Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, has completed engineering-design services for Six Senses Southern Dunes set to open in Saudi Arabia in 2023. The project is being developed by The Red Sea Development Company (TRSDC) and was designed by London-based Foster + Partners (F&P).

Situated around 100 kilometers northeast of the town of Umluj on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, the hotel complex is immersed in the picturesque desert landscape and pursuing the highest environmental standards of sustainability.

Inspired by the surrounding sand dunes, the project’s design uses sustainable, lightweight materials reflecting the textures of the Saudi Arabian desert. Structures are carefully planned and sited to minimize environmental impact and use a high-performance thermal envelope to conserve energy.

Stantec’s building engineering services enhance the signature design vision and supports TRSDC’s sustainability principles. With innovative design elements ranging from dark-sky lighting techniques to reduce light pollution, to a bespoke grade foundation to limit disturbance to the soil, the project is engineered with the goal of achieving LEED Platinum certification.

“Six Senses Southern Dunes allows visitors to experience one of the most majestic dunescapes on Earth in an eco-friendly manner,” said Chadi Fayssal, project manager at Stantec. “We’re proud to have created unique engineering solutions for this one-of-a-kind luxury tourist destination.”

The Red Sea Project is one of the most ambitious regenerative tourism development projects in the world. Using technology and knowledge of the ecosystem, Stantec’s solutions aim to deliver beyond sustainability and actively seek to help regenerate the environment through a natural cooling of the space and environmental enhancements. The project will position Saudi Arabia at the forefront of regenerative tourism development movement, creating a benchmark for the world to follow.

“Working with industry leaders like Stantec is key to enable us to deliver the highest quality and to the best international engineering standards, while operating to tight timelines. In collaboration with Foster + Partners, Muza Lab, SKS and KEO, Stantec has helped us deliver new approaches to design and sustainability that have been essential to our success in delivering this spectacular inland resort,” said Ian Williamson, Group Chief Projects Delivery Officer at The Red Sea Development Company.