Introduction

Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal led an international competition for the construction of this spectacular building. The winning proposal was the one entered by the studios Ellerbe Becket and Omrania & Associates . A team of international consultants also participated in its construction.

The mixed-use tower exhibits a unique design chosen to symbolize the city of Riyadh: a simple tower with an elliptical footprint topped with a curved opening, crossed at its crown by a 56m-long observatory bridge. The striking opening is visible from almost all parts of the capital of Saudi Arabia .

Its design has received numerous awards: Emporios Skyscraper Award 2002, Honor Award for Architecture, American Institute of Architects (AIA) and Honor Award-27th International Design and Development Awards among others.

use

Four Seasons Hotel

The 5-star hotel with its 193 rooms and 52 suites offers every imaginable comfort. The hotel rooms are located inside the tower, the other services such as B. the four restaurants («Seasons», «Quattro», «Tea Lounge» and «The Grill»), whirlpools , the 3429 m² fitness center «Health Club», saunas, spa areas, steam baths, outdoor pools, indoor squash courts , Racquetball court, outdoor tennis courts and 7247 m² of event space are located in the semicircular annex building to the left of the tower. There is also a large wedding or ball hall in the annex building with 4400 m² for 3000 people with an attached luxury suite for VIP guests or wedding parties.

Al-Mamlaka shopping center

The semicircular outbuilding of the “Al-Mamlaka” shopping center, located to the east of the tower, has 161 shops on four floors; it is the most renowned shopping center in town:

• Service Floor (basement) ten stores
• Ground Floor (EG) 74 shops
• First Floor (1st floor) 37 shops
• Ladies Floor (ar: mamlakat el mar’ah ) (DE: Kingdom of Women ) (2nd floor) 40 shops exclusively for female customers

Tower

The center of the complex is the 302 m high tower. There are offices with separate parking spaces for employees and 40 luxury apartment apartments. These are on the upper floors.

Things To Do at the Copper Kingdom Centre

1. Watch an informational video

When you first arrive at the Copper Kingdom Exhibition Centre, you’ll visit the cinema room where you can watch an informational video to learn the background of the centre.

The video explains both the benefits of the copper trade in Amlwch but also the negative consequences it had both locally and elsewhere in Wales such as Swansea.

2. See the exhibits about the Copper Kingdom

Wales Guidebook

After watching the video, you’ll be well placed to see the rest of the exhibits which give a further understanding of how the industry worked. You can see samples of the iron ore, the tools they used to extract it, as well as some of the clothes that would have been worn by workers. Be warned, there is a lot of reading to be done here!

3. Learn about Thomas Williams, the Copper King

Wales Guidebook

Part of the museum explains about the main man behind Anglesey’s copper industry. Thomas Williams is the former lawyer turned entrepreneur behind most of Anglesey’s copper initiatives.

He found new ways to use copper such as reinforcing the hulls of wooden warships which helped drive up demand for the material. A mint at Amlwch even made copper coins!

4. Play interactive games

Wales Guidebook

There are also two interactive games you can play to learn about the industry and have fun at the same time. I played one of the games which requires you to extract as much copper as you can before time runs out, it’s very addictive! There’s also a ‘children’s corner’ where you can do some copper rubbings.

Spaces

The Kindom Center is one of the tallest mixed-use complexes in Europe and the Middle East, with three main components: a three-level podium, a 302m-high tower and a parking lot for 3,200 cars, as well as several service facilities.

Inside it is the first Four Seasons hotel in Saudi Arabia , luxury residences, convention centers, a shopping complex, prayer rooms, underground parking, the corporate headquarters of Kingdom Holding Company and an observatory.

The building has four entrances, one per façade, that separate and give access to the main functions of its interior. The main lobby is an elliptical space with cross vaults, elevated walkways, a fountain and rows of palm trees. This elliptical shape is a footprint generally used in construction objects and decoration.

Mobility within the building is provided by 45 elevators and 22 escalators.

West and east wing

At the base of the tower two symmetrical wings, one to the east and one to the west, embrace the building with public gardens on the outside and different functions inside.

