Capital Gate, a new tower under construction in Abu Dhabi, UAE, leans westward an astonishing 18 degrees (the Leaning Tower of Pisa only leans 4 degrees). Project architects RMJM/Hillier and developer Dubai National Exhibitions are applying to have the building listed as “most inclined in the world.”
Because of its unique posture, the tower is being constructed on top of a dense mesh of reinforced steel. The mesh sits above an intensive distribution of 490 piles that have been drilled 30 meters underground to accommodate the gravitational, wind, and seismic pressures caused by the lean of the building.
Capital Gate will accommodate the five-star Hyatt hotel and high-end office space. The tower forms a major part of Capital Centre, a $2.2 billion business and residential development adjacent to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.