Gulf Construction Online

Kuwait

Work at the stadium is being implemented to a high standard of precision.

Racing ahead

01 December 2005

Construction on the colossal Jaber Al Ahmad International Stadium is currently ahead of schedule with 50 per cent of the work already completed, according to the main contractor Mohammed Abdulmohsin Al Kharafi & Sons.

The scale of the project is such that massive volumes of construction materials and levels of services are required by the development – all of which are being provided by the umbrella companies within this leading construction group.
The Kuwaiti contractor commenced work on its latest high-profile project in September last year under a KD55.25 million ($189.2 million) contract, which is due for completion by December 2006
The state-of-the-art sports stadium, which will host 60,000 spectators, has a unique external design with an in-situ concrete frame dramatically supported on piled foundations with a cable-supported tensile fabric roof and internal holographic glass cupolas.
“This prestigious project will provide both athletes and spectators with the finest facilities and services that can be found anywhere in the region,” says a spokesman for M A Kharafi. “The internal section of the stadium has been designed on four levels, providing plenty of circulation and recreational space via two main concourses for spectators. The stadium also includes an additional entrance, a reception and lounge for VIPs as well as 48 corporate boxes. In addition, the complex includes a sports museum.”
Ample provision has been made for car parking, with some 5,750 parking spaces fed by direct road access from the main expressways. Direct access – via an internal road network – has also been provided to the actual stadium for the athletes, VIPs, emergency services, security services and local deliveries. The athletes’ zone, located on the ground floor, has luxurious changing facilities, a swimming pool, training pitches and a training track.
“Another remarkable aspect of this project is that the MA Kharafi Group has been able to keep all aspects of the construction of this stadium almost totally in-house, with group companies contributing the materials and services required to undertake this landmark project,” the spokesman points out.
“As a Grade A international contractor, what makes us different from other contractors is our vertical integration,” he adds.
The companies within the group that are contributing their products and services to the project are:
• Aluminum Industries – is providing all the aluminum fixtures and fittings;
• Kuwaiti British Readymix – is supplying all the concrete;
• Kharafi National – is providing all the electro-mechanical work and services;
• Al-Bahar Jacarossi – is responsible for fabrication, supply and erection of the steel;
• Al-Alamiah – is manufacturing and supplying precast concrete elements;
• MAK Special Projects – is handling the insulation and waterproofing works.
The massive scale of the project can be better appreciated from some of the quantities of the material that is being used for the project:
• 500,000 cu m of excavation and backfilling – of which 450,000 cu m has already been completed (daily production rate peaking at 6,000 cu m);
• 7,800 m of cast-in-place piles (of 900 mm and 2,000 mm diameter), which were completed in two months;
• 120,000 cu m of reinforced concrete – of which 110,000 cu m has been cast (daily production rate peaking at 500 cu m);
• Production of 29,000 sq m of precast concrete bleachers completed, of which 14,000 sq m has already been erected on site;
• 7,600 m of external stormwater pipeline, which is being laid for the external car-park area;
• 260,000 sq m of asphalt paving under way;
• 44,000 sq m of masonry work – of which 20,000 sq m has been completed;
• Fabrication of 44,000 linear m of stainless steel pipe railing, which is in progress at one of the group’s factories;
• 4,076 sq m of illuminated holographic glass, which is being manufactured;
• 22,500 sq m of marble and granite, which is being processed;
• 60,000 stadium seats, which are currently being manufactured for delivery in 2006;
The cable support structure is covered with 45,000 sq m of fabric material, the compression ring of which weighs approximately 1,768 tonnes and the cable weighs 350 tonnes.
“Working to the futuristic design from Weidleplan of Germany, in conjunction with Al Saif Engineering of Kuwait, the M A Kharafi Group is extremely proud of this project which will not just bring some of the finest sporting events and athletes from around the world to Kuwait but will also provide excellent sporting facilities for the young, aspiring athletes of Kuwait for generations to come,” the spokesman concludes.