NS Wins Contract for New High-tech Saudi Bourse

February 3, 2010 (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) — Tadawul (the Saudi bourse) has awarded Nikken Sekkei a contract for design and project management of a new bourse in Riydah’s financial district. Nikken was chosen from six finalists in an international design competition that initially included 32 companies.

The iconic 50-story building is designed to be a model of energy efficiency, incorporating leading energy-saving technologies and fully complying with the latest LEED standards.

“This is a very forward-thinking decision taken by Tadawul. The new bourse building, located in the heart of the King Abdulla Financial District in Riyadh, will be an intelligent, state-of-the-art structure of the future,” said Nikken Chairman Mitsuo Nakamura.

Nikken’s design incorporates cutting-edge, eco-friendly technology including:

・ A “sunlight scooper” to introduce natural sunlight
・ Photovoltaic panels to reduce energy consumption
・ Solar shading to help reduce cooling load
・ Mirror ducts to introduce natural light to basements and other areas inside the building
・ Dry mist cooling of exterior spaces
・ A cool pond that stores cooled air at night to reduce daytime cooling load
・ Highly efficient chillers and thermal storage
・ A cool trench to pre-cool fresh air with geothermal energy

The King Abdulla Financial District is a multi-year development project that will eventually be home to the Kingdom’s major financial institutions. It is hoped the district will consolidate the country’s position as the Middle East’s financial capital.