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Engineer: Kingdom Tower is practical challenge

by Oliver Ephgrave on Aug 11, 2011

5 Comments

The main challenges of delivering supertall buildings are practical rather than structural, says Kingdom Tower engineer.

A top engineer behind the 1km-tall Kingdom Tower in Jeddah believes that the main challenges of delivering supertall buildings are practical rather than structural.

Speaking to ConstructionWeek, Bob Sinn, principal at engineering firm Thornton Tomasetti, said: “At extreme heights, the main challenges are along practical and architectural lines, not material or structural.

“The elevators take up a lot of the floor plate and it becomes more difficult to transport materials to the top.”

He continued: “Concrete quality is getting better and better, as is pumping technology. There have been very strong advances in reinforced concrete over the last 20 years.

“Kingdom Tower is certainly feasible. It’s not a structural challenge. Technically I think a 2km-tall tower could be done, but I don’t think it will be done anytime soon.”

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Among the GCC countries KSA having the most oil reserve which can symbolized the peak identity of the tallest building a

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Readers' Comments

(Oct 18, 2011)
Al-Khobar
Saudi Arabia

Tallest Building
Among the GCC countries KSA having the most oil reserve which can symbolized the peak identity of the tallest building among the Arab countries that will also contribute to the World Architecture. It is very possible.

Mehmet Zengin (Aug 14, 2011)
Doha
Qatar

Skyscrapers
That seems like race between oil rich countries, who will have the tallest ? While having vast lands which can accomodate same a mount of occupants/offices in same effective way, I believe it is just wasting of money to build taller and taller towers.

blue (Aug 14, 2011)
Dammam
Saudi Arabia

Tallest Building
Prince alwaleed planned to build the Tower to reach 1600 m later they shortened to 1001 m..but still, they are not finalised yet...hope it will move ahead 1600 m or more....

Navendu Rai (Aug 14, 2011)
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

Engineer: Kingdom Tower is practical challenge
Kilometer tall tower was planned in Dubai also and its structural consultant was WSP Cantor Seinuk. If I am not wrong piling for the project was about to start. So, Kilometer tall tower is not something difficult. However 2km tall tower will certainly be a challenge. from constructability/material handling point of view. My personal point of view is the next tallest tower will be in range of 1400m.

AHMED ALI (Aug 13, 2011)
Doha
Qatar

Talles Building
Ask The OTHER Experts Rather than the working Contractor. No ONE Says BAD Things about his product. Its BAD OMEN...... TRUST ME

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