HABTOOR Leighton Group (HLG), operating as Leighton Middle East Contracting, has been awarded a second healthcare contract in Saudi Arabia, worth SR278 million ($74 million), at King Fahd Medical City. The project will see the delivery of the first Proton Therapy Centre in the Gulf region, and will be delivered in 50/50 joint venture with Al Latifia Trading and Contracting. The award follows September's announcement of HLG being selected to deliver a SR1.18 billion ($316 million) healthcare contract in Saudi Arabia – further strengthening HLG's healthcare credentials and building on HLG's strategy to diversify its work type and expand into the growing Saudi Arabia market. HLG's Managing Director, Jose Antonio Lopez-Monis, said the delivery of the Proton Therapy Centre will provide Saudi Arabia, and neighboring Gulf States, with access to the best cancer treatment technology in the world. “HLG is very fortunate to be working on a project that will deliver the most advanced cancer treatment technology in the region,” he said. Ayed Awadh Alqahtani, Program Director for the Construction and Preparation of the New Medical Centers, said King Fahd Medical City is one of the leading organizations in Saudi Arabia – aiming to build state-of-the-art excellence centers across the region. “The Proton Therapy Centre will be located in Riyadh and is part of the Ministry of Health King Fahd Medical City Prince Salmon Heart Centre Expansion project. Known as the PPNNCC, the project involves the construction of new medical centers on the current King Fahd Medical City campus. KFMC is also setting the trend of building tertiary facilities in the region,” said Alqahtani. The Proton Therapy Centre spans three levels, including two basement levels and a striking ground floor entrance. While linked to the main hospital building and a new Central Services Building, the Proton Therapy Centre is separately contained. The Central Services Building will also provide electrical and mechanical services to the main King Fahd Medical City project being delivered by HLG. Building Information Modeling (BIM) will be used as the central coordination tool to support the construction process and client communications. “BIM enables HLG to digitally build the Proton Therapy Centre in 3D, before we build it physically, to coordinate the works of all subcontractors, and test the design, construction and operation in a simulated environment. “We have had great success with the use of BIM technology at a healthcare project we are delivering in Abu Dhabi, and we look forward to producing an outstanding outcome for the Ministry of Health King Fahd Medical City and people of Saudi Arabia,” Lopez-Monis added. Construction will commence later this year, with the Proton Therapy Centre, along with the Central Services Building, being completed within 18 months to allow installation and commissioning of the equipment. – SG
