Jeddah Tower: The World’s First Kilometer-High Tower Set to Top Out by Decade’s End
The world’s first tower reaching over a kilometer high finally has a projected completion date after years of delays. With an investment of $1.2 billion, Jeddah Tower is making significant progress in Saudi Arabia.
The tower, soon to be the world’s tallest building, is rapidly rising into the Saudi Arabian sky as construction resumes. Originally halted in 2017 due to corruption cases and later paused by the COVID-19 pandemic, construction resumed last year.
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The Building Unveiled
First unveiled in 2011, the original plans included a hotel, a shopping mall, and the world’s highest observation deck. The tower will stand at a staggering 3,280 feet tall, dwarfing the 2,717-foot Burj Khalifa by over 500 feet.
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Architectural Innovation
The tower’s unique design by US architect Adrian Smith uses a “three-petal” footprint and a tapered shape to overcome the engineering challenges of building such an enormous structure. Architect Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill describes the design as a bundle of leaves growing from the ground.
According to Smith and Gill, the architectural design symbolizes the heritage of Saudi Arabia while embracing future technology. The observatory deck, hotel, and shopping mall at the base will add to its allure.
