THE LINE Progresses with Appointment of City Design and Engineering Partners

Photo : SPA

NEOM, the ambitious sustainable region taking shape in northwest Saudi Arabia, announced a significant milestone today with the appointment of globally renowned partners to manage core city planning, design, and engineering for the first phase of THE LINE—its linear smart city currently under construction. 

According to the official statement from NEOM, the teams involved include Delugan Meissl Associated Architects (DMAA), Gensler, and Mott MacDonald, who are collaborating with THE LINE's design and project teams to shape urban design, offer planning consultancy, and ensure sophisticated infrastructure development for the project’s initial phase.

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With this collaboration, NEOM is committed to delivering an innovative city design that aligns with THE LINE’s distinct urban objectives. Following the initial masterplan, NEOM plans to progress to neighborhood-specific planning, starting in early 2025 with a team of appointed architects who will oversee detailed designs.

Denis Hickey, Chief Development Officer of THE LINE, commented on the appointment: “As we advance with the development of THE LINE, we have forged partnerships that bring unparalleled expertise in urban planning and engineering. This collaboration represents our dedication to creating a model city that redefines urban living. By focusing on collaborative, best-practice standards, we aim to set a precedent for how future cities can be envisioned and constructed.” 

DMAA has taken on the primary role of urban designer, responsible for leading both the concept and detailed masterplanning of Phase One. The firm will oversee THE LINE’s distinctive, vertically structured urban layout, which challenges conventional planning by creating a city organized in layers rather than sprawling horizontally. Beyond the initial design phase, DMAA will support NEOM in maintaining this innovative vision as neighborhood-specific architects take over.

Global design powerhouse Gensler has been appointed as the city’s planning consultant. Given the unprecedented scale and complexity of THE LINE, Gensler’s role is essential. The firm will guide overall city design coordination and city planning, ensuring the project adheres to established planning policies, land use frameworks, and design standards. In addition to their role in city planning, Gensler will also act as the city asset design architect for major city infrastructure projects, including transport hubs and public spaces.

Meanwhile, Mott MacDonald joins as the infrastructure engineering partner, tasked with overseeing the structural and utility aspects of THE LINE. This role is crucial for ensuring that the city’s vertical and horizontal systems are both efficient and sustainable. Mott MacDonald will focus on managing the technical details of infrastructure to create a functional, buildable, and operable city in harmony with NEOM’s overall vision.

THE LINE has been designed to tackle contemporary urban challenges by creating a transformative, eco-conscious environment that integrates seamlessly with natural landscapes. This car-free city, devoid of traditional road networks, aims to harmonize the dynamic energy of urban living with green, tranquil spaces and ample access to nature.

As the larger NEOM region continues its work on capital projects to support THE LINE, the project’s initial infrastructure and preparatory work are also progressing. Currently, over 120 foundational piles are being cast weekly on the Phase One site, marking what NEOM anticipates to be the largest piling operation in history. This significant progress underscores NEOM’s commitment to staying on track for the timely delivery of this groundbreaking urban project.