{"data":{"news":{"items":[{"title":"Doka wins contract for ‘world’s second tallest tower’","date":"2024-05-07 11:14:01","id":5336,"author":"","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2024/05/1715057815311_Doka-Azizi-3.jpg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

Azizi Developments has signed an agreement with global formwork and scaffolding company Doka for the manufacture and supply of formwork systems for its new skyscraper project in Dubai.

\n\n

The tower, which according to Azizi will be the second tallest in the world, is scheduled to be completed within four years (the exact height will be announced at a later date). It will feature a vertical shopping mall, luxury residences and opulent penthouses, a seven-star hotel, an observation deck and numerous high-end F&B options, among others.

\n\n

Farhad Azizi, CEO of Azizi Developments, said, “This agreement is a testament to our commitment to procuring and partnering with only the very best, and aligns perfectly with our pursuit of delivering sustainable, innovative, high-quality, world-class developments that enrich lives for generations to come. Collaborating with Doka allows us to ensure premium construction quality for these unique developments.”

\n\n

Doka offers a broad portfolio of solutions for the super high-rise segment, and therefore is able to tailor solutions to requirements. As the tower will be built on the famous Sheikh Zayed Road, the project team faces the challenges of working in limited on-site space. These challenges will be solved by Doka’s in-house workshop in Dubai designing strategically pre-assembled formwork and platform elements. These custom solutions will meet the client’s requirements for speed, technical precision and adherence to site specifications while effectively managing the space limitations.

\n\n

The project will benefit from Doka’s expertise in providing turnkey formwork solutions, including climbing systems for core walls, climbing systems for mega columns, protection screens, slab formwork, table lifting systems, loading platforms, and slab edge protection. By implementing a comprehensive approach to each individual project, Doka can minimise interference between project teams and ensure a smoother, more efficient construction process.

\n\n

Robert Hauser, CEO of Doka, said, “It’s a privilege to partner with one of the most prestigious global developers, Azizi, on this outstanding project. We are delighted that Doka has once again the opportunity to demonstrate its broad experience in the high-rise sector. Only highly experienced formwork experts can provide the right answers to the challenges of this project, from planning and engineering to operational excellence in execution.”

\n\n

All images: Azizi Developments

\n\n\n","article_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2024/05/1714977843795_Burj Azizi Azizi Developments.jpg","article_expanded_image_uid":null,"article_image_caption":"Situated on the famous Sheikh Zayed Road, Azizi’s new tower is set to become the second tallest building in the world. It is scheduled to be completed within four years.","publications":"7","tags":"Doka,formwork,high-rise,Azizi Tower","category":"Projects"},{"title":"Merdeka 118: World’s second tallest building officially inaugurated","date":"2024-02-27 00:01:05","id":5184,"author":"","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2024/02/1708932589788_filipe-freitas-owL3ThreT9g-unsplash.jpg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

The much-anticipated Merdeka 118 tower, Malaysia’s new iconic landmark, was officially inaugurated on 10 January 2024. At 678.9 m in height, it is currently the second tallest building in the world, after Burj Khalifa in Dubai (about 828 m).

\n\n

Rising above the city of Kuala Lumpur, Merdeka 118 (Merdeka means ‘independent’ in Malay) features 118 storeys with various facilities such as offices, hotels and retail outlets. According to the developer, Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), there are 84 storeys of Premium Grade-A office space and the highest floors of the tower will house an observation deck and Malaysia’s first Park Hyatt hotel.

\n\n

In its press release, PNB also mentioned that Merdeka 118 will set high sustainability standards, aiming for the country’s first triple-green platinum rating from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), Green Real Estate (GreenRE) and Green Building Index (GBI). In addition, the tower will obtain WELL certification from the International WELL Building Institute Asia Pacific supporting the wellbeing of the tenants and the wider community.

\n\n

“The Merdeka 118 precinct development represents PNB’s aspiration to uplift the financial lives of Malaysians across generations as well as a symbol of Malaysia’s progress and development as a nation,” said Raja Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Arshad Raja Tun Uda, group chairman of PNB.

\n\n

In a separate announcement, contractor Samsung C&T Engineering & Construction Group (Samsung C&T E&C Group) shared some methods and challenges in building Merdeka 118. “With its innovative design and towering height, the most advanced construction technologies were employed,” it said.

\n\n

About 400,000 cu m of high-strength concrete was needed for the project, and a high-pressure pumping technology was used to pump the concrete up to the required height as the tower grew, revealed Samsung C&T.

\n\n

To make the concrete stronger, 40,000 km of rebar was used, the contractor added. A global positioning satellite (GPS) system was also used to make real-time height measurements, helping to ensure the accuracy of the work.

\n\n

The structure itself stands a little over 500 m tall, and is topped by a spire that adds a further 160 m. To raise this spire, which weighs 933 t, to the top of the tower, Samsung C&T applied a method that pushed the spire up using a hydraulic jack so that a tower crane would not be necessary.