The west wing offers a two-story, 4,400m2 convention center with capacity for 1,200 people, as well as private meeting rooms, royal suites and restaurants that support the hotel. It also has sports facilities such as tennis courts, squash and an outdoor swimming pool.

In the east wing is the Al-Mamlaka shopping center with 57,000m2 and three levels in which luxury stores, bars, restaurants and leisure spaces have been installed. The shopping center podium joins the spaces of the central building through lake bridges that connect the floors horizontally, while three-level kiosks unify the design vertically.

An entire level of the mall is reserved for women only, where traditional veils are not mandatory. It is known as “The Kingdom of the Ladies”

Offices

The first 13 floors, including the 5-level lobby atrium, are dedicated to offices, with a business center on the 14th floor.

It also houses the Corporate Headquarters of Kingdom Holding Company on the 30th floor, just below the inverted arch.

The 5-star Four Seasons hotel, with 274 suites, is located on the 10 floors above the offices.

Observatory

The building culminates with an inverted parabolic arch topped with a public elevated bridge that functions as an observation platform and is accessed by two elevators. The first elevator reaches 180m, the second takes visitors to the 99th floor where the entrance to the Skybridge, the top of the tower, is located in less than 40 seconds. The elevated bridge is 300m high and is 65m long.

It’s the third-tallest skyscraper in the world that features a hole

The tower’s design is dominated by the enormous hole near the top that is topped with a so-called skybridge that is made of glass.

It was one of the first major buildings in the world to incorporate such a design and stands 302.3 meters (991.8 feet) tall.

It was the tallest skyscraper in Riyad upon completion although it has been surpassed since; It’s still the 5th-tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia today.

One of the most intriguing facts about the Kingdom Centre is that there are only two skyscrapers in the world with a design featuring a hole taller than the tower in Riyad.

These are the Shanghai World Financial Center (492 meters / 1,614.2 feet) in Shanghai and the 85 Sky Tower (347.5 meters / 1,140 feet) in Taiwan.

The Shanghai World Financial Center / Wiki Commons

Architecture / construction data

The building in the urban context

After three years and several hundred drafts, today’s design for the modern building with the characteristic, semi-arched opening and the 65 m long steel bridge , which is also reminiscent of the construction of the Shanghai World Financial Center , was determined. This bridge with its diagonal struts in the windows represents the visitor floor of the complex. The cavity above the last floor and to the left and right of the opening is completely crossed by steel struts. These struts and the bridge can be seen through the skylight from the conference room of the restaurant on the top floor. At night, the blue glazed facade and the aluminum- framed “hole” are illuminated with different colors. All of this was designed by Ellerbe Becket & Omrania and is located on a square, 94,000 m² area.

The complex, framed by the streets “Orouba Street”, “Olaya Street” and “King Fahad Road”, offers a total floor space of around 300,000 m². The actual tower is surrounded to the west by the hotel building and gardens, to the east by the shopping center and parking lots, and to the north and south by courtyard entrances planted with palm trees.

Each of the 41 floors of the tower has a floor area of ​​2,225 m²; Together the Kingdom Center consists of 230,000 m³ of concrete , 85,000 m² of wall surface and 670,000 m³ of stone .

Materials

Facade

The building is clad in a sophisticated 85,000 m² blue reflective glass curtain wall, resistant to heat and the site’s powerful sunlight. A series of open notches in strategic parts of the structure also provide solar shading effects on three sides of the building.

The unoccupied floors surrounding the inverted arch opening are clad with a metal panel in contrast to the entire glass façade to create a seamless architectural form that highlights its architecture. These tapered side wings further create a natural aerodynamic shape that reduces desert wind loads due to vortex formation.

Mall

Created around a central atrium, large perforated metal screens placed on the ceiling allow the intense sunlight to be filtered while creating patterned surfaces.

Refrigeration

The tower incorporates state-of-the-art construction systems that adapt to the mixed-use program.

A low-consumption chilled water thermal storage cools the tower during the hottest hours, allowing energy savings and drawing on energy when demand is lower. The podium has its own cooling systems that adapt to the needs. These systems include variable, constant and fan coil air systems.

