A video posted to YouTube shows the impressive array and implementation strategy for the custom cranes that will build the world’s tallest building in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom Tower Jeddah is set to be the world’s tallest skyscraper when construction is completed, soaring up to 1 KM (almost 3,300 feet). The original design was to be one-mile-high (1.6 km), but the geology of the area was not suitable for that height.
The project has been delayed several times due to its ambitious engineering and high price tag. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Co. which owns the building through an affiliation with the Jeddah Economic Company, has put the latest completion date in 2019.
It will feature a hotel, apartments and offices, as well as a large outdoor viewing deck that doubles as an air park, which will be the world’s highest observatory.
According to Architizer.com, the shape of the building is functional. “The narrowing silhouette has to fight wind as well as gravity, so the three-sided shard is designed to be aerodynamic. The taper also helps maximize usable/rentable area. It offsets the large core size on the lower floors by widening the base, while the shape also narrows the core overall, making it less space-consuming at the top.”
