Saadiyat Island is creating new resources in Abu Dhabi. The construction and beach surface is comprised of approximately 27 square kilometres, and was created through earth deposits around a natural sand core in the mangrove zone. The area is used for residential buildings, hotel complexes, retail and educational facilities as well as venues and attractions for residents and tourists.

The emerging cultural district is garnering considerable public attention. Multiple architectural milestones are in planning, including a new Guggenheim Museum by Frank O. Gehry, as well as other cultural buildings designed by Norman Foster, Zaha Hadid and Tadao Ando. The Louvre Abu Dhabi has already been completed under the direction of the French architect Jean Nouvel. The construction consists of 55 cubes which appear to be a town floating on water when seen from afar, thanks to integrated water surfaces. The dome flooded in light is a dominating and combining element, with a diameter of 180 metres. 8,000 stars of various sizes and angles are “woven” into the steel construction, stacked on top of each other in eight layers. By daylight, the roof creates a “rain of light” in the exhibition rooms. At night, the artificial light shines outwards in reverse towards the starry sky.

The building comprises approximately 24,000 square metres. The museum’s construction was approved by the French parliament on the 9th October 2007. It will be opening on 11th November 2017, where it will be exhibiting its own collection in temporary exhibitions spanning from ancient history to the present with 300 items on loan from 13 of France’s leading museums.

DRAKE and Scull International PJSC and Habtoor Leighton Speacon (HLS) were responsible for the facilities’ mechanical, electrical and plumbing and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) installations. The companies created a joint venture called DSI-HLSpeacon JV. The experts opted for fischer fixings in order to safely attach power lines and pipes for plumbing and HVAC facilities.

This included in particular the internally threaded anchor EA, the fixpoint saddle and clamp FFPK and FFPS, the bolt anchor FAZ II, the highbond-system FHB II, Epoxy Mortar FIS EM, FUS type installation channels, construction and connection elements FAF and FFF1, the construction element FUF 180°, the connector FCN Clix P, the saddle flange SF L as well as threaded rods, nuts and washers.

The fischer FZE (fischer Fixings Middle East) sales and technical team were in constant contact with the client’s engineers and purchasers to provide advice and deliveries. Numerous extraction tests and training sessions were carried out. The fischer application technicians also implemented earthquake simulations and stress analyses. “To a large extent, the DSI-HLSpeacon engineers required tests on deformation behaviour and seismic tests on the mounts within a very short space of time”, explained Jayanta Mukherjee, Managing Director at fischer FZE. “Our team succeeded in carrying out over 150 cases of earthquake and stress analyses in approximately four months”. The technical foundations for a special architectural experience as well as an art and culture venue were therefore successfully created.

Construction table

Architects: Ateliers Jean Nouvel, Paris

Executing architects: HW architecture, Paris

Client: Tourism Development & Investment Company, Abu Dhabi

Structural framework planning: BuroHappold Engineering, Bath

Structural framework planners steel construction execution: Waagner Biro, Vienna

Construction company: Joint venture between Arabtec, Sanjose Constructora and Oger Abu Dhabi LLC under direction of Arabtec, Dubai

Mechanical, electrical and plumbing installations: Joint venture between Drake and Scull International PJSC, Dubai, and Habtoor Leighton Speacon (HLS), Dubai

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