WAM Abu Dhabi, 30 May 2012 (WAM): Abu Dhabi-based developer Sorouh Real Estate Company has completed lifting the fourth and final section of the penthouse bridge for its 65-storey residential development Gate Towers on Shams Abu Dhabi, Al Reem Island. This engineering feat marks the completion of the world's highest penthouse bridge structure for a residential development.

The final section of the bridge was elevated 245 metres and lifted into its final position over the course of four days. The completed structure is now built across all three towers and is cantilevered 25 metres beyond the last tower.

Lifting the curved penthouse bridge was completed in four sections and phased over four months, with specially designed jacks used to lift the sections. The first two segments each weighed 750 metric tonnes, or roughly the same as a Eurostar train, and measured nearly 40 metres long and 30 metres wide and the last two structures weighed a total of 500 metric tonnes.

Lifting the penthouse bridge at the Gate Towers required world-leading expert capabilities. Abu Dhabi's skyline is changing fast, with landmark developments such as the Sun and Sky Towers and the Gate Towers offering the high-quality, modern facilities that residents and businesses are demanding." Gurjit Singh, Chief Operating Officer of Sorouh added: "It is remarkable to see the completion of the final phase of what has been the heaviest and highest building structure lifts of its kind to create the world's highest penthouse bridge structure. This milestone is a culmination of extensive and concerted efforts by our property development professionals and experts over the last few months to deliver the project." The construction lift was led by Sorouh and various teams representing its business partners on the Gate Towers development, which include Hill International, Khatib '&' Alami, Arab Construction Company, Eversendai and VSL. The lift was carried out at a maximum lifting speed of 21 metres per hour.

Every room of the 16 penthouses apartments within the penthouse bridge structure capping the Gate Towers will offer spectacular panoramic views of Abu Dhabi Island on one side and the Arabian Gulf and Saadiyat Island on the opposite side. The exclusive penthouses will comprise two stories each, with thoughtfully laid out floor-plans providing prestigious entrances, living areas, dining rooms, indoor swimming pools, guest rooms, bedrooms, family living rooms, maids' rooms and kitchenettes.

The penthouses, which will feature revolutionary architectural designs, vary in size between 435 and 620 square metres. Five will feature an enclosed garden area spanning between the towers and an exclusive view down from an elliptical opening. These features make the Gate Towers' bridge penthouses an exclusive address in the UAE. The Gate Towers were designed by the design firms of Khatib '&' Alami in the UAE and Arquitectonica based in Miami, Florida, USA.

WAM/TF