Capital Gate’s distinctive futuristic design, aesthetic splendour and technical excellence, makes it a modern marvel and a celebration of human achievement that reflects the dynamism of Abu Dhabi. Additionally, the tower provides a historic link to the past by integrating with the grandstand at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, one of the world’s most modern exhibition venues. Capital Gate underscores the bond between the old and the new by linking to this historic grandstand through an innovative canopy commencing from level 18 of the tower and sweeping across the grandstand, creating a wave-like effect.

Fact File

• ADNEC is the owner and developer of Capital Gate
• The iconic tower soars 160 metres above ground and has been built with a westward incline of 18 degrees
• Capital Gate holds the Guinness Record for ‘World’s Furthest Leaning Manmade Tower’ Capital Gate contains 35-storeys with floors 2 – 16 comprising office space.  Floors 18 onwards will house the 189-room, exclusive ‘Hyatt Capital Gate’ hotel. Floors 1 & 17 comprise plant rooms
• Total Built-up Area: 53,100 sq mtr
• Total Office Area: 20,900 sq mtr
• Total Hotel Area: 25,050 sq mtr
• Approximately 7,000 m3 of concrete used in the foundation, which contains 490 piles drilled up to30m deep
• Approximately 8,500 structural steel diagrids/beams/columns/embedment plates used on the tower
• More than 12,500 different glass panes form more than 720 distinct diamond-shapes on the tower’s external façade
• Each ‘diamond’ weighs approximately 5 tons and contains 18 glass panes
• In total, 21,000 sq mtr of glass has been used in the façade
• Total man-hours spent onsite as of 2nd April 2010 is 6.53 million
• 13,200 tons of structural steel used in the tower of which 7,000 tons is used in the two diagrid systems (internal and external)
• Capital Gate’s construction commenced in September 2007; the tower’s completion is scheduled for late 2010
• Capital Gate forms the focal point of ADNEC’s Capital Centre master development comprising 23 towers including branded hotels, commercial buildings, residential and serviced apartment complexes and developments for mixed use

Design
Nothing is standard about Capital Gate. Each room is different. Each pane of glass is different and every angle is different. It was designed to provide no symmetry, so it inspires those within and outside the tower. Capital Gate was designed to be the most recognizable icon of the ADNEC/Capital Centre development. Further, it was designed to blend seamlessly with the National Day Grandstand, breathing new life into this historic landmark for the UAE. The eye-catching splash commencing from level 18 and sweeping across the historic grandstand, connects the past with the new, creating a wave-like effect over the exhibition centre.

Structure
From its foundations right through its pinnacle, Capital Gate is a unique building and among the most technically challenging engineering projects in the world. Some key features that stand out amongst others:

• It’s gravity-defying 18 degree lean, widely believed to be the most inclined in the world
• The continuous twist of its form which ensures that the tower looks different from every angle
• The unique nature of the floor plate, each floor is unique

How the building stands up
The Architects, RMJM ensured that the core, which is about the only vertical element in the whole building, is hard up against the north-west perimeter at the base and actually touches the south-eastern side at the top. The overturning force generated by that 54 metre overhang meant a standard conventional core would not work, and it was post-tensioned on the side opposite the lean. The core was also pre-cambered, which means it was built leaning in the opposite direction to the building; as the structure went up, it was gradually pulled into a vertical position. It was necessary because of the extreme eccentricity of the forces on the core. It’s a world first.

Capital Gate’s unique advanced design, aesthetic splendor and technical excellence make it a modern marvel and a celebration of human achievement.

 

* Extracts from an international case study.