Skyscrapers & High-Rise Architecture

[wjfox]

Singer Akon’s Multibillion-Dollar Futuristic City in Africa Gets Final Notice

2 August 2024 at 05:00 BST

A single arched concrete block juts out of a field in Senegal where R&B singer Akon first laid the foundation stone for his $6 billion metropolis four years ago.

The West African nation granted the artist 136 acres of land on its Atlantic Coast in 2020 to build his Akon City — envisioned as a real-life Wakanda, the fictional country from Marvel Studios’ Black Panther films.

Complete with condominiums, amusement parks and a seaside resort in gravity-defying skyscrapers rising above the rural landscape, Akon City would run on solar power and his Akoin cryptocurrency, the American-Senegalese singer said during a flashy presentation in Senegal’s capital, Dakar.

Today, goats and cows graze the deserted pasture 60 miles south of Dakar, and authorities are growing increasingly impatient.

Sapco-Senegal, the state-owned entity charged with developing the country’s coastal and tourism areas, has given Akon formal notice to start work on his project or the government will take back 90% of the land granted to him, General Manager Serigne Mboup said by email.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles ... nal-notice



A digital rendering of Akon City. Source: Hussein Bakri/BAD Consultant/Semer Group

[wjfox]

World's tallest residential skyscraper approved in Brazil

5 August 2024

According to reports, the city of Balneário Camboriú in Brazil has approved plans for what developers claim will be the world's tallest residential tower, which will reach over 500 metres in height.

Led by Brazilian developer FG Empreendimentos, Triumph Tower will reportedly have 100 floors and reach 544 metres tall (1,785 feet), approximately 72 metres (236 feet) higher than the world's current tallest residential tower, Central Park Tower in New York.

https://www.dezeen.com/2024/08/05/trium ... -camboriu/

[wjfox]

Michael Green Architecture designs world's tallest mass-timber skyscraper for Milwaukee

20 hours ago

Vancouver studio Michael Green Architects has released plans for a development in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which includes a mass-timber skyscraper that would be the tallest in the world if completed.

Set to be built alongside the Marcus Center in central Milwaukee, the multi-tower scheme led by developer Neutral is currently going through the city's approvals process.

Michael Green Architecture's (MGA) plans for the development include office space, retail, hotel, residential and public plazas. It would be built on the site of a parking structure for the Marcus Center, a brutalist mid-century structure designed by Harry Weese.

Current renderings for the development show a 55-storey tower made principally from mass-timber elements, which would make it the tallest engineered-wood skyscraper in the world if completed.

It would unseat the 86.6 metres (284 feet), Ascent tower by Korb + Associates Architects, the current tallest, which is also in Milwaukee.

https://www.dezeen.com/2024/08/08/talle ... milwaukee/

[Powers]

Michael Green Architecture designs world's tallest mass-timber skyscraper for Milwaukee

20 hours ago

https://www.dezeen.com/2024/08/08/talle ... milwaukee/

Wouldn't it be under risk/threath of fire? It looks wonderful but I'd surprised if it gets full approval.

[wjfox]

Foster + Partners designs "elegant" Miami supertall skyscraper

27 August 2024

Architecture studio Foster + Partners has unveiled designs for a supertall skyscraper in Miami that is set to house the relocated headquarters of hedge fund Citadel.

Designed at 54 storeys and 1,032 feet (314 metres), 1201 Brickell Bay Drive is a symmetrical supertall skyscraper designed by Foster + Partners in Miami's Brickell neighbourhood.

Developed by Philadelphia-based Gattuso Development Partners, the skyscraper is part of an overall development that will include offices, hotels and retail. The skyscraper will abut the Miami South Channel while the future mixed-use developments will expand slightly inland at 1221 Brickell Avenue and 1250-1260 Brickell Bay Drive.

[...]

According to Citadel, the project is expected to break ground in 2025.

"The development of this iconic, world-class tower at 1201 Brickell will redefine the Miami skyline and further solidify this dynamic and vibrant city as a global destination for talented professionals and their families, businesses, and culture," said Citadel.

https://www.dezeen.com/2024/08/27/foste ... r-citadel/



Credit: Foster + Partners

[wjfox]

[weatheriscool]

Enormous skyscraper confirmed as world's next second-tallest building
By Adam Williams
September 09, 2024

Back in January, plans were revealed for a skyscraper in Dubai that could potentially become the world's new second-tallest building. Now it has been confirmed that the project is going ahead, and the massive tower will soar to an impressive height of 725 m (2,378 ft).

The skyscraper is named the Burj Azizi, which is a reference to the firm in charge of the project, Azizi Developments (Burj is Arabic for Tower). Its height puts it firmly in the world's second-tallest position after the 828-m (2,121-ft)-tall Burj Khalifa, although as usual with these world's tallest rankings, it's slightly more complicated than that. If the Jeddah Tower or rumored mile-high skyscraper actually materialize in the meantime, it could potentially be knocked down a place or two, though that's unlikely.

https://newatlas.com/architecture/burj- ... d-tallest/

[weatheriscool]

Reach for the sky: Completion of world's first 1-km skyscraper in sight
By Adam Williams
October 07, 2024

We now have a completion date for what will be the world's tallest skyscraper – and it's coming sooner than you might think. The amazing structure is expected to be finished by 2028 and will rise to a mind-boggling height of 1,007 m (3,303 ft) in Saudi Arabia.

