Muslim teacher wanted 3 weeks off to visit Mecca

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Traditional_Ale

A giant Starbucks?

Haha, yeah the green colour on the clock isn't that great but the clock itself is a masterpiece. The detail on it is just staggering:


Untitled by Reem Al-Shabnan , on Flickr


Makkah Clock by amrmadani, on Flickr

When complete the building will be 601m (1972') tall.

[blankall]

Apparently, it's almost done.

Second tallest building in the world and each of the four clock faces is the biggest clock face in the world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraj_Al_Bait_Towers

Each of the clock's four faces are 46 metres (151 feet) in diameter and will be illuminated by 2 million LED lights, along with huge Arabic script reading: “Allah is the Greatest”. Another 21,000 white and green colored lights, fitted at the top of the clock, will flash to signal Islam's five-times daily prayers as far as 29 kilometres (18 miles). On special occasions, 16 bands of vertical lights will shoot some 10 kilometres (6.2 miles) up into the sky. The clock's four faces will be covered with 98 million pieces of glass mosaics. The Saudi coat of arms is displayed at the center of each clock behind the dials.

[Bigtime]

Here is the construction thread for it over at Skyscraperpage.com

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=129985

[photon]

That's an impressive building.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Here is the construction thread for it over at Skyscraperpage.com

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=129985

I have to echo a lot of their statements, I though it looked better without the clock. It has a very Las Vegas feel now. Considering it's in one of the holiest sites to islam in the world, they could have made the building more aesthetically pleasing to its surroundings.

[SeeBass]

Kinda makes me think of the smoker who takes about six, 15 minute smoking breaks a day but if a non smoker wanted to leave the office just to go outside for freash air or a walk it would be fowned upon.

[HOZ]

Amazing what slave labour will build for you! I hope you don't think Saudis built this.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by blankall

I have to echo a lot of their statements, I though it looked better without the clock. It has a very Las Vegas feel now. Considering it's in one of the holiest sites to islam in the world, they could have made the building more aesthetically pleasing to its surroundings.

Agreed. It's definitely eye-pleasing and is impressive, but much too glitzy for something that is on hallowed ground.
Way too Vegas-ey. Almost looks like Trump or Wynn designed it.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Agreed. It's definitely eye-pleasing and is impressive, but much too glitzy for something that is on hallowed ground.
Way too Vegas-ey. Almost looks like Trump or Wynn designed it.

It's definitely impressive and awe-inspiring, however, it also looks more like an example of capitalist excess than what I associate with any kind of religion. Stands in extreme juxtaposition with a pilgramage for a religion that emphasises piety, modesty, and humility.

I don't know why they didn't draw their influence more from examples of islamic art and existing islamic monuments, many of which are absolutely stunning.

[Locke]

I dont get it. This just seems like an unreasonable request and the exact same result would be achieved at any place of employment if the same request was made for any reason, religious or otherwise.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by photon

That's an impressive building.

The shortest tower in that development is still taller than The Bow here in Calgary by about 4m. The scale is unreal.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

the green colour on the clock isn't that great

Green is a symbol of Islam, so you'd probably feel differently if you were a Muslim.

And it's more New York than Vegas to me.

[HOOT]

I was so confused I clicked to the last page and it was all about buildings...

I think this law suit is silly! People need to stop suing for everything. She should have asked when she got hire if she could have that time off and if not, don't take the job or don't go.

My religion clearly states, actually one of the first rules, is that you don't have to work between January 2nd and December 31st, but I still show up for my job.

[WhiteTiger]

Originally Posted by SeeBass

Kinda makes me think of the smoker who takes about six, 15 minute smoking breaks a day but if a non smoker wanted to leave the office just to go outside for freash air or a walk it would be fowned upon.

Hah. No kidding. I argued one of my old bosses into giving me 2 extra 10 minute 'reading breaks' at one of my old jobs. I was the only non-smoker on the floor, and was sick of constantly covering for someone out on a 'smoke break'. I told him that he could give me the extra 20 minutes a day (what I figured the smokers were using, being generous) or I'd really raise a stink about it with HR, and we'd see where it'd go from there.

I have to admit, I was actually pretty curious to see what sort of fuss I could have raised over at HR about it.