Construction Middle East Gallery Doha, Qatar (1976) The Nello L. Teer Company moved into the Middle East at the end of the decade, signing up for two immense projects. Starting in 1976, the company spent three years in the small Persian Gulf nation of Qatar, building the Ramada Inn International Hotel in the capitol city of Doha. The five-star luxury hotel, with 12 stories and 400 rooms, was built for the Prince Ghanim Ben Ali Al-Thani. The oil-rich nation had become a center of activity, and the prince wanted to accommodate the businessmen and tourists drawn to the area. With temperatures reaching up to 125 degrees, the Teer force started their workdays in the early morning, taking a break during the searing afternoon hours. The Nello L. Teer Company completed the hotel in 1979, down to the silverware and place settings for the restaurant tables. Ramon Air Base, Israel (October 1980) A joint venture called Air Base Constructors (ABC) (Guy F. Atkinson Co., South San Franciso; Dillingham Corp., Honolulu; Nello L. Teer Co., Durham, N.C.) started work on one of the Israeli Air Bases in 1979. The bases were built as a part of President Jimmy Carter’s commitment in the historic Camp David Peace Agreement between Egypt and Israel. The project entailed the rapid construction of runways, parking aprons, aircraft shelters, and other support facilities. The United States funded $400 million of the $500 millon dollar budget, and Israel paid the remaining balance. As with other government projects, ABC found themselves under a tight deadline. The labor force, comprised mostly of Portuguese and Thai employees, worked 10-hour shifts on a 6-day workweek cycle. Operational aircraft were able to start flying within 26 months of the project’s launch date. Completed in three years and at below-cost, the JV’s diligence paid off and the stipulations of the peace treaty were met.
