As the pictures illustrate, the world’s second tallest building now reaches its highest point.
Merdeka118 reached its peak last month in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) with completion of the tip of the spire. This makes the skyscraper an incredible 2,227ft (678.9m). This means it’s more than double the height of London’s Shard, which is 1,017ft (310m) high.
It is expected to be open at the end of the year. The new 118-storey tower has displaced the Shanghai Tower, China’s 2,073ft (632m) tall, from its position as the second-tallest building in the world. Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, however, is still No.1 at a whopping 2,717ft (828m) in height.
Merdeka 118 is the second tallest building in the world. This makes it a stunning sight.
Merdeka 118 is located in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. Last month, the spire was finished.
Abraj Al-Bait Tower, Saudi Arabia, is fourth tallest. It stands at 1,972ft/601m. Next, the Ping An International Finance Centre, Shenzhen (599.1m) is fifth.
Merdeka 118, which is officially classed as a ‘megatall’ skyscraper, was designed to overlook a significant historical landmark in Kuala Lumpur – Stadium Merdeka, the site of the declaration of independence of the country in 1957.
Fender Katsalidis Architects in Australia designed the sleek tower’s exterior. It is composed of triangular glass panels that were inspired by traditional Malaysian crafts and arts.
Malaysian Skyscraper, seen on the right is staggeringly 2,227ft (678.9m).
Merdeka 118 is designed to be seen from Stadium Merdeka. This landmark, pictured above, was the place where the country declared independence in 1957.
Fender Katsalidis Architects of Australia created the tower’s exterior. The panels are made of triangular glasses.
It covers more than three million square feet (378,709 sq metres) in total.
Its upper floors will feature an observation deck – set to be the tallest in Southeast Asia – called ‘The View at 118’. It’s billed as a ‘must-visit attraction’.
The skyscraper will have a Park Hyatt hotel on its 17th storey. It was built by Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), a fund management firm.
Merdeka 118 knocked the 2,073ft- (632m) high Shanghai Tower (pictured centre-left) in China off its perch as the world’s second-tallest tower
Seventeen storeys of the skyscraper will encompass a Park Hyatt Hotel, and a ’118 Mall’ will be connected to the tower at its base
In September 2021 the tower, just weeks before its tip received its spire
According to a statement, hotel guests will enjoy a ‘fine dining experience’ and can check in to rooms and suites that offer ‘panoramic views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline’.
The megatall tower will include residential and office space that can be rented.
A glass-dome-covered ’118 Mall’ with shops and retail facilities will be connected to the tower at its base, a statement reveals.
Beside the skyscraper, plans are in place to design a ‘Merdeka Boulevard at 118’ park, a textile museum with ‘a focus on Malay-world textiles’, a childcare centre, and a new mosque – named ‘Masjid Merdeka’ – with a capacity for up to 3,000 people.
Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob described the skyscraper as a ‘great achievement’ at a ceremony that celebrated the topping out of the tower last month, according to The Star.
According to him, Merdeka 118 would also be the tower in Malaysia with a triple-platinum ranking and international sustainability certifications such as the highly coveted Leadership in Energy and Environment Design.
‘This is not only a great achievement in the field of engineering, but also further strengthens Malaysia’s position as a modern and developed country.’
The completed tower is shown in a rendering lit at night. It was described by the developers as an “incredible engineering accomplishment”.
This is a render of the ‘View at 118’ observation deck, set to be the highest in Southeast Asia.
A rendering shows ‘Merdeka Boulevard at 118’, a public park that is set to open beside the skyscraper
This rendered image shows a Park Hyatt room. According to a statement, hotel guests will enjoy ‘panoramic views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline’
PNB’s President and Group Chief Executive, Encik Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn, added: ‘The Merdeka 118 tower shares the same location with some of our beloved historical sites, which makes for a remarkable blend of the historical and the contemporary.
‘Despite the many challenges that came with the pandemic, it is a great pleasure to announce that the tower as well as the infrastructure upgrades surrounding are now on the right track to be completed by the end of 2022.
“Today I’m excited to share the amazing engineering feat achieved. This important achievement was made possible by everyone’s efforts.
For more information visit merdeka118.com.
MERDEKA 118 JOINS AN ELITE RANK of SKYSCRAPERS. HERE ARE THE TOP 10 HIGHEST TOWERS IN WORLD
1 – The Burj Khalifa Dubai, UAE The tower is 828m high (2,717 ft). This tower was created by Marshall Strabala and George J Efstathiou as architects. It was completed in 2010.
The Burj Khalifa, pictured centre-right, is the tallest building in the world at 828m (2,717ft) in height
2 – Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Merdeka 118, created by Fender Katsalidis Architects, is set to open in 2022. The building is 678.9m tall (2,227ft in height) and officially ranks as the tallest in Southeast Asia.
3 – Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China The tower measures 632m (2,073ft) in height and boasts the unique title of the world’s tallest twisted building. The tower was built by Arthur Gensler, Jun Xia and Andy Cohen.
4. The Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower, Mecca, Saudi Arabia. This 2012 tower measures 601m (1,972ft) in height and is the world’s tallest building with a clock face. Dar Al-Handasah Architects created this design.
The Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower in Mecca, pictured, is the world’s tallest building with a clock face
5 – Ping An International Finance Centre, Shenzhen China It is 599.1m high (1,966ft). Along with the Shanghai Tower, which ranks at number two, it shares the record for the world’s highest observation deck – the ‘Free Sky 116’ deck sits at 562m (1,843ft) high. Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates in the USA was responsible for this design.
6 – The Lotte World Tower Dubai, UAE Built in 2017 and measuring 554.5m in height, this striking tower was designed by James von Klemperer (New York),
7 – One World Trade Center in New York:One World Trade Center, which is the highest building in the Western Hemisphere was built in 2014 and has been a landmark. The building is 541.3m high (1,776ft). The design was created by Daniel Libeskind and David Childs architects, as well as TJ Gottesdiener.
One World Trade Center in New York (pictured at the center) is the highest building in Western Hemisphere.
8 – Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre in Guangzhou, China: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates was responsible for this huge building. It was also the design firm behind number five, the Ping An International Finance Centre. In 2016, the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre opened. It is approximately 530m high (1,739ft).
9 – The Tianjin CTF Finance Centre is located in Tianjin (China). This building measures 530m (1,739ft) in height and was designed by the global architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. In 2019, it was complete.
10 – China Zun also known as Citic Tower in Beijing, ChinaThe structure was also designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, the US company. This skyscraper is 527.7m high (1,731ft in height) and was finished in 2018.