With a height of 828 meters, Burj Khalifa, developed and owned by EMAAR Properties Dubai, is not just the tallest building in the world, but it is also the tallest LED screen in the world and one of the biggest attractions of UAE.

Back in 2017 the EMAAR start the initiative to replace the existing temporary system with a permanently mounted screen that is comprised of the very latest in LED technology and video processing. The new permanent SACO system has 20x more resolution than the previous system and extends all the way up to 770 metres of the 828-metre structure. The LED screen running down the east side of the tower was unveiled at the “Light Up 2018” New Year’s celebration captivating millions of viewers across the world. The groundbreaking lightshow established a new Guinness World Record for the largest light and sound show on a single building. 

One of the challenges was how to attach the product and carrier to the fin detail of the building without covering the actual architectural fin. One of Burj Khalifa’s many features is the incredible shine that comes from the polished stainless steel architectural fins that run the length of the building. To add to the challenge, drilling into the fin was not permitted. To resolve this condition, we designed a special stainless steel bracket that hugs the fin and clip on its back edge. In order not to affect the “shine” of the architectural fin, the bracket was polished to match the finish of the fin. The result is a seamless linear feature that disappears until the lights are turned on.

Burj Khalifa has a very interesting geometry, and viewing angles had to be carefully calculated to provide the best view from around the building, but at the same time needed not to be disruptive to the residents and hotel guests of the building. In order to address this challenge, 6 different carrier angles were designed for the V-Stick. The result is a clean, non-disruptive installation that will achieve its mission for the years to come.

LOCATION: Dubai, UAE
CLIENT: Emaar Properties
PRODUCT USED: Saco V-Stick
LIGHTING DESIGN: CD+M, ARUP
LIGHTING SUPPLY, T&C: 3S Lighting Solutions