Nikken Sekkei-designed development is home to the world’s longest cantilevered building
Representatives from Nikken Sekkei, the Japanese architectural, engineering, and urban design firm, recently celebrated the milestone of lifting the world’s longest cantilevered building, The Link, to its final destination 100m above the ground.
The 226m, 9,500-tonnes cantilevered structure connects the two towers of the iconic One Za’abeel development, with the final piece now raised into place and completing the feat of architectural ingenuity.
The design concept of the new iconic landmark, which is located at the heart of Dubai and the gate of the Dubai Financial Centre, was created by architects and engineers from Nikken Sekkei.
During the final phase of the lift, traffic was brought to a standstill as 800 ultra-strong steel cables pulled the behemoth structure 100m above ground and into place.
“Our remit was to develop a concept and design that was genuinely unique and indicative of the emirate’s determination to be a city of the future,” asserted Dr. Fadi Jabri, Nikken’s Executive Officer, Principal responsible for MENA, CIS, and India regions.
Developed by Ithra Dubai, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Investment Corporation of Dubai, the two-tower mixed-use One Za’abeel development will feature offices, a luxury and ultra-luxury hotel, retail, entertainment, and high-end residential units when completed.
Nikken has managed over 25,000 projects in 250 cities in 50 countries and has one of the largest portfolios of work of any architecture firm in the world, a company press statement said.
