Main contractor announced for QF Stadium

J&P Qatar WLL, Conspel Qatar WLL, J&P Avax SA and J&P (Overseas) Ltd have been awarded the contract as a joint venture (JV). Scheduled for completion by the end of 2019, the stadium will host fixtures up to the quarter-final stage during the 2022 FIFA World Cup tournament. “Over the next four years we will be working closely with our new partners to ensure we deliver an outstanding, legacy-oriented stadium at Education City that will serve the community long after the last ball is kicked,” said Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary general, SC.The project is being delivered in conjunction with Astad Project Management, a wholly owned Qatari Company, which looks after project and construction management and construction supervision.“This signing demonstrates the progress being made as we head towards 2022, with five stadiums sites now at main construction stage,” explained engineer Hilal al-Kuwari, Technical Delivery Office chairman, SC. “The next 12 months will be crucial for the tournament’s progression as we prepare another three sites for works, with the SC and its partners managing eight live construction sites by mid-2017,” the official observed. An aerial view of QF Stadium - architect's impression.G C Christofides, CEO of Joannou & Paraskevaides (Overseas) Ltd, who spoke on behalf of companies involved in the joint venture, said the QF Stadium will be one of Qatar’s prominent World Cup venues.The most recent work completed by the CCC/TCC JV in July 2016 included further bulk excavation works of a total volume of 650,000 cu m to formation level, and implementation of a dewatering system for the next main-package contractor. By the end of 2016, the main-works contractor will be fully mobilised on site, progressing with the schematic design, finishing the foundation works and securing a substantial portion of the structural steel for the super structure.Earlier this year, during preliminary works, QF Stadium construction team unearthed samples of ‘Dukhan rock’ dating back approximately 20 to 30mn years during an excavation of 1.37mn cu m. “As we dug down deeper on site, we came across interesting and distinct colour bandings on the rock formations,” recalled Eid al-Qahtani, project manager, SC. “We discovered that the rocks in question originated under water, forming a layer known as the middle-Eocene epoch. This is a remarkable find for a stadium construction site, as usually this type of rock is only found in deeper tunneling works, conducted by the likes of Qatar Rail,” Qahtani added.Revealed in a ceremony in 2014, QF Stadium design is inspired by complex geometrical patterns designed to pay tribute to traditional Islamic architecture. QF Stadium will become the focal point for Education City’s sporting facilities, as part of the foundation’s mission to community development.QF’s Education City is home to eight branch campuses of some of the world’s prestigious universities, as well as home-grown educational establishments, student accommodation and research and development companies. QF was founded in 1995 by HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, with a class of around 30 for Qatar Academy’s first year. It is estimated Education City’s community will grow to 50,000 by 2022.World-class facility 'to benefit residents'QF Stadium is located within the Hamad Bin Khalifa Sports Complex (HBKSC) in the western area of the Education City South campus. The stadium will have a capacity of 40,000 spectators, which will be reduced to 25,000 seats after the tournament to fulfil Education City’s own legacy needs for world-class multipurpose sports facilities.“Qatar Foundation and its surrounding precinct is one of the best examples of how the venues will benefit Qatar’s residents long after the tournament, with world-class sporting facilities available for all, promoting healthy living and wellness to all,” said engineer Yasir al-Jamal, Technical Department Office vice-chairman, SC.In addition to football, the stadium will be able to stage leisure and entertainment events such as concerts and performances with different pitch and seating configurations for various other sports.