A joint venture between AlGihaz Construction Holding and TAV Contracting is leading the rehabilitation of a terminal within an international airport in Saudi Arabia. This high-profile project is the first collaboration between the two companies on an airport in the region, combining their expertise to deliver a fast-track transformation that will serve millions of travellers.
The challenge
The renovation project is being delivered on an aggressive 18-month schedule, with handover planned for May 2026. This pace leaves little room for delays and demands precise coordination at every stage. At the same time, it’s a brownfield renovation, which means working around existing infrastructure that is often undocumented. As the building was partially demolished and stripped back to its structural core, the team uncovered unforeseen conditions that required quick design adjustments to keep the project on track.
The solution
OpenSpace was introduced to address these challenges on the recommendation of a group company CEO who had seen its value on a previous Saudi project. After seeing a product demo, Joint Venture Management approved the investment, even though it wasn’t part of the original budget.
A dedicated staff member now performs daily 360° captures of the entire site. This approach has replaced time-consuming and inconsistent manual photography. In fewer than 5 months the site team has created 460 captures resulting in over 790,000 360° images of the site—all automatically mapped to project plans—providing stakeholders with a complete, easy to navigate visual record of the project.
The team simply needs to log in to OpenSpace to see the latest site conditions and compare progress over time. As Deputy Project Director Ali Elmaskaya explained, “It is a useful tool for us, especially as a joint venture with executives and managers often outside the city or country. They can monitor site progress anytime, from anywhere.”
OpenSpace also enables the team to directly compare site conditions side by side with the BIM model, making it easier to spot discrepancies early. As Architectural Coordinator Onur Kapukaya noted, “When we integrated the BIM model in OpenSpace, that was a big aha moment for me. With this perspective we were able to identify problems immediately and could quickly solve them. For us, this feature saves time, reduces rework, and supports faster decision-making.”
“It is a useful tool for us, especially as a joint venture with executives and managers often outside the city or country. They can monitor site progress anytime, from anywhere.”
The results
OpenSpace has become a critical tool for keeping the Airport project on track, improving visibility, communication, and accuracy across the joint venture team. The platform has delivered measurable benefits in multiple areas.
Reduced delays through faster issue resolution
By spotting discrepancies early, the team can address design conflicts before they cause rework or slow down progress. “Catching mistakes early reduces both cost and time losses, which is especially important on a large-scale airport project,” said Onur Kapukaya.
Improved communication via remote progress insights
Remote project access is a real game changer especially for key stakeholders. Executives and technical staff can check the latest site conditions from anywhere, avoiding travel, saving time, and keeping approvals moving. As Ali Elmaskaya described, “It’s like watching a traffic camera—you can see exactly what’s happening without being there.”
Higher design accuracy and more informed construction decisions
Side-by-side comparisons with the BIM model have led to corrections that improve the accuracy of construction drawings and reduce rework. As the project progresses, the team also verifies that as-built conditions match the model, ensuring that construction stays aligned with design intent.
Less time spent on site visits
With comprehensive, up-to-date visual documentation, managers and specialists only need to visit the site when necessary, freeing time for other high-priority work. As Onur Kapukaya explained, “On a project with tight deadlines and in a location with extreme heat, being able to see all site conditions without leaving the office is a big deal.”
“When we integrated the BIM model in OpenSpace, that was a big aha moment for me. With this perspective we were able to identify problems immediately and could quickly solve them. For us, this feature saves time, reduces rework, and supports faster decision-making.”
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, the captured data will continue to deliver value at project closeout, simplifying end-of-project reporting, easing the handover process, and providing the client with a complete visual history that can support future facility management. The team also plans to test additional OpenSpace features such as Field Notes to further streamline cross-team collaboration and is already considering the platform for upcoming projects in Saudi Arabia and beyond.
