Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus Begins Interior Fit–out For Its New Campus

Dubai, UAE

Sallam Sallam

Heriot-Watt University today announced that it has awarded the interior fit–out contract for its new state of the art campus to locally owned company, Khansaheb Civil Engineering LLC. The tender process which followed public procurement guidelines, started in mid-2019 with the contract being finalized and awarded in April 2020. Heriot–Watt University Dubai were assisted and advised by Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) who are the appointed project managers.

Commenting on the ambitious project Ammar Kaka, Provost and Vice Principal of Heriot-Watt University said “Last year we announced our intention to move to a new and enhanced campus in Dubai Knowledge Park. This move is a key part of delivering Heriot-Watt’s ambitious six-year strategy for the University and demonstrates our commitment to the region even during these unprecedented times, as well as our growth plans for the future. The new campus is scheduled to open in January 2021,  and we are today pleased to announce the appointment of Khansaheb who will work with us to deliver our vision of student experience.”

Steve Flint, Group General Manager of Khansaheb Civil Engineering said “Khansaheb’s appointment as Interior Fit Out Contractor by Heriot Watt University for the new Dubai Campus is testament to the expertise that exists within our team and our excellent track record in delivering such challenging and important facilities in the UAE and will once again allow us to demonstrate our capabilities on a landmark project where the highest standards of safety, quality and overall customer satisfaction are required.

We are delighted to have the opportunity of working under such a strong collaborative arrangement with Heriot Watt and the entire project team to ensure a successful delivery of the new Campus, providing the best specialist facilities for students and an excellent learning environment.”

Heriot-Watt’s new campus has been designed keeping the future student experience in mind and will enable a digital learning environment which supports the overall delivery of Heriot–Watt’s plethora of programmes which include Data Science, Construction and Engineering, Accounting and Finance, Psychology, Architecture and Design, and Computing and AI. Unique features include a dedicated student hub, social learning spaces, an engaging library with Study Skills spaces and provision of a Maths Gym for Maths support, and a central Student Services Centre for students administration. Classrooms are designed to be more interactive: rather than traditional lecture theatres there will be two collaborative lecture theatres supporting small group work as well as whole class teaching. It will also include an in-house recording studio in order to enable and encourage the creation of digital materials in line with Heriot–Watt’s vision of offering a world-class interactive learning experience.

The new campus will follow the university’s global strategy of Strategy 2025, a values – led strategy which seeks to embed four guiding values – inspire, collaborate, belong and celebrate – and  is based on the heritage, expertise, relevance and global presence of the university.

Khansaheb will deliver internal fit–out, MEP installation, joinery products and metal work for Heriot-Watt’s new campus. All deliverables will be benchmarked against stringent performance indicators covering Health and Safety, Quality Assurance and On-time completion aspects. The company has delivered projects in the UAE since 1935.

Heriot–Watt University will be opening the doors to its new campus in 2021 as the next step in its journey, which has thus far offered internationally renowned and first–class education in Dubai for 14 years. The University operates five campuses across the UK, Dubai and Malaysia, as well as an extensive range of online study programmes. For more information on the courses currently available at Heriot-Watt’s Dubai campus visit https://www.hw.ac.uk/dubai.htm