Arranged through parametric planning, intricate stacks of five voxels rotate in interplay to fill the tower envelope. The resulting multi-level social environments cultivate informal, serendipitous encounters, blending spaces for interaction with areas for privacy and reflection, enhanced by thoughtful climatic, acoustic, and material treatments. This departs from the conventional approach of a single central atrium and hierarchical layout in tall office buildings and offers boundless spatial possibilities.

Alternately aligned toward the south and north, the atria additionally serve as sunshades and light diffusers across all levels and are core elements of the low-energy design. The façade’s parametric pattern of windows and fiber-reinforced concrete elements not only reflect the building’s spatial organization, the glass balustrades, full-storey glass walls, and interior glass partitions also reduce solar gain and manage light—holistically adapting the built environment to the local climate with optimized resource efficiency.

Majorly composed of locally sourced materials, the KACST Innovation Tower moves into a new paradigm by responding to the demands of future workspaces. As an iconic embodiment of Saudi Arabia’s innovative aspirations, the Innovation Tower is a new landmark in form and purpose for the region, rooted in the vast regional history of pioneering scientific achievement.