Concept

Although it reaches the heights and forms of modern engineering and architecture, the Kindom Center with its monolithic and elegant structure is firmly rooted in Islamic tradition, representing the ambition of Saudi Arabia to transform from being an oil producer to having global weight as a center of finance, commerce and tourism. Its design represents the formation of new life and growth by creating an abstract representation of a singular frond that eventually separates as it ascends.

The symmetry of the tower respects the traditions of Islamic art known for its variety of geometric shapes. Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal wanted an icon for his country, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris or the Statue of Liberty in New York , recognizable as soon as it is seen.

Awards

The Kingdom Center was the tallest building in Saudi Arabia from its completion until 2012 . It is also the tallest skyscraper in the world with less than 50 floors. In 2002 it received the “ Emporis Skyscraper Award 2002” (at that time Skyscraper.com Award) for its impressive architecture as the best building in the category “Best new skyscraper of this year in terms of design and function”. In 2003 the “International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)” presented the Al-Mamlaka shopping center with the “International Design and Development Award” in the “Innovative design and construction of a new project” category.

Visitor Information

Opening Times

The Copper Kingdom Exhibition Centre is open between March and September. It’s open 6 days per week (excluding Monday) during the summer months and school holidays, but may be closed on Wednesday and Thursday outside of this. The centre is open from 10.15 am until 4.15 pm.

Prices

Here are the current entrance prices for the Copper Kingdom Exhibition Centre:

	Entry Price
Adults	£7.50
Children over 12	£4.50
Children under 12	Free
Family (2 adults, 2 children)	£20 (+£2 for additional children)
Concessions 65+	£5

Is the Copper Kingdom Centre family-friendly?

Yes, the Copper Kingdom Centre is very family-friendly with games and interactive exhibits designed for children of all ages.

Is the Copper Kingdom Centre accessible?

How To Get There: The easiest way to visit the Copper Kingdom Centre is by car. You can drive all the way up the path and park directly outside the centre, you don’t need to park in the public car park next to the road.

The building was commissioned by the “Arabian Warren Buffett”

The tower isn’t brand new like many other buildings in the city as it has been dominating the city’s skyline for over 20 years already.

It was constructed between 1999 and 2002 and was commissioned by Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal. He is the grandson of grandson of Abdulaziz, the first king of Saudi Arabia.

He has been dubbed the “Arabian Warren Buffett” because he is the chief owner of the “Kingdom Holding Company,” an investment company that owns chunks of companies all around the world.

Granted, his road to incredible wealth was significantly easier than that of Warren Buffett. After all, the Saudi Royal family was already filthy rich before he set up this company.

He is considered to be one of the most influential people in the world and has helped significantly shape the skyline of Riyad for multiple decades.

An alternative view of the Riyad skyline / Wiki Commons

Is it Worth Visiting?

The Copper Kingdom Centre is an interesting charity-run exhibition which provides a good introduction to the former copper industry.

However, from a visitor’s perspective, it costs £7.50 per person but only takes around half an hour to explore so it’s not great value for money unless you are particularly interested in learning about the copper industry and its impacts on the local area. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend that you visit unless this is something you are passionate about.

If you are after a casual day out, you might want to consider exploring Parys Mountain where you can explore an old copper mine for free and you’ll still get a feel for the mighty copper kingdom.

Design

The Kingdom Centre was designed by the US-based architecture firm Ellerbe Becket in a joint venture with the Riyadh-based architecture and engineering firm Omrania and Associates. The building is composed of a tower and a podium comprising two symmetrical wings. The tower’s almond-shaped plan and curving forms gives the building a distinctive shape that helps keep it cool, with the narrow ends facing the east and west where heat gain is greatest. A high-performance curtain wall, made from silver, butt-jointed reflective glazing, also helps control heat gain while concealing the three main mechanical floors to create a seamless facade.

At the top of the tower, an inverted arch is spanned by a glass skybridge housing a public observation deck. The large opening allows the building to rise higher than the height limit—30 occupied floors—mandated by local laws. Its design was inspired by iconic structures from around the world, including the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, The Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the Eiffel Tower.

