Upon completion, Jeddah Tower is set to rise 172 meters higher than the Burj Khalifa, officially surpassing it and claiming the title of the world’s tallest skyscraper, reshaping the global skyline hierarchy.
Jeddah Tower construction restarts in Jeddah Economic City
Saudi Arabia has officially resumed construction of Jeddah Tower, the skyscraper poised to become the tallest building in the world. Once completed, the tower will exceed 1,000 meters in height, surpassing the current record holder, the Burj Khalifa, by 172 meters and revitalizing the urban core of Jeddah Economic City.
Construction originally began in 2011 but faced significant delays, largely due to the resignation of the main contractor, Saudi Binladin Group, which had been tasked with completing the foundations and excavation, approximately one third of the total project.
The lead design team remains the Chicago-based studio Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, known for shaping the tower’s slender form, often compared to a “flower emerging” from the arid desert landscape. Originally named Kingdom Tower, Jeddah Tower carries an estimated total cost of 20 billion dollars and aims to implement unique engineering and architectural strategies.
Three converging petals to reduce thermal and structural loads
The aerodynamic yet asymmetrical form of Jeddah Tower is composed of three converging “petals” designed to reduce wind forces generated by its extreme height. Horizontal notches along the façade will provide shade to outdoor terraces, limiting direct solar exposure.
According to the architects Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, “The result is an elegant, efficient and highly buildable design that is at once rooted in tradition and aggressively forward-looking, leveraging new and innovative thinking in technology, materials, life-cycle considerations and energy savings.”
The tower’s envelope will feature a high-performance external wall system aimed at minimizing energy consumption by reducing thermal loads, an essential requirement in the Red Sea climate.
Advanced vertical mobility and record observation deck
As the future world’s tallest building, Jeddah Tower will incorporate one of the most advanced vertical transportation systems ever installed in a skyscraper. The structure will include 59 elevators capable of traveling at speeds of up to 10 meters per second in both directions.
Another defining feature will be a 30-meter-diameter observation deck located on the 157th floor. Once opened to the public, it is expected to become the highest observatory in the world.
Originally scheduled for completion within five years, the project’s revised timeline has not yet been officially confirmed following the recent restart of works.
Also read: “Schneider Electric launches Impact Buildings with Dubai flagship”
