Completes the world's second-tallest skyscraper, the 679m tower in Malaysia
Innovative design, a 160m spire, and high-pressure concrete pumping demonstrate its technical prowess
Samsung C&T's Engineering & Construction Group (hereinafter Samsung C&T) has completed construction of Malaysia's Merdeka 118, the second-tallest building in the world. Following the Burj Khalifa (Dubai, UAE, completed in 2009), the company has now completed both the world's first- and second-tallest buildings, once again firmly cementing its standing as the world's premier builder in the super-tall category.
Samsung C&T announced that on January 10 it completed and held the opening ceremony for the 679m Merdeka 118, located in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia.
Held locally to mark the completion of the building — the world's second-tallest and a future landmark — the opening ceremony was attended by leading figures including Malaysia's King Abdullah and his consort; Arshad Raja Tun Uda, chairman of the state-owned fund PNB, which commissioned the project; and Samsung C&T CEO Oh Se-chul. Notably, the King of Malaysia personally delivered a congratulatory address and signed the building's commemorative plaque, adding to the significance of the completion.
Merdeka 118 is a super-tall skyscraper built with 118 above-ground floors (and five basement levels). At 679m, it has established itself as the world's second-tallest skyscraper, after the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa. A super-large mixed-use complex with a total floor area of 673,862㎡, it will house offices, a luxury hotel, and a shopping mall. Above all, an observation deck offering a sweeping view of the city center has been installed on the building's top floor, and it is expected to become a world-class landmark.
The full range of highly demanding construction technologies was mobilized for Merdeka 118, including its innovative design, the installation of a 160m spire, and high-pressure pumping technology. Rather than installing a tower crane at a height of 500m above ground, Samsung C&T erected the spire using a lift-up method, jacking it upward with hydraulic jacks. The company also successfully completed the project through numerous super-tall technologies, including high-pressure pumping technology to convey high-strength concrete to super-tall heights and real-time GPS-based measurement.
Notably, Samsung C&T has firmly established its standing in the Malaysian market by successively building a number of super-tall landmark projects, including the Petronas Twin Towers — which at 452m were Malaysia's tallest buildings when completed in 1998 — the luxury residential-commercial complex Star Residences, and the Sapura Building, the new headquarters of the Sapura Group.
With the completion of this tallest building in Malaysia, Samsung C&T now holds the meaningful record of having participated in the construction of the tallest buildings in numerous countries around the world — including Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building at 163 floors and 828m, and Russia's Lakhta Center, where it took part as construction manager. Building on its accumulated technical expertise and the trust of its clients, Samsung C&T plans to continue expanding a wide range of business opportunities going forward.
▲ A view of Merdeka 118