SEFA's 30th Annual Meeting 2018
Global Projects Require a Global Team and Global Standards
Dow Chemical Water and Process Water Solutions Lab Building (Dow “MEIC” Middle East Innovation Center”) at KAUST University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The new Dow MEIC project focuses on water and process solutions is located on a 6 acre site within the Research Park at KAUST University. The new 3-story, 13,700 m2 (142,400 sf) facility includes a 3,000 m2 (32,300 sf) high bay space and 2,500 m2 (27,000 sf) of wet chemistry laboratories, offices, support amenities, conference, and site/parking development.
Developing a “world class” research facility halfway around the globe for an international chemical manufacturer in a hot/humid climate entails special challenges. Some of the challenges realized were: implementing specific safety for the storage and use of lab chemicals, accommodating safety of personnel, pressurization controls, lab casework, balancing requirement from multiple stakeholders and incorporating the Dow LLP safety measures without compromising the required program, quality and project budget.