SmartCity Malta – BV joint venture as SCM01 general contractor
SmartCity Malta has announced the appointment of BV Joint Venture as the general contractor for SCM01, the first office building that will form part of the $300 million township based in Ricasoli, Malta.
SmartCity’s LEED(R) – the world’s premier certification programme for sustainable buildings – guidelines will be adhered to by BV Joint Venture, and all its sub-contractors and suppliers, in the construction of SCM01. SmartCity Malta’s facilities will be the first office buildings in Malta to have a low environmental footprint rating, hence establishing a model to be emulated by other developments in Malta.
BV Joint Venture, an affiliation between Bonnici Brothers Ltd. and Ballut Blocks Ltd., combines the expertise of two of Malta’s distinguished organisations within the construction industry. Together, their portfolios cover a vast array of projects such as the Malta International Airport, Cruise Passenger Terminal in Valletta, the Marsa Pedestrian Footbridge, schools, hotels and supermarkets, to name a few.
Fareed Abdulrahman, CEO of SmartCity, said “SmartCity is committed to developing SmartCity Malta as a benchmark for business parks internationally that does not only offer state-of-the-art office space facilities but also environmentally sustainable features. BV Joint Venture has been suitably primed to partner with SmartCity Malta in realizing this benchmark.”
“We are enthusiastic to witness this key milestone in the transformation of Ricasoli into SmartCity Malta. Our enthusiasm is fuelled even more by the exceptional interest we have received from the local and international industry up to now, notwithstanding the global economic situation” added Claudio Grech, CEO of SmartCity Malta.
In 2010, SmartCity Malta will release its first ready-to-operate, state-of-the-art office space building – SCM01 – providing 12,000 sqm of office space with intelligent infrastructure serving as the first milestone for the creation of the vibrant ICT and media hub in which Ricasoli will be transformed. This will be followed by the supporting release of further office buildings and the other ancillary components including residential and retail spaces. The prominent emphasis of balance between work and life will be evidently notable in view of the wide-ranging value added services and amenities that SmartCity Malta will be offering. From its unique views of the 1 km Mediterranean Sea-front stretch, to its outstanding open spaces, lagoon and amphitheatre, SmartCity Malta will be a unique business destination in the Mediterranean.
Forming part of an innovative global network of self-sustained townships for the knowledge-based industry, SmartCity Malta is the first ICT and media township to be developed by SmartCity in Europe and the Mediterranean. Based on the highly successful cluster models of Dubai Internet City (DIC), Dubai Media City (DMC) and Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV), SmartCity Malta will provide 158,830 square meters of intelligent ICT and media office space, residential, shopping and dining boulevards, panoramic areas and freely accessible open spaces.
