www.sefindia.org

[Dr. N. Subramanian]

The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center

The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) is a non-profit institution for independent research into global energy economics located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Founded on July 10, 2007, by the Saudi Council of Ministers, the center brings together an international group of expert researchers of more than 15 nationalities, with a mandate to advance the understanding of domestic and global energy challenges and opportunities, through objective research that informs quality decision-making to enhance global economic outlook.

The KAPSARC campus on the northern edge of Riyadh contains both a Residential Campus (called the REC, located on the west side) and a Research and Office Complex (called the ROC, on the east side). The 70,000 square meters Research and Office Complex was designed by Zaha Hadid, and supported by Event Communications. Hadid received the commission after a 2009 design competition. It opened in October 2017 and received a LEED Platinum certification. The complex consists of five interlocking buildings, a research center, a computer center, a conference center, a library and the Musalla, a place for prayer.

Since KAPSARC's inauguration, the center received six awards highlighting the architecture and engineering of the center:

1. LEED Platinum Certified
   
2. Global Best Project of the Year in the category of education and research buildings, presented by ENR Engineering News-Record
   
3. World Architecture Community Award
   
4. Described by New York Times® as Environmental Beauty and Efficiency
   
5. Saudi Arabia's “Smartest Building” in the Honeywell® smart building award.
   
6. Decorative concrete Award of ACI -1st place in 2021

In 2020 KAPSARC was ranked by the University of Pennsylvania Think Tank and Civil Societies Program as 13th place out of 60th in its list of global top Energy and Resource Policy think tanks and jumped up 14th spots in the MENA Think Tank index, to reach 15th out of 103.



Architectural firm: Zaha-Hadid
Engineering firm: Arup
General contractor: Drake & Scull International (DSI)
Concrete contractor: Gulf Elite General contracting
Concrete supplier: Saudi Ready Mix concrete company
Owner: Saudi Aramco