In many respects, the Petronas Towers put the Malaysian metropolis of Kuala Lumpur on the map for international skyscraper geeks. The twin skyscrapers were the tallest buildings in the world from 1998 to 2004, and no tower in the city has yet surpassed their 452-metre height. A development boom producing projects like the 630-metre KL118 may spell the end of their reign over the city, and a national hospitality and property developer is proposing yet another megatall skyscraper that would eclipse the landmark Petronas Towers.
Tradewinds Corporation — which includes the team of Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar and Emaar Properties Founder and Chairman Mohamed Ali Alabbar — is planning to build their Tradewinds Square project in the centre of the Golden Triangle business district. No height has been confirmed, but earlier figures suggest the office tower would be at least 110 floors and 608 metres tall. It would be accompanied by a 61-storey residential and hotel tower, a possible third tower, and a shopping mall encompassing one million square feet of floor space. Global architecture practice Woods Bagot is designing the complex alongside DP Architects.
Development partners have sketched out numerous options for the site in recent years. The original plan had envisioned four towers comprised of a 65-storey and 24-storey office component, a 54-storey serviced apartment building, and a 14-storey medical centre arranged around a central plaza. In addition to the substantial reconfiguration of the complex, the revised plan features a skybridge link to the former MAS (Malaysian Airlines) building that is currently undergoing redevelopment.
Demolition of the Crowne Plaza Mutiara Kuala Lumpur began in April 2013 in order to clear the site for Tradewinds Square. The 559-room Crowne Plaza was known for being the first Hilton-branded hotel in the city, until new management took over operations in 2001. If plans are approved by local officials, the project could be completed as early as 2020.
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