DOHA: The Platinum Tower Co - a joint venture between H E Sheikh Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, Jassem Mohammad Ibrahim Al Jaidah, Adel Ali bin Ali Al Meslemani and Nabeel Ali Bin Ali Al Meslemani yesterday awarded the construction of the iconic Al Bidda Tower project to a consortium led by Higgs and Hill Overseas Ltd, the firm announced yesterday.
The Al Bidda Tower is the first of many such landmark buildings that PTC plans to construct in Doha. The design process, from the initial concept to the final development were performed by GHD Engineering, Management and Environment in consultation with PTC, to meet the exacting requirements and ensure that the tower would conform to the highest standards of aesthetics, quality and excellence. Among the features incorporated into the tower are elevation treatment derived from the concept of a tornado. The faade is formed from the utilisation of an unconventional diagonal curtain wall accommodating progressively varying floor plates resulting in an elegantly waist-type spiraling faade that culminates at the top with an illuminated chamfered roof facing the Corniche.
The tower, which will stand some 215metres tall allows for an aggregated net rentable area of around 41,500 sq.metres. In addition to other commercial space, provision has also been made for a variety of other facilities including business centres, showrooms, restaurants, art galleries, outdoor caf and health club, among others. The development also includes an unobtrusive seven-storey car park having direct underground access to the tower, the design of which discreetly reflects and complements the unique diagonal elements of the tower.
The Doha Bank was the mandated lead arranger and security agent for this deal. The Arab Bank was the second lead arranger. The financing arrangements between them were already in place.
© The Peninsula 2005
