Merdeka 118 Explained

Merdeka 118
Former Names:Menara Warisan Merdeka, KL 118, PNB 118
Mapframe-Zoom:16
Native Name:Malay: Merdeka PNB 118
Alternate Names:Merdeka Tower
Status:[1]
Highest Prev:Landmark 81
Highest Start:2021
Highest Region:Southeast Asia
Location:Jalan Hang Jebat, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Address:Menara Merdeka 118, Presint Merdeka 118, 50118 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Namesake:Malaysian Independence
Developer:PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd
Owner:PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd (under PNB)
Cost:RM5 billion[2]
Architect:Fender Katsalidis in association with RSP KL
References:[3] [4]
Building Type:Mixed-use

Shopping complex, housing properties, hotel, observation, public park, office

Architectural Style:Neo-futurism and Malay traditional songket pattern[5]
Structural System:Steel
Reinforced concrete
Concrete encased steel
Architectural:[6]
Groundbreaking Date:[7]
Completion Date:November 2023
Opened Date:[8]
Structural Engineer:Leslie E. Robertson Associates, Robert Bird Group in association with Arup[9]
Main Contractors:Samsung C&T
UEM Group
Floor Area:[10]
Observatory: (Level spire)[11]
(View at 118)[12]
Floor Count:118 (with 5 below ground)
Parking:20,000 parking bays
Public Transit: Merdeka MRT station
Maharajalela Monorail station
Plaza Rakyat LRT station via Merdeka
Antenna Spire:[13]
Elevator Count:87 (mall included)
Known For:First skyscraper to exceed and in Malaysia and Southeast Asia

Merdeka 118, formerly known as Menara Warisan Merdeka, KL 118 and PNB 118, is a 118-story megatall skyscraper in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At tall, it is the second-tallest building and structure in the world, only behind the Burj Khalifa at .

The building's name, Merdeka, which means "independence" in Malay, is inspired by its proximity to Stadium Merdeka.[14] The spire of the building was completed in December 2022, which marked its final height of above ground and above sea level.[15]

It is the tallest building in Malaysia and Southeast Asia. It surpassed the Exchange 106 to become the tallest building in Malaysia and surpassed the Landmark 81 to become the tallest building in Southeast Asia.[16] The building will also be the first in Malaysia to receive a triple platinum rating from worldwide sustainability certifications, including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED).

Background

The Merdeka 118 precinct is a 19acres land development funded by Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB),[17] [18] with a budget of RM5 billion.[19] When completed in 2023,[20] the tower became the tallest building in Malaysia.[21] It was constructed in three phases and consists of 400000sigfig=2NaNsigfig=2 of residential, hotel and commercial space.[22]

The building is a mix of office spaces, hotels, and retail outlets and an observatory floor which will be the highest observation deck in Southeast Asia. It has two observation decks, the first inside the building and the second inside the spire, and a retail business center (118 Mall). It will be surrounded by four acres of urban and linear parks.[23] The non-rentable space consists of elevators, recreational and maintenance facilities, as well as parking spaces for up to 8,500 cars. Sixty out of the 80 storeys of office space will be reserved for Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), the developer of the project, and its subsidiaries.[24] [25]

Site

The building is situated on Jalan Hang Jebat, on the location of the former Merdeka Park (subsequently repurposed into an open-air car park). The site lies within the vicinity of landmarks such as Petaling Street, sporting venues including Merdeka Stadium, Stadium Negara and the Chin Woo Stadium, three schools (the Victoria Institution, the Methodist Boys' School and the Chinese-type Jalan Davidson Primary School), and the stalled Plaza Rakyat project (across the Ampang Line). The Merdeka 118 development, when completed, will also have access to the newly built Merdeka MRT station on the Kajang Line (SBK)[26] [27] and be directly linked from three major roads via the Belfield Tunnel, which will be a 2-storey underground tunnel passing underneath Kampung Attap and Jalan Maharajalela to the basement of the precinct.[28]

