The Grand Egyptian Museum - GEM
Project Overview
The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) is currently one of the largest museum development projects
in the world. Given the global interest in Pharaonic history, the world is eagerly anticipating the
arrival of this new cultural destination.
Given also the importance of cultural tourism to the
Egyptian economy, the GEM is a priority to Egypt and its people on different levels, human,
governmental, financial, and public sector. The GEM will be a popular academic and cultural
institution of the highest International standing, housing some of the most ancient treasures of
humanity and a very significant element of world heritage.
The museum is located 2.0 km away from the Giza Pyramids adjacent to the Giza Plateau. The
GEM will become the intersection between Modern and Ancient Cairo as it will direct the public
back to the Ancient Heritage of Egypt.
Construction consists of the following main elements: Museum and Conference Center (Main
Building), Menkaurus Wall and other retaining structures, auxiliary buildings including restaurants,
car and coach parking, exhibition works, and an extensive External Works package.
The area of the land is 47 Hectares (117 feddans) including a built area of 168,000 m2. The built
area includes the Museum Building: 93,000 m2; Conference Center: 40,000 m2; Ancillary Buildings:
11,000 m2; Restaurants: 9,000 m2 and Car Park: 15,000 m2;
The museum will be located on a site 2.0 km away from the Giza Pyramids. The Giza Plateau,
adjacent to the museum, is on UNESCO’s list of Cultural Heritage Sites. The GEM will become
the intersection between modernity and antiquity, literally redirecting the traveler from the
modernity of Cairo and Alexandria to the ancient heritage of the Egyptian civilization which dates
back to over 5,000 years.
The Hill-EHAF Joint Venture (Hill-EHAF) is the Project Management Consultant (PMC) for the
GEM, providing Project and Construction Management Services to The Ministry State for
Antiquities (MOSA).
The construction effort includes the following elements: Main Building (museum and conference
center), Exhibition fit-out, completion of tunnels connecting the Conservation and Energy Center to
the main Museum building, restaurants, and parking facilities as well as retail and entertainment
space core and shell. In addition large areas of landscaping, hardscaping, retaining structures,
fences and other civil works will also be constructed.
The museum will display some 50,000 artifacts ranging from very small and delicate jewelry to
gigantic pieces such as the statue of Ramses II that will greet visitors in the entrance lobby atrium.
The basic theme of the museum will be the chronology of ancient Egyptian history. In addition, the
GEM chronological exhibits will classified into 5 main themes, or streams, of ancient Egyptian life:
“Land of Egypt”, “Kingship and State”, “Religion and Afterlife”, “Man, Society and Work”, and
“Scribes and Learning”.
Upon arrival, guests will ascend the Grand Staircase on a ‘people mover’ up past artifacts that get
progressively more ancient. At the top the visitor arrives at a glass wall overlooking the Pyramids
of Giza –those most ancient of Egyptian structures. Then the visitor enters the main galleries
which address the 5 main themes and are organized moving forward in time, beginning with the
Old Kingdom.
The exhibits and artifacts for each successive gallery will be arranged chronologically through the
Middle and New Kingdoms. Finally, the visitor uses a bridge – overlooking the Entrance Atrium
and the giant statue of Ramses II – to cross the Grand Staircase and enter the Tutankhamen
Gallery where the world famous artifacts will be relocated from the Tahrir Square, Cairo Museum.
NOTE:
It was auspicious that my first official duty was to attend the billion $ “Construction contract signing
ceremony”, on Jan 10, 2012, the day I joined our Cairo office, as Project Coordinator. The event
was widely covered on National TV. Had the privilege of meeting with the famous Egyptologist –
Dr. Zahi Havass, who heads the project for the Govt. of Egypt..