Aren't most of the stabilization systems currently in use more for occupant comfort than structural soundness? Structurally, all buildings could withstand a lot more force than occupants would be willing to put up with, so as long as the passive systems in a building can withstand forces enough to keep it structurally sound, then if all the failure of active systems does is make the occupants uncomfortable it's not much to worry about and becomes simply a question of economics.

From the top of the Mile High Tower, visitors will be able to see North Africa and the Indian Ocean.

I can't even fathom such a view.

Mile High Tower to be unveiled to public in October
Published: 31 August 2008 11:20 GMT
Author: Christopher Sell

The design for Jeddah's proposed Mile High tower will be unveiled in the first week of October.

The unveiling forms part of an exhibition being held in Jeddah, detailing various development projects.

It will be the first time the tower designs will have been revealed to the public.

Kingdom Holding, which is developing the tower, will be showcasing the structure as part of the wider 5.3 square kilometre real estate project it has planned, located in the north of the city near the creek.

The investment value of the project is estimated at SR50bn ($13.6bn) on completion.

It will be split into a residential area of 1.5 million sq m, a business zone of 800,000 sq m, and a 470,000 sq m commercial area.

There will also be an education area of 150,000 sq m, along with leisure and tourism facilities and hotels.

Meed

There were also some reports about 4 months ago saying that the tower could be significantly shorter, by about 500 meters.

p.s - Sorry for bumping up such an old thread.

Because when towers start to get that high they get really ugly and I dont think anyone will want to work or live in them.

Ya right!:haha:

Not even they have enough money to build this.:haha: :haha:

^^^^^
They have more than enough money to build this; the amount of liquidity floating around here is mind boggling. I don't think a mile high would get built though because I doubt it would be economically feasible. Although if there is one city in the gulf that needs skyscrapers, it is Jeddah. If you check out Jeddah in google earth, you'll notice it's very long North to South and extremely narrow East to west and that's because in the east there are rocky mountains and in the west there's the red sea.

Mammoth KHC projects unveiled

King Abdullah, custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, inaugurated two colossal projects of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) being built at a total investment of over SR100 billion ($26.6 billion) in Jeddah.

The designs and plans of these projects - Kingdom City and 1000-metre high Kingdom Tower, which is to become the tallest tower in the world - were unveiled for the first time at the opening of a major international architectural exhibition “Towards the First World” in Jeddah on Saturday.

The launch was held in the presence of crown prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, prince Khaled Alfaisal governor of Makkah Province, prince Alwaleed bin Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) and Adel Muhammad Faqih, mayor of Jeddah and other members of the royal family.

KHC was the main sponsor of this historical event. The two iconic projects from KHC were the highlight of the exhibition.

During the event, King Abdullah and Prince Alwaleed toured KHC’s exhibition of the master plan and designs of the project.

Alwaleed said the KHC has many grand investments in real estate in Saudi Arabia and this was one of them.

'We are extremely delighted at the unveiling of the designs and plans of KHC’s iconic Kingdom City and Kingdom Tower projects in the city of Jeddah by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz which will signify KHC’s contribution in placing Saudi Arabia at the forefront of the first world and reaffirming KHC as one of the world leading real estate developers.”

'King Abdullah has previously inaugurated the Kingdom Tower in Riyadh during which Prince Alwaleed presented the King with the awards that Kingdom Centre had received: the Best New Skyscraper of the Year 2003 for Kingdom Tower and The Innovative Design & Construction of a New Project 2003 for Al Mamalaka Mall,' he added.

Talal Al Maiman, executive director for development and domestic investments and a member of KHC’s investment committee said KHC make use of its resources to the utmost potential to lead to outstanding achievements and make future visions a reality through leading and challenging projects.

Organized by the City of Jeddah, the exhibition features sixteen projects currently planned for the Makkah and Jeddah regions.

Kingdom Tower is part of the Kingdom City development which will be one of the largest and most comprehensive real estate projects to be built in Saudi Arabia located at Obhur, North of the creek of Jeddah and the mountains to the east.

Prominently located on a prime site, the master plan, encompassing 7.1 sq km, Kingdom City is 20 km from the old city of Jeddah near King Abdulaziz International Airport.

The area that comprises of buildings is 23 million square meters includes commercial, residential, institutional, educational, entertainment, retail and hotel facilities.

The centerpiece of the development will be the landmark Kingdom Tower. Kingdom City is expected to house 80,000 residents and accommodate 250,000 visitors who will enjoy its facilities; lakes, canals, water sports and other leisure activities.

Kingdom Tower will include five-star hotel accommodations, office space and luxury residences that encompass dramatic, sweeping views of the Red Sea, Obhur Creek and the mountains to the east.-TradeArabia News Service

King Abdullah Inaugurates the Two Huge Projects: Kingdom City & Tallest Tower in the World in Jeddah
(12/10/2008)

King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques unveiled and inaugurated the two colossal projects of Kingdom City in Jeddah and Kingdom Tower in Jeddah in the presence of HRH Crown Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz, HRH Prince Khaled Alfaisal Governor of Makkah Province, HRH Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC) and Eng. Adel Muhammad Faqih, Mayor of Jeddah and other members of the royal family.