Design

The building is designed with a mixture of diamond-shaped glass facades to signify the diversity of Malaysians.[5] The design was made to resemble and inspired by Tunku Abdul Rahman's outstretched hand gesture while chanting "Merdeka!",[29] when he proclaimed the independence of Malaysia on 31 August 1957. The building's cladding was to comprise 18,144 panels, 114,000 square-meter of glass, and 1,600 tonnes of window frame extrusions. It was to contain the 118 Mall, Grade-A offices, hotels, and residential areas. The structural engineers were Leslie E. Robertson Associates and Robert Bird Group while the civil and structural engineer of record for this tower is Arup.[30] [31] The building has been equipped and illuminated at night with 8.4 km of LED light strips which would gradually move from one corner to another.[32] The Neapoli Group, an environmental design and engineering firm, was employed to provide consultancy services towards achieving platinum rating with three Green Building certification bodies: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Green Building Index and GreenRE.[33]

Floor plans

All of the floor plans were obtained from the building's proposals and are subject to change.[34]

FloorsPurpose
Spire(Unknown name) Observation deck
118VIP lounge
117Mechanical
115 – 116The View At 118 (Skydeck and observatory) (Opens Q4 2024)
114Luxury restaurant
113Mechanical
100 – 112Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur (hotel) (Opens Q2 2025)[35]
99Hotels' indoor gym, spa and swimming pool
97 – 98Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur (Hotel)
78 – 96High zone officesPermodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) headquarters and subsidiaries
77Mechanical
76Office Sky lobby
75Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur (hotel) Sky lobby
58 – 74Mid zone 2 offices
43 – 57Mid zone 1 offices
42Mechanical
40 – 41Office Sky lobby
24 – 39Low zone 2 offices
8 – 23Low zone 1 offices
PNB headquarters and its subsidiaries
6 – 7Mechanical
5Office lobby
4Reception, office lobby, lift lobby, exit to Merdeka Boulevard At 118
(South foyer from Jalan Stadium)
3Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur (hotel) lobby, cafe, conference, parking,
Side entrance to 118 Mall and future development
1-2The View At 118 (Skydeck and observatory) entrance, void of lobby
GConcourse level, commercial lobby, hotel elevators, restaurant elevator, parking, loading dock, Merdeka Boulevard, entrance to 118 Mall and future development
(North foyer from Jalan Hang Jebat)
B1Basement parking
B2Mechanical

Height

The height of the spire, crown, roof, top floor, observation and residential towers of Merdeka 118.

Progress

The piling and foundation work for the project was awarded to Pintaras Geotechnics Sdn Bhd.[36] [37] The Permodalan Nasional Berhad shortlisted six groups for various construction jobs: Samsung C&T and UEM Group Bhd; IJM Corp Bhd, Norwest Holdings Sdn Bhd, and Shimizu Corp; Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd and State Construction Engineering Corp; WCT Bhd and Arabtec Construction LLC; TSR Capital Bhd and Daewoo Group; Seacera Group Bhd with Spaz Sdn Bhd, Sinohydro Corp, and Shanghai Construction Group. These companies submitted their bids by January 28, 2015.[38] [39] KONE, a Finnish group, is supplying around 87 elevators and escalators for the project.[40]

On 23 November 2015, PNB announced a contract worth RM3.4 billion has been awarded to the joint venture of South Korea's Samsung C&T and UEM Group Berhad.[41] Furthermore, on 9 November 2017, PNB planned to raise up to RM5 billion fund for its project via a green sukuk, the Merdeka Asean Green SRI Sukuk, with a 15-year tenure. The sukuk covered the development of its 83-storey office space, which forms part of the tower. It is the first adopter of the Asean Green Bond Standards launched by the Securities Commission Malaysia that validates PNB commitment to develop the project as a sustainable and environmentally-friendly project.[42]

On 27 February 2018, it was announced that Park Hyatt will open up a hotel in Merdeka 118.[43] The Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur will occupy the top 17 floors of the building; It is slated to have 232 units, including 28 suites and 30 apartments.

