The tallest building in Saudi Arabia during the 2000s, the Kingdom center’s mixed-use tower exhibits a unique design chosen to symbolize the city of Riyadh: a simple elliptical tower topped with a curved opening where a 200-foot-long observatory bridge spans an inverted catenary arch. The striking triangular opening is visible from nearly all parts of Saudi Arabia’s capital city.
The Kingdom Centre is located in the heart of Riyadh’s prestigious Al-Olaya retail district. The Project site occupies an area of approximately 96,000 m². The development integrates multiple uses which are grouped in three primary components: a 300m high tower, a three-level Podium and below grade parking for 3,200 cars and service facilities.
Following an international limited design competition, Omrania & Associates (O&A) were commissioned by the Kingdom Holding Company, in association with Ellerbe Becket and a consortium of international consultants, to provide full design documentation based on the winning scheme. O&A were subsequently commissioned to supervise the project construction.
The tower’s has four entrances that separate the major uses inside: 13 floors of office space at the bottom (including a five-story atrium lobby and a business center on the 14th floor), a 10-story Four Seasons Hotel above the offices, five levels of luxury apartments and condominiums, and the headquarters of Kingdom Holding Company on the 30th floor just below the inverted arch.
A final feature of the tower is the observation gallery in the cross bridge, at the very top of the tower’s parabolic opening, offering unlimited views of the city of Riyadh in all directions.
The tower incorporates state-of-the-art building systems, and energy-efficient chiller water thermal storage.
Kingdom Centre – Photo © Ali Al Mubarak / Arriyadh Development Authority
The podium completes the symmetry with two side wings:
The East Podium accommodates a 57,000m² shopping mall on 3-levels. The mall includes international department stores as well as numerous retail stores and a food court.
The West Podium houses a 4,400m² two-storey high wedding and conference hall for 1200 people with all support facilities such as private meeting rooms, royal suites, specialty restaurants, in addition to related hotel back of house support facilities. There is also sports facilities (tennis and squash courts) and an open-air swimming pool.
The Kingdom Center represents one of the most prestigious and significant development in Saudi Arabia in recent years.
