Jesselton towers

Just as the first project by VINCI Construction Grands Projets at Kota Kinabalu, Plaza Shell, was nearing completion, the Jesselton Group entrusted us with a mandate to develop a 125,000-m² building with a residential and retail vocation. The building is located on the seashore at Kota Kinabalu, on the northern coast of the island of Borneo, and features a 7-storey podium over two underground levels that will accommodate a 20,000-m² shopping centre and more than 900 parking spaces as well as a complex consisting of three 20-storey residential towers with a total of 333 apartments.

BACKGROUND

The Jesselton Towers represent a complex project both in terms of technical resources and scheduling. The timetable is very tight: a 155,000 m² structure must be built in a mere 20 months.
In fact, we won this contract because competing bidders could not meet the client’s timeline requirements.
The first study was carried out in November 2014, and we signed the contract in December of the same year. Our established presence in Kota Kinabalu and our recognized expertise (especially locally) proved persuasive for the client.

TECHNICAL OVERVIEW

Planning and scheduling were the project’s main challenge. We had to build 155,000 m² of residential accommodations, including finishing work, in just 20 months. In addition, we had to engage in rework as the previous contractor was unable to keep the cofferdam watertight, allowing seawater into the building.
We had to find a swift solution that included retaining the cofferdam.
The building is erected on land 100% reclaimed from the sea.
Other challenges were associated with logistics, which is to be expected when working on an island.

To meet timetable requirements, 800 people are needed at peak construction periods at this 24/7 worksite.

IMPACT

This new success consolidates the presence of VINCI Construction Grands Projets as a key operator in Malaysia, where local developers appreciate the quality of the Company’s past and current achievements.
Under a design-build contract, VINCI Construction Grands Projets developed the Menara Hap Seng Tower in Kota Kinabalu. Following its 2003 delivery of the Berjaya Times Square shopping centre, our teams worked on the Berjaya Central Park residential and office complex in Kuala Lumpur.
This project has allowed us to pursue our building activities in Kota Kinabalu.

Project participants

Client
Jesselton – Palikota Sdn Bhd

Project management
Arkitek Billing Leong & Tan Sdn Bhd

Key figures

Implementation dates
January 2015 to September 2016    

Steel
6,000 t

Concrete
65,000 m3

Gross floor area
155,000 m2

Testimonial

“Basically, this is a great team success. Given the tight deadlines, there was complete commitment to the project.”

SAMUEL SAUZON, PROJECT DIRECTOR

Tour Menara Hap Seng - Plaza Shell

Kota Kinabalu

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