US-based SOM has been appointed as the architect for the Oceanarium and Coral Farm building at the Jeddah Central Project.

The Oceanarium and Coral Farm will feature underwater exhibits and aims to position Jeddah and Saudi Arabia as a leader in marine conservation.

Jeddah Central Development Company (JCDC), which is a subsidiary of the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is the project client.

SOM has worked on major projects in the Jeddah area before, including the Hajj Terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport.

In early June, JCDC selected Dubai-headquartered Dar al-Handasah for the masterplan design contract linked to the first phase of the SR75bn ($20.4bn) Jeddah Central project.

Dar al-Handasah will be responsible for the design and technical consultation of Jeddah Central’s first phase, in addition to providing the designs of the masterplan including four main architectural landmarks and the development of assets on both the horizontal and vertical levels. 

Phase 1 is expected to include three major architectural centrepieces, including an opera house, a stadium and an oceanarium and coral farms.

Dar al-Handasah’s contract award comes after JCDC confirmed the appointment of the local Modern Building Leaders (MBL) to deliver the main works package of Jeddah Central’s first phase in May.

MEED reported on MBL’s selection for the contract earlier in May.

JCDC was established in 2019 with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud chairing its board of directors and is wholly owned by Saudi sovereign wealth vehicle Public Investment Fund (PIF), which also entirely owns the project’s lands. The developer has said there “are no ownership disputes or confiscation issues” linked to the scheme.

The company secured land for the first phase of Jeddah Central, formerly known as New Jeddah Downtown, following an agreement with the Royal Saudi Air Defence Forces Institute in March.