Kuwait’s Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre (JACC) has been named the Best Cultural Design Project at the Index Architecture & Design Awards 2018 (IADAs) held in Dubai recently.

Index is internationally respected as the largest design-oriented tradeshow in the Middle East. First launched in 1991, the four-day event welcomes more than 25,000 delegates from the design and architecture industry from more than 100 countries every year, with the IADAs celebrating exceptional creativity, innovation and passion in design.

SSH was appointed by design and build contractor, Al Hani Construction & Trading Company, as lead architecture and engineering designer on the four-building complex.

Since its grand opening in November 2016, the centre has won several architectural and design awards, now adding its IADA win to its roster, said a statement from the company.

JACC plays host to various performing arts and cultural events, as well as local and international acts. Together, with the recently opened Sheikh Abdullah Al Ahmad Cultural Centre (ASCC), also designed by SSH, JACC forms part of Kuwait City’s new national cultural district.

The key buildings of the complex are a Theatre Centre, Music Centre, Conference Centre and National Library for Historical Documents, all set within a national park for Kuwait. Designed to resemble jewels, JACC acts as the centrepiece of the country’s cultural quarter.

“On behalf of the Amiri Diwan and SSH, we are very proud that the Sheikh Jaber Al Ahmad Cultural Centre has been honoured with this award,” remarked George Abi Hanna, the managing director of SSH Kuwait.

“This reaffirms the strength of the Amiri Diwan’s vision for this complex and the quality of SSH’s design and its architectural and engineering team. A fantastic result,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service