More than just a skyscraper, Merdeka 118 is a celebration of Malaysian ambition and innovation in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. At 678.9 metres tall, this proud landmark is the centrepiece of a 6.35-hectare urban revitalisation precinct around Stadium Merdeka, the historical site of Tunku Abdul Rahman’s 1957 declaration of Malaysian independence. Spanning over 3.1 million square feet of foor area, the Merdeka 118 tower includes 1.7 million square feet of premium ofce accommodation, the new six-star Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur Hotel, and Southeast Asia’s highest Observation Deck.

Diamond in plan, Merdeka 118 is sited on axis with neighbouring Stadium Negara to the east, and a new four-acre linear water park, designed by Boston’s Sasaki Associates. This car-free recreational area is designed to promote vibrant community interaction within the city for people of all ages and backgrounds. It will also create an important visual alliance with the revered Petronas Towers and the Kuala Lumpur Tower.

By articulating the tower’s structural pathways with a combination of diferentiated glazing and illumination, its crystalline form reveals itself, day and night, as a unifed composition of disparate facets and patterns. The sculptural arrangement of triangular faceted glass planes is inspired by traditional patterns inherent in Malaysian art and craft, whilst also serving as a metaphor for the rich ethnic and cultural mix that defnes the Malaysian nation.The design language of the tower element carries through to the podium exterior and the dual lobby levels of its interior. Lit via dramatic skylighting, the immense volumes of these lobbies appear as if carved from solid travertine; the lower, to the north, connects via escalators to the larger, more formal space to the south, notable for its soaring 35-storey atrium.

Developed for PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn. Berhad (PMVSB), a wholly-ownedsubsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), project collaborators included an extensive team of local and international design consultants. The tower was designed by Australian Architect FK in close collaboration with Executive Architect of Records RSP Architects Kuala Lumpur, design engineering frms Robert Bird Group and LERA (New York), and a host of other leading industry consultants. Its completion as the world’s second-tallest building celebrates the years of planning, problem-solving, collaboration and human endeavour required to realise a building of such ambition and complexity.

Working on a site of this scale required the project team to work closely with local authorities to improve the overall urban environment. The infrastructure surrounding the site was signifcantly upgraded to ensure a smooth vehicular and pedestrian experience in and around the precinct. Signifcant technical innovations embedded in the design ensure a sustainable, future-focused, and highly adaptable workplace that meets the ever-evolving demands of contemporary business. The carefully crafted plan shape, hybrid belt truss structure and faceted form efciently distribute lateral wind loads whilst providing contiguous ofce foorplates unencumbered by columns. Merdeka 118 is the tallest LEED Platinum (BD+C) building in the world, redefning sustainability expectations for mega-tall towers and achieving 28% operational energy use reduction, 32% potable water use reduction, 95% construction waste diversion, and 55% open space provision. 

The broader precinct development is also notable for its seamless integration with KL’s public transport infrastructure, as well as its diverse range of uses and accommodations on a single development site.

Upon completion, the entire precinct will ofer 1.4 million square feet of retail space, Merdeka Mall, Oakwood Premier Serviced Residents, two Residential Towers, Look at 118 Gallery and Textile Museum, PNB Little M Childcare Centre and a Mosque. De-spite the complexity of the project, the team has developed a comprehensive master plan that will support the anticipat-ed over 15,000 daily users, including residents, workers, and visitors. This included planning and incorporating 1.5km of new underground access roads to ensure the various uses are functionally serviced, maintained, and supported. 

While many elements of the development are still under construction, the positive impact on the local community is already evident. Improvements to the surrounding infrastructure and public spaces have enhanced the overall experience for its users.

Completing a triumvirate of super-tall urban markers with Petronas Twin Towers and Kuala Lumpur Tower, Merdeka 118 has added an aspirational sense of new place to the city’s identity, and at the same time, enabled much-needed major improve-ments to the pedestrian and trafc infra-structure of the area.