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The Kingdom Tower in the city of Jeddah is expected to be the first architectural marvel in the world to reach the one-kilometer height milestone.
Currently, the title of the tallest building on the planet belongs to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, standing at a height of 827 meters and renowned for its extravagance. However, the Kingdom Tower, upon completion in the flourishing land of Saudi Arabia, is set to surpass this record.
According to Construction Weekly sources, the construction of the tower may commence next week. The estimated cost for building this skyscraper, consisting of 200 floors, is around $1.23 billion, involving 80,000 tons of steel. From the highest point of the building, one can gaze out towards the Red Sea.
Construction experts reveal that erecting a tower as tall as the Kingdom Tower is no easy feat, especially in a location close to the coastline. The foundation will need to be designed 60 meters deep underground, with the capacity to withstand saltwater influence.
Another challenge in constructing the tower is the wind force at greater heights. Without a scientifically sound design, the wind load could potentially tilt or break the tower at any time. Architect Gordon Gill states that the tower will feature uneven floor shapes to allow the wind to circulate around the building, providing efficient cooling without significant impact on the structure.
In addition, providing concrete for constructing the upper floors is also a challenge. Engineers may employ a method of pumping concrete upward through a single pump, similar to the approach used in building the Burj Khalifa. The pumping is expected to take place during the night to avoid temperature interference.
Sang Dae Kim, the director of the Saudi Arabian Council of Tall Buildings, expresses optimism about the project. He states that current technology could allow for the construction of a structure reaching a height of 2 km.
According to VnExpress
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourJune 18, 2014