The construction was halted on 18 March 2020 due to the Movement Control Order in Malaysia caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, but works resumed in mid-May 2020.[44] In early August 2020, the building's concrete core topped out at 118 floors surpassing the Vincom Landmark 81 as the tallest building in Southeast Asia.

In June 2021, the tower was at 81% completion, with the installation of the glass façade in progress at Level 108 and has successfully reached Level 118 with its spire already 50% assembled along with the retail podium.[45] Turner International plays the role of Project Management Consultant for this complex development.[46] The tower was topped out in November 2021.

On the 10th of January 2024, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah officially inaugurated Merdeka 118, stated that the new landmark "symbolises the people celebrating the diversity of the country as an independent nation".[47]

Criticism

See also: 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal and The Exchange 106.

Practicality of the structure

Many Malaysians have criticized this project, adding that it is unnecessary and a waste of "public funds", having been funded by the Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), a state-owned enterprise of the Malaysian government. Amounting to more than RM5 billion, it is said that the money could have been better used for other practical causes, such as education and healthcare, which has been increasingly deteriorating in the country.[48] In response to the criticism, former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who would eventually be directly involved with the 1MDB scandal, claimed that the project was not a waste and it would "bring more benefits" by generating "economic opportunities".

Trespassing incidents

In 2022, a viral video began circulating online when a group of American individuals[49] trespassed towards the top of Merdeka 118, prompting criticism of the lack of security measures at the site.[50] In a statement, the developer stated that such stunts are illegal and that trespassing is illegal by law. The group was eventually charged under Section 457 of the Malaysian Penal Code.[51]

That same year, another trespassing incident occurred when Russian rooftoppers Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus scaled the spire of Merdeka 118, prompting further criticism.[52] [53] [54] Malaysian police requested for the entry and exit records of the couple from the Immigration Department, which responded that there were no records of the duo entering or exiting Malaysia, suggesting that they had entered the country illegally.[55] Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail has confirmed that a full investigation is ongoing.[56]

Transportation

The building will be served by the Kajang Line's Merdeka MRT station located along Jalan Hang Jebat, which is connected to an interchange with the LRT Ampang and Sri Petaling Lines' Plaza Rakyat LRT station.

It will also be accessible from the Maharajalela Monorail station on the KL Monorail Line, connected through the precinct's linear park under the development.

