Capital Gate: Defying gravity

By Timon Singh | 11/04/09 - 14:32

Capital Gate, Abu Dhabi

If someone was to try and design a tower with an 18 degree lean (4 times that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa), you would think they'd face an impossible challenge. However the Tekla Corporation, a Finnish company, have pulled it off.

Using Structures Building Information Modeling, or BIM, software, the company's engineers pulled off a design using diagrid structures that are aligned geometrically in order to give the 35-storey, 160 metre tower its unique 18 degree westward lean.

Once it's finished next year, Capital Gate will become one of the world's most iconic buildings thanks in part to the diagrid technology, that has been used on high-profile buildings such as the the Hearst Tower in New York City, the Swiss Re building ("the Gherkin") in London and the CCTV headquarters tower in Beijing. The process involves creating triangular structures with diagonal support beams using less structural steel than a conventional steel frame, reducing costs and benefiting the environment.

Comparatively, the total weight of Capital Gate's steel is estimated to be around 21,500 tons which is far less than the 110,000 tons used to build Beijing's Bird's Nest, or the 50,000 tons estimated for the CCTV tower in Beijing and the 36,910 tons of steel used in Malaysia's Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.

"International Icon"

The main feature of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the Capital Gate tower has been modelled on a wave and hopes to successfully win the title of "the world's most inclined building" from Guinness World Records.

Simon Horgan, the CEO of the ADNEC Group, the company behind the project, said, "Capital Gate will be an international icon for the emirate of Abu Dhabi and for ADNEC. When Abu Dhabi undertakes a project it does so with one aim - to be the best; the incredible technical achievement and aesthetic splendour of Capital Gate ensures it will be regarded around the world as one of the most magnificent buildings ever constructed.

"Capital Gate will be a building that the world will talk about, not because it has surpassed another building as the world's tallest, but because of its aesthetic splendour and technical achievement."

And many believe it's down to the diagrid design...

"Globally, diagrid structures have been emerging as a new design trend for tall buildings with their powerful structural rationale and aesthetic potential," said Gordon Affleck, Design Principal for RMJM Middle East.

"And ADNEC's Capital Gate iconic tower will be the first building in Abu Dhabi to use this technique."

The tower will also include the 5-star ‘Hyatt at Capital Centre' hotel and will provide the most exclusive office space in Abu Dhabi.