Bridging the gap

Nestled between two strategic entry links to Abu Dhabi, the Between the Bridges project not only represents a desire to capitalise on the capital's steady expansion away from its traditional Corniche-centric orientation, but also demonstrates an approach that sees the main contractor, Al Jaber Engineering and Contracting (ALEC), ensure it has absolute control over the development.

Working from a limited brief, the 143,000m^², 900m-long site between Al Maqtaa and Al Musafah bridges is now in the latter stages of construction, with the hotel already completed and open to the public.

Al Jaber is the client, TDIC has a 25% stake in the development and KEO is the main consultant. South Africa-based architect, urban planner, interior and graphic designer, Northpoint, put together the concept for the hotel.

Using a design and build format, ALEC used its own in-house project managers and appointed all consultants for the job. This led to an efficient construction method, which has seen the hotel go from conception to completion in just 24 months. The first pile went into the ground on the 17 August 2005 and the hotel opened to the public on 12 August this year.

The project encompasses multiple land use; the aforementioned five-star hotel with 220 rooms, seven villas, a spa, a retail component with 28 shops and 13 restaurants, and 161 apartments - from two to four bedroom.

According to Kent Southworth, contracts manager, ALEC, this development will act as a focal point for Abu Dhabi as there's currently no similar area that has this concentration of shops and restaurants. The project is similar in execution to the Jumeirah Madinat, but with a different principle.

"The whole city is moving in this direction. You have Al Raha beach nearby and Yas Island, which is where the Formula 1 track will be. There is also Saadiyat Island, which is also well positioned for the airport."

To develop a project which incorporates such varying elements has, unsurprisingly, prompted some changes as work has been ongoing.

But Southworth points out that a pragmatic approach has to be adopted in these circumstances.

"There have been changes, but projects develop as you move along. There used to be separate facilities for conferences, but now that has been incorporated into the hotel," he says.

"The last building on the site has had a chequered history. It started off as an apartment building for Etihad staff, which was to be three-storeys. Then we were asked by the client to bump it up to 10 storeys and two months ago we were asked to convert it to a Shangri-La Traders Hotel."

Consequently, work on the building, which had been due for completion by the end of the year, has been delayed pending concept processes. But are such adjustments detrimental to the overall construction?

"Some major changes were required," explains Southworth.

"Instead of just having hotel beds, you have front-of-house facilities, back-of-house facilities and services for the hotel."

The 10-storey height was due to the ceiling imposed because of the proximity of a local military airbase, not Abu Dhabi International airport. Work on the building is now expected to finish in September 2008.

Southworth confirms that Alec has met its date for handover of the retail outlets but cannot accurately predict how long it will take for the various companies to fit-out the unit.

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