Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has awarded an AED46mn contract to UAE-based contracting firm, Dutco Balfour Beatty, for the development of the first phase of its new headquarters.
Dutco Balfour Beatty won the deal after beating 10 international companies with the lowest bid, reported state news agency, Wam. The scope of work in Phase One includes shoring, dewatering, excavation, piling, fencing, and associated works.
Al Sheraa will be the tallest, largest, and smartest government net Zero Energy Building, ZEB, in the world. It will have over 18.5ha, covering over 1.8ha of land in the heart of the Cultural Village in Al Jadaf. The building will have 16,500 sqm of photovoltaic solar panels on the roof to produce over 3,500 kilowatts (kW). The building will also include an additional 2,000 sqm of building-integrated photovoltaic panels.
The total renewable energy generated from the building is over 5,800 megawatt hours (MWh) per year. The building will be completed and inaugurated in the last quarter of 2019.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa, said: “By building Al Sheraa, we establish a role model in Dubai and the world to achieve a balance between development and the environment, to protect the right of future generations to live in a clean, healthy and safe environment. This supports the UAE Vision 2021 to make the UAE one of the best countries in the world, and the Dubai Plan 2021, to make Dubai the preferred place to live, work, and visit.”
The design was inspired by the UAEs traditional houses, where enclosed spaces overlook an open courtyard. The courtyard will be the focal point and most prominent feature of the building. To reduce heat in the open courtyard, a sail design is used to provide shaded areas. Natural light during the day will stream through specific openings in the sail, giving sufficient light without the associated heat. The courtyard features trees, planted areas, and plants within a sustainable environment. The courtyard will give occupants and visitors an outdoor feeling in an indoor setting, stated the report.
The Dewa building will use the latest technologies including the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and Open Data, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Robots will be used for cleaning and to provide security services. A smart app will alert the employees about the time they should leave their homes based on the traffic. The same app can be used to book parking spaces and meeting rooms. It can be also be used by visitors to easily reach the building and meeting rooms.
The total energy used in the building in a year is equal to or less than that produced on site during that year. Dewas new headquarters is targeted to receive a platinum rating by LEED where platinum is the highest certification, it added.