It took multiple companies to complete the Clock Tower project in the holy city of Makkah, which consists of 7 enormous towers for residential and commercial hospitality. One of these Saudi companies stood out in supplying the tower with HVAC solutions that are unique in kind and size. With a capacity to produce 50,000 tons of cooling, (the equivalent to what is needed for 5,000 medium-sized apartments), all of this is done through more than 25 chillers and 1,000 Saudi-made air handling units. All HVAC systems in the Clock Tower were designed by Al Salem Johnson Controls (YORK), and this equipment is all set up in a cooling station located 1.3 kilometers away from the clock. This latest project comes on top of operating and maintaining the HVAC systems of the holy mosque of Makkah, providing cooling and comfort to the victors of this holy monument around the important month of Ramadan given the large influx of visitors. Dr. Mohanad Al Sheikh, CEO of Al Salem Johnson Controls (YORK), said: "We are proud to present the mosque visitors with comfortable and safe conditions and to facilitate their pilgrimage during the Ramadan and Haj seasons. The Clock Tower project is considered to be one of the most prominent projects we have been working on since 2008. We have showcased our skill and expertise through our great success in providing the best HVAC services, and by providing year-round maintenance teams at the tower that have the ability to respond to any emergency in record time and without disturbing the visitors." Al Salem Johnson Controls (ASJC) has a leading role in providing prominent landmarks at the two holy cities with cooling and maintenance services. The company owns the world's second largest cooling station at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, as well as a one of the world's largest cooling plants at the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah, providing comprehensive maintenance services to the two Holy Mosques. The company also plays a great role in cooling and providing maintenance services to some of the Two Holy Cities' prominent hotel chains that accommodate countless Umrah performers and pilgrims around the year, including the Clock Tower, Makkah Hilton, the Fairmont Hotel, and the cooling and maintaining Muzdalifah Hospital. The company's 1,200-workforce of qualified engineers and technicians is the Middle East's largest after sales and maintenance team, 200 of which are stationed in Makkah year-round helping the company remain a major contributor to the success of the Haj and Umrah seasons, when it redoubles its efforts, resources and manpower to ensure speedy responses to any emergencies that might arise anywhere at any time. Quick, effective, and innovative solutions ensure that pilgrims can perform their rites safely in the comfort of a cool, breezy environment. The Clock Tower equipment is very advanced and ASJC (YORK) has managed to succeed in securing and developing highly qualified and skilled technicians and engineers that are a scarce resource in this area, because all employees must be Muslim which limits the pool of candidates greatly. It was not easy to put together all the above, but Al Salem Johnson Controls succeeded superbly. The Clock Tower project is considered to be one of the most prominent projects for ASJC (YORK). On this project the company works on operating and maintaining a cooling station by using the 50,000 cooling ton water chillers, that are considered the first of their kind in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Many other major projects in Saudi Arabia have benefited from the same technology and solutions that ASJC applied in the Clock Tower project like the Princess Noura University, the King Abdulaziz University, the King Fahad University Hospital, the King Abdulaziz Airport expansion in Jeddah, and the King Abdullah Financial Center. — SG
