BUSINESS INSIGHT
highly reflective glass, the cladding is sure to keep the heat from seeping into the structure. “One of the most common questions we are asked is how the cladding and walling is made accessible for servicing,” noted Al Dehaimi. “The building incorporates a walkway between the outer cladding and inner wall in order to allow for easy and safe access for service staff”, he explained, “We have also installed 360 degree lifts which can be used by maintenance staff on each floor.” The building’s lighting also came under scrutiny during the construction process. “We were cautious when choosing the building’s signature LEDs which we have used to illuminate the exterior to ensure they do not reflect inside the tower and are not a hindrance to the working environment,” he said. STANDING OUT With skyscrapers cropping up all around the world at a rapid rate, there is no doubt making an impression is becoming increasingly difficult. Al Dehaimi explained how, at any cost, they were determined to include all the latest technology into the tower in order to out equip other buildings in every way. “An example of this is the use of lifts which can travel at speeds of up to eight metres per second, which is extremely rare in the industry,” he said. “As much technology as we incorporate into the tower, what will draw people to explore it to begin with is what matters most,” he added, underling the importance of having an iconic design where distinction is concerned. Set one floor below ground, the tower’s rather unusual entrance is hidden from sight among lush greenery, giving a sense that it is hovering when seen from the Corniche. Al Dehaimi added that as well as being an integral part of Doha’s skyline, the tower provides a panoramic view of the city at every floor for occupants to be able to enjoy. ELECTRONIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS The Doha High Rise Office building makes use of technology in a way that will make managing the workforce less tedious for employers. The central control room serves as a centralised control panel for all the gadgetry inside the tower from the air conditioning temperature to security perimeters. “Every single access point within the building is regulated by the security system,” Al Dehaimi explained. “Upon occupying offices, all employees will be given identity cards
“We aimed to produce what would become an architectural feat, a landmark that would make onlookers want to learn more about how it came to be.” – Hassan Al Dehaimi which give them access to offices and floors to which they are entitled entry. Employers can, therefore, use this system to keep track of how long employees spend in their offices.” By incorporating systems that keep track of the workforce, the tower plays a role in work efficiency and makes managing a large workforce simpler. GOING GREEN, STAYING SAFE As Doha expands at a rapid pace, the issue of using technologies and techniques in construction which enhance sustainability and safety is always important. “When constructing the tower, we paid quite a lot of attention to heat isolation in order to keep energy consumption for temperature regulation under control,” said Al Dehaimi. The conventional double glazed glass panes coupled with the protective outer cladding serve to reduce heat within the building, which is therefore less taxing for the cooling system. On March 31, 2012, buildings around the world switched off their lights for ‘Earth Hour’ in effort to promote lower energy consumption and less climate change. Al Dehaimi mentioned their building’s participation with this initiative, in order to show their support for the cause along with other buildings in the Doha skyline. In light of the recent tragic events at Villaggio, there is no doubt that buildings in Qatar are becoming increasingly scrutinised for fire safety precautions. Al Dehaimi walked TheEDGE through some of the safety features the tower is equipped with, mentioning fire resistant escapes on every floor as well as specialised fans which remove smoke from affected areas and more. However, he insisted that having the necessary equipment will never be enough to save lives if it is not consistently tested to ensure its integrity. “We always make a point to regularly check that our safety equipment is on par with international standards and, during construction, cutting costs on this sort of equipment, even within our legal bounds, was never an option,” he stated. Al Dehaimi went on to reassure TheEDGE that the tower’s security staff have been employed at the building for a long period of time and are trained for fire hazards, should
such situations arise. In addition to taking necessary steps to ensure safety within the tower, Al Dehaimi urged project managers for other buildings never to lower costs where safety is concerned. “Although lower quality equipment might be legally acceptable, it is our duty to ensure that we install the best equipment possible to avoid unnecessary losses,” he said. UNIQUE SELLING POINTS Among an overwhelming amount of office buildings, the Doha High Rise Office Building provides one key selling point where its true value lies, said Al Dehaimi. “Businesses largely depend on reputation, and we can help contribute to that through our image. Being an occupant of a building that is considered a landmark will provide businesses with much more credibility to leverage with, especially when doing business on a global level,” he said. Not only will the building provide businesses with a better image, he continued, it will also give them access to the facilities mentioned previously. These should collectively serve to boost employee efficiency while providing easier day-to-day management for the employer. ONGOING CHALLENGES Bearing in mind the sheer size of the tower, it was not surprising when Al Dehaimi mentioned that there had been a temporary hold in construction three years into the project. “Problems will always arise in projects of this scale, the key to getting past them is with good administration,” he said. Although completing the project four years later than expected, it is obvious that everything was eventually executed as planned. “It consumed a huge amount of resources and needed support from quite a lot of people to ensure its success, but seeing the final result makes it worth it,” he added. Al Dehaimi concluded by saying, “We would love to see more projects of Qatari origin like our tower on display, and we hope that our building can be used as a source of inspiration. Profit should not be the priority; the goal people should be looking to achieve with projects like this is to create artistically and architecturally unique buildings as an expression of Qatar’s potential.” TheEDGE
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