From base to top, the tower house 13 floors of offices, 10 stories of hotel, five stories of luxury apartments, and additional office space at the top. The East wing of the podium houses the Al-Mamlaka shopping mall, which features more than 150 stores divided across three levels — the first targeted to young people, the second to fashion and furnishings, and the third level is reserved for women. The West wing houses event and entertainment spaces.

Structure

The Kingdom Center is built on a four-meter-thick, 3,100-square-meter raft foundation. Its structure consists of two systems: reinforced concrete columns, beams, and core for the first 180 meters, and a tubular steel frame structure for the building’s remaining height.

Mechanical systems

A multi-part mechanical system was created to accommodate the building’s mixed-use program. The tower is cooled by a central chilled water plant, supported by a thermal energy storage system that provides 5,000 tons of cooling capacity. This storage system is used during the hottest hours of the day, allowing the building to shift cool-air production to off-peak hours when electrical demand is lowest.

The podium structures are served by separate mechanical systems designed to accommodate the needs of the building’s unique programs. Systems used to cool these spaces include variable air volume, constant volume, and fan coils.

Structure

Structurally, the building consists of two systems:

1- In the first 180m, reinforced concrete columns and beams are connected to a central core also made of concrete and support the load up to the foundations, a solid base of 3100m2 and four meters thick.

2- from 180m onwards the structure is made of tubular steel to allow for the complex shape of the opening in the shape of an inverted catenary arch at the top. This structure rises 120m.

The elevated bridge has a 300tn slightly curved tubular steel structure and is sealed with windows on both sides. Its side spaces are empty to the left and right and contain a huge diagonal lattice of steel beams along the windows and an arched floor.

Kingdom Centre Tower: A Symbol of Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom Centre Tower is more than just a skyscraper; it’s a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s rapid progress and modernization. The tower signifies the country’s economic growth and its commitment to embracing modernity while preserving its cultural heritage.

The Kingdom Centre Tower not only dominates the Riyadh skyline but is also a beacon of Saudi Arabia’s ambition and progress. It represents the country’s determination to make its mark on the global stage, showcasing its potential to the world.

The tower, with its innovative design and state-of-the-art facilities, mirrors Saudi Arabia’s vision for the future. It’s a testament to the country’s commitment to pushing boundaries and setting new standards in architecture and design.

Tourist Experience at Kingdom Centre Tower

A visit to the Kingdom Centre Tower is a must for anyone visiting Saudi Arabia. The tower offers a unique experience, combining shopping, dining, and sightseeing into one.

Riding the elevator to the sky bridge is an exhilarating experience. The panoramic view of the city from the sky bridge is truly breathtaking, making it a highlight of the visit. The tower also offers a unique shopping and dining experience, with its luxurious mall and gourmet restaurants.

Tourists can also explore the cultural aspects of Saudi Arabia with a visit to the tower’s museum. The museum showcases the rich history and heritage of the country, providing an insight into its past and present.

The tower was partially designed by an American firm from Minneapolis

The Saudi Prince with stunningly deep pockets launched an international design competition to find a suiting design for his new skyscraper in the late 1990s.

The winners were a team of Ellerbe Becket, an architectural firm based in Minneapolis, and Omrania, a local Saudi architectural firm based in Riyad.

Omrania has been involved in several projects in their native city, including the KAFD Grand Mosque and the Capital Market Authority Tower. The latter is the centerpiece of the King Abdullah Financial District and the highest skyscraper in Riyad at 385 meters (1,263 feet).

Ellerbe Becket was acquired by AECOM in 2009, exactly 100 years after it was founded in 1909. The architectural firm based in Minneapolis was involved in numerous high-level projects, especially stadiums and arenas in the United States.

Detail of the tower’s amazing design / Maher Najim / Wiki Commons

Kingdom Centre Reviews & Contact Info

Kingdom Center is a top center of attraction in Riyadh. It is bustling and crowded throughout the day, 365days of a year. If you are visiting Riyadh, here everything you need to know to plan a trip to the Kingdom Center. The reviews will help you make a quick list of things you wish to do/explore on your day of the visit. Keep checking the social media handles for latest happenings and events. Get in touch with the customer care on the phone numbers provided below.

To know about what visitors have to say about the Tower and its attractions, .

