Standing Tall

At last, something that I am proud of. Not only because one of the tallest office buildings in the world is located in my homeland, but also because it is my first touch in photography.

Petronas Twin Towers located on the northern boundary of the Multimedia Super Corridor, is designed based on geometric patterns common in architecture of Islamic heritage. As described by architects, these geometric figures symbolise unity, harmony, stability and rationality - all important principles of Islam. The towers were once the World’s Tallest Building before being unseated by Taipei 101 on October 17th, 2003.

The towers feature a connecting sky bridge between the two towers on 41st and 42nd floor. It is 170 m high and 58 m long. Outside the building is a park with a fountain, jogging/walking tracks and a children’s playground. Suria KLCC situated at the lowest part of the towers is one of the biggest shopping malls in Malaysia. Malaysian Philharmonic Hall, situated also at the lower level of the building, has been the home for Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.

Here are some other intriguing facts about the twin towers:

·    Number of storeys : 88

·    Height: 452 meters above street level

·    Total built-up area: 341,760 sq.meters ( 3.7 million sq. feet)

·    Owners: Kuala Lumpur City Centre Holdings Sendirian Berhad

·    Design/Architecture: Cesar Pelli & Associates [U.S.] in association with KLCC architects

·    Engineers: Thornton-Tomasetti Engineers

·    Contractors: Mayjus and SKJ Joint Ventures

·    Vertical transportation: 29 double-deck high speed passenger lifts in each tower

·     Number of escalators: 10 in each tower

·     Stainless steel cladding: 65,000 sq. metres

·     Vision glass: 77,000 sq. metres

·  Concrete [various strengths up to grade 80]: 160,000 cubic metres in the    superstructures [see also foundation description below]

·     Steel: 36,910 tonnes of beams, trusses and reinforcement

·    Foundation: 4.5 metre [15 feet] thick raft containing 13,200 cubic meters of grade 60 reinforced concrete, weighing approximately 32,550 tonnes under each tower, supported by 104 barette piles varying from 60 to 115 metres in length

·     Topping Out: 1998 

·     Official Opening: August 28, 1999