Etihad Towers is located on the Abu Dhabi Corniche. The project is a prestigious mixed-use development of approximately 460,000 square meters comprising five elegant towers ranging from 53 to 77 floors, a large multi-level podium and a four-level underground car park with capacity for more than 3,200 cars. In 2006, AECOM was awarded the preparation of construction stage documents and drawings, and construction supervision for the project which was carried out in a single phase; single completion timeline. The services provided included the preparation of the full structural and MEP construction documents.
The five towers required specific engineering for tall buildings. This included structural amendments to deal with seismic movement and wind loading. For the latter, the structure was designed to accommodate wind loading without the necessity for damper tanks which would have restricted the progression of design and structural elegance. The design of mechanical, electrical and plumbing (MEP) services, including firefighting systems, incorporated intermediate plant rooms. Also, an elevator strategy was designed for the installation of 72 lifts.
With the five towers each averaging more than 50 floors, extensive MEP services such as firefighting systems specific for tall buildings were put in place. Window washing facilities for the building were also devised to ensure that the glass exterior was kept clean.
The construction of enabling works started in July 2006 and the project was completed in 2012.
The project team carried out comprehensive environmental regulations that included consideration of the surrounding aquatic ecosystem, marine water resource, commercial and residential areas and terrestrial ecosystem. In response to the Environmental Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD), the project team put in place a number of green initiatives such as the reduction in electrical load, condensation and utilization of stormwater and the reduction of the cooling load.
In 2013, Etihad Towers received Award of Merit at the Engineering New Record Global Best Projects Awards in the retail/mixed-use development category.