Construction World December 2023

SPECIALIST CONTRACTORS OR SUPPLIERS

DUBAI SILICON OASIS T hese long, up to six-metre high Terraforce L16 rock face retaining walls were skilfully installed at Dubai Silicon Oasis in Dubai by Al Aamal Construction. The retaining walls were necessary due to the substantial differences in levels on site, and to provide access to a leisure area on ground level, with access stairs and ramps leading to the residences at top level. Says Sinan Awad, Al Aamal Construction: “The

site consists of set-back and vertical walls, as well as multiple 90-degree corners that were achieved by carefully cutting the Terraforce L16 rock face blocks. For additional stability the blocks were concrete filled, reinforced with rebar and we used double block rows with the rock face finish facing outwards either side for some of the vertical walls adjoining the two grand staircases and ramps. Where the walls joined other structures, dowels were used to secure the connections. In total, 41 100 Terraforce L16 and 2 000 Terraforce 4x4 Step blocks were installed on site.” Overall, the fantastic multi-level corner details, inset planter boxes, ramps with rails and grand 4x4 Step block staircases make a notable visual statement and create effective breaks in what could have been a sheer and vast, grey surface otherwise. 

• Company entering: Terraforce • Client: Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority • Engineering Consultant: KCE Consulting Engineers • Main Contractor: Water in Motion • Sub Contractor: Al Aamal Construction • Terraforce Licensed Manufacturer, Dubai: Consent Concrete Products PROJECT INFORMATION

KEMPEGOWDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, BENGALURU

T erraforce®, a longstanding (CMA) Concrete Manufacturer Association member, supplied over 110 000 L12 blocks for the construction of retaining walls on both sides of Terminal Boulevard, a newly constructed 10-lane thoroughfare which feeds directly into India’s Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru. Completed in November 2022, Terminal Boulevard has been widened from an existing two by two lanes to five by five lanes to cater for the addition of a second airport terminal and an anticipated increase in traffic. Approximately 12km of the road has been lined with retaining walls on both sides which cover a total surface area of 9 000 m². Running on an east/west axis, the new road was constructed by cutting a corridor, which at its deepest, is nine metres below existing ground level. This has enabled the new road to pass under the airport forecourt roads to facilitate junction-free traffic flows. The slopes were cut to allow for the insertion of 5m hume pipes to facilitate planting of trees on the vertical slope at every 4 m. Placed on concrete foundations, the pipes were filled with soil and the bottom ends of the pipes were kept open to allow for root penetration into the soil below. One of the main challenges of this project was the fact that additional cutting into the embankments for the installation of geogrid reinforcement was not possible.

This was because the top sections of the excavated embankments were only 2 m from the upper-level roads and there was no space for the additional cutting. 

PROJECT INFORMATION

• Company entering: Terraforce • Client: Bangalore International Airport

• Layout and concept: Prasenjit Biswas, Prasannamurti Desai, Monnappa BC (BIAL) & Fred Laker (Terraforce) • Landscape Architect: Grant Associates and Design Accord • Consulting Engineer: Fred Laker/Terraforce, Maccaferri, Struct Geotech, Smart Minds, STUP India Pvt. Ltd • Quantity Surveyor: BIAL Inhouse Team • Main Contractor (Civil): Balajee Infratech & Constructions Private Limited • Terraforce supplier: Prayosa Buildmat

54 22 nd Best Projects Awards 2023