Published: December 1, 2010
New campus to be larger than first in clean city.
Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s energy technology company, has started work on the second phase of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, a campus focusing on renewable energy and cleantech research and technological development.
On completion of the second phase, the Masdar Institute will educate more than 500 graduate students with nine open laboratories, two clean rooms, 13 hi-bay laboratories, a 90 seat auditorium, 12 classrooms and 324 student apartments.
The existing and new campus buildings form part of the first phase of Masdar City, which will also include the Middle East and Asia headquarters of German conglomerate Siemens.
The second campus will share similar energy efficient elements, such as shaded streets, natural ventilation and heat reflecting facades.
Masdar’s chief executive and managing director, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, says creating a knowledge economy and fostering talent is at the heart of Abu Dhabi’s strategy. “The community we are creating at Masdar City, with the Masdar Institute at its core, forms an important aspect of this vision by establishing Abu Dhabi as a knowledge hub for renewable energy and sustainable technology.
“The commencement of work on the second phase of the Masdar Institute campus reflects the steady progress we are making at Masdar City,” he adds. “The building’s completion will extend the world-class facilities available to the Masdar Institute as it carries out its research and academic programmes.”