The Riyadh Tower

ARCHITECT brings you Atkins’ newest project in the kingdom.

Having been involved in the region for around 40 years and despite leaving KSA in 1999, Atkins recently returned to Saudi Arabia under its subsidiary company Faithful & Gould to open an office in Riyadh.

Given the capital city’s stated plans for investment in urban planning, civil infrastructure, transportation and buildings, the timing could not have been better for Atkins—which is seeking to open a second office in Jeddah.

During the first six months of 2009, Atkins won a number of planning competitions, some preliminary building design work and a bit of Systems/M&E design work for the Makkah metro but, at the moment, its flagship project in KSA is the 224m The Riyadh Tower.

Fresh off its recent win in the category for ‘Best Office/Retail/Commercial development’ at Cityscape KSA in early June, The Riyadh Tower is poised to be the third tallest building in Saudi Arabia behind Riyadh’s Kingdom Centre (311m) and the King Faisaliah Tower (267m).

Atkins was approached by the Al Ajlan Allied Group (AAAG) in 2008 to provide architectural, structural, MEP engineering and sustainable design services for the 63000m² Riyadh Tower complex and, based on the client brief, it was clear AAAG was seeking something iconic and luxurious that would emphasise its high-profile site near the King Faisaliah Tower.

“[AAAG] approached Atkins directly and asked us to design an elite iconic office and retail development that would portray a lifestyle that is equal parts luxury and business, as well as, demonstrate the environmental and cultural aspirations of the locality,” explains Joe Tabet, associate director & head of architecture for Atkins Abu Dhabi and its regional hotel specialist for the Middle East.

With 42 storeys of office space, a 60m skyline void, four levels of underground parking and a retail souk that extends the architectural language throughout the site, The Riyadh Tower complex aims to be the city’s third architectural landmark.

“Considering its location, we felt the need for a dynamic, modern and contemporary design approach with considerable respect for climate and culture,” explains Tabet when asked about the unique site. “The basic concept was derived from existing urban fabric blending with local patterns, forms, cultural and urban elements.”

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