ACI-Kuwait Chapter presents the Award of Excellence to a project in recognition of outstanding concrete construction practices within Kuwait.

The Award of Excellence for 2013 was presented to Al-Azizia United General Trading and Contracting Company for Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa, which was honoured for being a significant redevelopment of a war-damaged Hotel in Kuwait, using concrete as a primary construction material.

Messilah Beach Hotel, as this hotel was formally known, was opened by His Highness, Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah in 1974. It was at that time an impressive facility, but during the Iraqi invasion the hotel was occupied by Iraqi troops.

The hotel, however, reopened to the public in the winter of 1991 with limited facilities. But the owner, Mr. Mubarak Al Hasawi, wished to make it a leading business and resort hotel by creating a facility for the 21st century, yet one which would respect local traditions and culture.

He appointed Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) of New York, as the lead architectural designers, working in association with Gulf Consult of Kuwait, to realise his vision. Gulf Consult undertook all engineering, landscaping and site works design, and supervised the construction of this new 5-Star hotel and resort complex.

The result of the efforts of the many people involved in the project is the new Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa, the grandeur of which is reflected in the selected pictures reproduced here.

Structural Design Feature

The architects wished that all vehicles entering the hotel's large arrival courtyard, with its dramatic fountain as a centre-piece, should do so through a grand archway beneath one of the hotel's wings. This called for a 40m wide clear span archway, supporting five occupied floor above it. To achieve this, the structural design team proposed the use of 30cms thick Vierendeel Walls.

Building Information

Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa is located on a site of 37,360 m², in the northern part of Kuwait's Messilah neighbourhood, at the junction of 6th Ring Road, Fahaheel Expressway and Al-Bida'a Road.

The development is essentially a 5-star deluxe hotel and resort, and its facilities include:

• 300 rooms
• 78 fully-serviced apartments
• 13 self-contained chalets
• State-of-the-art spa and fitness centre
• 4 international restaurants
• Grand Ballroom (2000 persons capacity)
• Business Centre / 12 multi-function rooms
• Open-air swimming and an infinity pools
• Beach resort facilities and sheltered harbour
• 800 parking spaces (400 in basement)

The Award was presented to:
Owner Al-Azizia United General Trading & Contracting Company, Kuwait.
Certificates and plaques were presented to:
General Contractor Kuwait Company for Process Plant Construction and Contracting (KCPC). International Design Architect Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), New York, USA. Design and Supervision Consultant Dar Gulf Consult, Kuwait.