The contract has a duration of 18 months and covers the construction of an extension with a total built-up area of 100,000 square metres.

The Turkish Baytur Construction & Contracting Company is currently working on the main convention building after winning a QR2.2bn ($610m) contract to design and build the centre in early 2006. The building will have six storeys and a basement, and covers a total built-up area of 150,000 sq m.

The centre will house a 2,500-seat auditorium, a 500-seat theatre, and a 4,000-seat multi-purpose hall, as well as smaller meeting rooms.

The centre will host exhibitions, conferences and music and art festivals. Japanese architect Arata Isozaki prepared the conceptual designs for the centre.

The project manager on Education City is Kuwait’s KEO International Consultants. Qatar Petroleum is overseeing the development for the client, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science & Community Development.

The Midmac/Six Construct joint venture won a $800m contract to build another convention centre in Qatar in January this year.

Under that contract, the joint venture will build a convention centre with a total built-up area of 100,000 sq m for local developer Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company by May 2011.