Bahrain World Trade Center

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Bahrain World Trade Center
Information
Location Manama, Bahrain
Status Under construction
Constructed 2007 - ongoing
Estimated completion 2008
Height
Roof 787 ft (239.9 m)
Floor count 50
Companies
Architect Atkins
Contractor Ramboll Danmark, Norwin A/S and Elsam Engineering

The Bahrain World Trade Center consists of two twin towers and is one of the tallest buildings in Bahrain. It is located in its capital city, Manama. The towers are each 240 meters high with a total floor count of 50. The building is the first skyscraper to integrate wind turbines into its design. As a result, the project has received several awards for sustainability, including the 2006 LEAF Awards for ‘Best Use of Technology within a Large Scheme’ and the Arab Construction World ‘Sustainable Design Award’.[1]

The Bahrain World Trade Center is the first skyscraper to integrate wind turbines into its design. Three bridges in the lower half of the towers connect the towers to one another and hold three large turbines, one on each bridge and each turbine measuring 29 metres (32 yards) in diameter. These turbines face north, which is the direction from which air from the Persian Gulf blows in. The sail-shaped buildings on either side are designed to funnel wind through the gap to provide the maximum amount of wind passing through the turbines. This was confirmed by wind tunnel tests, which showed the the building create an ‘S’-shaped flow, ensuring that any wind coming within a 45° angle to either side of the central axis will create a wind stream that remains perpendicular to the turbines. This significantly increases their potential to generate electricity.[2] The wind turbines are expected to provide 11% to 15% of the towers' total power consumption, or approximately 1.1 to 1.3 MWh a year. This is equivalent to providing the lighting for about 300 homes annually.[3] The turbines were turned on together for the first time on 8 April 2008. They are expected to operate 50% of the time.[1]

The towers are in the final stages of construction (structure wise) and will be completed sometime in 2008.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b “BWTC turbines spin for first time”, World Architecture News, 2008-04-08, <http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=2133> 
  2. ^ “Bahrain World Trade Center, Bahrain”, designbuild-network, 2007, <http://www.designbuild-network.com/projects/bahrain/> 
  3. ^ “"Bahrain builds first wind powered towers: architect”, Reuters, 2007-03-19, <http://www.reuters.com/article/gc07/idUSL1928644820070319> 

[edit] External links


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