Expo 2020 awards contract for Al Wasl Plaza dome

Al Wasl Plaza will be a central space of the 4.38-square kilometre Expo 2020 site.

Abu Dhabi-based Cimolai Rimond Middle East General Contracting will provide steel work for the intricate domed trellis of Expo 2020 Dubai's central Al Wasl Plaza, it was announced on Sunday.

Steel work produced by the UAE-Italian joint venture will provide the trellis structure for the 67.5-metre tall, 130-metre wide dome. When finished, the structure will include 13,600 metres of intricate steel work and weigh 2,265 tonnes, equivalent to 500 elephants, with an enclosed space of 724,000 cubic metres -the same volume as 290 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Al Wasl Plaza will be a central space of the 4.38-square kilometre site. The dome will incorporate a huge projection experience that can also be viewed from the sky. The monetary value of the contract is not being disclosed.

Ahmed Al Khatib, vice-president of real estate and delivery at Expo 2020 Dubai, said: "Al Wasl Plaza will be an iconic central point of Expo 2020 Dubai. We are glad to be working with Cimolai Rimond Middle East, which has a strong track record, including working on the UAE National Pavilion at the 2015 World Expo in Milan.

"This is the latest construction contract to be awarded this year. Work on Expo 2020 is well on track and we are making great progress. We will be awarding the final construction contract for Al Wasl Plaza in the first quarter of next year.

Giuseppe Antonio Chiarandá, CEO of Cimolai Rimond ME, said: "We are bringing years of experience in advanced design and production of structural steel work to bear on this task. The Al Wasl Plaza dome will be the literal and figurative centerpiece of the Expo site."

Construction across the Expo 2020 site is advancing well. To date, more than nine million work hours have been completed on the Expo 2020 site, with 6,100 cubic metres of concrete being laid per week, and 59km of pipes already laid as part of site infrastructure works.

- business@khaleejtimes.com