Capital Gate
{{short description|Skyscraper in Abu Dhabi}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Capital Gate
| image = Capital Gate.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Capital Gate in 2013
| image_alt = photo of a tall, glass, somewhat cylindrical building that starts out straight and leans to the left
| topped_out_date = 2010
| location = Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| coordinates = {{coord|24.418637|54.434692|region:AE-AZ|display=inline,title}}
| start_date = September 2007
| completion_date = 2011
| est_completion =
| building_type = commercial, hotel
| antenna_spire =
| roof = {{convert|160|m|abbr=on}}
| top_floor =
| floor_count = 35
| elevator_count =
| cost =
| floor_area = {{convert|53,100|m2|sqft|abbr=on}}
|architectural_style = Deconstructivism
| architect = RMJM
| structural_engineer= TJEG
| main_contractor = Al Habtoor Engineering Enterprises
| developer =
| owner = Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company
| management =
| references = {{Cite web |url=https://www.emporis.com/buildings/322929 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421215818/https://www.emporis.com/buildings/322929 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=April 21, 2016 |title=Emporis building ID 322929 |work=Emporis}}
{{Skyscraperpage|73163}}
}}
Capital Gate, also known as the Leaning Tower of Abu Dhabi, is a skyscraper in Abu Dhabi that is over {{convert|160|m|ft|sp=us}} tall, 35 stories high, with over {{convert|16,000|m2|sp=us}} of usable office space.{{Cite news|url=https://www.archdaily.com/889854/capital-gate-rmjm|title=Capital Gate / RMJM|date=2018-04-28|work=ArchDaily|access-date=2018-09-27|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180722100029/https://www.archdaily.com/889854/capital-gate-rmjm|archive-date=2018-07-22|url-status=live}} Capital Gate is one of the tallest buildings in the city and was designed to incline 18° west,{{cite web | author= | title=Capital Gate | url=http://www.adnec.ae/group/capital-gate.php | publisher=Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) | year=2010 | accessdate=7 June 2010 | archive-date=11 June 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611022212/http://www.adnec.ae/group/capital-gate.php | url-status=dead }} more than four times the lean of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.{{cite web | author=Amanda Goh | title=The Leaning Tower of Pisa might be the most famous leaning building in the world — but it's nothing compared to this Abu Dhabi skyscraper | url=https://www.insider.com/capital-gate-abu-dhabi-leaning-tower-pisa-2022-6 | publisher=The Insider | year=2022 | accessdate=2 June 2022}} The building is owned and was developed by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company. The tower is the focal point of Capital Centre.
Construction
= Project timeline =
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2007|09}}|event=The Start.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2007|11}}|event=Started drilling foundations.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2008|04}}|event=Construction of core wall.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2009|02}}|event=Facade erected.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2009|05}}|event=Building reached a height of {{convert|100|m|sp=us}}.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2009|06}}|event=Incline started to take shape.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2009|10}}|event=Building reached final height of {{convert|160|m|sp=us}}.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2009|12}}|event=Exterior core structure completed.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2010|01}}|event=First phase of splash completed.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2010|02}}|event=Interior construction started.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2010|03}}|event=Started building the bridge to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2010|04}}|event=Started building the atrium roof.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2011}}|event=Construction completed.}}
- {{timeline-event|date={{start date|2011|12|21}}|event=Opening.}}
= Foundation =
The structure rests on a foundation of 490 pilings that have been drilled {{convert|30|m|sp=us}} below ground. The deep pilings provide stability against strong winds, gravitational pull, and seismic pressures that arise due to the incline of the building. Of the 490 pilings, 287 are {{convert|1|m|sp=us}} in diameter and {{convert|20|to|30|m|ft|sp=us}} deep, and 203 are {{convert|60|cm|in|sp=us}} in diameter and {{convert|20|m|ft|sp=us}} deep. All 490 piles are capped together using a densely reinforced concrete mat footing nearly {{convert|2|m|ft|sp=us}} deep. Some of the piles were only initially compressed during construction to support the lower floors of the building. Now they are in tension as additional stress caused by the overhang has been applied.
