Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK) Headquarters, Kuwait City, Kuwait

The new Central Bank of Kuwait headquarters broke ground in 2005 in the Sharq area of Kuwait City. It was constructed amid speculation about design changes in the detailed planning.

The 240m-tall 40-storey triangular-shaped tower topped with a glass pyramid is scheduled to be completed in 2010. The building will contain 130,000m² of floor space and will give the Central Bank of Kuwait sufficient new space to expand their operations.

Founded in 1968 and commencing operations in April 1969, the Central Bank of Kuwait (CBK), replacing the Kuwait Monetary Council, has witnessed substantial growth and development during the last few years forcing the company to expand from its existing building near the old harbour to a new headquarters on a site in Gulf Road near the Kuwait State Mosque (one of the largest in the world) in the commercial and financial district of Kuwait City. The construction is costing an estimated $230m.

CENTRAL BANK OF KUWAIT CONTRACTORS

HOK (London) won the design and construction supervision contract in June 2003 following a six-month international paid competition organised by Project Management and Control (Kuwait) in association with DMJM (USA), who assigned an independent advisory committee to evaluate the technical proposals.

The competition initially attracted more than 15 of the world's leading international design and consulting companies but the final competition was among a shortlist of four competing companies. Interestingly, this was the first time Kuwait has held a paid competition such as this.

Assisting HOK is the multi disciplinary Kuwaiti consultant Pan Arab Consulting Engineers and Davis Langdon Schumann Smith. Davis Langdon (London and the Gulf) have been appointed as quantity surveyors and Stuart Johnston, a partner with the company, said: "Davis Langdon is pleased to be contributing cost consultancy services for the bank's striking new building in Kuwait City."

Roberts and Partners is responsible for designing all the electrical and mechanical services. A spokesman for the company said: "We are very lucky to be working on this challenging, yet most prestigious, project." Hyder is undertaking the civil and structural engineering while TPS Consult is advising on security and counter-terrorism measures in the design.

Jeremy Gardner Associates are the fire engineering consultants. Hilson Moran Partnership Ltd is the consulting engineer responsible for the core and shell fit-out of the building. The project is being fast tracked because of the urgency of the bank to get into its new HQ.

CBK DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE

The CBK's new and spectacular headquarters building is of a unique design, which will include all the very latest high-tech gadgetry and building techniques.

When finished, it is expected to dominate the city's skyline; a city already renowned for its sophisticated architectural designs.

Security concerns resulting from the current unrest in the area have caused the CBK and other interested parties to become very reluctant to divulge detailed specifications about the building but it is known that it will be 40 stories tall and is expected to be around 240m high.

Excavation of the 3m-thick raft foundation is under way by contractors, China State Construction.

After the foundations are complete site logistics, including accommodation and compounds for the 1,600 workers, will be assembled. Work will proceed up to the second floor platform so construction can then continue below and above simultaneously. The construction and development of the bank vaults and basement will take as long as the tower above ground.

The building's design is based around a triangular, truncated pyramid tower, composed of geometric shapes which echo the geometry and order of traditional Kuwaiti architecture and which sit in harmony with the nearby Ben Khamis Mosque on the north-west side of the site.

The two walls of the south, city-facing, tower will be predominantly of imported stone; the stone will be used as a heat-sink to absorb the blistering Kuwaiti sun during the day while harnessing that stored heat to ward off the cold of the desert nights.

The transparent north-facing elevation is being constructed using fairly standard double-glazed, solar-controlled glass thus offering the building's occupants breathtaking and panoramic views across the Gulf while at the same time revealing the interior and conserving energy.

Topping the building will be an all-glass viewing platform (unlikely to be open to the public) lit internally and externally to form a distinctive beacon at night, thus reflecting Kuwait's seafaring and trading history. The tower is intersected by a podium that contains reception and banking halls, conference facilities, dining and banquet rooms, museum and specialist financial functions. The adjoining car park will be able to accommodate 1,500 cars.

HOK's appointment continues Kuwait's long and distinguished relationship with the UK.

It was, after all, British oil companies that initially developed Kuwait's oil resources and, even now, oil remains the country's main source of income although many companies use Kuwait as a springboard to neighbouring markets in the Gulf and Central Asia regions.

HOK is, justifiably so, proud of the building's shape claiming that the new headquarters will 'respond to the environment'. The company suggests that although the building is striking in design, construction is not expected to be particularly difficult.

"The Central Bank of Kuwait demanded a world-class design," said Larry Malcic, HOK's director of design. "HOK responded with the imagination and the expertise to achieve the client's vision; a headquarters that respects their traditions and anticipates their needs in the 21st century."