Saudi Arabia is fully committed to challenging new heights in the field of architecture, with plans to build a super skyscraper, the "Rise Tower," in its capital Riyadh, reaching a height of 2000 meters. The building was designed by internationally renowned architectural design firm Foster+Partners and is the core landmark of the "Arctic" comprehensive development project, with an estimated total investment of $5 billion. This height will reach twice the current world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, and is expected to become an insurmountable milestone in the future global competition for super tall buildings.

The Saudi Sovereign Wealth Fund Public Investment Fund has officially launched the bidding process, inviting multiple top international contractors including Yikang Limited, Bechtel Group, Jacob Engineering Group, Parsons, Myers Group Limited, and Turner Construction Company to jointly bid for the development and management rights of the "Arctic" project covering a total area of 19 square kilometers, including the "Rise Tower".

The project is located adjacent to the Expo venue planned for 2030 and the New Muraba Development Zone. In addition to surpassing the physical height of the sky, 'Rise Tower' is also committed to creating extraordinary user experiences. The tower plans to introduce luxury hotels, high-end dining venues, and futuristic themed spaces, and its observation deck will provide a stunning view overlooking the entire city of Riyadh.

To achieve this unprecedented building height, the project plans to adopt multiple cutting-edge engineering technologies. Including a three-dimensional composite structure system combined with carbon fiber exterior walls to withstand strong winds of 250 kilometers per hour; Set up a gravity buffer layer every 200 meters to suppress building sway through dynamic weighting devices; Customized ultra high speed maglev elevator system, with an expected operating speed of 20 meters per second; The integration of photovoltaic films on the exterior facade of the building, combined with high-altitude wind power generation devices, is expected to achieve 60% self supply of energy.

Since the disclosure of the plan, the project has also raised many doubts. The primary issue is geological risk. Riyadh is located in the relatively geologically active Arabian Shield region, and the seismic design required for super high-rise buildings must significantly exceed current regulations. Meanwhile, the lengthy construction period is also a major challenge, and the entire project is expected to take 12 to 15 years to complete. In addition, the high operational and maintenance costs are also a concern, with preliminary estimates suggesting that annual maintenance expenses could reach up to $800 million, accounting for approximately 16% of the total construction cost.

International commentators have pointed out that with the response of top contractors around the world, the next five years will be a critical stage for whether this century's project can turn from blueprint to reality. Driven by Saudi Arabia's economic transformation strategy, the country is rapidly emerging as an important stage for the world's super tall buildings. (This article is from the official website www.seetao.com of Jian Dao. Reproduction without permission is prohibited, otherwise it will be prosecuted. Please indicate Jian Dao website+original link when reprinting.) Jian Dao website infrastructure engineering column editor/Yang Beihua