Financial details

Two towers by Saudi Bin Laden which will share the same first floor; the slant on the right will be a distinctive element.

Haddad explains that some elements of sustainability – based mainly around the use and reuse of utilities – will be more feasible than others for this project, and that the company is in constant dialogue with the developers. The project aims to use a minimum of 10% recycled content based on actual total material cost, according to Haddad’s presentation.

Information flows from the designers to the LEED executive, then on to the LEED coordinators working across the four zones. “I was in California just a month ago, in meetings with the developers regarding the design and the direction for the LEED requirements. We look at which would be more of a challenge to achieve and which we can do; they send the amendments back to me for review.”

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If it all goes ahead as planned, the KAFD will be a defining point in the Kingdom’s renaissance. There is evidence that it is the most stable economy in the Gulf, even if this does depend on the price of oil. Some indicate that there is a direct correlation between oil price and construction, with the peak prices per barrel seen in the last few years producing many new projects.

Perhaps it is fitting that this project is centre around finance, with the aim of providing a Gulf-leading venue for business, matching the country's domination of the world's hydrocarbon markets.

“You can tell by looking at the project overall that each spot is used wisely and there is a good use of space,” says Haddad, coming back to the proximity of the buildings. “When you have a lot of business buildings in a small space, it’s going to be a nice view.”