6,000 sq m of offices with a combined contract value of $6.26m handed over to blue-chip clients

International construction services and fit-out specialist ISG, has completed five fit-out projects for leading law firms and management consultants, occupying office space at Sowwah Square in Abu Dhabi, UAE, ranging in size from 600 sq m to 2,000 sq m.

The clients included Booz & Co, Norton Rose, Latham & Watkins, Baker Botts and Akin Gump and the combined contract value of the five projects was $6.26 million (Dh23 million). ISG is currently negotiating with some other companies to undertake further fit-out work on this major development.

Offering panoramic views of the Abu Dhabi skyline, Sowwah Square is located on Al Maryah Island (formerly Sowwah Island) at the heart of emirate’s new Central Business District (CBD), creating a strong business and hospitality hub for the island.

Sowwah Square comprises four international Grade ‘A’ office towers, providing a total of 180,000 sq m of premium commercial space. These 30-36 storey towers encircle the new headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX). The development also features a 33,000 sq m ‘The Galleria at Sowwah Square.’

Office interiors: Practical and stylish

“Just as Sowwah Square asserts itself as the Capital’s new Central Business District (CBD), ISG is also becoming recognised as the ‘partner of choice’ to carry out the fit outs of prestigious new offices in the capital,” said Alan McCready, managing director of ISG’s Middle East office.

With more than 70 per cent of its work secured through repeat business and already an approved framework supplier to leading global companies, ISG has quickly made its mark in Abu Dhabi, securing more interior fit-outs at Sowwah Square than any other contractor.

McCready comments: “As an international business with offices world-wide, ISG understands the overriding priorities of global clients. They set the highest standards in their work and expect us to do the same. On each project at Sowwah Square and with more in the pipeline, aspirations need to be met in terms of timescale and budget, but there was never any question of sacrificing the highest quality of fit out expected, to achieve some very tight deadlines. Our reputation is as important to us as it is to our clients.”

Commenting on some of the projects executed at Sowwah Square he said: “We were appointed by Norton Rose as fit-out contractor for its office located on level 15, tower 1. The project ethos was to re-create the Norton Rose brand in Abu Dhabi and achieve a level on continuity to all its offices worldwide.

“Back of house areas are hidden from client areas by means of secret doors and joinery match sliding doors. The space consists of a large reception area, four meeting rooms all with custom-made joinery tables and audio-visual units. Meticulous attention to detail has been paid here to hide all cables and containment has been housed into the tables themselves. The design allows for a prayer room, shower room, pantry and large break out area, filing room and many joinery units for storage and client personal items. We also constructed and fully installed a server room, complete with a high level of finish.”

ISG also did fit-out works for Booz & Co office located on level 17, tower 1.

“Booz & Co have taken the entire floor of this level, 19,960 sq ft space, and we have created an environment which is both practical and stylish. The large reception space is both light and detailed with Booz & Co intricate signage and large joinery panels and reception desk with designer lighting.

“As one enters the office areas, we have constructed a large boardroom with detailed joinery units and locally sourced furniture. The glazed office system for both projects is Optima,” McCready added.

ISG Middle East is a division of ISG, an award-winning $2 billion business based in London since 1989. ISG employs 2,500 professional staff globally across nine different time zones. In the UAE, ISG was set up in 2008 with a head office in Dubai, and other regional offices in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Egypt.

Key sectors in the Middle East fit-out market are commercial, retail and hospitality. Apart from ISG’s work on Sowwah Square, Abu Dhabi, fit-out work across the UAE has been carried out for Etihad Towers, Movenpick, Clyde & Co, Zayed National Stadium, Standard Chartered Bank, ExxonMobil, SinoGulf, Al Futtaim, Etihad Airways, QDVC, Credit Agricole, Glaxo Smith Kline, Mubadala, Pfizer, Philips and Goldman Sachs.