Description
The Petronas Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world until Taipei 101 was completed in 2004, as measured to the top of their structural components (spires, but not antennas). Spires are considered integral parts of the architectural design of buildings, to which changes would substantially change the appearance and design of the building, whereas antennas may be added or removed without such consequences. The Petronas Twin Towers remain the tallest twin buildings in the world.
The Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the World Trade Centers towers were each constructed with 110 occupied floors – 22 more than
the Petronas Twin Towers’ 88 floors. The Willis Tower and the World
Trade Center’s roofs and highest occupied floors substantially exceeded
the height of the roof and highest floors of the Petronas Twin Towers.
The Willis Tower’s tallest antenna is 247.4 ft taller than the Petronas
Twin Towers’ spires. However, in accordance to regulations and guidelines, the antennas of the Willis Tower were not counted as part of its architectural features. The spires on the Petronas Towers are included in the height since they
are not antenna masts. Therefore, the Petronas Twin Towers exceed the
official height of the Willis Tower by 10 m, but the Willis Tower has
more floors and much higher square footage.
Vital Statistics :Due to a lack of steel and the huge cost of importing steel, the towers were constructed on a cheaper radical design of super high strength reinforced concrete together with a steel and glass facade.
Buildings were built on the world's deepest foundations. The 120-meter foundations were built by Bachy Soletanche, and required massive amounts of concrete. Supported by 23-by-23-metre concrete cores and an outer ring of widely-spaced super columns, the towers use a sophisticated structural system that accommodates its slender profile and provides from 1300 to 2000 square metres of column-free office space per floor.
The towers feature a skybridge (constructed by Kukdong Engineering & Construction) between the two towers on 41st and 42nd floors. The bridge is 170 m high and 58 m long.
The advanced elevator system of the towers have a total of 78 elevators and all main elevators are double-decker with the lower deck of the elevator taking you to odd numbered floors and upper deck taking you to the even numbered floors.
Below the twin towers is Suria KLCC, a popular shopping mall, and Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, the home of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra.
Outside the building is a park with jogging and walking paths, a fountain with incorporated light show, wading pools, and a children's playground.
Earthquyake Safety :
Special Design Features :Building is designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection of Malaysia's Muslim religion.