Originally known as the Kingdom Tower and the Mile-High Tower (the latter dropped once it was discovered the ground couldn't support a mile-high structure), the skyscraper was then renamed the Jeddah Tower but has now received yet another new name, the Jeddah Economic Company Tower – or JEC Tower.

It's designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, with the former having notable form for being the creative force behind the current world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, which reaches a height of 828 m (2,716 ft). To put all these numbers into perspective, the JEC Tower will be over three times the height of the Eiffel Tower, over twice the height of the Empire State Building, and almost twice the height of the USA's tallest skyscraper, the One World Trade Center.

https://newatlas.com/architecture/jec-t ... di-arabia/

[Tadasuke]

Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia (height probably 1000 meters), the construction is resuming now.

[Tadasuke]

How it is supposed to look like when it's completed:


How the construction looks in September 2024:


The skyscraper is due to complete in 2028. In 2030 it might be the third tallest after Jeddah Tower (possibly about to be completed in 2029 or 2030) and Burj Khalifa (completed in January 2010).

article about this on B1M: https://www.theb1m.com/article/worlds-n ... rmed-dubai

However, if you for example look at Nakheel Tower, Dubai Creek Tower, Marina 106, Pentominium, Falcon City of Wonders, Burj Al Alam, the Palm Deirah or Dubai Pearl, then you can see the trend : grand plans ... construction begins ... the project hits a snag ... abandonment ... repeat.

[wjfox]

New plans for the City's tallest skyscraper will retain much loved square

1 day ago

New plans have been submitted for the City’s tallest skyscraper after complaints that the vast 74 storey building would rob workers of much valued “oasis” of outdoor space.

The developers of 1 Undershaft, led by development manager Stanhope, filed their latest proposals to the planners at the City of London Corporation today after being told to revisit their plans in July.

It follows a major overhaul of the proposals “to reconfigure the building’s lower floors and improve the surrounding public realm.”

The 309 metre mega-tower next to the Leadenhall building will be the tallest structure in the Square Mile’s “eastern cluster” of skyscrapers which includes the “Bishopsgate sisters” at 22 and 8.

Corporation planners deferred a decision to approve the plans in the summer after objections to the resulting loss of the St Helen’s Square area, where many City office workers congregate at lunchtime.

https://www.standard.co.uk/business/1-u ... 89259.html

[weatheriscool]

Work begins on gigantic Saudi skyscraper that can fit 20 Empire States
By Adam Williams
October 23,

• 2024

  https://newatlas.com/architecture/mukaa ... struction/
  As if the Line wasn't enough, Saudi Arabia is currently busy constructing yet another amazing skyscraper, named the Mukaab. Taking the form of a supertall cube, new information has been released that details the build progress so far and the sheer scale of the project.
  
  The Mukaab will reach a height of 400 m (1,312 ft) in the Saudi capital Riyadh, but more impressively it will also be just as long and wide, making it so large that, according to the Saudi Government's Public Investment Fund, it could fit 20 Empire State Buildings inside of it. Additionally, Bloomberg says it will actually be the world's largest building.
  
  Its decorative exterior is inspired by traditional Islamic architecture, while its interior will have a floorspace of around 2 million square meters (0.77 square miles). At its center will be another large twisting tower – think of it like a big box with a large twisting structure inside.

[Powers]

Work begins on gigantic Saudi skyscraper that can fit 20 Empire States
By Adam Williams
October 23,

• 2024

  https://newatlas.com/architecture/mukaa ... struction/
  As if the Line wasn't enough, Saudi Arabia is currently busy constructing yet another amazing skyscraper, named the Mukaab. Taking the form of a supertall cube, new information has been released that details the build progress so far and the sheer scale of the project.
  
  Its decorative exterior is inspired by traditional Islamic architecture, while its interior will have a floorspace of around 2 million square meters (0.77 square miles). At its center will be another large twisting tower – think of it like a big box with a large twisting structure inside.

  The Mukaab will reach a height of 400 m (1,312 ft) in the Saudi capital Riyadh, but more impressively it will also be just as long and wide, making it so large that, according to the Saudi Government's Public Investment Fund, it could fit 20 Empire State Buildings inside of it. Additionally, Bloomberg says it will actually be the world's largest building.
  
  

Looks much nicer than The Line™ for sure.

[Tadasuke]

[weatheriscool]

Unlimited Saudi ambition: Floors rise fast in new world's tallest tower
By Adam Williams
January 23, 2025

https://newatlas.com/architecture/jec-t ... -jan-2025/
New details have been revealed on what is arguably Saudi Arabia's most ambitious current architecture project: the world's new tallest skyscraper, which will rise to an incredible height of over 1 km (0.62 miles) in the Red Sea port city Jeddah.

