Skywalks

The King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD) is a new development under construction near King Fahad Road in the Asahafa area of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia being undertaken by the Rayadah Investment Corporation on behalf of the Pension Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, consisting of 59 towers in an area of 1.6 million square meters. A network of footbridges – so-called Skywalks –connects the various buildings in the area.

The footbridges are placed at an elevated level separated from the street traffic. Due to the hot climate in Riyadh, it is expected that most people will use the secured, ventilated bridges with a floor width of four to six meters. A visual connection from the Skywalks to the streets and plazas of the city will help pedestrians to find their way on the elevated bridges.

The footbridges are built of separate geometric modules shaped with twisted octagonal cross sections, which can be pieced together in different lengths and whose flexible construction can easily be adapted to the various building facades of the city.

After topographic survey of the adjacent buildings, 124 different end modules had been designed, with precise 3D modeling, to firmly adapt to the particular inclination and orientation of the façade of each building.

Concept detailed 2D and 3D drawings, façade shop drawings, construction detail drawings and material work orders for all required materials, as well as the interior design’s shop & detailed drawings, were delivered to the construction company