Foster + Partners’ aluminum-clad skyscrapers inspired by the learnings from the region

Lusail Towers are a part of a comprehensive plan developed by Foster + Partners. The construction of these towers started in 2020. This complex of the four aluminum-clad skyscrapers is situated on the Al Sa’ad Plaza, Commercial Boulevard, in Lusail, Qatar. Two of the towers are 301 meters tall, while the other two are 215 meters high, resulting in a combined total of 220 floors in the complex.

The facades are made of marine-grade aluminum and designed to respond to the sun, with projecting profiles wrapping around the building. The design proposals of aluminum-clad skyscrapers include various active systems such as centralized thermal storage using innovative phase change materials to reduce cooling energy, high-pressure hydronic systems to reduce pumping energy, demand-controlled ventilation to reduce fan energy, efficient LED lighting, and advanced automation controls, which contribute to reducing the site energy demand by 35% when compared to a baseline building.

The Lusail Towers development aims to achieve 4 and 5 stars, the highest level in the regional Global Sustainability Assessment System. The podium buildings feature ultra-high-performance concrete, lightweight and low carbon molded concrete panels, with minimal punched windows that reduce the amount of solar heat to the interior spaces, giving the buildings a high thermal mass.

More than 70% of the species used in the lush but drought-tolerant landscape covering 20% of the site are native. The narrow human-scaled streets and shaded terraces create an inviting public realm at ground level, with the building blocks arranged around courtyards that capture cooling breezes, inspired by the learnings from the region.

Project Info

Architects: Foster + Partners
Location: Lusail, Qatar
Team: Guangyuan Li, Stefano Cesario, Doretta Bevilacqua Gilkes, Luke Fox, Farah Caswell, Marios Tsiliakos, Martin Kehoe, Loukia Iliopoulou
Constructor: Hyundai Motor Company, BESIX
Client: Lusail Real Estate Development Company
Completion: 2023
Lighting Design: Foster + Partners