The Hang Tuah station, serving the LRT Ampang Line, LRT Sri Petaling Line and KL Monorail, is a 600-metre walk southeast.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Merdeka PNB118 - The Skyscraper Center. www.skyscrapercenter.com.
  2. https://web.archive.org/web/20110622065039/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2010%2F10%2F16%2Fbudget%2F7241701 RM5bil Warisan Merdeka will be country's new landmark
  3. Web site: Merdeka 118 - The Skyscraper Center. 2020-08-15. www.skyscrapercenter.com.
  4. Web site: Warisan Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur - Building 1221285 - EMPORIS . https://web.archive.org/web/20140903124527/http://www.emporis.com/building/warisan-merdeka-kuala-lumpur-malaysia . dead . 3 September 2014 . . 31 August 2014.
  5. Web site: Ahmad . Abdelrazaq . Design and Construction of Merdeka 118 Tower ]. Institute of Civil Engineers . November 11, 2020 . May 18, 2024.
  6. News: Azman . Nur Hanani . Merdeka 118 tower on track for completion late 2022 . The Malaysian Reserve . 30 November 2021. 30 November 2021.
  7. Web site: Piling work starts on KL118 . 3 July 2014 . KiniBiz (defunct) . 11 November 2023 . 22 April 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220422232006/http://www.kinibiz.com/story/corporate/93791/piling-work-starts-on-kl118.html . live .
  8. Web site: Menara Merdeka 118, a tower of success in navigating independence, says King . The Star (Malaysia) . 12 January 2024 . en-MY . 10 January 2024.
  9. Web site: KL118 Tower - The Skyscraper Center. skyscrapercenter.com.
  10. Web site: Fender . Karl . PART 1 : KLAF 2020/21 MERDEKA 118: DESIGNING THE 2ND TALLEST BUILDING IN THE WORLD . youtube.com . Pertubuhan Akitek Malaysia . en . video . April 22, 2021.
  11. News: Lim . Ida . August 5, 2022 . Merdeka 118: Touch the sky from mid-2023 at world's second tallest tower right here in KL . June 24, 2024 . Malay Mail.
  12. Web site: Farid . Monch . August 30, 2023 . Ride at eight metres per second to reach The View at 118 . 2024-06-25 . Edgeprop.my . en.
  13. Web site: Abdelrazaq . Ahmad . Ahmad Abdelrazaq- Constructing Merdeka 118:World's Second-Tallest Building . youtube.com . . en . video . January 22, 2022.
  14. News: Rani. Nur Amirah Abd. 2021-09-03. Merdeka 118 mercu tanda integrasi masa depan. ms. Merdeka 118, landmark of future integration. Berita Harian. 2021-12-01.
  15. News: Malaysia completes Merdeka Tower cone. Ngui. Yantoultra. 2021-11-30. 2021-12-01. Bloomberg News.
  16. News: PM: Completion of Merdeka 118 tower spire, the world's second-tallest building, a 'proud moment'. Rahim. Rahimy. 2021-11-30. 2021-11-30. The Star.
  17. https://archive.today/20131023150206/http://www.thestar.com.my/story.aspx?file=/2010/10/19/nation/20101019210301 PM: 118-storey Warisan Merdeka to generate economic opportunities for all
  18. Web site: 2020-11-02 . End-to-End BIM Improves Project Design of 2nd Tallest Building in the World Under Construction in Malaysia . 2022-03-01 . gwprime . en-US.
  19. https://web.archive.org/web/20110622065039/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2010%2F10%2F16%2Fbudget%2F7241701 RM5bil Warisan Merdeka will be country's new landmark
  20. Web site: Merdeka 118 Tower set to open mid-2023 . 5 August 2022 . The Star . 5 August 2022.
  21. Web site: Merdeka 118 super-tall tower: What you need to know . 10 January 2023 .
  22. Web site: Malaysia Chronicle | A place to speak up on Politics, Business, Social. 30 September 2020.
  23. Web site: Amenities : Merdeka 118. 13 September 2021. Merdeka 118.
  24. Web site: Malaysia to Get New Iconic Landmark KL118. www.kl118.com.my. 18 March 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160418205719/http://www.kl118.com.my/malaysia-to-get-new-iconic-landmark-kl118/. 18 April 2016.
  25. Web site: New PNB skyscraper to meet the demand for space - Daily Express Newspaper Online, Sabah, Malaysia.. dailyexpress.com.my. 13 January 2015.
  26. Web site: Malaysia Chronicle | A place to speak up on Politics, Business, Social. 30 September 2020.
