Capital Gate, Deconstructivist skyscraper in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Capital Gate is a skyscraper in Abu Dhabi distinguished by its dramatic 18-degree westward lean across 35 floors. The tower rises 160 meters with a steel and glass exterior that catches light throughout the day.
Construction began in September 2007, with piling work starting that November and the facade going up in February 2009. The tower reached its final height of 160 metres in October 2009 and opened on 21 December 2011. It was designed by RMJM for the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company and in June 2010 Guinness World Records certified its 18-degree westward lean as the farthest for a man-made building.
Capital Gate is the focal point of Capital Centre, the district built around the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, which it links to by a bridge. Its lower floors hold offices, while floors 18 to 33 house the Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi hotel. The tower is also known as the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi.
The building houses a five-star hotel, corporate offices, and conference spaces next to the National Exhibition Centre. Visitors should note the structure is actively in use, so full access to all areas may not be available to the general public.
This tower holds the Guinness World Record for the most tilted artificial structure, leaning four times more than the Tower of Pisa. The extreme angle was designed intentionally as an architectural statement rather than an engineering flaw.
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