Nikken Sekkei hoists the world’s longest cantilever into position

Nikken Sekkei has completed the final stage of lifting The Link, a panoramic sky concourse peaking 100 metres above a busy highway which connects the two towers of the mixed-use development One Za’abeel, in Dubai, UAE.

This spectacular architectural and engineering lifting process beginning on the 18th of August, saw a mere 10 centimetres initially raised to check for cable stretching and observe the building's reaction to the strain of the 9,580 tons cantilever. A week later, an additional metre followed. On August 28th, the event culminated with the final 99 metres hoisted into place.

The work on One Za’abeel began in 2014, with Nikken Sekkei as lead consultancy firm and responsible for the concept and design of the entire project. The concept imagined by Nikken Sekkei expresses the warm welcome of the city based on family values in the form of two graceful 'father & son' towers with a 'strong bond', The Link. This welcoming gesture is reinforced by the gently sloping podium, while the slender projection of the Link is a tribute to the pioneering spirit of Dubai.

One Za’abeel, located at the heart of the city and at the gate of the Dubai Financial Center, is a mixed-use project overlooking a total built-up area of over 470,000 square metres. The development incorporates luxury residences, a One & Only ultra-luxury hotel and serviced apartments, premium Grade-A office spaces, and a retail podium. A choice of Michelin starred restaurants, observation decks, and an infinity pool will be housed in the panoramic sky concourse.