2024-10-24T14:23:16-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150451556/saudi-arabia-s-record-breaking-mukaab-tower-begins-construction-in-riyadh Josh Niland 2024-10-23T15:28:00-04:00 >2024-10-24T14:23:09-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/e1/e1b3ae28d371dcd2483e214fa736af38.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>Preliminary construction work on the mind-boggling <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/2175059/mukaab" target="_blank">Mukaab</a> tower scheme has been reported in <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/1113779/riyadh" target="_blank">Riyadh</a>, Saudi Arabia. The cube-like structure, whose volume is equivalent to 64 million cubic meters (more than 2.2 billion cubic feet), is apparently large enough to contain 20 Empire State Buildings. It will become the centerpiece of a new downtown core for the city called &lsquo;New Murabba&rsquo; once completed.&nbsp;</p> <figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/db/db822715de05939a0ee87f1205d4cc84.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=1028" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/db/db822715de05939a0ee87f1205d4cc84.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;enlarge=true&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Image courtesy New Murabba</figcaption></figure><p>At its core, another tower-like structure anchors over&nbsp;21.5 million square feet of floor space dedicated to shopping and inspired by traditional Islamic architecture. Montreal-based AtkinsR&eacute;alis has been named as the designer.&nbsp;</p> <p>Promotional video for the Mukaab tower scheme. Via Public Investment Fund/YouTube<br></p> <p>Its stated dimensions mean it would surpass the Boeing Everett Factory in Washington State to become the world's largest building upon completion. Construction is said to require some 900 workers on-site daily and will likely wrap up by the end of 2030.</p>...