Genrec Engineering

News

October 2005

Project News: Khalifa Sports City development in Doha, Qatar

Genrec Engineering (Pty) Limited, a Murray & Roberts company, has recently completed the supply of a structural steel contract for the construction of a new sports hall at the Khalifa Sports City Development in Doha, Qatar. Murray & Roberts Middle East, through a joint-venture with Consolidated Contractors International Company (CCIC), was awarded the contract in July 2003.

The stadium can be described as two offset semi-hemispherical shells of tubular steel truss construction, fully sheeted, glazed and joined together by a central passage structure of fabricated steel girders and sections to form one large single hall.

One of the semi-hemispherical structures houses a full size indoor football field, change rooms, seating for 5 000 spectators, an Olympic pool and diving pool, jacuzzi, warm-up pool, table tennis area and other associated facilities. The second semi-hemispherical structure houses Invitation to Exhibit at Cippe 2006 in China, an athletic track (5 000 spectators), fencing hall, multi-purpose hall and a martial arts area. The central part houses more change rooms, rest rooms, meeting rooms, the press and VIP areas, a fitness and health centre, shopping area and administrative offices.

• The total covered area is 112 000m²
• Span of main arches - 240m
• Largest span of roof truss - 120m
• The height of the structure is 54,5m
• Approximate structural steel mass - 8 400 tons

A total of 2 800 tons of steel, to the value of just under R50 million, was used for the central passage and roof purlins, which was sourced from South Africa. The order was locally manufactured at Genrec’s 50 000m² premises in Wadeville, Gauteng, containerised and shipped to Doha, Qatar, during the first half of 2004.

The tubular structures were fabricated on site due to the unique and complex nature of the three dimensional assemblies required for the roofs, which had to be executed to the highest quality standards and specifications.

Approximately 800 tons of steel had to be fabricated for the temporary support of the main arches and roof trusses. The detailing and design of the project was extremely complex and many technical challenges had to be overcome.

The full 8 400 tons of steel was locally detailed using the three-dimensional modelling package, StruCad, from the UK based AceCad.
Genrec also recently won the AceCad Worldwide StruCad drawing competition for the innovative design of the Khalifa Sports Hall, competing against over 200 entries from over 30 countries around the world.

Within the Middle East, Genrec has historically been involved on a number of landmark high-rise buildings including the Burj-Al-Arab Hotel and the Emirates Towers - both in Dubai - and the Zayed cricket stadium in Abu Dhabi.

The contract to export 2 800 tons of steel from South Africa for the Khalifa Sports Hall benefited the local market by providing opportunities for employment and enhancement of local skills.

Being a local company, Genrec has a great interest in the South African market and is currently involved in some major projects.