–project to house 6,000Work progressing on 12-storey gov’t complex  workers from various agencies, include helipad, other essential elements

THE construction of the Government Office Complex, which is set to house some 6,000 workers of various agencies, is approximately 10 per cent complete.

This is according to a media release from the Ministry of Public Works, which noted that the office complex involves the construction of four twelve-storey office towers, each designed to accommodate approximately 1,500 government employees.

Major components of this project, it stated, include a helipad meeting international standards, which is planned at the ground level, and a central utility building for essential backup power generation, water treatment and ICT systems.

The goal of the project is to consolidate various governmental offices into a single hub, thus promoting better inter-agency collaboration while also enhancing operational efficiency with a secure facility that streamlines services.

The design-build contract, the ministry noted, is valued at $15.87 billion, and construction commenced on February 23, 2024, following the relocation of the site to Haags Bosch, Eccles, to accommodate the project’s scope.

As such, the completion date for the project is set for August 24, 2026.

The release added that all legal and preliminary activities, master plan, concept designs, foundation and structural design sets, geotechnical investigations for Towers 1-3, and land grubbing & sand filling have been completed, with Tower 4’s geotechnical investigation ongoing.

However, it was noted that delays in design packages, including mechanical, electrical and plumbing, fire life safety, and external works, along with procurement setbacks, are impacting certain project components.

Additionally, the piles and structural steel procurement are ongoing.

“Despite some delays in design and procurement, the project is progressing in foundational stages,” the release said.