If you want to be updated regarding What’s New at the Tower, you can follow them on their Social Handles:

: https://www.facebook.com/kingdomcentresa/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingdomcentresa/?hl=en

Location and contact details are as follows:

Suggested Read: 15 Best Tourist Places In Riyadh : Mosques, Malls, And Skyscrapers

Architecture / Building Data

After three years and hundreds of designs, the present design for the modern building with the characteristic semicircular opening and the 65 m long steel bridge was clear.
This bridge with its diagonal bracing in the windows, the floor of the visitor complex dar. The cavity above the last floor and the left and right of the opening is completely thwarted by steel struts.
From the conference room of the restaurant on the top floor this very bracing and the bridge can be seen through the skylight.
At night the blue glazed facade and the aluminum framed «hole» illuminated with different colors.
All of this was designed by Ellerbe Becket & Omrania and is located on a square, 94,000 m² large area.

The streets of the » Orouba Street «, » Olaya Street » and «King Fahad Road » framed complex offers a total floor space of about 300,000 sqm.
The actual tower is surrounded to the west from the hotel outbuildings and gardens, to the east by the shopping center and the parking and the north and south of area planted with palm trees Hofeingängen.

Each of the 41 floors of the tower has a floor area of 2,225 m²;
Kingdom Centre is composed of 230,000 cubic meters of concrete, 85,000 m² of wall area and 670,000 cubic meters of stone.

Дизайн

Центр Царства был спроектирован американской архитектурной фирмой Ellerbe Becket в рамках совместного предприятия с базирующейся в Эр-Рияде архитектурно-инженерной фирмой Omrania and Associates .

Здание состоит из башни и подиума, состоящего из двух симметричных крыльев. Миндалевидный план и изогнутые формы башни придают зданию характерную форму, которая помогает сохранять прохладу, с узкими концами, обращенными на восток и запад, где приток тепла наиболее высок. Высококачественная навесная стена из серебристого световозвращающего остекления с стыковыми соединениями также помогает контролировать приток тепла, скрывая при этом три основных механических этажа, создавая цельный фасад.

На вершине башни перевернутая арка перекрыта стеклянным небесным мостом, на котором находится общественная смотровая площадка. Большой проем позволяет зданию подниматься выше предельной высоты (30 жилых этажей), установленной местным законодательством. Его дизайн был вдохновлен знаковыми сооружениями со всего мира, включая арку ворот в Сент-Луисе , мост Харбор-Бридж в Сиднее и Эйфелеву башню .

Снизу до верха в башне 13 этажей офисов, 10 этажей гостиницы, пять этажей роскошных апартаментов и дополнительные офисные помещения наверху.

В восточном крыле подиума находится торговый центр Al-Mamlaka , в котором расположено более 150 магазинов, разделенных на три уровня: первый ориентирован на молодежь, второй — на одежду и мебель, а третий уровень предназначен для женщин. В западном крыле расположены помещения для мероприятий и развлечений.

Состав

Центр Царства построен на плотном фундаменте толщиной в четыре метра и площадью 3100 квадратных метров . Его конструкция состоит из двух систем: железобетонных колонн, балок и сердечника для первых 180 метров и трубчатой ​​стальной рамной конструкции для оставшейся высоты здания.

Механические системы

Многокомпонентная механическая система была создана, чтобы приспособиться к программе смешанного использования здания.

Башня охлаждается центральной установкой охлажденной воды, поддерживаемой системой хранения тепловой энергии , обеспечивающей холодопроизводительность 5000 тонн. Эта система хранения используется в самые жаркие часы дня, позволяя зданию перенести производство холодного воздуха на непиковые часы, когда потребление электроэнергии минимально.

Конструкции подиумов обслуживаются отдельными механическими системами, разработанными с учетом потребностей уникальных программ здания. Системы, используемые для охлаждения этих помещений, включают переменный объем воздуха , постоянный объем и фанкойлы.

What is the Copper Kingdom Exhibition Centre?

The Copper Kingdom Exhibition Centre is a small museum in Amlwch, Anglesey that’s dedicated to telling the rise and fall of the copper industry in Wales.

