Canadian LED specialist SACO Technologies has installed the world’s tallest media façade on the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Covering almost the entire height of the 828-meter skyscraper, this state-of-the-art LED installation spans 770 meters of the building’s eastern façade.
Originally opened in 2010, the Burj Khalifa’s eastern façade was retrofitted with SACO V-Stick LED elements as part of an initiative by Emaar Properties Dubai, the UAE’s largest real estate developer. Launched in 2017, the project aimed to illuminate the eastern façade of the world’s tallest building with a permanent, high-resolution LED system that integrates seamlessly with the building’s architecture.
SACO Technologies took on the ambitious project, leveraging their V-Stick LED elements and advanced video processing technology. The new system offers 20 times the resolution of the previous setup, with over 1.1 million RGB pixels and 28 kilometers of LED strips. The installation also required over 250 kilometers of cables and involved more than 500 kilometers of climbing rope for the 80 rope access specialists working simultaneously on the building.
One of the significant challenges SACO faced was attaching the LED strips to the Burj Khalifa’s architectural fins without drilling into them. To preserve the building’s aesthetic integrity, SACO designed special stainless steel brackets that hug the fins and attach to their rear edges. These brackets were polished to match the fins’ shine, ensuring the media façade remains invisible until illuminated.
The project’s complexity required meticulous planning and execution within a tight seven-month timeline. SACO utilized state-of-the-art parametric tools and artificial intelligence (AI) to efficiently calculate the layout of all components, including cable routes and control room layouts. The SACO in-house monitoring tool, “Health Check,” was used for project and operational monitoring.
The installation process was a logistical feat. SACO established two warehouse facilities near the Burj Khalifa, replicating their Montreal workspace for the final assembly of components. While the LED technology was manufactured in Canada and shipped to Dubai, other elements were sourced locally. Canadian SACO fitters and local partner 3S conducted the on-site assembly.
The media façade debuted during the “Light Up 2018” New Year’s Eve celebration, attracting over a million viewers both onsite and via live broadcast. This event set a Guinness World Record for the largest laser light and sound show on a single structure. The façade continues to be a central feature for nightly light shows and special events, captivating audiences with its vibrant displays.
SACO’s innovative approach and collaboration with Emaar have resulted in a technological landmark that enhances the Burj Khalifa’s iconic status and sets a new benchmark for media façades globally. With ongoing maintenance and content creation managed by SACO’s Media Collective division, the façade is poised to deliver stunning visual experiences for years to come.
To know more about this visit: https://www.saco.com/burj-khalifa-tallest-screen-on-the-planet/
About Saco: Saco is a leading LED display technology provider, known for its innovative and high-quality media facade solutions. For more information, visit Saco.
About Emaar Properties: Emaar Properties is the largest real estate developer in the UAE, renowned for iconic projects like the Burj Khalifa. For more information, visit Emaar Properties.
