Aldar Headquarters building, Office building in Al Raha Beach, United Arab Emirates
The circular tower reaches 121 meters (397 feet) in height and features a diagonal steel grid that eliminates the need for internal support columns. The convex facade encloses 23 floors of office space with continuous glass windows spanning the entire perimeter of each level.
MZ Architects completed this 23-floor commercial tower in 2010 as headquarters for Aldar Properties in Abu Dhabi. The design concept emerged from a competition where numerous international architecture firms submitted proposals. Construction took four years and required specialized engineering techniques for the curved steel structure.
This structure represents Abu Dhabi's position as a center for architectural experimentation in the Middle East and serves as a widely recognized landmark of modern urban development at Raha Beach. Engineers and architecture students throughout the Gulf region use it as a reference project for innovative building techniques.
The tower contains 12 passenger elevators and 2 service elevators plus a comprehensive management system for security and maintenance. Visitors can view the exterior from adjacent Raha Beach or from Al Raha Beach Road, as it houses private office space without public access.
The diagrid structural system marks the first application of this engineering technique in United Arab Emirates construction. The exoskeletal structure distributes the entire weight of the tower across its outer shell, creating flexibility in interior space design without load-bearing walls.
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