\n\n

Image: Filipe Freitas/Unsplash

\n\n\n","article_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2024/02/1708932595672_filipe-freitas-owL3ThreT9g-unsplash.jpg","article_expanded_image_uid":null,"article_image_caption":"At 678.9 m high, the Merdeka 118 tower in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is currently the second tallest building in the world.","publications":"7","tags":"Malaysia,Samsung C&T,high-rise,Merdeka 118","category":"Projects"},{"title":"8 Shenton Way to become Singapore’s tallest building","date":"2022-10-27 17:35:15","id":4182,"author":"","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2022/10/1666863273246_292015-image_1.jpg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has revealed the design of 8 Shenton Way, a new 63-storey mixed-use tower that will anchor the intersection of Singapore’s central business district (CBD) and Marina Bay, the historic Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood, and the emerging Greater Southern Waterfront.

\n\n

Soon to be one of the most notable landmarks in the country, the tower will soar 305 m – becoming Singapore’s tallest skyscraper. It features public spaces, offices, retail, hotel, and luxury residences, scheduled for completion in 2028.

\n\n

8 Shenton Way is owned and being developed by Perennial Holdings and its consortium of investors. SOM is serving as architectural design consultant, while DCA Architects of Singapore is the architect on the project.

\n\n

Sustainable design and construction

\n\n

According to SOM, nature and sustainability are driving forces behind the design – which is inspired by bamboo forests, echoing the verticality and biophilic elements found in nature. From the zero-waste manufacture of terracotta to the use of engineered bamboo, the design aims to minimise both embodied and operational carbon.

\n\n

Targetting the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Green Mark Platinum Certification – equivalent to a 55% energy reduction compared to the benchmark – 8 Shenton Way is seeking the highest sustainability certification in the region.

\n\n

The new building will reuse part of the existing foundation and infrastructure onsite to minimise material use and embodied carbon during construction. The facade will be built of energy efficient glazing, and recyclable aggregates will be used in its concrete structure, manufactured through a low carbon process, while segregating waste and using Singapore Green Building Council-certified materials where available.

\n\n

The building facade is characterised by natural materials – champagne-coloured terracotta and bamboo along the walls of the sky gardens – with curved edges that create bay windows on nearly every floor. In the lobby, wood, stone, and terracotta finishes flank artwork and a reflecting pool, with a multi-floor atrium framing the space above.

\n\n

Across more than 148,000 sq m of floor space, 8 Shenton Way incorporates a variety of post-pandemic features. Contactless technology, antimicrobial materials, enhanced natural air flow and filtration, adaptable interior spaces, and large, landscaped outdoor spaces collectively create a robust offering of healthier, wellness-focused spaces in the heart of the city.

\n\n

“8 Shenton Way will be the newest landmark on the Singapore skyline – truly a next generation tower for the city,” said SOM partner Mustafa Abadan. “Designed specifically with the tropical climate of Singapore in mind, this building will be one of the first post-pandemic mixed-use towers in the world incorporating health and wellness as its primary design drivers.”

\n\n

“We are proud to play our part in the transformation of Singapore’s skyline and cityscape as the nation builds up its credentials as a truly global city in the post-pandemic era,” said Perennial Holdings and its consortium of investors. “With the collaboration of world-class architect firm, SOM, and renowned local architect firm, DCA Architects, 8 Shenton Way will set a new standard for best-in-class integrated developments that elevates global standards of sustainability through design innovations and advanced technology.”

\n\n

All images: SOM/Bezier

\n\n

Edited on 8 Nov 2022: More images have been added to this story.

\n\n\n","article_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2022/10/1666863277987_292015-image_1.jpg","article_expanded_image_uid":null,"article_image_caption":"8 Shenton Way will stand at 305 m high. The building will reuse part of the existing foundation and infrastructure onsite to minimise material use and embodied carbon during construction.","publications":"7","tags":"Singapore,mixed-use,high-rise","category":"Projects"},{"title":"Eurotec machines keep Southeast Asia’s tallest building on track","date":"2021-05-21 12:17:54","id":2865,"author":"","blurb":"","blurb_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2021/05/1621777267103_1621617710234_1621568274974_LR_Malaysia 5MZ6750Ti.jpeg","blurb_expanded_image_uid":null,"article":"\n\t\n\n\n

A new iconic landmark is taking shape on the skyline of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and a Eurotec concrete batching plant plus flake ice plant are working in tandem to ensure the project remains on course to meet its revised completion date.

\n\n

The crystalline tower of Kuala Lumpur’s Merdeka 118, which at 644 m will dwarf the nearby 452-m-tall Petronas Twin Towers, will simultaneously become Malaysia’s and Southeast Asia’s tallest building once complete, overtaking Vietnam’s 461.5-m-tall Vincom Landmark 81.

