The local Man Enterprise is the frontrunner to win the contract to build Beirut’s tallest tower.

The contractor is in final negotiations with local developer Antonios Projects for the main construction package on its estimated $330m Sama Beirut Tower. The contract is expected to be awarded before the end of March.

The 50-storey, 200-metre-tall Sama Beirut Tower will be located in the Sodeco area of Beirut, near to the airport and downtown Beirut.

The development will include seven storeys of office space and 40 residential floors containing 71 apartments.  The tower will have seven basement levels, which will have parking facilities for more than 700 cars.

The scheme will also contain a 1,000-square-metre private health club with swimming pool. The building will be leadership in energy and environmental design (Leed) certified. Excavation works are already under way and the estimated completion date for the project is 2014.

The architects are Elie and Randya Gebrayel, from the local Erga Group.

The Sama tower development is part of Beirut’s urban regeneration scheme after much of the city’s infrastructure was destroyed during the 15-year civil war, which ended in 1990. Another development that is part of the regeneration effort is the $500m Beirut Terraces residential project in central Beirut.

The local real-estate company Benchmark Development is expected to tender the main construction contract for the project before the end of 2011.

The scheme will also include an outdoor swimming pool, retail facilities, gymnasium and a private function terrace on the first floor for residents. The tower will be located in the Mina el-Hosn area of the Beirut central district and will comprise 25 residential storeys and 130 apartments.

The local Edrafor is currently carrying out the enabling works for the development. The estimated completion date for the project is the middle of 2014 (MEED 21:7:10).