Merit Corporation/CMA-CGM Headquarters


Beirut Central District (BCD) - Beirut, Lebanon


Architect: Nabil Gholam


From IFP (link (http://www.ifpexpo.com/News_show_news.asp?id=1840)):



French-based Compagnie Maritime d’Affrètement - Compagnie Générale Maritime (CMA-CGM) announced the construction of a new $12 million headquarters building in Beirut.

The 6,300m2 headquarters, to be constructed in around a year and a half, will be home of Merit Corporation, CMA-CGM’s Lebanese mother company and will host around 150 employees. CMA-CGM quadrupled its activities in the last four years, with the number of containers rising from 11,383 in 2000 to 40,753 in 2004. CMA-CGM owns 25% of Fransabank Algeria, the Algerian subsidiary of Fransabank s.a.l that will start operations by spring 2006.


http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/3540/cma4du4.jpg

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1567/cma3fk1.jpg


LOCATION:

http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/4848/loc1ds7.jpg

it's facing Annahar newspaper HQs.they will give a nice look to that area :)

Very great building!

The owners have already closed the area with boards. I don't know if works have commenced or not.

Hassoun, al-Nahar HQ and this building face each other from a distance (actually face each other diagonally). This building is on the sea-level whilst al-Nahar is little bit alleviated near Virgin. Moreover, if Phoenician Village gets built probably the latter will obscure the view between the buildings.

More info from IFP (link (http://www.ifpexpo.com/News_show_news.asp?id=1840))
French-based Compagnie Maritime d’Affrètement - Compagnie Générale Maritime (CMA-CGM) announced the construction of a new $12 million headquarters building in Beirut.
The 6,300m2 headquarters, to be constructed in around a year and a half, will be home of Merit Corporation, CMA-CGM’s Lebanese mother company and will host around 150 employees. CMA-CGM quadrupled its activities in the last four years, with the number of containers rising from 11,383 in 2000 to 40,753 in 2004. CMA-CGM owns 25% of Fransabank Algeria, the Algerian subsidiary of Fransabank s.a.l that will start operations by spring 2006.

Thanks for the info Nareg, I added it to the introductory post.

Its nice to hear that the plot is closed off, should we consider it U/C now?

Well Beirut! I cannot confirm if construction has started or not. Maybe the owner enclosed the area just as a precaution due to the recent events. But today I passed by it, and I'm pretty sure nothing has started.

Okay, today I saw a crane inside the plot. Also, yellow equipments which usually are for digging and excavation purposes.

UPDATE

They have started digging the foundation. I saw an excavator during work.

Okay, it is nice to see this thread getting updated on a daily basis.

Today, they have set a large tent above the plot. Probably the reason is simply to remedy the effect of the sun and provide a workplace with Beirut's cool breeze.

Btw, it is little bit hard to take a picture because the plot is on the passenger side of the car.

As promised, I took two new images so that you can visualise what is happening there.

12/04/2007

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/2498/dscn1586na4.jpg

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/8708/dscn1587im8.jpg

Okay, it seems that tent was for the "opening ceremony" that happened yesterday (12/04/2007).

http://www.naharnet.com/domino/tn/NewsDesk.nsf/0/35b7bb18f8271172c22572bc00381fa8/Body/0.82?OpenElement&FieldElemFormat=jpg

As Naharnet reports:
CMA-CGM Lays Cornerstone for New Beirut Facility

Shipping giant CMA-CGM has laid the cornerstone for its building at the Beirut Port's Free zone.
Minister of Public Works and Transport Mohammed Safadi, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Michel Pharon and CMA-CGM General Manager Jacques Saadeh attended Thursday's ceremony.

The 10,000 square meter building, which will be completed in 2009, can accommodate up to 400 employees and will boast a maritime museum.

CMA-CGM will use Beirut Port as its regional transshipment centers.

Safadi said that the authorities plan to expand the wharfs and free zones at the ports in both Beirut and Tripoli in the near future.
(The Daily Star) Beirut, 13 Apr 07, 13:15

it will contain a maritime museum,a sports center and a restaurant :)

I'm 99.9 per cent sure that this image shows the work going inside the enclosed wall.

