Tall, taller, tallest. That’s what engineers and architects always thought and think. This time Dutch design- and engineering agency Arcadis takes up the challenge to build the highest tower ever, entitled the ‘Kingdom Tower’, in Jeddah (Saudi Arabia). With an estimated height of about 3280 feet it will send the current tallest tower, the ‘Burj Khalifa’ to a second place.

© AFP PHOTO/ KINGDOM HOLDING COMPANY
(Artist Impression)

It leaves no doubt that with the ‘Kingdom Tower’ project the collaboration between Arcadis (EC Harris) and Mace will set new standards of what is possible at engineering level worldwide.  The original idea was to build a tower as tall as 5250 feet but due to geophysical limitations at the location of where it’ll be build, the height was reduced to what’s currently 3280 feet. However, this is just an estimation, the exact height could even surpass that figure, because there’s currently a mysterious secrecy about its actual height. At some days visitors will be literally with their head in the clouds when being at the top of the ‘Kingdom Tower’. The cost of this über tower will be at an estimated 1 billion dollars. The actual construction should start within six months and the final delivery of the building will be within six years from now. Thanks to the folks over at Gizmodo, you can compare the dimensions of the current highest towers throughout the world with the future ‘Kingdom Tower’ (see their comparison illustration below).

© Gizmodo