Managing Director Basem Al-Shihabi Speaks at Raza Launch Event

. Omrania’s founder offered remarks on the Saudi real estate sector and the importance of placemaking as part of an invited panel discussion.   On Wednesday, 1 May 2019, Basem Al-Shihabi, Managing Director of Omrania, participated in a ceremony and panel discussion to celebrate the launch of Raza, the real estate management arm of Saudi…

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Across Architecture: I.M. Pei

. Over a career spanning more than 50 years, architect I.M. Pei has contributed to global architecture culture with a series of bold yet restrained modernist buildings that, at their best, productively engage their local context.   As practicing architects, we like to pay our respects to the masters of our field, even if our…

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Designing with Operations and Maintenance (O&M) in mind

. Though often neglected until a building is nearly complete, O&M factors should be considered from the start of the design process and incorporated into the program, budget, and technical design of each project. Ultimately, for both architects and owners, successful O&M comes to define the legacy of a building as much as the quality…

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Bridging Modernism: The Work of Othmar Ammann

. As the engineer of six major bridges in New York City, Swiss-American engineer Othmar Ammann (1879-1965) made a lasting contribution to the urban landscape. With the recent repurposing of his Bayonne span to allow clearance for larger ships, we’re considering how his work reflected a shift to a modern aesthetic in public projects.  …

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Kilic Uyanik, Chief Architect and Planner at Omrania, Passes Away

  We are saddened by the passing of Kilic Uyanik, our esteemed colleague who worked with Omrania through a key period of growth and development starting in the 1980s. As a Chief Architect-Planner at Omrania, Mr. Uyanik participated in many of the company’s major residential, corporate, academic, and health care development projects in the Middle…

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4 Millbank: How Omrania Renewed a Historic Building in the Heart of London

  Thirty years ago, Omrania was commissioned to renovate a prominent 1916 office building in the City of Westminster, London, just steps from the UK Houses of Parliament. The successful project at 4 Millbank involved a combination of historic preservation and innovative design.   Working in complex urban environments is a challenge that Omrania enjoys.…

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Omrania Hosts AIA Middle East Open House Event

  Approximately 200 guests were welcomed at Omrania’s headquarters offices in Riyadh on the evening of January 21, 2019. The cordial occasion included stimulating conversation with our talented team members and a behind-the-scenes view of some of our latest projects.   The event was organized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Middle East and…

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Top Student Work Honored at 2018 Omrania | CSBE Award Ceremony and Exhibition

  Students, professors, and members of the public came together for the presentation of the 2018 Omrania | CSBE Student Award, the eleventh cycle of the program.   Over 200 student projects were submitted from 40 universities in 11 countries in the Arab world. Award jury members Elias Anastas, Sahel Al Hiyari, and Ammar Khamash…

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“Fast Track to the Future” Highlights Omrania Station Design

. A book on design and construction of Riyadh’s new integrated transit system calls the Omrania-designed Western Station a “symbol of urban renewal” and a step towards a “more urbane and sustainable Riyadh.”   “Fast Track to the Future” (Volume 1) provides the first comprehensive account of the planning, architecture, engineering, construction, and economics of…

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Metro Station Construction Update

  The Western Station of the Riyadh Metro continues to take shape on its 11.7-ha site. The progress on the steel structure will allow for the installation of the building enclosure and systems in the coming months.   Construction is advancing steadily on the Western Station of the new Riyadh Metro, a 110,000-square-metre transit center…

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What is BIM? And why do we use it?

  Omrania has integrated Building Information Modeling (BIM) into our practice to offer clients better designed, optimized buildings and a more efficient construction process.   What is BIM? At Omrania, we understand the benefits and challenges of BIM not only from our own perspective, but that of the client, developer, and contractor. Building Information Modeling,…

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The Story of Omrania’s Headquarters Building

  The Waha Office Building in Riyadh, home to Omrania and other companies, demonstrates Omrania’s ability to innovate through high-performance design while respecting the urban context.   Tucked into a triangular site in a mixed-use neighborhood, the Waha Office Building does not immediately call attention to itself. Its 3.5-story height and clear-cut geometry fit in…

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