ARCHITECTURAL RECORD NOVEMBER 2014 news 21 D A ILY UPDAT ES archrecord.com/news twitter.com/archrecord perspective I can’t think of a profession better equipped for social change than architecture. —Ivenue Love-Stanley, cofounder of Atlanta-based architecture firm Stanley Love-Stanley, speaking at record’s first Women in What Is Frank Gehry Architecture Forum & Awards on October 10 in New York City. Doing About Labor Conditions in Abu Dhabi? BY ANNA FIXSEN Saadiyat Island’s Cultural District will include (above, from left) Frank Gehry’s Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, Jean Nouvel’s Louvre satellite, and Zaha Hadid’s Performing Arts Centre. since the guggenheim Museum announced Gehry may be the first prominent architect local government should take responsibility plans for its Frank Gehry–designed satellite in to take steps toward labor reform on Saadiyat for problems with labor conditions. (On August Abu Dhabi eight years ago, the project has Island, the luxury arts and real-estate 21, Hadid filed a lawsuit in New York County been part of debates and protests concerning development 500 meters off the shore of Abu Supreme Court against critic Martin Filler and the treatment of migrant construction workers Dhabi where the Guggenheim, after years of The New York Review of Books for errors in an and the role of architects in their safety and delays, is expected to soon begin construction. article about conditions on the site of her Al well-being. But, behind the scenes, Gehry has The museum will join Rafael Viñoly’s New Wakrah soccer stadium in Qatar, which had been working with a human-rights lawyer and York University Abu Dhabi (completed this yet to begin construction.) “I don’t have the the country’s state-run development authority year), Norman Foster’s Zayed National Museum power to make these changes,” Hadid told the to improve conditions for laborers on his site. (opening in 2016), and Jean Nouvel’s Louvre Architects’ Journal in an interview published “Gehry Partners has been engaged in a satellite, expected to open next year. Tadao in September. “But maybe I am wrong and I substantial and ongoing dialogue over many Ando and Zaha Hadid have also designed could help. But I don’t know how.” years now that has involved government, the buildings for future development phases. Gehry’s plan could be a template for archi- construction industry, architects, project, Focus on labor issues surrounding Persian tects who feel similarly unsure how to help. sponsors, and NGOs,” according to a statement Gulf–area projects sharpened this spring after “What is the proper role for the architect? from Gehry’s office. “It is a process in which Hadid, at a press conference reported by the That’s the fundamental question,” Scott we will strive to be continuously engaged, not Guardian, said that as an architect she has Horton, Gehry’s lawyer, said in an interview IMAGES: © TDIC © IMAGES: something that is simply done at any one stage.” nothing to do with the workers, but that the with architectural record. “It’s not a legal Visit our online section at architecturalrecord.com/news. 22 ARCHITECTURAL RECORD NOVEMBER 2014 perspectivenews responsibility, but it’s a moral responsibility.” Gehry urged the Guggenheim, with the for the last two years. Contracting bids were For Gehry, the conversation about worker TDIC, to issue a joint statement outlining these submitted in late August, and TDIC is now conditions began at the start of his involve- measures; it has been on the museum’s website on the cusp of hiring a general contractor, a ment with the Guggenheim Abu Dhabi. After since 2010. Human Rights Watch and other pivotal component of fair worker treatment. Human Rights Watch painted a grim portrait activists said their statement was not enough. Horton acknowledges the challenges of of worker conditions on Saadiyat Island in a In a similar situation in February 2010, New accomplishing their goals. “It’s going to be a report in 2009, Gehry approached Horton— York University had issued a statement of the process that will go to the end of the project,” an expert in human-rights law—to give him institution’s commitment to proper working he said. “We are optimistic that, as an approach, advice in connection with the project. Before conditions on its new Abu Dhabi campus, this makes sense and is likely to improve the contracts were finalized with the state devel- but according to a New York Times investigation position of workers on our project.” opment agency, Tourism Development & of the construction site this year, it was not By engaging with these issues, Horton Investment Company (TDIC), Gehry raised followed through on. In late June, the univer- believes the Guggenheim project has the concerns informed by that report and those sity appointed an international investigator potential to influence the treatment of workers of other groups on workers’ conditions. to review the allegations. on other sites: “This could serve as a model While Abu Dhabi already has a comprehen- Gehry’s lawyer says they are working in for doing things right.” ■ sive labor code, it is feebly enforced. By working tandem with Abu Dhabi officials to generate The Frank Gehry–designed directly with the Abu Dhabi authorities, Horton changes, which they hope will soon become Guggenheim Abu Dhabi, scheduled to open in 2017, reasons, the law and policies can be implement- realities. To alleviate squalid living conditions, will be composed of ed and worker conditions improved. Gehry and Horton are encouraging the build- cone-shaped volumes. Set to Horton and Gehry have targeted five primary ing of additional housing. TDIC has already be the largest Guggenheim concerns: the prioritization of worker health built a village for some construction workers, satellite in the world, the structure will encompass and safety, the accessibility to passports but it is not big enough to house the rapid 450,000 square feet. and other documents typically retained by influx of migrant workers with the resump- Construction is expected to employers to prevent laborers from leaving tion of the Guggenheim project, set to open in begin by the end of the year. the country, the appointment of a law-abiding 2017. To offset the steep fees charged to poten- and accountable general contractor, the tial workers by foreign recruiters—often more establishment of an independent site monitor, than three times a worker’s annual income— and the abolition or reimbursement of steep the Gehry team proposes that the contractor recruitment fees associated with the kafala reimburse the worker to cover the cost. TDIC system—the worker-sponsorship approach appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers as an prevalent in the Gulf region. outside monitor; it has issued quarterly reports .