His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, recently unveiled the design for Burj Jumeira, an aerodynamic, 550-meter tower located in the Al Sufouh area of the popular Jumeirah neighborhood of Dubai. Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM), the skyscraper will be one of the tallest buildings in the world. The first phase of the project will be completed in 2023.
Located directly between the iconic Burj Al Arab Jumeirah hotel and the Sheikh Zayed Road, Burj Jumeira will become the new focal point in the Dubai skyline and in the Jumeirah neighborhood. Its upper stories will feature world-class dining, active programming, and multiple observation decks with 360 degree views of Dubai. A reflecting pool at the base of the tower has been designed for reconfiguration into a staging structure, which will provide a premier space to host cultural events. At the periphery of the tower, a new retail destination will seamlessly flow into the surrounding neighborhood.
“Burj Jumeira is bold, elegant, and dynamic,” said SOM Design Partner Mustafa Abadan. “It will tower over Jumeirah as the centerpiece of the neighborhood, and will feature a synthesized architectural and structural design.”
Burj Jumeira’s impressive height and unique, bifurcated shape were made possible by a collaborative design approach, led out of SOM’s New York office. The building’s high-performance architectural and structural design are integrated into a singular expression. The geometry of the exterior bracing is optimized to strengthen the tower against lateral forces and the building’s form aerodynamically mitigates the wind loads.
A panelized metal facade system seamlessly blends into the structural system, and the central void creates the space for Burj Jumeira’s panoramic views. The tower’s flowing design emulates the regional dunes and oases of the United Arab Emirates, while its spherical observation deck is evocative of the native gulf pearl.
In addition to providing architectural and structural services for Burj Jumeira, SOM is also designing the master plan for the surrounding Downtown Jumeira. The tower will be the centerpiece of this new urban district: a highly walkable, mixed-use community that will include residential, commercial, and hospitality functions. The district will be yet another asset to Dubai’s tourism industry, while also increasing connectivity and providing additional amenities for the surrounding areas.
