Qatar’s Public Works Authority (Ashghal) has awarded the local office of KEO International Consultants with US-based HHCP+PJA a QR230m ($63m) contract for the design and construction supervision of the New Doha Zoo project.

The appointment follows on from Ashghal selecting HHCP+PJA to develop a concept masterplan for the zoo in December 2012.

Construction work on the project is expected to start in 2014, with completion planned for 2017. Nasser bin Ali al-Mawlawi, president of Ashghal, told MEED that the cost of the project will be finalised once the design work is complete, adding that the main construction packages will be tendered in 2014.

The New Doha Zoo will cover an area of 750,000 square metres, which will be about seven times larger than the old zoo. It will be divided into three regions. They are an Africa safari zone, an Asia woodland area, and a South American rainforest. The design also incorporates three hotels for these three themed areas.

Ashghal is evaluating bids for an early works contract for the project. The deal covers enabling of demolition works at the site, which includes knocking down all existing structures, earthworks, landscaping, the installation of temporary site accommodation, utilities and services.

The project manager for the development is the UK-based Mace Group.