Mile-High Tower

Infobox Skyscraper
building_name=Mile-High Tower

The Mile-High Tower (Arabic: برج الميل‎) is a skyscraper planned for construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. As its name suggests, the tower will be built to a height of one mile, or 1.6 kilometers. If the building reaches that height, it would be 650 meters taller than the current tallest structure, the Burj Dubai.

The project is being planned by Al-Waleed bin Talal’s Riyadh-based Kingdom Holding Company and it is understood that it will be engineered by Great Britain’s Hyder Consulting, in conjunction with Arup, and constructed by Bechtel. [ [http://kingdom.com.sa/en/MC_PR_NewsDetails.asp?p=3&z=7&ID=48 Kingdom.com.sa (Kingdom Holding Company)] ] Omrania, a Saudi firm, is thought to be the project architect, in collaboration with U.S. company Pickard Chilton. [" [http://www.meed.com/construction/news/2008/02/kingdom_set_to_approve_mile_high_tower_in_jeddah.html Kingdom set to approve Mile High Tower in Jeddah] " Sell, Christopher. "MEED". March 22 2008]

The project is projected to cost US$10.7 billion. [" [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=550548&in_page_id=1811 Mile-high tower: Saudi prince promises £5bn desert spire TWICE as tall as nearest rival being built] ." Wigmore, Barry. "Daily Mail", March 31 2008] [" [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/03/30/wtower130.xml Savoy owner plans world's tallest building] ." Levy, Megan "The Daily Telegraph" March 31 2008]

"The Sunday Times" reported in March 2008 that the Mile-High Tower “will be constructed”, which “means the Middle East has opened a strong gap over east Asia in the race for the world’s tallest building.” [" [http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/visual_arts/architecture_and_design/article3646237.ece Savoy hotel chief, Prince al-Walid bin Talal, plans mile-high tower] " Gourlay, Chris. "The Sunday Times". March 30 2008]

In May 2008, the " MEED" (Middle East Business Digest) reported that the project has been scaled back. It could be “up to 500 meters shorter,” the article stated. Soil testing in the area recently delayed the first phases of the project, casting doubt over whether skyscrapers of significant height can be built in the proposed location." [" [http://www.meed.com/news/2008/05/mile_high_tower_in_saudi_arabia_comes_up_short.html Kingdom Holding's Mile High tower is likely to be significantly shorter than originally conceived.] ]

MEED reported that tenders were expected by August 2008, following an “imminent” final investment decision on the project. A source close to the project told the publication: “It is generally understood that the project is going forward. The prince (Al-Waleed bin Talal) has indicated he is ready for construction.”

In August 2008, Kingdom Holding announced that it would unveil designs for the Mile High Tower at an exhibition in Jeddah during the first week in October. [" [http://www.meed.com/news/2008/08/kingdom_tower_to_be_unveiled_to_public_in_october.html Mile High Tower to be unveiled to public in October.] ]

ee also

*List of tallest buildings and structures in the world
*Burj Dubai

Notes