KAPSARC School of Public Policy win for Permasteelisa Gartner Middle East
Permasteelisa Gartner Middle East has secured a contract to design, engineer, supply and install the façade and internal glass partitions for Saudi Arabia’s stunning new KAPSARC School of Public Policy (KSPP).
Launched as part of the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in 2024, the postgraduate institution is dedicated to focusing on the Saudi energy sector and bridging the gap between education, industry and the government.
The contract will see Permasteelisa Gartner’s Saudi Arabia team work alongside main contractor Nesma and Partners in delivering the Riyadh-based project which will consist of three interlinked wings and an iconic wave-shaped roof.
A complex and unique façade design will incorporate the use of various materials, ranging from insulated glass over double-curved aluminum panels to Ultra High Performance Concrete. It will have a total glazed area of just over 6,000 m2, while the whole project will be underpinned by almost 27,000 m2 of horizontal and vertical aluminum cladding.
Plans drawn up by architects at HOK allow for a variety of classroom spaces which can be partially transformed through the use of Skyfold partitions, while internal acoustic glass partitions will help to regulate the learning environment. The institute will also provide a gym, cafeteria and daycare for children.
Work has already started and is expected to be completed by April 2026.
Alessio De Mitri, Executive General Manager at Permasteelisa Gartner Middle East, comments: “This iconic structure will provide KAPSARC with a sustainable College building which is not only state-of-the-art in terms of its design and construction, but which has a positive impact on the surrounding environment and will maximize faculty and student productivity and wellbeing.
“It is a complex but stunning design with the panels forming a constant visual flow of the exterior building envelope, achieved through the utilization of single and double curved elements creating the particularly iconic wave shape.”
Permasteelisa Group’s CEO, Liam Cummins, adds: “We are delighted to be working with King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center and our construction partners on this project which promises to be a stunning home for staff and students at the School of Public Policy.
“The complex nature of this project will enable our experienced and talented team to demonstrate their vast skills in shaping the façades of the future.”