Lead Architect Named for First Mixed-Use Development in DIFC

LWK + Partners, which has offices in Dubai, has been named lead architect for the first mixed-use development in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) — DIFC Living and Innovation Two, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) was among outlets to report in February. The Hong Kong-based architecture firm won a design competition for the development, which will include 170 residences, more than 144,155-ft² of office and co-working space, 38,303-ft² of retail and a conference center. A height was not provided, but the building, composed of “interlocking geometries,” appears to include a roughly 30-story tall tower atop a significant podium. Ground was broken in November 2022 ahead of an anticipated 2025 completion. At the pinnacle of the tower, “a twisted cube, like a lantern, hosts a restaurant and will create a presence on the Dubai skyline,” CTBUH observed.