The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) Headquarters building has been awarded the American Concrete Institute (ACI) – Kuwait Chapter, Award of Excellence.
Construction on the project began in 2013 and is due to be completed by the end of this year.
“This building demonstrates the result of close collaboration between structure and architecture to achieve a world class iconic design,” said David Ross, Head of Structural Engineering, KEO Kuwait, the company that designed the building.
The ACI Awards recognise projects at the forefront of innovation and technology and showcases these projects to inspire excellence in concrete design and construction around the world.
The Kuwait chapter ceremony was held under the patronage of His Excellency the Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education, Dr. Bader Al-Essa, and took place on Tuesday, May 17th at the Radisson Blu Hotel.
The awards were presented to the entire project team – KIA (client), KEO International Consultants (design and supervision), First United General Trading & Contracting (main contractor) and the concrete suppliers, Bubiyan Ready Mix Co. W.L.L.
The office tower was designed to achieve clear open spaces internally, and to have large clear spans over the atrium openings on the facades, KEO said in a statement. The result was a structure with only four internal columns arranged on the corners of the atria, and Vierendeel trusses spanning over the massive facade openings.