Buro Happold wins contract to design Expo 2030 Riyadh master plan

Buro Happold, the British integrated consultancy of engineers, designers and advisors, will serve as lead design consultant for the detailed master plan and design of public realm, landscape, infrastructure and utilities for Expo 2030 Riyadh and its legacy.

The Expo is being held in Saudi Arabia for the first time and is being billed as “an unprecedented world expo”. The new contract awarded by the Expo 2030 Riyadh Company means Buro Happold will be under the spotlight all the time.

Buro Happold leads Expo 2030 design

Under the agreement, Buro Happold will provide comprehensive design and technical services, including development of the detailed master plan with a focus on event requirements and legacy-phase elements, detailed design of the infrastructure works, utilities, public realm, landscape and engineering technical support during construction works.

Oliver Plunkett, CEO of Buro Happold, commented: “We are proud to partner with Expo 2030 Riyadh Company and bring our 50 years of experience working in Saudi Arabia to the project.

“Our role as lead design consultant for the detailed master plan and infrastructure design underscores our commitment to creating world-class, sustainable environments. A vision on this scale requires us to approach the design with sensitivity to both the event itself and the legacy it will leave for the Kingdom and generations to come.”

Expo 2030 Riyadh is expected to feature nearly 197 participating countries and attract over 42 million visits to pavilions that would cover approximately six million sqm.

Talal Al-Marri, CEO of Expo 2030 Riyadh Company, said: “Expo 2030 Riyadh is a defining moment for Saudi Arabia. By engaging Buro Happold as our lead design consultant, we ensure that the event’s master plan and infrastructure are delivered to the highest international standards.

“Together, we will create an unforgettable experience that reflects our aspirations for progress, sustainability, and cultural exchange.”

Expo 2030 Riyadh Company (ERC), wholly owned by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), is the official organising entity mandated to lead the planning, development and delivery of Expo 2030 Riyadh throughout its entire life cycle.