PILING work has commenced on the Louvre Abu Dhabi on Saadiyat Island, following the recent award of the piling contract through a competitive tendering process to German construction company Bauer International.

The museum, which is scheduled to be completed in 2013, is a project of Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC), the master developer of cultural, residential and tourism destinations in Abu Dhabi. Designed by Jean Nouvel, the Louvre Abu Dhabi is part of the Saadiyat Island Cultural District.
 This contract constitutes the second sequential package to be issued for the Louvre Abu Dhabi since its groundbreaking in May 2009. The first package for enabling works, also executed by Bauer International, was completed in January with 503,000 cu m of earth excavated to accommodate the base of the museum.

Work will progress over the next 20 weeks. A total of 5,638 piles will be driven into the ground, including 4,298 steel piles and 1,340 concrete piles, extending a total of 94.2 km in length.
“This development is one of a kind – from design aesthetics to construction mechanisms – it is a piece of art in the making,” said Lee Tabler, CEO, TDIC.
Following the completion of piling works, a sub-structure contractor will be appointed to construct the concrete and waterproofing works up to ground level. The tender for this work was issued last month with a contractor to be appointed in May.
A main contract will be tendered by September for the execution of all remaining works which includes the dome and cladding.