead consultant for The Grosvenor House in 2002. Korgaonkar says: “This has been a challenge from the start, especially since it is a major landmark. Our primary goal is to deliver the project with uncompromising quality, on time and within budget.
‘‘The project, which is expected to be completed by March 2005, has a majestic stepped form with three basement levels, three-level podium, topped by a 45-storey tower. The tower with a final mast height reaching 210.9 m is designed to be a landmark and an icon – a fact that has been acknowledged and adopted by the hotel operators Le Royal Meridien in its tag line as ‘Landmark of Luxury’.”
Once complete, the hotel will comprise 217 rooms and 205 serviced apartments, several food and beverage outlets and a total area exceeding one million sq ft, he says.
Other major projects handled by Archon include: several luxury villas at Emirates Hills and more than 4,000 townhouses in The Lakes, Springs and Arabian Ranches, residential developments for Emaar Properties; Spinneys shopping centre on Trade Centre Road; office building for Dubai Islamic Bank at Internet City; CWT-Logistic Centre at Jebel Ali Free Zone; and 126 low-cost houses at Hatta for Dubai Municipality.
Elaborating on the current market in Dubai, he says: “Over the past couple of years, Dubai has announced several mega projects under the patronage of its inspired visionary leaders. Despite the economic problems plaguing several parts of the world, the projects have been well-received. This has fuelled growth at all levels of the construction industry and as consultants, we consider it both a blessing and a challenge.”
And about the future? Archon is mulling plans to expand its operations to India.
“In the not too distant future, we plan to take on work in India. This will fulfill a dual desire of introducing fresh ideas and technology to the construction industry in the subcontinent as well as make a contribution to our country of origin,” he adds.
