Kingdom Tower, which is being built by Saudi Bin Laden Group in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is expected to rise to the height of more than one kilometer upon completion in 2018. Jeddah Economic Co., the owner and developer has selected KONE as the vertical transportation provider to deliver the world’s fastest and highest double-decker elevators.
Kingdom Tower will be a mixed-use building featuring a five star luxury Four Seasons hotel, Four Seasons serviced apartments, first class office space, luxury condominiums and an observatory.
The building will be equipped with 65 KONE elevators and escalators. The order includes KONE Double Deck MiniSpace elevators with revolutionary KONE UltraRope hoisting technology. KONE UltraRope is a new high-rise elevator technology that is set to break industry limits and enable future elevator travel heights of 1 kilometer - twice the distance currently feasible. The KONE UltraRope technology eliminates the disadvantages of conventional steel rope and opens up a world of possibilities in high-rise building design.
“Close cooperation between all project partners, and with KONE Areeco team locally, our technical professionalism and people flow planning expertise was a winning combination in helping us land the order,�? commented Noud Veeger, Executive Vice President for KONE in Asia Pacific and Middle East. “We hail this project with great excitement,�? he added.
The KONE equipment in Kingdom Tower will include 21 KONE MonoSpace elevators, 29 KONE MiniSpace elevators, seven KONE DoubleDeck MiniSpace elevators and eight KONE TravelMaster 110 escalators. To complement the building’s exclusive look, KONE will provide the customer with tailor-designed car interiors and landing doors as well as latest People Flow Intelligence solutions including KONE Destination Control Systems and premium KONE Infoscreen displays. Other special solutions include KONE E-Link remote monitoring systems, as well as an occupant evacuation operation system for emergency situations. The order includes a ten-year equipment maintenance contract.
“We have been highly impressed with KONE’s innovative solutions to high-rise buildings. This is another cornerstone for a development of this magnitude and we look forward to creating this landmark building in all standards,” says Mr Mounib Hammoud, CEO of Jeddah Economic Company.
“Close cooperation between all project partners, and with KONE Areeco team locally, our technical professionalism and people flow planning expertise was a winning combination in helping us land the order,” comments Noud Veeger, Executive Vice President for KONE in Asia Pacific and Middle East. “We hail this project with great excitement,” he adds.
Kingdom Tower is the centerpiece and first construction phase of the Kingdom City development, located along the Red Sea on the north side of Jeddah. Encompassing a construction area of 530,000m2, Kingdom Tower is designed by architect Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture and the construction of the building has been commissioned to Saudi Bin Laden Group. Dar Al Handasa is the project’s construction supervisor, while E.C. Harris / Mace JV is managing the project.
KONE Areeco is KONE’s Saudi Arabian joint venture company with KONE holding 50% of the shares. KONE Areeco has several flagship projects in Saudi Arabia, such as the successfully completed Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel in Mecca, as well as ongoing projects such as the King Abdullah Financial District in Riyadh, and the King Abdulaziz International Airport and the Headquarters Business Park in Jeddah.
The order was booked in the second quarter of 2014.