KUWAIT: The Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA) Headquarters, one of Kuwait's most iconic architectural statements, has been awarded the American Concrete Institute (ACI) - Kuwait Chapter, Award of Excellence. The ACI awards program provides a platform to recognize projects at the forefront of innovation and technology, and showcases these projects to inspire excellence in concrete design and construction around the world.

The ACI Kuwait Chapter awards ceremony was held under the patronage of the Minister of Education and Minister of Higher Education, Dr Bader Al-Essa, and took place on May 17 at the Abdul Hussain Marafie Grand Ballroom at the Radisson Blu Hotel. The coveted awards were presented to the entire project team - KIA (client), KEO International Consultants (design and supervision), First United General Trading & Contracting (main contractor) and finally to the concrete suppliers, Bubiyan Ready Mix Co WLL.

The headquarters concept was awarded to KEO as part of an international design competition held in 2007. Construction on the project began in 2013 and is due to be completed by the end of 2016. Structures for the project were significantly completed in the summer of 2015.

"This building demonstrates the result of close collaboration between structure and architecture to achieve a world class iconic design," explains David Ross, Head of Structural Engineering, KEO Kuwait. The architecture and structure for the iconic 220-meter tower are closely intertwined. The architectural vision for the office tower was to achieve clear open spaces internally, and to have large clear spans over the atrium openings on the facades. The result was a structure with only 4 internal columns arranged on the corners of the atria, and Vierendeel trusses spanning over the massive façade openings. The shapes of the podium building were inspired by traditional Arab dhows, and were constructed by taking advantage of the inherent ability of reinforced concrete to be sculpted to suit the dramatic architectural profiles.

KEO has been a leading consultancy in the region for over 50 years. For 2016, KEO ranks as the largest Architectural Firm in the Middle East (BD World) and also ranks #11 in ENR's annual listing of 'Non-US firms in International Construction Management and Program Management'.