Merdeka 118 (skyscraper)

2024: Opening of the skyscraper

On January 10, 2024, Malaysia's Supreme Elected Monarch Kebawah Dooley Young Maha Mulia Sheri Paduka Baginda Young di-Pertuan Agong held the opening ceremony of the Merdeka 118 skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur. As of that date, it is the second tallest building in the world.

Construction of the Merdeka 118 skyscraper, formerly known as Menara Warisan Merdeka, began in 2014. The project was developed by Fender Katsalidis and RSP Architects Planners & Engineers, and the general contractor was the Korean corporation Samsung C & T. The name Merdeka means "independence," which refers to the name of the nearby stadium, which is known as the place of the official declaration of independence.

Merdeka 118

The construction of the tower was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the project itself provoked criticism on social networks against this background. Users expressed doubt about the need to build an expensive skyscraper while the country's economy is recovering from the crisis triggered by the coronavirus. The cost of Merdeka 118 is estimated at $1 billion.

Merdeka 118

The tower has 118 floors and its height is 678.9 meters. According to this indicator, the skyscraper as of the beginning of 2024 is second only to the Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai, which rises 828 meters. Merdeka 118 is a multifunctional building that houses offices, a luxury hotel, a shopping center, etc. Visitors are transported between the floors of 87 high-speed elevators. The building is designed using diamond-shaped glass facades, highlighting the diversity of Malaysians. The structure uses steel rods with a total length of approximately 40 thousand km. Under the roof itself is a VIP room, and the spire rises about 160 m.^[1]

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