Marka Command
Center

Building Secure Defense
Infrastructure in Amman

The Marka Command Center is a security-classified facility constructed by CEC for the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF) at Marka, on the eastern edge of Amman. The project delivered a hardened command-and-control building designed to house sensitive communications, operational coordination, and information-technology functions essential to national defense — a category of work that demands not only structural and technical excellence but also strict adherence to security protocols throughout design, procurement, and construction.

Unlike civilian or commercial buildings, command-and-control facilities are designed around layered security requirements from the outset: controlled access at every level of the site, segregation of work zones, and structural specifications calibrated to withstand a wider range of loading scenarios than typical buildings. Every aspect of the construction programme — from workforce vetting to material delivery logistics — had to be planned around these requirements without compromising programme delivery.

CEC's appointment to deliver the Marka Command Center reflects nearly five decades of trust built with Jordan's institutional and governmental clients, including the Jordanian Armed Forces, and our First Grade classification in Infrastructure works — one of the few classifications in the Kingdom that qualifies a contractor for security-sensitive government construction of this nature.

Engineering Challenges

Delivering a classified military facility introduced a set of challenges distinct from any civilian construction project:

• Vetted workforce and restricted-access logistics: Every individual working on site required prior security clearance, and access to different zones of the facility was tightly controlled and logged throughout the construction period.
• Hardened structural design: The building's structural frame, envelope, and critical rooms were designed to enhanced resistance standards, requiring specialised reinforcement detailing, blast-resistant elements, and material specifications beyond conventional building codes.
• Specialised MEP for communications and IT: The facility's mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems had to integrate extensive raised-floor data infrastructure, redundant power supplies, dedicated cooling for server and communications equipment, and shielded cable routing — coordinated tightly with specialist communications subcontractors operating under their own security protocols.
• Confidential coordination and documentation: Design changes, as-built records, and site instructions had to be managed through controlled documentation channels appropriate to a security-classified project, while still maintaining the rigour expected of a First Grade contractor.

Scope of Work

CEC's construction scope at the Marka Command Center covered the full delivery of the facility: site preparation and earthworks within the secured compound; reinforced concrete structural frame construction to enhanced design specifications; building envelope and roofing works; internal fit-out of operational, communications, and support spaces; coordination of specialised MEP systems including standby power, HVAC for sensitive equipment areas, and structured cabling infrastructure; perimeter and access-control works; and final commissioning in coordination with JAF's engineering and security teams.

Quality & Safety

Beyond standard construction quality assurance, the Marka Command Center demanded an additional layer of discipline around security and confidentiality. CEC maintained rigorous quality control on all structural and MEP works, with stage inspections conducted jointly with JAF representatives, full materials testing and certification, and a site safety regime adapted to the access-controlled environment — ensuring the facility was delivered to specification, on schedule, and in full compliance with both First Grade contracting standards and the security requirements of a defense client.