Hong Kong-based LWK unveils details on SAR 12.1 bn Pulse Wadi project

LWK + Partners unveils Riyadh’s Pulse Wadi project: Hong Kong-based architectural design firm LWK + Partners released its master plan for a SAR 12.1 bn tech and cybersecurity project in Riyadh called Pulse Wadi, according to a statement picked up by Saudi Gulf Projects.

The details: The project — touted as “Saudi Arabia’s very own Silicon Valley”, will span 600k sqm in Wadi Hanifa on the outskirts of Riyadh, featuring a central government complex, two iconic headquarters, cultural institutions, and a cybersecurity research district. The central wadi plaza will be allocated for major events, “unifying all access points and the various tiers of commercial, recrational, retail and F&B functions”, the statement said.

The project will adopt smart city technology and sustainable design. Transportation will focus on green mobility, with electric vehicles, autonomous taxis, and networks for cycling, running, and walking, while shading techniques will be utilized in streets and plaza, according to the statement.

Wearing all the (design) hats: LWK + Partners is the project’s lead design consultant, master planner, urban designer, design architect and landscape architect, overlooking all design aspects of the project.

What we don’t know: The timeline for construction and the parties involved were not disclosed, as the announcement comes amid a recalibration of the Kingdom’s spending to prioritize time-sensitive international events like the 2029 Asian Winter Games, the 2034 Fifa World Cup, and Expo 2030.