The local Midmac Contracting Company has won the estimated QR800m ($220m) contract to build the headquarters (HQ) building for Qatar Foundation at Education City, on the outskirts of Doha.

The two-year contract involves the construction of a 57-metre tall cube-shaped HQ building with 14 levels above ground. The works also include a three- to four-storey strategic studies centre that, together with the main HQ, will sit on a common podium.

The overall site will have 500 parking spots.

The winning contractor will also be in charge of carrying out earthworks and landscaping, substructure and provision of utilities works. The utilities works will include the installation of water services, drainage, air-conditioning systems and security systems.

Astad, the project management arm of Qatar Petroleum (QP), received bids from at least seven contractors in October last year (MEED 29:10:10).

The other bidders included:

• Aktor (Greece)
• Carillion (UK)
• Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) (Athens-based)/Multiplex (Australia)
• Darwish Engineering (local)
• Strabag (Austria)
• Yuksel Insaat (Turkey)

The buildings were designed by the Dutch architectural firm Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) and the project consultant is the UK’s Arup.

Astad is managing the projects on behalf of the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Social Development (QF).

In May 2011, Astad awarded Athens-based CCC an estimated $212m contract to build Qatar Foundation’s Faculty of Islamic Studies in Doha.

CCC was competing against at least 10 other contractors to win the main construction package for the faculty building, which will be located at the Education City development on the outskirts of Doha.

The Faculty of Islamic Studies is in the southern zone of Education City. It will include classrooms, an auditorium, exhibition space, faculty offices, a mosque and an underground car park.

The project is expected to cover an area of 55,980 square metres and is scheduled for completion by August 2012.