The image is from Daily Star's recent article. (Click here (http://dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=3&article_id=81717) to check the article)

http://www.dailystar.com.lb//admin/storage/articles/20074242329190.8-Batoun.jpg

A new crane has been added meaning that foundation works have started.

Can anyone snap a pic? Its been over a year since we saw anything. Should be coming along nicely

^^ There is no progress visible from street-level, only a crane.

Thanks I guess they put it on hold should be above street by now

^^ It's not on hold but the underground levels take time.

According to the guys working there, they never stopped working on-site but the construction teams have been operating at minimum capacity for the past few months.

supposedly it was going to be done next year and they arent even above ground

I took this pic on Aug. 28, 2008:

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d184/rhmud/P8270077.jpg

8 February 2009

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/3852/dsc0045minyv6.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/e7kjv6.jpg

^^Very nice progress. Can't wait.

By the way, in 2007, CMA CGM named one of their container ships BEIRUT.

my pictures
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/P1110890.jpg

When were they taken..are they topped out? Hard to tell how many floors its at with that angle..

^^

I took it today (may 15) and no it is not topped out yet

I took it may 27, 2009
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/P1130287.jpg

courtesy of marc
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/mmmm.jpg

July 30, 2009

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/7906/62615663.jpg (http://img34.imageshack.us/i/62615663.jpg/)

August 12

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/7092/cmacgm.jpg (http://img412.imageshack.us/i/cmacgm.jpg/)

courtesy of storyofourcity
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/DSC_0113-1.jpg

courtesy of arkadiusz
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/arkadiusz.jpg

courtesy of sdurglishvili
http://i656.photobucket.com/albums/uu287/Nadini234/Lebanon-Syria24-26October09036.jpg

Taken on Wednesday, 2nd of December

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/8062/dsc00710v.jpg

i passed by it today and they started with the glass work.. they are almost finished with one side (port side)

^^I'm really looking forward to this being completed. CMA-CGM is the 3rd largest container shipping company in the world. They already are using the port as a transshipment hub.

^^ What I like is that the location of this building makes perfect sense.

^^ especially since so few things in Beirut do

Taken Jan 09

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4261814427_b2d3ecd07a_o.jpg

Courtesy of Jens Christoffersen (taken Jan 13)

http://i49.tinypic.com/svpaj8.jpg

courtesy of joya
http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af121/Nadini2345/joooooooooooo.jpg

courtesy of lukebozier
http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af121/Nadini2345/4315827899_90d31e4ae4_o.jpg

courtesy of donakilian
http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af121/Nadini2345/donakillian3.jpg

http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww207/MARTYR_92/img_14-February-Event-Lebanese-Forc.jpg

http://i720.photobucket.com/albums/ww207/MARTYR_92/IMG_230728129.jpg

courtesy of renata
http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af121/Nadini2345/renata.jpg

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_xWG6hbXROAU/S4PFwUgZgOI/AAAAAAAAAV8/YpRFwNa7OIk/007.JPG

courtesy of emile
http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz301/Nadini23456/emiles.jpg

http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz301/Nadini23456/miiil.jpg

courtesy of kemo
http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz301/Nadini23456/kemmo.jpg

courtesy of alina
http://i838.photobucket.com/albums/zz301/Nadini23456/alina.jpg

What is that in the back middle left? Is it a boat or a building?

Its a building for cruise ship passengers.

courtesy of tama
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad345/Nadini1/tama.jpg

http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad345/Nadini1/10397.jpg

courtesy of flickrexp
http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad345/Nadini1/rew.jpg

Courtesy of Me
July 10

http://i26.tinypic.com/s15klc.jpg

Courtesy of Me
Taken Today

http://i31.tinypic.com/v3ow0w.jpg

http://i29.tinypic.com/vwz9q8.jpg

Courtesy of roryjamesmaxwell

Sept. 13

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4105/5016672025_ede3962fce_b.jpg

August 18 by manioc.fr
(what's the project on the right?)

