The SOM-designed Cayan (formerly Infinity) Tower—the world’s tallest twisting tower—has opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The 75-story residential building features a dramatically rising helix shape for a distinctive addition to the city’s skyline.
The reinforced concrete structure consists of a hexagonal floor plate rotated around a circular core, giving apartments on the lower portion of the tower different views from those on upper floors. MEP systems are situated in the core, allowing straight vertical paths for infrastructure; locations of perimeter columns vary from floor to floor.
Saudi Arabia-based Cayan Investment & Development was the real estate developer. Also on the Building Team: local design consultant Khatib & Alami and primary contractor Arabtec Construction.
All images: Courtesy Cayan Partners
Related Stories
| Feb 28, 2013
Videos reveal City 2.0 ideas from 2012 TED Prize winners
Thought leader TED has released eight new videos from winners of its 2012 TED Prize: the City 2.0. The prize went to 10 winners involved in urban issues, including education, safety, health, food, and public space.
| Feb 28, 2013
Greeening Silicon Valley: Samsung's new 1.1 million-sf HQ
Samsung Electronics' new 1.1 million sf San Jose campus will support at least 2,500 sales and R&D staff in the company's semiconductor and display businesses.
| Feb 21, 2013
BD+C's 2011 White Paper: Zero and Net-Zero Energy Buildings + Homes
We submit our eighth White Paper on Sustainability in the hope that it will inspire architects, engineers, contractors, building owners, developers, building product manufacturers, environmentalists, policymakers, government officials, corporate executives, officeholders, and the public to foster the development of net-zero energy buildings and homes.
| Feb 21, 2013
BD+C's 2008 White Paper: Green Buildings + Climate Change
In this White Paper, we provide concrete ways in which AEC professionals can have a positive role in addressing climate change.
| Feb 20, 2013
Higher standards, efficiency programs keys to 40% energy usage reduction in commercial buildings since 1980
Commercial buildings have seen a drop in their energy intensity of more than 40% since 1980, according to a recent report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy.
| Feb 20, 2013
CoreNet Global to real estate execs: 'Move forward on net-zero'
CoreNet Global, a major international association for corporate real estate and workplace executives, has released a public policy statement advocating adoption of net-zero energy buildings.
| Feb 19, 2013
Luxury multifamily project under way in Atlanta; 215 residences planned
Hines Multifamily is building @1377, a luxury complex comprising 215 "urban-style residences" in Atlanta's Brookhaven neighborhood.
| Feb 18, 2013
Syracuse hospital using robots to reduce infections by 50%
Fast Company's Nina Mandell writes about how an early adopter of UV infection-control robotics—St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center in Syracuse—is seeing positive results.
| Feb 17, 2013
Suffolk University’s $62 million academic building gets the go-ahead
The Boston Redevelopment Authority board yesterday unanimously approved Suffolk University’s plans to move forward with a new campus building at 20 Somerset St. that will feature general-use and science classrooms, a light-filled cafeteria/function space, and indoor and outdoor lounging areas.