Project Overview

Located on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, UAE between the 51 story Radisson Royal Hotel and the 56 story Park Place Towers would stand Entisar Tower.  Entisar, meaning Victory, and named after the Ruler of Dubai’s horse, was expected to be complete by 2020 for the World Expo in Dubai.

Primarily a residential tower with more than 950 units, the lower half of the tower is furnished apartments, while the upper half is freehold, a unique feature in the area.  Three double height villa penthouses are intermixed in the higher floors, while the top levels are full floor penthouses, each with an indoor pool.  The podium levels consist of two high-end retail levels with three levels of office space above that.  Multiple levels of amenity and public spaces break up the tower including gyms, all-day dining, a spa, theater, outdoor pools, private dining areas, and childcare.  A separate parking structure, complete with automated parking, and featuring tennis courts, running track, climbing wall, is connected via several sky bridges.

Upon it’s completion, it was intended to stand 1,722 feet (525m) with 122 stories, becoming the tallest residential building on earth, and the second tallest building in Dubai. As the foundation construction neared completion around 2017, the project was put on hold before a superstructure could begin.

In 2024, it was revealed that a version of the project would continue, but under a new developer. The project is now called the Burj Azizi, and appears to have several major design changes, including a new facade treatment.

My Role

My assignment at AE7 was overall tower interior architecture coordination leader.  My responsibilities included partition types, ceilings, S/MEP coordination, finish details, stack effect coordination, core and shaft management, fixtures and appliances, casework, and management of 10 Revit models. I also produced presentation graphics and a sales brochure.  I reported to the senior principal / project architect in Pittsburgh and to the senior project manager in Dubai.  I supervised up to six architects and interns.  Work was coordinated through different teams including Interior Design in San Francisco and Dubai, S/MEP in Paris and Dubai, Stack Effect in London, Lighting Design in Boston, Shell in Pittsburgh, and Landscape in Pittsburgh and Oberhausen

All content credited to AE7