Lightweight construction supports innovative tower design

Saint-Gobain Gyproc lightweight partitions have played an integral role in the design of one of the world’s most innovative tall building developments, Abu Dhabi’s Al Bahr Towers, consisting of two 29-storey, 145m–high towers, housing the new headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Investment Council (ADIC), and the head office of Al Hilal Bank. The multi-award winning glass-skinned circular towers feature ground breaking internal temperature control via dynamic facades that open and close automatically depending on the intensity of the sunlight.

The challenge for Saint-Gobain Gyproc and architects Aedas, was to provide internal partition and wall solutions that would withstand the high lateral pressures and maximise weight and space saving within a challenging circular tower format that created access limitations whilst demanding precision aesthetics.

The solution was a combination of Gyproc ShaftWall, a fire –rated partition installed from one side only; high strength double-boarded GypWall CLASSIC partitions and GypWall CURVE, a partition designed specifically to provide smooth flawless curves at different radii.

The high performance specification achieved all of the towers demanding performance criteria whilst adding valuable weight savings to support the architect’s innovative 25-storey lightweight steel frame design

The exotic pineapple and honeycomb designed Al Bahr Towers have won many awards in the Middle East. It recently received the best overall project of the Middle East at the 6TH ME Architect Awards. It also won the best commercial project of the year at the same awards. Not only that, it was recognized as the Innovation award winner and a Best Tall Building Middle East and Africa finalist in the 2012 CTBUH Awards Program.