Za’abeel Signature Tower 2

Za’abeel Signature Tower 2 is part of the Za’abeel Energy City Master Plan in Dubai, which was completed in 2008. The tower was designed as the second of two schemes for the client, as the centerpiece for the new development.

The striking tower is comprised of a pair of towers that are structurally linked to each other, creating a mega building. A driving design principle was to maintain the large center span that is connected by disc-like bridges. These openings allow wind to move through and give relief to the wind forces as they hit the broad face of a building.

The tower has prominent visual connections with the Burj Khalifa, Atrium City, and the waterfront. The tower oversees the entire Za’abeel Master Plan, including the Hotel and Commercial Towers.

The form of the tower is composed of two distinct halves that form a unified whole. Each facade is treated with a component-based wall system, which is informed by the tower’s orientation to the sun. The components are derived from a common geometry while simultaneously reflecting an inverse relationship.

The building’s concept was drawn from three initial ideas:

Porosity: A distinctive central void maximizes the permeable surface area on its facade. Each facade opening is considered both as a portal affording vistas through and out of the building into the city of Dubai and an opportunity to optimize thermal control and natural light.

Intelligence: The tower represents an integration of technology and architecture. During the design phase, the complex geometries of the facade, which was inspired by Islamic patterning, are generated using parametric modeling techniques. LED screen tickers displaying local and global market information adorn the underside of the sky bridges through the buildings central void, reemphasizing the union of technology and the architecture.

Gateway: The tower reasserts Za’abeel as a distinct focal point in Dubai. The building successfully competes with the visual and axial connections to the iconic structures of neighboring communities.