All you need to know about the upcoming world’s tallest skyscraper: Jeddah Tower
Smith and Gill characterize the design as being "rooted in the symbolism of Saudi Arabia," with its delicate, somewhat asymmetrical form evoking the upward sweep of palm fronds, signifying the kingdom's future expansion.
Jeddah Tower, a neo-futuristic marvel planned in Saudi Arabia, designed by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill of Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, Chicago, will stand at least 3,280 feet tall, becoming the tallest building in the world, surpassing the Burj Khalifa by approximately 564 ft.
Jeddah Economic City
It is part of the larger development, Jeddah Economic City, and will be the first structure in the world to reach the one-kilometer-high mark (the original design was to be one mile high (1.6 km), but the geology of the area was not suitable for that height). When it will be completed in the next four to five years, nearly 11 times the height of the Statue of Liberty.
Smith and Gill characterize the design as being “rooted in the symbolism of Saudi Arabia,” with its delicate, somewhat asymmetrical form evoking the upward sweep of palm fronds, signifying the kingdom’s future expansion.
“The design for Jeddah Tower is rooted in the symbolism of Saudi Arabia while looking toward the future by being technologically expressive,” explains Smith and Gill in a joint statement to AD. “Its slender, subtly asymmetrical massing evokes the new growth of palm fronds shooting upward from the land—a symbol of new life heralding future growth for the kingdom.”
The tower will be a symbol of development and enhance the city’s skyline. The second-most populated city in the country, Jeddah is tucked away along the Red Sea and is home to architectural wonders like the Penang Floating Mosque and the old Al Balad quarter.
The Jeddah Tower’s avant-garde architecture and state-of-the-art technologies visually represent a neo-futuristic mindset. The sleek, tapering skyscraper is depicted in renderings; it was influenced by the graceful curves of Saudi Arabian palm leaves. Renderings show a singular, slender tower, which subtly tapers towards its apex.
Though the design is meant to honor its Saudi Arabian origins, it also represents the pinnacle of super-tall design and the technological evolution that has allowed such monumental design to become a reality. “The geometry of the tower starting at the base as a single tripod form then gradually separating at the spire, is tied to the wind performance characteristics of the tower—an analogy of new growth fused with technology,” the pair add.
The building of the Jeddah Tower was put on hold in 2018 after it began in 2013. After Bakr bin Laden, the half-brother of Osama Bin Laden, was captured during the 2017–2019 Saudi Arabian purge, the project’s contractor, the Binladin Group, was removed from it. Additional delays were caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, yet Dezeen announced in September 2023 that building had resumed.
“Jeddah Tower construction has restarted…the tower is expected to be completed within four to five years,” the Jeddah Economic Company (JEC), the developer, confirms in a statement to AD. The business has solicited several contractors for proposal, and JEC is currently assessing bids. “We’re targeting to select a contractor within two to three months,” the statement finishes.
Jeddah Tower, like the Burj Khalifa, is anticipated to be a mixed-use structure with office, retail, and residential space. A Four Seasons hotel, an observation deck (now slated to be the highest in the world), and an outdoor balcony measuring 98 feet in diameter—originally intended to be a helipad—will also be there. The foundation piles are about as large as a small room at 10 feet in diameter and can reach up to 360 feet in length
Twelve escalators and 59 elevators—five of which will be double-decker—will be included in the Jeddah Tower. Since the shift in air pressure at high heights would make people queasy, the lifts won’t be able to travel at the speeds of regular lifts. The need for overly large cables will be eliminated thanks to three sky lobbies, which will prevent anyone lifts from having to travel to the top.
High-tech elements are included. A high-performance external wall system—including low-conductivity glass—will reduce energy usage by lowering thermal loads. There are several covered notches on either side where outdoor terraces provide breathtaking views of the Red Sea and Jeddah. Eighty thousand tonnes of steel will make up the enormous structure. There will be several meters’ worth of concrete in some areas of the core.
You might also be interested in – Saudi Arabia’s first male robot harasses reporter on live TV
