King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (KACWC) – Ithra

King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (KACWC) – Ithra
Dhahran, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Market: Cultural/Historical
Project Type: Third-Party Smoke Control Inspection and Testing

The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (مركز الملك عبد العزيز الثقافي العالمي), known as Ithra (إثراء), is a testament to Saudi Aramco’s commitment to cultural enrichment. Inaugurated by King Salman bin Abdulaziz in December 2016, this iconic institution resides at the historic site where the first commercial Saudi oilfield was discovered in March 1938. Nestled amidst the birthplace of Saudi Arabia’s oil industry, the architectural marvel of KACWC spans approximately 861,000 ft² and is inspired by the intricate formations of oil-bearing rocks, serving as a symbolic homage to the nation’s rich petroleum heritage. Within its sprawling confines, the center, which was completed in 2018, boasts a four-level museum, an auditorium, a library, a cinema, a 900-seat theater, and expansive exhibition halls, all catering to diverse interests and fostering creativity, learning, and dialogue across various disciplines. TERPconsulting prepared a smoke control/removal system test plan and testing scenarios that were followed for inspection and testing services. TERPconsulting conducted inspections to verify smoke control/removal system equipment installation and smoke zone boundary construction. Following inspections, the experts at TERPconsulting witnessed smoke control/removal systems sequence testing to verify proper system operation and coordinated and verified air balance testing performed by a separate air balance testing agency. After completing inspections and testing, a final report was prepared documenting all activities.