First unveiled as the Kingdom Tower, the project went through a few names before settling on the Jeddah Economic Company Tower (or JEC Tower). It's designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, the former being most famous for designing the current world's tallest building, Dubai's Burj Khalifa, which reaches 828 m (2,716 ft).

Saudi Prince Al Waleed bin Talal Al Saud, who leads the project, has confirmed that the gigantic tower will reach a height of over 1 km (0.62 miles). However, he has also now said that its final height has not actually been decided and that it might even go taller. At a minimum then, this will put it at over twice the height of the Empire State Building, and almost twice the height of the USA's tallest skyscraper, the One World Trade Center.
Work on this unprecedented project had stalled for several years but now that it's back underway, concrete is currently being poured on the 64th floor. The floors are expected to be concreted in four days each, meaning we should see significant progress in a relatively short time. The Saudi PRince also explained that currently the concrete can be pumped to a height of 800 m (2,624 ft), but that the firms involved are working on increasing this up to 1,000 m (3,280 ft).

[wjfox]

Unlimited Saudi ambition: Floors rise fast in new world's tallest tower
By Adam Williams
January 23, 2025

[...] The JEC Tower is still on track for a 2028 completion.

2028 completion indeed seems likely.

See date at top-left of the video:-

[weatheriscool]

Insane Saudi Arabian skyscraper will smash all current height records
By Adam Williams
March 24, 2025

It's not yet official, but credible rumors are gaining momentum that the ridiculously tall skyscraper planned for Saudi Arabia which we covered last year is going ahead. If constructed, the incredibly ambitious 1.2-mile (2-km)-high building will dwarf all other man-made structures.

According to a recent report by the usually well-informed Dubai outlet MEED, the skyscraper will be part of a larger ongoing business district near Riyadh named the North Pole and is being designed by prestigious British studio Foster + Partners.

To put its height into perspective, the new tower will be around 3.5 times the height of the USA's tallest building, the One World Trade Center, and will even be over twice the height of Dubai's Burj Khalifa, which is the world's current tallest building. It will also be far taller than anything else planned, including the JEC Tower, which is also in Saudi Arabia.

The challenges to overcome are immense. For example, wind loads at such heights would crush a normal building, while even the ground itself may not be able to support it. Plus there are earthquakes to consider, too. It's enough to give any structural engineer sleepless nights.

https://newatlas.com/architecture/saudi ... -partners/

[wjfox]

Plans approved for tallest UK tower outside London

11 April 2025

Plans for the UK's tallest skyscraper outside of London have been approved for Manchester.

The 76-storey tower, planned by developer Salboy for the city centre, will stand at 246m high (807ft) and include 452 flats and a 160-bed hotel.

Simon Ismail, managing director of Salboy, said the development would "shape Manchester's skyline for years to come".

Salboy previously said the 76-storey tower would become the tallest residential building in Western Europe.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4grrn2kk17o



Credit: Salboy

[weatheriscool]

NYC skyscraper undergoes dramatic redesign to reach new heights
By Adam Williams
June 02, 2025

https://newatlas.com/architecture/aveni ... roperties/
Back in 2023, plans were revealed for a high-rise project in New York City that consisted of two connected towers. Named the Avenir, it has now undergone a dramatic redesign and will instead consist of one taller skyscraper, which will rise out of an unusual sculpted podium.

The updated design is being handled by original architects CetraRuddy Architecture and Silverstein Properties is still developing. The location also remains unchanged and it will be situated on Manhattan’s Far West Side.

Its new design is totally different, however. Avenir will now reach a height of 785 ft (almost 240 m), up from the originally proposed 680 ft (207 m). So, it will be a significantly taller building, though still not massive by Manhattan standards – to put its height into perspective, the One World Trade Center reaches 1,776 ft (541 m).

It's certainly unusual, with a wavy nine-story podium that creates terrace areas. The chunky podium culminates in an open green rooftop, from which the tower proper rises. Consisting of 45 floors, it will be finished in glass and feature a segmented, stepped form made up of four main sections.

[weatheriscool]

Palace in the sky: Ultra-luxury skyscraper soars to almost 1,500 ft
By Adam Williams
June 11, 2025

Dubai is already full of amazing skyscrapers, however a new project by Deyaar Development looks sure to make a big impression on its famous skyline. Soaring to an ambitious height of 445 m (1,459 ft), the tower will contain luxurious residences and even a palace fit for an Arabian prince.

The skyscraper, named Downtown Residences, will be located in the city's burgeoning Business Bay development. It will be anchored by a chunky base, with twin tower-like sections rising out of it. Each tower's sleek exterior is broken up at points by segmented areas that will presumably be used for shared areas and amenities, though could just simply be eye-catching design elements.

https://newatlas.com/architecture/downt ... ces-dubai/