Apr 20 2006
Hill International, the worldwide construction consulting firm, has announced that the joint venture of Hill and 3D/I+PI has been awarded a contract by developer Sorouh Real Estate P.J.S.C. to provide project management services during design and construction of the Shams Abu Dhabi project. The massive AED10 billion ($2.7 billion) project is located on Reem Island, off the northeastern shore of Abu Dhabi, and is scheduled for completion by 2011.
Shams Abu Dhabi will offer nearly 7.7 million square meters (82 million square feet) of residential, office, hotel, retail, entertainment and parking space. Upon completion, the project is expected to include more than 22,000 residential units accommodating nearly 100,000 people. The project is organized into a series of neighborhoods, including: Gateway Village, Lower Village, Marina Village, the Entertainment District, Central Park Village and Central Park Residential Towers, Central Business District, the Upper Village, the Sea View Residences, the Mangrove Residences and the Resort Hotel. Individual developers will develop blocks in accordance with Sorouh's master concept plan. Unique landmark structures such as the Quad Tower, Gateway Buildings and the Resort Hotel will be constructed early in the program. The first project to be built will be the Sky Tower, a planned 83-story residential and commercial skyscraper which will be the tallest building in Abu Dhabi.
"Sorouh's vision is for Shams to become the new metropolitan center of Abu Dhabi," said Abdo Kardous, Senior Vice President in charge of Hill's Middle East project management operations. "We look forward to helping make our client's vision a reality," Kardous added.
Hill International, with over 800 employees in 24 offices worldwide, provides program management, project management, construction management and construction claims services. Engineering News-Record magazine recently ranked Hill as the 18th largest construction management firm in the United States. As previously announced, Hill and Arpeggio Acquisition Corporation (OTC Bulletin Board: APGO, APGOW, APGOU) have entered into a merger agreement pursuant to which Hill will merge with and into Arpeggio. This transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2006.