K&A Bangalore Design Center Wins First Autodesk Imagine Award in India
Khatib & Alami (K&A) has achieved a significant milestone with its first award in India, as the Bangalore Design Center was honored with the Design Innovation in Building award at the Autodesk Imagine Awards 2024.
MEP underground services
The award recognizes the team’s exceptional work on the Grand Hyatt The Red Sea (Central Hotel #1) at Shura Island. The Bangalore Design Center, a growing hub within K&A, has demonstrated remarkable potential by taking on some of the company’s most critical projects, including this innovative hotel development in collaboration with Red Sea Global. As the executive architect, K&A’s team transformed the approach to data flow and digital delivery, ensuring seamless integration of advanced engineering and architectural solutions.
The 110,000m2 asset has some unique and challenging features, such as a 250m-wide and 25m-high spiraling mound, an 800m underwater tunnel, and two inclined railways (funiculars), along with the need for innovative MEP solutions due to staggered room layouts. By leveraging Autodesk BIM360, Revit, Civil 3D, Navisworks, and ArcGIS, the team facilitated meticulous material evaluation and optimization processes, resulting in fully coordinated design models and enhanced project delivery timelines. Reflecting on this achievement, Vijaya Venkata, Associate Principal – BIM & Digital Design, said: “This award reflects the dedication and creativity of our exceptional Bangalore team, whose precision in design coordination has been instrumental in preventing construction challenges. By leveraging digital technology and innovation, our collaboration with Red Sea Global has redefined the boundaries of design and construction. We are incredibly proud of the innovative solutions we have developed together.”
The Shura Island Central Hotel #1 is a dynamic development that accommodates a 430-key hotel, high-end F&B and retail, and more, all while balancing cost, efficiency, and functionality. K&A’s two-year coordination and close collaboration among over 20 stakeholders have been critical to the project’s success.
Achieving coordinated design
Hadi ElHmayssi, Executive Director – Architecture, Red Sea Global, commented: “The collaboration between RSG and K&A design and BIM team is a testament to the power of innovative technology in shaping the future of construction and design. Utilizing advanced tools like BIM 360, 3D Visualization Dashboards, and Revit, the team created a unique destination that promises to be a jewel in the crown of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. This project not only showcases the potential of digital collaboration in realizing complex architectural endeavors, but also sets a new standard for sustainable and efficient design practices in the region.” This recognition highlights the Bangalore Design Center’s growing expertise and sets the stage for future innovations in architectural design and project delivery. K&A looks forward to continuing its journey of excellence and creating more groundbreaking projects in the years to come.