120 wet barrel bronze fire hydrants with rustic finish were supplied to the Msheireb Downtown project by American AVK and AVK in Qatar.
By Dias Thottan, General Manager, AVK Flow Control, Qatar
Launched in 2009 by Msheireb Properties, the Downtown Doha project established what is now the new city centre of Doha. Comprising over 100 buildings with commercial and residential properties, the sustainable development project has changed the structure of the entire city.
Spread across an area of 764,000 m², the project was a regenerating phase for the old districts presenting a new look, green buildings, sustainable energy sources and superior service.
Constructing a new city area
The scope of work included the construction of residential, commercial, and retail spaces consisting of hotels, museums, mosques, schools, parking, and community facilities. The project was implemented in six phases; Phase 1A, 1B, 1C, 2, 3, and 4, and the masterplan team consisted of Arup as lead technical consultants and AECOM with Allies and Morrison playing the sitewide ‘architectural voice’ role and design architect of 30 individual buildings.
Phase 1A, 1B, and 1C involved the construction of Diwan Amiri Heritage Quarter and Mandarin Oriental Hotel awarded to the lead consultant Arup, AECOM, Morrison and Allies. Phase 2 involved the construction of retail-oriented mixed-use activities awarded to Allies and Morrison, Squire & Partners, and Gensler. Phase 3 covered the construction of the residential community awarded to John McAslan and Partners, Mossessian Architecture, Squire & Partners, Eric Parry Architects, and Mangera Yvars. Phase 4, the final phase, included the construction of a transportation hub awarded to Mossessian Architecture, HOK.
A match in functionality and design
In the beginning of 2010, AVK started working with the lead consultant Arup and CAT International contractors for the selection and specification of the right fire hydrant for the project. The most important requirement of the client and Arup was to have a wet barrel hydrant in bronze material with a rustic metallic look which will sink into the project’s architecture and building look and finish, so the hydrants would both serve its functional purpose but also match the design and aesthetics of the area around it.
In other words, the client needed a high-quality fire hydrant that meets the highest safety standards available and at the same time looks fantastic. And so, it does!
After a series of lengthy discussions, exchange of ideas and expectations followed by detailed presentations and documentation to the client, we were finally successful in getting the series 24/64 wet barrel bronze fire hydrant from American AVK recommended for the project.
Big thanks to the AVK teams in the US and Qatar for your dedicated efforts! During the construction phases from 2013/14 to 2019, AVK delivered 120 wet barrel bronze fire hydrants through various main contractors, MEP and fire protection contractors who were employed for the project and supported every single contractor in inspection, installation, testing and commissioning of the delivered fire hydrants.
Other products supplied to the project
Besides the hydrants, AVK also supplied butterfly valves and check valves for the chiller plants as well as gate valves for Landscaping & Irrigation purposes in the project through our then local distributor.
