World’s tallest commercial tower in Dubai moves step closer as Burj Khalifa architect appointed

AS + GG has also designed Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Tower - the 1 kilometre-high tower being built by Jeddah Economic Company that is set to be the world’s tallest when it completes in 2019.

The Burj 2020 will be built in Jumeirah Lakes Towers where the Almas Tower, centre, currently stands at 360 metres and is the tallest in the area. Sarah Dea / The National
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Tall buildings specialist Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture (AS + GG) has been chosen by the master developer of Dubai’s Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT) district to design the Burj 2020 tower - set to be the world’s tallest commercial tower.

AS + GG has also designed Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Tower - the 1km-high tower being built by Jeddah Economic Company that is set to be the world’s tallest when it completes in 2019.

Its founders also worked on the design of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa while based at Chicago practice Skidmore Owings + Merrill.

JLT’s master developer, DMCC, has also appointed WATG to create the master plan for the surrounding Burj 2020 district. It has worked on projects including The Atlantis The Palm and Abu Dhabi’s Emirates Palace, as well as the Grand Hyatt in Kuala Lumpur.

“AS + GG and WATG come with a wealth of global destination and tower design expertise,” said DMCC executive chairman Ahmed Bin Sulayem.

“Designing a world-class destination of this scale will set new levels of efficiency and urban sustainability and we are confident that our partners, in delivering the Burj 2020 District and tower, will create a new address for the global business community of the future, right here in Dubai.”

WATG’s master plan for the surrounding district will encompass around 1.3 million square metres of buildings, including commercial, retail and hotel space.

DMCC has previously said that a 360-degree observation deck at the top of the Burj 2020 is planned, making it the highest observation deck in the world.

The Council for Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat ranks New York’s One World Trade Center as the world’s tallest commercial tower, at 541 metres. The height of Burj 2020 is yet to be revealed.

mfahy@thenational.ae

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