WSP is providing all engineering services to the Mall and is also lead consultant on the development’s snow park. The company’s appointment continues its successful delivery of retail developments across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, including the Mall of the Emirates and Mirdif City Centre, both in Dubai. One of its most important roles is to work with local consultants to adapt the Mall of the Emirates format to the Egyptian market.
High duties are imposed on imported materials, particularly those from outside the MENA region, so a lot of time has been spent ensuring that full use is made of what is available in the Egyptian market, from the way they use concrete to the equipment for the M&E services. Local sourcing also offers environmental benefits and supports local businesses.
On the snow park, which includes a 200m real snow indoor ski slope, WSP is also ensuring that the design uses as little energy as possible – the whole development has been designed to achieve LEED Gold accreditation.
Considerable attention has been paid to the detailing of the insulation. There are also measures in place to reclaim energy and the water from the melting snow and cooler defrost cycles, and to make use of the transfer of heat and cold across the development to reduce overall energy use.
