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BUILDING: Petronas Towers
 
LOCATION: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
 
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED: 1998
 
ARCHITECT: César Pelli
 
STRUCTURAL ENGINEER: Thornton-Tomasetti Engineers, US, and Ranhill Bersekutu Sdn Bhd, Malaysia
 
AWARDS AND PRIZES: The Aga Khan Award for Architecture (2004)
 
STRUCTURE: Twin Office Tower
Petronas Towers

Until 2004 Kuala Lumpur's Petronas Towers were the world's tallest buildings before being overtaken by Taipei 101 in Taiwan. They still remain as the highest twin skyscrapers. The towers are joined by a two level skybridge 170 metres above the ground, famously depicted in the 1999 box office hit, Entrapment.

The structures were made using high-strength reinforced concrete, and its glossy steel and glass façade, have a distinct Islamic flavour honouring Malaysia's Muslim community. Concrete was chosen over steel as a more economical solution, with the resulting extra weight adding to sway resistance but requiring sophisticated structural support.

The buildings are supported by huge concrete cores and the foundations are the deepest in the world, sinking some 120 metres into the bedrock below. The structural design also allows for considerable column-free office space on each floor.

The Petronas Towers pay tribute to Malaysia's cultural heritage whilst embracing its modernisation and commercial focus. A symbol of Asia's construction prowess, the twin towers and skybridge create a structural gateway to the bustling city of Kuala Lumpur.

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Petronas Towers

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