Weighing over 8,000 tonnes, the cantilever will sets new global standards in structural ingenuity
Leading Japanese architectural, engineering, and urban design firm Nikken Sekkei recently confirmed that the world’s longest cantilevered building, The Link, which connects the towers of the iconic One Za’abeel mixed-use development in Dubai, UAE, has been lifted into place.
The company, who began work on the project in 2014 as lead consultancy, was responsible for the concept and design of the two-tower structure and the unique cantilever design that connects both towers.
“Designing the world’s longest-occupied cantilevered building was an ambitious challenge in itself. However, designing an offset cantilever between two towers, 100 metres above a busy highway, was a challenge of ingenuity and imagination none of us had ever faced before,” commented Dr. Fadi Jabri, Nikken’s Executive Officer, Principal for MENA, CIS, India, Australia, and Europe regions.
The skyscraper building is a mixed-use two-tower project overlooking a total built-up area of over 470,000 square metres. Located at the heart of the city and at the gate of the Dubai Financial Center, the development incorporates luxury residences, a One & Only ultra-luxury hotel and serviced apartments, and premium, Grade A office spaces, a retail podium, and a panoramic sky concourse.
The Link, which will float an awe-inspiring 100 metres above the ground, is a panoramic sky concourse that connects the two towers of One Za’abeel. The timeless structure will house a choice of attractions, including Michelin starred restaurants, observation decks, and an infinity pool.
With a 30-year pedigree in the Middle East, Nikken Sekkei has designed and collaborated on more than 65 projects across the region’s cultural, commercial, and hospitality sectors.
