Event
On December 16th, 2023, the American Concrete Institute’s (ACI) newly elected president, Dr Antonio Nanni, visited the Iconic Tower at the Central Business District (CBD) of Egypt’s new administrative capital. The main centrepiece among 18 skyscrapers that characterise the Central Business District, the 385-metre-high 80-floor Iconic Tower was designed by Dar and its sister Sidara company Perkins&Will and utilises a special composite structural system.
Dr Nanni is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering at the University of Miami, Florida. He has held instrumental roles across various ACI committees, including those focused on structural concrete building codes, fibre-reinforced polymer reinforcement, and thin reinforced cementitious products. Accompanying him was Dr Sami Rizkalla, a distinguished Professor Emeritus at NC State University, renowned for his pioneering work in advancing fibre-reinforced polymers within structural concrete.
Their visit included an insightful briefing by Dr Tarek Hassan, a Principal and Head at Dar’s Structures and Bridges Engineering Department. During the briefing, Dr Hassan explained the structural intricacies and challenges inherent to the design and construction of the special composite structural system of the Tower.
The visit was concluded with lasting impressions on the innovative design and construction techniques adopted in the Iconic Tower of the CBD – an achievement that symbolises a milestone of convergence between technical expertise and architectural prowess.
Dar is providing detailed design, construction supervision, and project management services for the Iconic Tower and the Central Business District, as part of its wider commitment to helping deliver Egypt’s New Administrative Capital. The Tower integrates mixed-use spaces and features facilities for hospitality, commerce, sightseeing, and various other functions.