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4154/5019858825_d9a4a56a03_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/maniocportfolio/5019858825/)

This building is really cool..love it!

^^ agree :) !!! its looking great !!!
but was is that pot behind it ???

Its looking great ! ;)
Its been a while they r working on the plot next to it.. I wana know what it is :P

Garren you must already know!! LOL!

haha according to the annual 09 of solider its the "Phoenician glacis" i have no idea if its just another name for the phoenician village or if it is just a different project.

It's Called Beirut Harbor
http://i889.photobucket.com/albums/ac95/boudi_70/1504-Marfaa.jpg

A new thread should be created

man where do u get all the info and renders ??? does ur mom work with solidere too ?? :P
haha u should come here more often man...

...oh and SAIDA ROCKS !!! :angel:

Nice. boudi did you intern at bernard khoury a few years ago?

No, I just visit solidere's website especially the real estate tab, the second to the left. That's it.

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/7533/1536marfaa.jpg (http://img72.imageshack.us/i/1536marfaa.jpg/)

courtesy of Johannes
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j423/NadiniSC/IMG_0357_DxO.jpg

coming up great :applause:

^^ indeed,i just wish Phoenician village comes back to life very soon,the port area is going to look amazing.

From yesterday's parade

AP Photo

http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/00Nv3t81w2djo/610x.jpg

haha according to the annual 09 of solider its the "Phoenician glacis" i have no idea if its just another name for the phoenician village or if it is just a different project.

The phoenician "glacis" is the ancient wall that was discovered just below the road, touching the Phoenician Village plot.

Courtesy of Karim Saad
Taken December 27

http://i55.tinypic.com/29qo02g.jpg

I passed by it today... Construction finished!
Can someone please change the status ? :)

^^ Changed.

16/04/2011
http://img848.imageshack.us/img848/6623/dsc03993a.jpg

Mikati: Goal is to make Beirut attraction for international companies
October 3, 2011

Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Monday said that his goal is to “turn Beirut into a city that attracts international companies.”

“The aim is to make Beirut an attraction and a hub for international firms,” Mikati said during the opening of the new headquarters of CMA CGM marine transport company at the capital’s port.

The PM also voiced hope that Beirut would remain “the pearl of the Middle East,” the National News Agency reported.

-NOW Lebanon


Took Awhile

Hariri had plan to move Opec HQs to Beirut :( he was so close with the help of rich Arab oil company, RIP Rafic :(

Taken today

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/SSC%20Projects%20Pictures/Merit%20Corporation/21-11-2011-1.jpg

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/SSC%20Projects%20Pictures/Merit%20Corporation/21-11-2011-2.jpg

A little bit late, but I thought of posting the second prize competition winner of that project, for archiving purposes:

ADS Studio - Second prize winner

Concept

http://ads-builders.com/images/lightboximages/merit/PRESENTATION-1.jpg

Perspectives

http://ads-builders.com/images/lightboximages/merit/pers1-merit2-copy-toadd-2.jpg

http://ads-builders.com/images/lightboximages/merit/02-3.jpg

http://ads-builders.com/images/lightboximages/merit/0001-4.jpg

http://ads-builders.com/images/lightboximages/merit/0003-5.jpg

http://ads-builders.com/images/lightboximages/merit/04-6.jpg

http://ads-builders.com/images/lightboximages/merit/0004-7.jpg

Elevation

http://ads-builders.com/images/lightboximages/merit/MAIN-ELEVATION-8.jpg

Plans

http://ads-builders.com/images/lightboximages/merit/CMA-CGM-PLAN-RDC-9.jpg

http://ads-builders.com/images/lightboximages/merit/CMA-CGM-PLAN-1-10.jpg

^^ Although I like the way it turned out, I think this design would have been much more interesting/unique.

December 2011 - by me

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/SSC%20Projects%20Pictures/Merit%20Corporation/1-12-2011.jpg

May 20, 2012

http://i1005.photobucket.com/albums/af175/_Zippo_/SSC%20Projects%20Pictures/Merit%20Corporation/20-5-2012-1.jpg