\n\n

One of the first challenges for Lintec & Linnhoff Concrete on this high-profile jobsite was installing the Eurotec MZ 6750Ti, together with the flake ice plant within the tight confines of the downtown location. To do this the company had to make some key modifications to meet the space constraints, while simultaneously ensuring the plant’s high production rate remained unaffected.

\n\n

Concrete plant with custom-built design

\n\n

“Despite the challenges, our in-house design team came up with a customised engineering solution that met all of our customer’s requirements. The size and number of the cement-weighing hoppers was increased to produce high-grade concrete based on the customer’s mix recipe, explained R. Sakthi, CEO at Lintec & Linnhoff Concrete.

\n\n

“In addition, there were four geardrives attached to the shafts of the concrete mixer to enable the plant to handle high-grade concrete with maximum productivity. These customisations ultimately increased the plant’s efficiency, and improved the consistency of the concrete while maintaining its homogeneity. It also means the plant is able to produce top-grade M105 concrete.”

\n\n

One of the initial tasks for the Eurotec MZ 6750Ti was mixing concrete for the 118-storey tower’s foundations. This required pouring 137 reinforced concrete bored piles, each measuring 60 m deep and 2.2 m in diameter. To optimise such a mammoth task, the Eurotec plant worked in near continuous operation. This set the tone for the rest of construction, which has continued at a high pace since construction began in 2014.

\n\n

One distinctive feature of the building design is the use of an 800-mm-thick, 76-m-diameter cofferdam wall as an embedded retaining system. This enabled 17 m of obstruction-free excavation down to the pile cut-off level, and creating this intelligent feature required the supply of a large amount of high-quality concrete.

\n\n

“The Eurotec concrete plant is still running at high capacity, typically producing anything up to 200 cu m of concrete per hour to serve the project,” said Mr Sakthi. “This is now largely being produced for the upper levels of the development as it progresses through the latter stages of construction.”

\n\n

Eurotec flake ice plant ‘ensures high-quality concrete’

\n\n

Working alongside the Eurotec MZ 6750Ti to keep the project on track is one of the company’s flake ice plants, which has the capability to produce anything from 10 t to 40 t per day.

\n\n

Flake ice has low surface moisture and a thin profile which neither sticks nor forms blocks during transportation. This is critical for trouble-free delivery to the mixing plant, explained Lintec & Linnhoff Concrete. The dosed ice also maintains the temperature of the poured concrete within the design limits required during the curing process. This not only allows for faster pouring, but most critically ensures that the concrete used in the Merdeka 118 development cures to the desired strength and quality.

\n\n

“Having the ice plant is an important part of keeping such a large construction project on schedule and moving forward to the highest quality standards,” continued Mr Sakthi. “In the hot climate of Kuala Lumpur, our high-quality flake ice from the plant is able to mix quickly and completely with the concrete. There is no delay in mixing time and no large ice particles introduced into the mix that can otherwise cause voids or quality issues with the concrete.”

\n\n

Mr Sakthi pointed out that “both the Eurotec MZ 6750Ti and the flake ice plant haven’t missed a beat in five years of operation, which is a great testament to their productivity and reliability.”

\n\n

Completion gets closer

\n\n

The mixed-use development stands on 19 acres near several of Kuala Lumpur’s historically important landmarks, including Stadium Merdeka, where independence was declared in 1957. The tower reflects that concept in both name – Merdeka being Malay for ‘independent’ or ‘free’ – and design, with its off-centre spire being inspired by the iconic photograph of Malaysia’s founding father Tunku Abdul Rahman and his raised right hand from that famous day.

\n\n

The project was originally scheduled for completion late last year but was hit by Covid-19 shutdowns that have unsurprisingly pushed back completion to the second quarter of 2022. Of its 118 stories that provide 292,000 sq m of floor space, 83 will be devoted to office use, being situated below the 16 floors of the planned six-star Park Hyatt hotel, and the dual-level observation deck and restaurant.

\n\n

Designed by Australian architects Fender Katsalidis for PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Berhad, the RM5 billion (US$1.2 billion) development is expected to be the first in Malaysia to satisfy the triple green building platinum index accreditations locally and internationally. Phase 3 of the development, which will conclude the project, will see the construction of three separate residential towers scheduled for 2024/2025.

\n\n\n","article_image_uid":"https://dxfpracgmlczp.cloudfront.net/2021/05/1621617710234_1621568274974_LR_Malaysia 5MZ6750Ti.jpeg","article_expanded_image_uid":null,"article_image_caption":"One of the initial tasks for the Eurotec MZ 6750Ti batching plant was mixing concrete for the 118-storey tower’s foundations.","publications":"7","tags":"Malaysia,concrete,Lintec & Linnhoff,concrete plants,high-rise","category":"Case Studies"}],"pageInfo":{"hasNextPage":false,"hasPreviousPage":false,"totalCount":4,"totalPages":0,"currentIndex":0}}}}