Capital Gate reaches halfway mark

Capital Gate is being built adjacent to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

The iconic Capital Gate, being built adjacent to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, has reached its halfway mark. The tower now stands about 100m high, with the central core at level 22 and the external diagrid at level 18.

This milestone was reached when a gigantic internal atrium, including swimming pool and ‘tea lounge’, was suspended on the 17th and 18th floors, the halfway point of the 35-storey, 160 metre high tower.

When complete, Capital Gate will lean 18 degrees westward, which is 14 degrees more than the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.

Gifford, based in Dubai, was a specialist consultant on the flagship project, tasked with advising on the construction so it achieves its intended position. Gifford is an international consultancy offering engineering services ranging from MEP to roads and bridges to maritime and rail infrastructure and environmental planning development services.

Due to its unique posture, Capital Gate is being constructed on top of a two-metre-deep concrete raft with an incredibly dense mesh of reinforced steel. The extraordinary steel exoskeleton, known as the diagrid, sits above an extensive distribution of 490 piles that have been drilled 30 metres underground to accommodate the gravitational, wind and seismic pressures. The design of the central core, which slants in opposite direction to the lean of the building, straightening as it grows, has never been attempted before.

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Commenting on Capital Gate’s progress, Simon Horgan, ADNEC Group CEO, said: “When complete, Capital Gate will be a modern day icon for Abu Dhabi, recognisable throughout the world. Capital Gate is not about being the biggest or the tallest; it is about advanced technical ingenuity and aesthetic splendour. This is one of the most challenging buildings under construction in the world at the moment, but due to the partnership between ADNEC, RMJM (the architect) and all contractors on the project, groundbreaking solutions are being designed on a daily basis.”

“Passing the half-way point in development is a great success, and we are now entering a critical period in Capital Gate’s development. While we are facing some of our toughest architectural challenges, it is also the beginning of the most exciting stage, where this unique structure begins to take shape,” said RMJM project director Tony Archibold.

Capital Gate will house Abu Dhabi’s first Hyatt hotel, Hyatt at Capital Centre, a presidential-style luxury five-star hotel, which will provide 200 hotel rooms for Abu Dhabi and will serve ADNEC’s visitors and exhibitors as well as international business and leisure travellers.

 

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