Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, reaching 1,000 meters, will become the tallest building in the world upon completion.
Due to a nationwide anti-corruption campaign in Saudi Arabia, along with labor issues and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project was halted for nearly seven years but has now resumed construction.
Recently, during the ceremony for the resumption of construction, the Jeddah Economic Company (JEC) officially announced that the tower is expected to be completed by 2028.
Jeddah Tower, formerly known as the Mile Tower or Kingdom Tower, is located in the city of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
As early as 2008, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal announced plans to construct this tallest building in the world.
In 2011, the first renderings were released, and construction officially began in 2013. However, the project stalled in 2018 after reaching 63 floors due to various reasons, and the original plan for completion in 2020 was not realized.
In the initial design, Jeddah Tower was envisioned to be approximately 1,600 meters tall, nearly one-fifth the height of Mount Everest, but due to local geological conditions unable to support such a heavy structure, the height was ultimately reduced to 1,008 meters.
This height still surpasses the completed world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa (828 meters), by nearly 180 meters.
Jeddah Tower is designed by AS+GG, featuring a smooth glass facade with a triangular base and fin-like recesses that gradually narrow to a pointed top.
The design is inspired by the leaves of native flowers blooming in the desert.
The three-petal design optimizes the building's usable space, while the tapered structure effectively reduces wind loads, showcasing excellent aerodynamic properties.
The tower will include hotel, residential, and office areas, equipped with 59 elevators (including five double-decker elevators) and 12 escalators, forming "the most advanced elevator system in the world."
Notably, the 157th floor of the tower will house the world's highest observation deck, approximately 664 meters above ground.
The project is expected to use around 80,000 tons of steel.
To reduce the swaying sensation for high-rise residents in windy weather, Jeddah Tower will utilize a substantial number of supporting components, including ultra-high-strength concrete elements extending several meters deep in critical core areas.
Since the advent of skyscrapers, such structures have been regarded as the pinnacle of architectural design.
As "the world's first building to reach one kilometer in height," Jeddah Tower will undoubtedly become a milestone in engineering technology.
With the resumption of the project, Saudi Arabia has the opportunity to reclaim the title of the world's tallest building from Dubai.
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