Bahrain Bay is a $1.5 billion mixed-use development off the northeast coast of Manama in Bahrain. The project will be executed in three phases: land reclamation and infrastructure development; construction of the two anchor developments (the Four Seasons Hotel and the global headquarters for Arcapita); development of residential, retail and commercial sub-projects. At final completion, expected in December 2010, the total built area will be over 1.1 million square metres. The masterplan is being executed by the US firm Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill, with Michael Kirchmann leading the overall project. The lecture is co-hosted by Diploma Unit 6. Michael Kirchmann is a senior associate design partner at SOM in New York City. He is also a visiting critic and lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and Parsons New School of Architecture.