The unveiling of the designs and plans of the tower that will adorn the city of Jeddah and will be over 1,000 meters high, was held at the opening of a major international architectural exhibition “Towards the First World” in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday 11th October 2008. KHC was the main sponsor of this historical event. KHC’s two projects: Kingdom City and Kingdom Tower were the highlight of the exhibition with a major presentation. It was the first time the design for Kingdom City and the iconic Kingdom Tower were revealed publicly. During the event, King Abdullah and Prince Alwaleed toured KHC’s exhibition of the master plan and designs of the project with a total investment of more than SR100 billion.

HRH Prince Alwaleed commented: “KHC has many grand investments in real estate in Saudi Arabia and this is one of them. We are extremely delighted at the unveiling of the designs and plans of KHC’s iconic Kingdom City and Kingdom Tower projects in the city of Jeddah by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz which will signify KHC’s contribution in placing Saudi Arabia at the forefront of the first world and reaffirming KHC as one of the world leading real estate developers.” King Abdullah has previously inaugurated the Kingdom Tower in Riyadh during which Prince Alwaleed presented the King with the awards that Kingdom Centre had received: the Best New Skyscraper of the Year 2003 for Kingdom Tower and The Innovative Design & Construction of a New Project 2003 for Al Mamlaka Mall.

Engineer Talal Al Maiman, Executive Director for Development and Domestic Investments and a member of KHC’s Investment Committee commented: “Through the continuous guidance of HRH Prince Alwaleed, KHC uses its resources to their utmost potential to lead to outstanding achievements and to make future visions a reality through leading and challenging projects. I have all the confidence that the return on investments of these projects will be very rewarding, God willing as KHC’s projects have been in Riyadh. ”

Organized by the City of Jeddah, the exhibition features sixteen projects currently planned for the Makkah and Jeddah regions. Kingdom Tower is part of the Kingdom City development which will be one of the largest and most comprehensive real estate projects to be built in Saudi Arabia located at Obhur, North of the creek of Jeddah and the mountains to the east. Prominently located on a prime site, the master plan, encompassing 7.1 square kilometers (1750 acres). Kingdom City in Jeddah is 20 km from the old city of Jeddah near King Abdulaziz International Airport. The area that comprises of buildings is 23 million square meters includes commercial, residential, institutional, educational, entertainment, retail and hotel facilities. The centerpiece of the development will be the landmark Kingdom Tower. Kingdom City is expected to house 80,000 residents and accommodate 250,000 visitors who will enjoy its facilities; lakes, canals, water sports and other leisure activities.

Kingdom Tower’s timeless beauty derives from its simplicity and purity of form. The tower will rise from a large retail and conference centre podium to 1,000+ meters in height –the tallest building in the world – and include five-star hotel accommodations, office space and luxury residences that encompass dramatic, sweeping views of the Red Sea, Obhur Creek and the mountains to the east. Essentially triangular in plan, Kingdom Tower is conceived as a graceful, sculptural form that reflects not only the unique character of Jeddah but also the sky, water, and land from its taut glass skin.


http://kingdom.com.sa/sysadmin/NewsM...20Oct%2008.JPG

There were ads in todays papers with the height saying 1km+. They actually have a bit of the tower missing near the top with a question mark in it's place. :-P

So not the mile high tower anymore.

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&sect...12&m=10&y=2008

Hmm. . . cost = ~$80,000,000,000.00

. . .

Maybe for the whole project as opposed to just the tower???

It's for the whole project. . . still an incredible figure. . .

CNN reported on this today. . .

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/10/...tml#cnnSTCText

Well, this project is to cost $95 billion, but the saudis definitely have this sort of money wheras I really doubt dubai does.

^Agreed

Saudi Arabia's oil wealth far surpasses that of Dubai, the Kingdom can definitely build more towers like this.

Makes you wonder why the Middle East has been tearing it up with skyscrapers.

Both places have more than enough money to build these monsters, you only need so much to get one built, so the Saudis have more money, but Dubai uses there's much more effectively, by fare, and if the UAE's economy keeps rising the way it does bringing in non oil income the way it does, it wont take long for them to pass the Saudis economy. Having alot of money makes you lazy, the Dubai story, and success came with other people's money, they have the BRAINS, and there standard of living is by far better.

What's important is who is more clever to pull the higher one off, and Im sure Dubai 's will be more profitable, remember you got to sell 19,000 units, who is really going to flock out to Jeddah and spend money when you got Dubai, and it's life style.

For you American's to under stand it's like buying a condo in Buffalo, or Cleveland, compared to Miami, or Las Vegas, it's a no brainer.

Not to mention, Dubai has alot more experience doing high rise's now, and a 2.4 kilometer building in the pipe line, food for thought.

My money's on Dubai all the way, what's going to be interesting is when they boith surpase the 1000m barrier, and there watching to see what the other guy's going to do next.

Buffalo or Cleveland? I'll take Vegas or Miami. :)