The local Saudi Binladin Group has been awarded the estimated SR1.77bn ($470m) contract to expand the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre in Jeddah.

A total of 13 groups had submitted bids for the hospital expansion scheme on 28 January last year. The client is the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre.

The main component of the expansion project will involve the construction of two patient towers, 15 and 18 storeys high, and a 24-storey research and academic affairs centre. The new structures will contain 30 operating theatres, 150 intensive care units, a cardiology clinic, neurology clinic, outpatient clinics and emergency treatment facilities.

The scheme will also involve the construction of a 25,000-square-metre Oncology Centre and a 25,000-sq m medical support facilities building. The project will also involve the construction of a car park for more than 1,000 cars. The expansion scheme was designed by the local Care RTKL and Saudi Diyar Consultants. Care RTKL is a joint venture of US-based architecture firm RTKL and Healthcare Development Holding Company (HDH), a division of the local Saudi Binladin Group.

The project manager for the construction programme is US-based Vanir Construction Management. Vanir has also been appointed to provide construction management services for the estimated $1.2bn King Khaled Medical City project planned in Dammam.