Foster + Partners to Create 2km Skyscraper outside Riyadh
Admittedly not NEOM, but we're tracking its development
Foster + Partners, the renowned architectural firm, has reportedly landed the coveted commission to design the world's tallest building – a staggering 2km-high skyscraper in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
According to reports from Architects Journal in the UK, this multibillion-dollar project, backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), will soar twice the height of the current record holder, the iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The project comes as part of a sea of different ambitious projects in the country. See below
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The latest on Epicon Towers Neom, the ambitious giga-project in Saudi Arabia, has commenced construction on one of its flagship developments, the Epicon Towers, in the Gulf of Aqaba region. The enabling works are currently underway on site, executed by the local foundation contractor,
Towering Ambitions
The proposed skyscraper, set to be constructed near King Khalid International Airport, north of the Saudi capital, will eclipse the 828m-tall Burj Khalifa by a remarkable margin.
Sources suggest that architectural heavyweights such as SOM and other international design firms were also vying for this mega-tall project, but Foster + Partners emerged as the key design groups in charge.
Interestingly, the firm is already overseeing the massive expansion of the nearby King Khalid International Airport, recently renamed the King Salman International Airport. After securing a separate contest for this 57km2 development in late 2022, Foster + Partners now finds itself working on at least three airports in Saudi Arabia, further solidifying its footprint in the region.
Pushing Boundaries
While the Riyadh skyscraper will undoubtedly be Foster + Partners' crowning achievement, the firm is no stranger to record-breaking heights. Currently, their tallest scheme is the 423m-tall JPMorgan Chase World Headquarters at 270 Park Avenue in New York City, which is nearing completion. However, the proposed Riyadh tower will dwarf this structure, standing more than four times higher.
Giga-Developments in Saudi Arabia
The Riyadh schemes are the latest additions to a series of colossal giga-developments underway across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, many of which involve British architectural practices. NEOM, the highly ambitious $500 billion smart city development, has already enlisted the services of British architects such as Peter Cook, Zaha Hadid Architects, and, until last summer, David Adjaye. The flagship project, The Line, envisions a 170km-long, 500m-tall linear city.
Elsewhere, Zaha Hadid Architects is leading the design of the Discovery Tower, a supertall crystalline skyscraper for the Trojena ski resort, another NEOM project.
Foster + Partners' recent financial results paint a picture of remarkable success. The firm's fee income soared by £57.6 million to a record £290 million in the year ending 30 April 2023. Notably, the Middle East region contributed significantly to this growth, with revenue from the region ballooning from £83 million to £118.2 million, solidifying the firm's global reach and influence.
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This is an independent blog and is not sponsored or endorsed by NEOM, the Saudi government, or any other official Saudi organizations. The views and opinions expressed here are solely my own. While I strive to discuss NEOM's development objectively based on available information, this blog operates independently without any formal affiliations or financial incentives from the parties involved in the NEOM project. As with any major development, I encourage readers to research NEOM from credible sources and form their own perspectives on the ambitious initiative.
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