Re: Have you seen what there building in Mecca?
The Abraj Al Bait Towers, when completed, will be located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It will be the biggest (not tallest) building in the world by mass, it will be the tallest building in Saudi Arabia and one of the tallest buildings in the world, surpassing the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia which held the title as world’s tallest building between 1998 and 2003.
The Abraj Al Bait Towers will be most notable for its prime location. The site of the structure is across the street from the entrance to the Masjid al Haram, which houses the Kabaa, the holiest site in Islam and the building towards which all Muslims face during prayer. In fact, bait in Arabic means house, in reference to Kabaa. As a result, the Abraj Al Bait Towers will have a large prayer room capable of holding nearly four thousand worshippers. It will contain a five-star hotel to help accommodate the over two million pilgrims who participate in hajj each year.
In addition, the Abraj Al Bait Towers will have a four-story shopping mall and a parking garage capable of holding over eight hundred vehicles. Residential towers will house permanent residents while two heliports and a conference center would accommodate business travellers. In total, up to 65,000 people would be housed inside the Towers.
The Al Bait Towers are expected to rise to a towering 485 m when completed. The building of such an immense structure in Mecca seems odd. However, the buildings construction is already underway and should be completed before 2009.
** Technical Data**
Structural height 485 m (1,591 ft) (est.)
Height to tip 485 m (1,591 ft) (est.)
Height to roof Unknown
Height to top floor Unknown
Floors (Above ground) 76
Floors (Under ground) Unknown
Groundbreaking 2004
Topout 2008 (est.)
Opening 2008 (est.)
Gross floor area 1,500,000 m2
**Companies **
Developer Unknown
Architect Dar Al Handasah Architects
Construction Contractor Saudi BinLaden Group