Bahrain World Trade Center
| Bahrain World Trade Center | |
|---|---|
| File:Bahrain WTC day.JPG Scenic view of the three wind turbines at the center of the two skyscrapers. | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Status | Completed |
| Location | Manama,  Bahrain |
| Coordinates | 26°14′21″N 50°34′53″E / 26.23917°N 50.58139°E |
| Opening | 2008 |
| Cost | US$ 150,000,000 |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 240 m (787 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 50 |
| Lifts/elevators | 4 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) |  Shaun Killa |
Location and design
The Bahrain World Trade Center (also known as: Bahrain WTC or BWTC) is a 240 m (787 ft) high twin tower complex, located in Manama, the capital of Bahrain. This 50-floor structure is constructed next to the King Faisal Highway, close to popular landmarks such as the towers of BFH, NBB, Abraj Al Lulu and the scenic Pearl Roundabout. It is the second tallest building in Bahrain, after the twin towers of the Bahrain Financial Harbor. The building is the first skyscraper in the world to integrate wind turbines into its design. As a result, the project has received several awards for sustainability, including;
- The 2006 LEAF Awards for ‘Best Use of Technology within a Large Scheme’.
- The Arab Construction World for ‘Sustainable Design Award’[1].
Structural Details
Three bridges connect the towers, each hold one large 29 m (32 yd) turbine. These turbines face north, which is the direction from which air from the Persian Gulf blows in. The sail-shaped buildings on either side are designed to funnel wind through the gap to provide the maximum amount of wind passing through the turbines. This was confirmed by wind tunnel tests, which showed the the building create an ‘S’-shaped flow, ensuring that any wind coming within a 45° angle to either side of the central axis will create a wind stream that remains perpendicular to the turbines. This significantly increases their potential to generate electricity[2]. The wind turbines are expected to provide 11% to 15% of the towers' total power consumption, or approximately 1.1 to 1.3 MWh a year. This is equivalent to providing the lighting for about 300 homes annually[3]. The three turbines were turned on for the first time on 8 April 2008. They are expected to operate 50% of the time in a day[1].
Photo gallery
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The Bahrain World Trade Center under construction.
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The three wind turbines at the center of the two skyscrapers.
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The three wind turbines at the center of the two skyscrapers.
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Scenic night-view of the Diplomatic Area skyline, with the WTC visible on the right.
See also
- Architecture
- Bahrain
- List of tallest buildings and structures in Bahrain
- List of twin structures in the world
- List of WTCs across the globe
- Manama
- Wind Turbine
References
- ^ a b "BWTC turbines spin for first time", World Architecture News, 2008-04-08
{{citation}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Bahrain World Trade Center, Bahrain", designbuild-network, 2007
- ^ ""Bahrain builds first wind powered towers: architect", Reuters, 2007-03-19
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External links
- Official Website
- Worldwatch, Bahrain Propels Wind Energy to Urban Future
- BBC, Skyscraper powered by wind
- Giant Wind Turbines of Bahrain WTC
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