Pulse   03/18/2013
Planning

Egypt The Saudi Egyptian Construction Co. (SECON) is planning to build the Secon Nile Towers in Cairo. The project entails constructing two 23-story buildings, totaling 1.2 million sq ft. One tower will be a hotel, and one will be combined residential and retail. Hill International is serving as the project manager. The project is valued at $183 million. Hill International (North Africa) Ltd., City Stars, Star Capital 8, El Forshan St., Nasr City, Cairo. DR#13-00410859.

England Stanhope, a developer, is planning to convert the BBC Television Centre in West London into apartments, offices and a hotel. The project will entail creating about 1,000 new residential units and town houses on the 14-acre site. The project will be designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris Architects. Construction is expected to begin in 2015. Most BBC News departments have relocated to Broadcasting House in central London. Some business units, such as BBC Worldwide, will remain at Television Centre as tenants. The project has been valued at $309 million. Stanhope plc, 31 St. James's Square, London, SW1Y 4JJ.

India Morgan Stanley Real Estate Developing is planning to invest in jointly developing 1.6 million sq ft of office space in the Bandra Kurla Complex, a financial office district in Mumbai. Morgan Stanley is working with the Mumbai-based developer Wadhwa Group. Construction has started on ONE BKC, a component of the project that consists of two office towers; it is expected to be completed in 2014. The project is valued at $186 million. The Wadhwa Group, Trade Centre, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai. DR#13-00432981.

Kenya The government of Kenya is planning to develop Konza Techno City, a greenfield city dedicated to four economic sectors: telecommunications, information-technology outsourcing, education and life sciences. The four-phase development is expected to take 20 years. It will be located on a 5,000-acre site about 40 miles southeast of Nairobi. HR&A Advisors has been selected as the master delivery partner, responsible for drawing up a business development strategy; SHoP Architects has been chosen to develop the master plan. The 400-acre first phase will include $750 million of on-site infrastructure and 1.5 million sq meters of real estate development. Konza Technopolis Development Authority, Ministry of Information and Communications, Teleposta Towers, Kenyatta Avenue and Koinange Street, Nairobi. DR#13-00446148.

South Korea The Yongsan International Business District is planning to build Diagonal Tower, a mixed-use office-and-retail building in Seoul. The project involves the construction of a 64-story, 343-meter-tall building and an underground parking garage. It is being designed by Skidmore Owings & Merrill. The project is valued at between $200 million and $400 million. Yongsan Development Co. Ltd., 211 Sejongro, Jongno-Gu, Seoul. DR#13-00435476.

Mexico Quiznos is partnering with its Mexico City-based franchisee Quizmex SA DE CV to open more than 150 Quiznos restaurants over the next 10 years. Five stores are expected to open in Mexico City in 2013. The project's value has been estimated at between $15 million and $25 million. Quiznos Master LLC, 1001 17th St., Denver, Colo. 80202. DR#13-00429601.

Qatar Qatar Steel Co. is planning to build a high-voltage electrical substation to supply its steel complex in Mesaieed Industrial City. The project entails replacing an existing substation with a more advanced substation, including 220/66/33-kV transformers and cables, 66-kV gas-insulated switchgear, and control and monitoring systems. Siemens Power Transmission is the engineer-procure-construct contractor. The project is valued at $38 million. Siemens LLC, Al Otaiba Tower, Sheikh Zayed Second St., Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. DR#13-00428334.

Qatar The Qatar Tourism Authority is planning to build Sports City Stadium in Doha;it is one of 12 stadiums slated to host the 2022 World Cup soccer competition. The project entails building a 45,000-seat stadium with a solar-powered air-conditioning system. Albert Speer & Partner GmbH has been selected as the designer, and CH2M Hill has been selected as the project engineer. The project has been valued at between $500 million and $750 million. Qatar Tourism Authority, P.O. Box 24624, Doha. DR#12-00455640.

Thailand Honda is planning to build a new auto factory in Prachinburi Province, about 120 kilometers east of Bangkok. The factory will have an annual production capacity of 120,000 vehicles. The project is valued at $644 million. Honda, 1-1-2 chome, Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, Japan. DR#13-00429683.

Bids/Contracts/Proposals

England A joint venture of Balfour Beatty plc and Skanska UK has started construction on the M25 London Orbital Motorway upgrade project. The project involves adding extra capacity to 46 km of the motorway between exits 5 to 7 and exits 23 to 27; the route travels through Kent, Surrey, Essex and Hertfordshire. The extra capacity will be achieved by converting the shoulder to a traffic lane and adding electronic signage and variable speed limits. The project owner is the U.K. Highways Agency. The joint venture received a $517-million design, build, finance and operate contract. Balfour Beatty plc, 130 Wilton Rd., London, SW1V 1LQ. DR#13-00404380.