As
construction of Capital Gate tower in Abu Dhabi
is progressing the developers of the leaning
tower have decided to approach the Guinness Book
of World Records to recognise the structure as
being the "most inclined in the world".
Capital Gate leans westward an astonishing 18
degrees. In comparison, the Leaning Tower of
Pisa leans less than four degrees. Because of
its unique posture, the tower is being
constructed atop an incredibly dense mesh of
reinforced steel. The dense mesh sits above an
intensive distribution of 490 piles that have
been drilled 30m underground to accommodate the
gravitational, wind and seismic pressures.
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (Adnec),
which is developing the Capital Gate along with
project architects RMJM, have submitted a joint
application to the Guinness Book.
Simon Horgan, CEO of Adnec Group, said: "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."
"Capital Gate will be one of a kind," said David
Pringle, CEO, RMJM Asia and Middle East. "Its
asymmetric diagonal structure, known as a 'diagrid',
supports the tilting external load of the
building and we believe this is the first
building in the world to use a pre-cambered
core."
Besides believed to being the 'world's most
inclined' building, Capital Gate also features
728 unique custom-made diamond-shaped glazing
panels. Due to the structure's curved shape,
each pane of glass is different and each will be
fitted at a slightly different angle.
The tower forms a major part of the Capital
Centre development – a Dh8bn business and
residential project.
