The Grand Theatre of Rabat, the largest in the Arab world, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, will incorporate an 1800-seat theatre, a 7,000 person amphitheater, and an experimental performance space.
Responsible for the delivery of the front-of-house fit-out design and engineering, we were appointed by the principal fit-out contractor for the design, engineering, and construction management.
Optimizing complex geometries and digital coordination of design and fabrication data down to nuts and bolts was essential. Our first task was to rationalize the complex architectural elements with advanced form finding techniques in accordance with the design intent and constructability, following the specifications of the selected building technology and products.
Working as a unified team, we seamlessly streamlined the linkages between the design, procurement, manufacture, and construction sequences, through a holistic BIM model that included all disciplines, promoting efficiency.
We provided assistance to the principal contractors’ procurement team in producing accurately quantified complex building system components to achieve cost certainty and work package clarity through visualized scope demarcations from the BIM model.
Our construction experience allowed us to prepare safe construction sequences with site managers and safety leads verified through digital models.
Being known as Queen of Curves, Zaha Hadid’s design for the theatre was extremely challenging, including double curved claddings and triangularized acoustic ceiling system in the main hall.
RIMOND was appointed to realize this unique theatre, which took considerable technical knowledge and ingenuity. The sculptural interiors provided a distinctive identity for the theatre.
On the surface, the design appeared impossible to construct, and our team was tasked with translating the intricate geometric shapes of the concept into constructible elements. Our role was to ensure that the architectural goal was met while also adhering to the architect’s and client’s rigorous specifications.
Our team evolved the design in collaboration with Zaha Hadid, generating, researching, testing, and refining ideas using digital BIM models.
Apart from enabling the design team to complete this project with unmatched precision, virtual cooperation facilitated a cultural shift within the company. Rather than depending on cascading linear delivery, in which designs are created in a haste to meet milestone deadlines and then sequentially turned over to the next responsible activity, a more dynamic model enabled concurrent execution of parallel tasks.
Our interior fit out professionals used their prior experience to interpret the concept, breaking it down into a series of components to eliminate complexity. Additionally, this strategy minimized construction risks by ensuring an architecturally appropriate building despite its complex geometry.
The digital coordinated models allowed us to boost definition of building systems and methodologies, resulting in a robust build program that permitted accurate cost and schedule certainty.
