Schon Properties has awarded a Dh1.17 billion ($318 million) contract to Belhasa Engineering and Contracting Company (BHECC) for the construction of zones 3 and 6 of Dubai Lagoon Development.

Schon Properties is the developer of the Dh3 billion ($816 million) mixed-use project coming up in Dubai Lagoon.

The site work is scheduled to begin in October and is expected to be completed by the beginning of 2011.

BHECC’s remit will include all civil, architectural, construction and MEP works as well as air conditioning and service facilities, for a total of 17 buildings.

Asher H Schon, vice president of Schon Properties, said: 'We have been in negotiations with a number of leading contractors for these next zones, but BHECC really stood out with a very impressive track record and highly professional attitude towards our requirements.'

'We are looking forward to moving ahead on the project and working closely with BHECC,' he added.

Commenting on the win, BHECC general manager AG Abdul Azeem said: 'The Dubai Lagoon is a very interesting project and one that we feel more than equipped to handle with our sturdy background in large-scale development on many varied projects.'

'Building the skyline of new Dubai and delivering fantastic end-products to customers are two key drivers in our decision to sign with Schon Properties,' he added.

BHECC is one of Dubai’s larger construction companies, and has undertaken a wide range of construction projects comprising - 5 star hotels, mosques, multi-storey residential complexes, buildings for governmental institutions, shopping malls, multipurpose indoor sports halls, auditoriums, schools and office blocks.

Some of its key projects include 200 residential units in the Green Community, 10 office blocks as well as the 48 storey Salam Tower in Dubai Media City, Movenpick Hotel, 50 storey mixed-used buildings in Cluster-X of  Jumeirah Lake Towers.-TradeArabia News Service