The museum mostly focuses on the impact the copper mines had on Anglesey. Still, some of the informational videos also talk about Swansea which was another part of Wales heavily involved in the copper industry, nicknamed Copperopolis.

Exhibits teach you everything from the geology of copper mining to the people behind it, including Thomas Williams, the entrepreneur who made it happen and the ‘copper ladies’ whose job was to separate the iron ore into good metal and bad metal.

Wales Guidebook Wales Guidebook

Note: The Copper Kingdom Centre shouldn’t be confused with Copper Mountain (Parys Mynedd or Parys Mountain) which is a former copper mine you can visit in the area.

Is it Worth Visiting?

The Copper Kingdom Centre is an interesting charity-run exhibition which provides a good introduction to the former copper industry.

However, from a visitor’s perspective, it costs £7.50 per person but only takes around half an hour to explore so it’s not great value for money unless you are particularly interested in learning about the copper industry and its impacts on the local area. For this reason, I wouldn’t recommend that you visit unless this is something you are passionate about.

If you are after a casual day out, you might want to consider exploring Parys Mountain where you can explore an old copper mine for free and you’ll still get a feel for the mighty copper kingdom.

If you’re looking for a rainy day activity in Anglesey, maybe consider Oriel Mon (a free gallery and museum in Llangefni) or Beaumaris Gaol and Courthouse (two attractions in Beaumaris with a joint ticket for £9.50).

Visitor Information

Opening Times

The Copper Kingdom Exhibition Centre is open between March and September. It’s open 6 days per week (excluding Monday) during the summer months and school holidays, but may be closed on Wednesday and Thursday outside of this. The centre is open from 10.15 am until 4.15 pm.

Prices

Here are the current entrance prices for the Copper Kingdom Exhibition Centre:

	Entry Price
Adults	£7.50
Children over 12	£4.50
Children under 12	Free
Family (2 adults, 2 children)	£20 (+£2 for additional children)
Concessions 65+	£5

Is the Copper Kingdom Centre family-friendly?

Yes, the Copper Kingdom Centre is very family-friendly with games and interactive exhibits designed for children of all ages.

Is the Copper Kingdom Centre accessible?

How To Get There: The easiest way to visit the Copper Kingdom Centre is by car. You can drive all the way up the path and park directly outside the centre, you don’t need to park in the public car park next to the road.

Things To Do at the Copper Kingdom Centre

1. Watch an informational video

When you first arrive at the Copper Kingdom Exhibition Centre, you’ll visit the cinema room where you can watch an informational video to learn the background of the centre.

The video explains both the benefits of the copper trade in Amlwch but also the negative consequences it had both locally and elsewhere in Wales such as Swansea.

2. See the exhibits about the Copper Kingdom

Wales Guidebook

After watching the video, you’ll be well placed to see the rest of the exhibits which give a further understanding of how the industry worked. You can see samples of the iron ore, the tools they used to extract it, as well as some of the clothes that would have been worn by workers. Be warned, there is a lot of reading to be done here!

3. Learn about Thomas Williams, the Copper King

Wales Guidebook

Part of the museum explains about the main man behind Anglesey’s copper industry. Thomas Williams is the former lawyer turned entrepreneur behind most of Anglesey’s copper initiatives.

He found new ways to use copper such as reinforcing the hulls of wooden warships which helped drive up demand for the material. A mint at Amlwch even made copper coins!

The Impact of Kingdom Centre Tower on Saudi Arabia’s Development

The Kingdom Centre Tower has had a significant impact on Saudi Arabia’s development. It’s not just a skyscraper; it’s a symbol of the country’s economic growth, modernization, and progressive mindset.

The tower has put Saudi Arabia on the global map, showcasing its potential to the world. It’s a testament to the country’s architectural prowess and its commitment to creating world-class infrastructure.

The Kingdom Centre Tower is indeed a symbol of Saudi Arabia’s progress and ambition. It’s a landmark that embodies the country’s vision for the future, setting new standards in architecture and design.

So, what are you waiting for? Experience the marvel of the Kingdom Centre Tower and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture of Saudi Arabia. Book your Saudi Arabia Tour NOW!