ACI-Kuwait Chapter presents the Award of Excellence to a project in recognition of, amongst other aspects, outstanding design using concrete, innovative architectural and structural design landmarks, and high standards of construction The Award of Excellence for 2014 was presented to Mabanee Company for The Avenues (Phase 3), which was honoured for being a grand and innovatively designed landmark development that provides a unique retail and lifestyle experience in the State of Kuwait for its residents and visitors.

The Vision

Mr. Mohamed Al Shaya, Chairman of Mabanee Company, had a vision for this project. He wanted to create a complete city, a uniquely designed and iconic multi-facility destination combining shopping, dining, relaxation, opportunities for quality family time and entertainment. The dream was to integrate everything into one convenient mega-development that would receive worldwide recognition and, more importantly, help enhance Kuwait’s reputation as a major shopping hub.

Design Influence

To realize this vision Mabanee Company commissioned some of the world’s leading design and engineering consultants to undertake the design work. Norr Consult of Canada were appointed as the international design consultants for Phases 1 and 2.

Gensler of USA, was commissioned to design Phase 3, referred to as Grand Avenue, which is the recipient of this year’s award. PACE of Kuwait, as the local design and supervision consultants have worked on all phases. Consultants have been involved in this mega-project for about 13 years, and their involvement is likely to continue for a few more years as Phases 4 and 4B are still under design and construction.

Design work started in 2002, and given the anticipated scale of the complex that will have an overall length of over 1.7 km when fully finished, it was inevitable that it should be implemented in phases. Construction commenced in 2004. The design itself was inspired by natural forms of the desert, dunes, rock formation and the sky, with European street visits influencing the interior character.

Avenues Phase 3 comprises five development districts: The Grand Avenue, The Mall, Souk, Soku, Prestige Luxury Mall

Mabanee Company’s strategy was to complete construction in the shortest possible time; achieve very good quality of work; and to ensure full cooperation and coordination between all concerned parties: Clients,Consultants and Contractors.

Construction Highlights

An interesting fact pertaining to its expedited construction is the casting of the Phase 3 raft. The raft covered an area of 100,000 m², and its thickness varied between 2.3 to 3.0 meters. It was constructed as one plate at a depth of 16.0 m below ground level, and a total of 0.5 million cubic meters of concrete was poured. Of this, about 12,000 m³ was completed in a single continuous operation lasting over 36 hours, with 9 pumps working and 120 transit mixers in use.

Different stages of construction were carried out simultaneously to achieve expedited completion. Other interesting features of the project include the wave shaped skylight spanning 18 m along the Prestige Street; the dome above Prestige Square, which is a steel structure supported on a 36.0 m diameter concrete ring beam.

The Grand Avenue itself is 400 m long and 43 m wide, and it also serves as an emergency service route for fire trucks. The Avenues is truly an iconic development of a scale few have considered. From a radical approach, through innovative procurement and to rapid delivery, the project has challenged pre-existing barriers and demonstrated what can be achieved with a great vision and the commitment of all stake-holders.

The Award was presented to:
Owner Mabanee Company, Kuwait.
Certificates and plaques were presented to:
General Contractor Alghanim International General Trading and Contracting Company, Kuwait. International Design Architect Gensler, USA. Design and Supervision Consultant PACE, Kuwait. Main Concrete Supplier Bubiyan Ready Mix, Kuwait. Concrete Supplier Lafarge Readymix, Kuwait.