RIYADH (SAUDI ARABIA) (ITALPRESS) – A crucial transport hub and architectural symbol, the Qasr Al Hokm Downtown Station welcomed its first passengers today. The station is one of 22 on the Orange Line (Line 3), built by Webuild on behalf of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC), and embodies the past and future of the Saudi Kingdom and its capital. The Orange Line (Line 3) is the longest line in the entire driverless metro network of the Saudi capital inaugurated last November.
The Qasr Al Hokm Downtown Station, with 20,000 square meters of surface area and 40 meters of depth, was a major engineering challenge. Its construction, Webuild reports, involved the use of two mechanical moles that successfully excavated on different levels, without interrupting construction activities in the heart of the capital. The station’s distinctive elements include a gigantic 70 meter diameter cone-shaped stainless steel roof that acts like a periscope, reflecting images of the historic neighborhood on the surface inside the station and showing the modernity of the interior spaces to the outside, where a large cone wall reproduces traditional Arab constructions creating a visual link with the local culture. On a journey between modernity, technology and tradition, the station is spread over 8 levels and on the lower level a garden surrounded by windows offers passengers an oasis of relaxation, adding an element of tranquility and well-being to the travel experience.
The modern design of the iconic Qasr Al Hokm Downtown Station, designed to offer maximum convenience and accessibility, includes LED lighting systems and high-efficiency ventilation systems to reduce energy consumption. Ramps, elevators and tactile signs facilitate access for people with disabilities.
The Riyadh Metro network, with a total length of 176 km, represents one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in the world and will be able to transport up to a maximum of 3.6 million passengers per day.
The opening of the Orange Line (Line 3) is planned in subsequent and coordinated phases, with 14 stations open to the public to date, including the Qasr Al Hokm Downtown Station.
With a historic presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the first works starting in 1966, Webuild is currently engaged in the construction of further strategic projects in the Kingdom, which include the Connector high-speed line and a system of three dams and a freshwater lake for the city of Trojena, part of the NEOM development programme. In Riyadh, a mega car park with 10,500 spaces, developed entirely underground, and the Sang Villas Urbanization Plan are also being built. Among the projects completed, there are the Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, awarded with the Emporis Skyscraper Award 2002 as the best skyscraper in the world for design, more than 70 healthcare facilities and the Shuaibah-3 desalination plant, built by Fisia Italimpianti, a subsidiary Group specialized in water treatment and desalination.
– Photo Credit: Qasr Al Hokm Downtown Station © Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC) –
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