La-Femme ( The Soaring AKH ) – 2019 Serving as the new headquarters for the prominent Al Abdul Karim Holding (AKH) company in Dammam, the AKH Tower is now open for business. Designed and supervised by Dewan Architects + Engineers, the dramatic 37-storey building ranks as the tallest building in Dammam and the 30thtallest in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Setting out to impress,the striking design of the AKH Tower – with its gleaming glass, geometric patterns and soaring height – is already a talking point in Dammam, the oil capital of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province. A compelling sight by day or night, it also serves as memorable landmark for all to navigate by. Offering prime office space with unrestricted views, most of the office space is reserved for AKH’s own use, but several floors are available for tenant companies.
Designed as an ‘intelligent’ building, the tower is equipped with a state-of-the-art telecommunication system, a CCTV system, access control system, energy-saving system, computer-based building management system (BMS), a sophisticated Data Center and an advanced audiovisual system for the conference rooms.The tower also has its own backup standby electricity generator and a built-in uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Ample car parking is available in the basement and across seven levels of the podium.
Aneye-catching design aspect is the way that angled lines run across the building. These embrace the podium and then continue upwards towards the tower, innovatively taking the form of ramps and other vertical circulation elements. This distinctive approach allows the podium to be more than just an architectural component, but rather an integral part of the tower’s intricate design and character.
According to Ammar AlAssam, Executive Director of Dewan Architects + Engineers, the shape of the tower is more than just a visual treat; it is also contributes to a versatile, highly functional design. “The tower’s façade and slanting volumes make for arresting lines and configurations within the interior, creating distinctive and dynamic office spaces on every floor, which allows the building to cater to numerous companies with varying spatial needs,” said Mr Al Assam.
Al Assam add that the tower is destined to become a landmark building in Dammam: “The high-quality design of AKH Tower means that visually it looks incredible from every single angle. We’re proud to be making a lasting impression on Dammam’s skyline,” Mr Al Assam added.
The capital city of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, Dammam is known for being a major administrative center for the Saudi oil industry. As one of the nation’s chief ports, Dammam serves as a major exporting point for petroleum and natural gas. The city is well connected by road, rail, and air with the rest of Saudi Arabia, as well as with its neighbouring countries.
Apart from housing the main seat of the Easter Province administration, Dammam is a major residential and commercial center, with an important section of King Faisal University also located here.
About Dewan Architects + Engineers
Celebrating 35 years of design excellence, Dewan Architects + Engineers has been at the forefront of the Middle East’s booming architectural and engineering design sector for more than three decades. Founder and current Chairman and Managing Director, Mohamed Al Assam, established the inaugural Dewan office in Abu Dhabi in 1984 and successfully completed Dewan’s first high-rise commercial project, Baniyas Tower, in 1988, which cemented Dewan’s presence as a major player in the regional architectural scene. In 1999, Dewan’s Dubai design studio was established, and it has rapidly become a prominent and integral contributor to the emirate’s burgeoning and iconic skyline. Dewan further entrenched its leadership market position by establishing new offices in Iraq, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Philippines, and Barcelona with plans to further establish offices in SE Asia and Africa. Today Dewan is recognized as a global multi-disciplinary practice, ranked as one of the top three firms regionally, and in the top 50 firms globally as rated by leading industry publications and its peers.
About Al AbdulKarim Holding [AKH]
Al Abdulkarim Holding (AKH) represents world leading brands of Electrical, Communication, Instrumentation, IT, Automation & Control, Piping, Oil field Supplies and Engineered Systems & Equipment. Al Abdulkarim is the largest distributor of Electrical, Electromechanical, Telecommunication, Instrumentation, and Oil Field products in the Kingdom with a network of branches that deliver industrial supply products fast. Their vast catalogue of supplier partners enables AKH to be a one-stop shop for any kind of industrial needs with extensive procurement experience and partnership with a broad range of industries that enable them to deliver value and service – with results that exceed customer expectations.