  27. Web site: Underground jewels for the Klang Valley MRT - Features - The Star Online. thestar.com.my. 4 March 2015.
  28. Web site: 2019-12-20. This unconventional 'kampung' is Kuala Lumpur's next property hot spot. 2021-10-14. The Edge Markets.
  29. Web site: Set to be one of the world's tallest buildings in 2022. 2022-01-14. www.arup.com. en.
  30. Skyscraper Center Web site: KL118 Tower - The Skyscraper Center . skyscrapercenter.com.
  31. Web site: A spectacular blend of the historic and contemporary in the heart of Kuala Lumpur with approximately one million sq ft of retail opportunities.. 8 September 2021. 118 Mall.
  32. Web site: 2020-09-02. Menara Merdeka 118, Bangunan kedua tertinggi Dunia selepas Burj Khalifa? In faktanya…. 2021-10-03. Sinar Plus. en-US.
  33. NEAPOLI SDN BHD Web site: NEAPOLI TO HELP BUILD THE WORLDS THIRD TALLEST BUILDING. neapoli.com.
  34. Web site: Technical : Merdeka 118 building. www.merdeka118.com.
  35. Web site: Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur Merdeka 118.
  36. Web site: Pintaras shares up after bagging RM74mil Warisan Merdeka job - Business News - The Star Online. thestar.com.my. 13 March 2014.
  37. Web site: Pintaras wins RM74m PNB Warisan Merdeka tower contract . 7 June 2014 . https://archive.today/20140607074842/http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/business-news/279917-pintaras-wins-rm74m-pnb-warisan-merdeka-tower-contract.html . 7 June 2014 . dead .
  38. Web site: Six in the running. NST Online. 2014-12-05. 2015-09-22. Sharen.
  39. Web site: Malaysia Chronicle | A place to speak up on Politics, Business, Social. 30 September 2020.
  40. News: Joakim Persson . PAnother big KONE order in Malaysia. 30 November 2015. ScanAsia.com. 11 October 2015.
  41. News: Zainul. Intan Farhana. PNB confirms RM3.4b Menara KL118 contract awarded. 23 November 2015. The Star. 23 November 2015.
  42. News: PNB to raise RM2b via green sukuk to fund Merdeka 118 Tower. 30 December 2020. 9 November 2017. The Edge Markets.
  43. Web site: Park Hyatt to take up residence at PNB 118.
  44. News: Construction of PNB's Merdeka 118 tower reaches 111 floors. 8 May 2020. The Star. 4 May 2020.
  45. Web site: Merdeka 118 tower safely tops out.
  46. Web site: Malaysia Begins Construction of the Country's Tallest Skyscraper - Relevant News - Resource Centre - InvestKL . 9 February 2021 . 16 August 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160816213232/http://www.investkl.gov.my/Relevant_News-@-Malaysia_Begins_Construction_of_the_Country%E2%80%99s_Tallest_Skyscraper.aspx . dead .
  47. Web site: Menara Merdeka 118, a tower of success in navigating independence, says King . The Star (Malaysia) . 12 January 2024 . en-MY . 10 January 2024.
  48. Web site: Chen . Heather . This Country Is Building the World's Second-Tallest Skyscraper. But Citizens Aren't Thrilled. . www.vice.com . 31 December 2021 . en . 2 December 2021.
  49. Web site: Wong . Chee . M'sian authorities confirm that 4 US men who scaled spire of Merdeka 118 were arrested & charged back in May 2022 . Wau Post . 15 January 2023 . 11 January 2023.
  50. Web site: Ibrahim . Junaid . Viral video of Merdeka 118 trespassers taken last year, culprits already caught and charged . The Star . 15 January 2023 . en . 10 January 2023.
  51. Web site: Merdeka 118 Tower: Group of male trespasssers video taken may last year - PNBMV . BERNAMA . 15 January 2023 . en . 10 January 2023.
  52. News: Daredevil couple who scaled Malaysia's Merdeka 118 tower under probe . 29 December 2022. . 2023-01-10 . en.
  53. Web site: 挑战攀爬默迪卡118 警方将传召俄罗斯情侣调查. 28 December 2022. . 2023-01-10.
  54. Web site: Merdeka 118, le deuxième plus haut gratte-ciel du monde, doit ouvrir ses portes en 2023. 30 December 2022. . 2023-01-10 .
  55. Web site: 'No record of Russian duo entering or exiting country' . The Star . 15 January 2023 . en . 8 January 2023.
  56. Web site: Merdeka 118: Saifuddin to get full report on alleged trespass . Sinar Daily . 15 January 2023 . en . 5 January 2023.