= Core of the structure =
The core of the Capital Gate was built using jumping formwork, also known as climbing formwork. The center concrete core had to be specially designed to account for the immense forces created by the building's angle of elevation, or camber. The core contains {{convert|15,000|m3|cuyd|sp=us}} of concrete reinforced with 10,000 metric tons of steel and uses vertical post-tension and was constructed with a vertical pre-camber. This pre-camber means the core was constructed with a slight opposite lean. As each floor was installed, the weight of the floors and diagonal grid, or diagrid, system pulled the core and slowly straightened it out. The core contains 146 vertical steel tendons, each {{convert|20|m|ft|sp=us}} long, which are used for post-tension.{{Cite web|url=https://www.constructingworld.com/single-post/2018/02/21/Capital-Gate|title=Know about|website=Constructing world|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180221161614/https://www.constructingworld.com/single-post/2018/02/21/Capital-Gate|archive-date=2018-02-21|url-status=dead|access-date=2018-02-21}}
= Superstructure =
Given the 18° lean of the building, the construction required two diagrid systems: an external diagrid defining the tower's shape and an internal diagrid linked to the central core by eight unique, pin-jointed structural members. The external diagrid comprises 720 sections of varying shapes, as it is based on the direction in which the tower leans. The external grid carries the weight of the floor while the internal diagrid connects with the external and transfers the load to the core, thereby eliminating the need for columns in the floor.
World record
In June 2010, Guinness World Records recognized Capital Gate tower as the world's "farthest manmade leaning building".{{cite web |title=Farthest man-made leaning building |url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/farthest-manmade-leaning-building |date=January 2010 |accessdate=29 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730175506/https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/farthest-manmade-leaning-building |archive-date=2018-07-30 |url-status=live }} The new record shows that the Capital Gate tower has been built to lean 18° west, which is more than four times that of the Leaning Tower of Suurhusen.{{Cite book |last=Graaf |first=Reinier de |title=Architect, verb: the new language of building |date=2023 |publisher=Verso |isbn=978-1-83976-191-1 |location=London New York |pages=33}} The Guinness World Records recognition was given by a Guinness-appointed awards committee in January 2010, when the exterior was completed.{{citation needed|date=December 2018}}
Architecture and design
The building has a diagrid specially designed to absorb and channel the forces created by wind and seismic loading, as well as the gradient of Capital Gate. Capital Gate is one of only a handful of diagrid buildings in the world. Others include London's 30 St Mary Axe (Gherkin), New York's Hearst Tower, and Beijing's National Stadium.Mace Group, http://www.macegroup.com/media-centre/advanced-diagrid-technology-gives-shape-to-capital-gate {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001145809/http://www.macegroup.com/media-centre/advanced-diagrid-technology-gives-shape-to-capital-gate |date=2015-10-01 }} | retrieved=July 29, 2015
Capital Gate was designed by architectural firm RMJM and was completed in 2011. The tower includes {{convert|16,000|m2|sp=us}} of office space and the Andaz Hotel on floors 18 through 33.{{Cite web|url=https://abudhabicapitalgate.hyatthotels.hyatt.com/en/hotel/news-and-events/news-listing/backgrounder-capital-gate-abu-dhabi.html|title=Backgrounder - Capital Gate Abu Dhabi|website=Hyatt Hotels|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909000323/https://abudhabicapitalgate.hyatthotels.hyatt.com/en/hotel/news-and-events/news-listing/backgrounder-capital-gate-abu-dhabi.html|archive-date=2018-09-09|url-status=live}}[https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/capital-gate Capital Gate] Atlas Obscura (www.atlasosbcura.com). Retrieved on 2019-08-04.
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160112103812/http://www.capitalgate.ae/ Capital Gate official website]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20170616220958/http://www.ctbuh.org/TallBuildings/FeaturedTallBuildings/CapitalGateTowerAbuDhabi/tabid/3380/language/en-GB/Default.aspx Capital Gate Tower at CTBUH website]
- [https://www.rmjm.com/the-architects-perspective-the-capital-gate/ The Architects Perspective - The Capital Gate]
- [https://www.archdaily.com/889854/capital-gate-rmjm the Capital Gate - rmjm]
Category:2011 establishments in the United Arab Emirates
Category:Hotel buildings completed in 2011
Category:Office buildings completed in 2011