MUSCAT -- KR Infra, the Infrastructure vertical of Khimji Ramdas Group, heralded a new era for commercial complexes and office space in Oman with the unveiling of its new campus in Ghala. Mohsin bin Mohammed al Shaikh, Chairman at Muscat Municipality, unveiled the plaque during an inauguration ceremony held at the premises.
The new KR Infra Campus is the outcome of yet another visionary move by the KR Group and is located in a part of the city -- Ghala -- that is rapidly transforming into the next commercial hub.
A project that reiterates the KR Group's mission to support and uphold Oman's economic goals; the new 9,400 sqm building in a 18,000 sqm plot, has been constructed by converting three of KR's large warehouses in Ghala into a state-of-the-art office complex for the company's infrastructure business. The entire exercise was carried out in a record 200 days.
Commenting on the monumental move, Hritik Khimji, Director, said, "For over 140 years, the KR Group has been at the forefront of Oman's goals for economic progress by pioneering leading-edge technologies, businesses and conceptualising revolutionary solutions. Now, we are once again the vanguard of progress because our new KR Infra campus will help the industrial area of Ghala make the final transition into the city's commercial hub. It probably won't be stretching the imagination too much to consider it as the making of a new CBD."
He added that the decision to set up a world-class infrastructure campus at Ghala is one that coincided with Muscat's commercial and business sectors expanding westward, which brought Ghala deeper into the heart of the city. The new campus combines three massive office blocks in 7,500 square metres of floor space that will house 500 staff in an ergonomically planned layout. The campus is designed for employee well-being and to foster an environment of creative thinking and proactive learning. It includes a huge cafeteria that can seat 200 guests simultaneously. Another 2,000 sq m, within the same campus has been used to showcase the largest collection in Oman of office furniture, security and storage solutions.
In the setting up of the KR Infra Campus, power and energy conservation measures have been given foremost importance. While dual flushing systems and sensors help reduce wastage of water, waterless urinals, a new concept from Roca, have contributed significantly to an estimated total saving of half a million litres of water per annum.
Around 400 tonnes of heat load is being managed by eco-friendly and energy-saving air-conditioning equipment from Lennox USA and Fujitsu General Japan which selectively use environment friendly refrigerant gases having lesser Ozone Depletion potential, while the ventilations systems installed are all LEED Certified (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design).
Energy efficient and adaptive lighting will result in significant power saving and nearly 30 per cent of the light within the closed spaces is natural, owing to the enlightened design of the structure, with its effect being enhanced by the application of especially formulated reflective metallic aluminium paint on the upper surfaces. Buildings have been protected with Low VOC Green Certified water based Intumescent Coatings from Nofire, from NFTI-USA since it provides a 60 minutes fire retardant period as per ROP standards.
Interestingly all door handles are made from recyclable stainless steel while 220 metres of running shrubbery and 10 date palms provide a perfect foil to the innovatively designed wall murals celebrating Omani flora, fauna, culture and landscape in the national hues of red, green and white.
Also unveiled during the inauguration was KR Infra's iconic new logo to match its revamped establishment. Its freshly designed emblem bears an identity that is distinct from the rest of the KR Group; the logo features six hexagons to reflect the group's six-pronged approach when it comes to its core business values.
Hritik Khimji emphasised the Arabesque design inspired by the Omani architecture, as well as the group's six key areas of business in construction, building materials and paints, electrical products and services, air-conditioning and refrigeration systems, furniture and fit-out solutions and engineering products and services.
"Each of these six key areas is built and developed through a six-pronged approach that includes presenting a range of prestigious brands -- both global and local; providing comprehensive, turnkey solutions; strong reliability and trust; offering innovative and cost effective solutions and leveraging the company's nationwide reach to provide customers with the best service."
He emphasised that this six-pronged approach was further underpinned and driven by six core values -- happiness and pride at work; creativity in action; harmony and teamwork; ethical code of conduct; dignity and self-respect and all-round discipline.
With its iconic logo and state-of-the-art premises, KR Infra's landmark building will be the new cornerstone for technical advancement, IT infrastructure and an impressive arcade to showcase the diversity of the company's global brands.
© Oman Daily Observer 2014
