Bahrain receives bids for national theatre contract

26 May 2010

Seven groups have submitted bids for project in Manama

Bahrain’s Works Ministry has received bids for a contract to build the National Theatre complex in Manama.

The ministry received bids from seven contractors on 20 May for the main construction contract for the theatre complex, which has been designed by France’s Architecture Studio.

Cyprus Building & Road Construction has submitted the lowest bid with a price of BD16.2m ($42.9m). This is 14.3 per cent lower than the BD18.9m price submitted by the second lowest bidder, the local Al-Moayyed Contracting Group.

The local Cebarco submitted the third lowest bid with a price of BD19.9m.

The other bidders are:

  • Cyprus’ GP Zachariades
  • The local Bokhowa Group
  • The local Mohammed Jalal & Sons Contracting
  • The local Kooheji Contracting

The scope of the works involves the construction of a 1,000-seat auditorium, a multi-use 100-seat auditorium, and equipment rooms.

The work also involves the installation, testing and commissioning of specialised theatre equipment for sound and communications, stage lighting, safety curtains and all associated controls.

UK-based Atkins is the consultant on the project.

The expected completion date for the theatre is June 2012.

The theatre project is part of Bahrain’s strategy to develop arts facilities to attract more tourists to the kingdom to diversify the economy.

In addition to the theatre complex, UK-based architect Zaha Hadid and partner Patrik Schumacher have designed a proposed 10,000 square-metre Museum of Contemporary Arts, which will be situated on a narrow coastal strip on the Gulf of Bahrain. The building’s design will draw inspiration from the traditional Islamic architecture found close to the site in Muharraq (MEED 21:4:10).

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