HOK's CMA tower nears completion in riyadh, saudi arabia

HOK’s CMA tower nears completion in riyadh, saudi arabia
all images courtesy of HOK

soaring 1,260 feet (384 meters) above the city of riyadh, HOK’s 80-storey’ CMA tower’ is nearing completion in saudi arabia. when the scheme opens in mid-2017, the skyscraper will stand as one of the world’s most high-tech supertall buildings, positioning riyadh as the financial and economic center of the middle east. the project is the centerpiece of the king abdullah financial district, an emerging mixed-use financial hub. capital market authority, the government organization responsible for regulating saudi arabia’s capital markets, will occupy the upper floors.

the tower’s sparkling elevations reference the crystals found in local ravines

the building’s distinctive geometric form features an integrated façade system that results in a strikingly original silhouette on the city’s skyline. the tower’s sparkling elevations reference the crystals found in the ravines of the saudi arabian desert, a transparency that also provides access to natural light. a high-performance enclosure incorporates shading, photovoltaic solar collection, façade lighting and an access system. this integrated solution reinforces the overall building design and geometry while minimizing solar gain and internal cooling loads. energy is reclaimed through a photovoltaic array installation on the roof.

the project is the centerpiece of the king abdullah financial district, a mixed-use financial hub

modular floor plates create a highly efficient internal environment with open-plan volumes that maintain flexibility and adaptability across every level of the structure. combining public circulation and private amenity space, the podium at the base includes an auditorium, cafeteria and two-storey atrium. an innovative vertical transportation system integrates one of the world’s largest installations of the twin elevator system with double-deck shuttles. two elevator cabs travel independently — one above the other — in the same shaft. the tower, which is expected to achieve LEED gold certification, was designed in collaboration with omrania & associates.

a high-performance enclosure incorporates solar shading and photovoltaic solar collection