twofour54, the company driving Abu Dhabi’s development as a centre of excellence for world-class Arabic media and entertainment content, has unveiled the masterplan for its new campus in Mena Zayed at Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2010.
Launched in October 2008, twofour54 is putting the physical and intellectual infrastructure in place to create an ecosystem where businesses including broadcast, digital media, gaming, publishing, music and film can create world-class Arabic content in a creative environment. The announcement of the stunning, new 600,000m² bespoke media precinct, which will house more than 12,000 media specialists, is a clear statement of intent in twofour54’s ambitions to be regarded as the home of the region’s creative industries.
“Our new campus will be a spectacular and stunning addition to Abu Dhabi’s skyline; a symbol of Abu Dhabi’s commitment to deliver on the Emirate’s 2030 economic vision, said Wayne Borg, COO twofour54. “However, it will also act as beacon to the region’s media and creative industries making twofour54 and Abu Dhabi the lifestyle destination of choice for Arab creatives – a place they will aspire to work and live.”
“Essentially, the campus is the embodiment of the creative ecosystem that we have been creating at twofour54; a bespoke media precinct, quite unlike anything else in the world, specifically designed to allow the Arab content creation community to flourish and to facilitate the production of world-class Arabic media and entertainment content,” he concluded.
twofour54 has engaged some of the world’s leading architects and consultants to work on the project. Bernard Tschumi, who has provided the concept master plan for the project, was responsible for the master plans of Mediapolis, Singapore and the Parc de la Villette in France; UN studio, who won the design competition for the development of Zone 1, will work under the lead consultant Adamson Associates International; and Kohn Pedersen Fox, who have been appointed to develop Zone 2, which will house Abu Dhabi Media Company’s new headquarters.
The stunning design for twofour54’s Mena Zayed campus reveals a bold waterfront development, which makes use of its prominent position near the city’s Corniche to celebrate and support the growing cultural and community spirit that is clearly growing throughout the city.
The development will be an integrated digital environment, designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro from New York, which actively encourages people to experience and interact with its creative environment. It incorporates state of the art studios and post production facilities; a specialist training academy; offices and conference facilities; and the new Abu Dhabi Media Company headquarters all supported by hotels, retail, restaurants and residential units.
