Burj Khalifa wins Best Project

SOM associate director Eric Tomich

The Burj Khalifa won Project of Year last night at the Middle East Architect Awards 2010.

The designers of the tallest building in the world, SOM, received the award at the Park Hyatt last night in Dubai.

Associate director Eric Tomich paid tribute to the 12,000 people who worked on the power, from its original design in 2003 right up to its completion in 2010.

“We’re delighted to have won this. The reason in part is that it recognises the work of a lot of people. It’s a special project and a fantastic achievement,” he said.

Tomich also said that he felt that the era of the supertalls was not over, but that financial considerations would be paramount in deciding where the next building would be built.

“I would say that there is still a cultural preference for supertalls. I think the trend is very much part of the economic cycle of a country, as we’ve seen in the past the era for supertalls in the US, China, Hong Kong.

“So in a sense there are a lot of things that need to be in alignment. It’s all down to the client’s vision, and for them to see the bigger picture for designing supertalls.”

Other nominations on the night included Abu Dhabi’s Aldar HQ and the Tripoli Congress Centre, by Tabanlioglu Architects.

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