Jeddah Tower

Overview

As the first human-made structure to reach 1 kilometer (3,280 feet) in height, the design of Jeddah Tower is truly a pioneering engineering achievement. First, we had to determine rational design wind loads at extreme elevations. Second, we had to control building movements, both lateral and vertical, over time. Third, our resulting structural system solutions had to be, above all, efficient and effective in their advancement of the ambitious architectural design. All easier said than done.

Simplicity was key for constructability ease. Also, since the building was so large, we wanted to use materials judiciously. Our tall-building experts worked peer-to-peer alongside AS+GG and RWDI, pairing innovation and experience with advanced computational structural modeling and extensive wind tunnel testing. The outcome? An unparalleled structural system organization that supports the world's tallest building-to-be.

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Here's How

Architects Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill worked with our team, and they knew our firm’s proven history of supertall structural engineering. So when they asked us to help realize their vision for the tower’s unique shape – inspired by the folded fronds of a sprouting desert plant – we took the design as a challenge: to extend the state-of-the-art from not only the architectural design, but also structural and wind engineering of ultratall towers.

The relationship yielded an elegant design that handles high wind without sacrificing style. The three-legged plan, a continuously tapering vertical profile, and extremely efficient structural organization all combine to produce a remarkably well performing structure, as confirmed by the testing.

Know Global, but Design Local

Concrete is king in the Middle East. So why not take advantage of Saudi Arabia’s local techniques to construct Jeddah Tower? We did just that, with an efficient concrete-based system that employs construction practices and concrete strengths common in the region.

The structural system is simplicity itself – without columns, outriggers, floor beams, spandrel beams, and vertical transfers. Specifically designed to be built quickly and efficiently, all walls are interconnected, and each structural element resists both wind and gravity loads. Below, a massive concrete foundation system supports the weight of all that height – with a 5-meter thick raft foundation supported on 270 bored piles, each 1.8-meters in diameter, that go to depths up to 105 meters.