MEED reported that Drake & Scull International is to build the commercial buildings for the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies Research Centre in Riyadh.

Saudi Aramco received bids from at least four contractors in October 2010 for the main construction package. Drake & Scull saw off competition from the Turkish company Baytur Construction & Contracting Company, and the local contractors El Seif Engineering & Contracting and Saudi Oger.

The work will involve the construction of the main buildings that includes basic retail facilities and a research centre, library and conference hall designed by London based Zaha Hadid Architects.

Kapsarc's main building will be a crystalline structure composed of modular six sided cells and connections between them. The development will also contain indoor and outdoor gardens, shaded outdoor areas and underground tunnels. The conference building will include a large multipurpose hall and various smaller halls and meeting rooms.

The project will involve the construction of 188 villas, two apartment blocks, a clubhouse and associated infrastructure.

(Sourced from www.meed.com)