Merdeka 118, the world’s second-tallest building, is now complete, reaching a height of 2,227ft

The world’s second-tallest building has now reached its maximum height – and it’s a sight to behold, as pictures show.

Merdeka 118 topped out last month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with the completion of the spire at its tip – making the skyscraper a staggering 2,227ft (678.9m) tall. This means it’s more than double the height of London‘s Shard, which is 1,017ft (310m) high. 

The 118-storey behemoth, which is set to open by the end of next year, has knocked the 2,073ft- (632m) high Shanghai Tower in China off its perch as the world’s second-tallest tower. Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, however, is still No.1 at a whopping 2,717ft (828m) in height.

Merdeka 118, located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, topped out last month with the completion of the spire at its tip

The fourth-tallest building in the world is the Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower in Saudia Arabia (1,972ft/601m), followed by the Ping An International Finance Centre (1,966ft/599.1m) in Shenzhen, China.

Merdeka 118, which is officially classed as a ‘megatall’ skyscraper, was designed to overlook a significant historical landmark in Kuala Lumpur – Stadium Merdeka, the site of the declaration of independence of the country in 1957. 

The sleek exterior of the tower, which was designed by the Australian firm Fender Katsalidis Architects, is made up of triangular glass panels, inspired by shapes ‘found in traditional Malaysian arts and crafts’. 

The Malaysian skyscraper, pictured on the far right, is a staggering 2,227ft (678.9m) tall

Merdeka 118 was designed to overlook Stadium Merdeka, pictured, which is known as the site of the declaration of independence of the country in 1957

The exterior of the tower, which was designed by the Australian firm Fender Katsalidis Architects, is made up of triangular glass panels

Inside, the skyscraper covers over three million square feet (278,709 square metres) of floor area. 

Its upper floors will feature an observation deck – set to be the tallest in Southeast Asia – called ‘The View at 118’. It’s billed as a ‘must-visit attraction’.

Seventeen storeys of the skyscraper, which was developed by the fund management company Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), will encompass a Park Hyatt Hotel.  

Merdeka 118 knocked the 2,073ft- (632m) high Shanghai Tower (pictured centre-left) in China off its perch as the world’s second-tallest tower

Seventeen storeys of the skyscraper will encompass a Park Hyatt Hotel, and a ’118 Mall’ will be connected to the tower at its base

The tower in September 2021, weeks before the spire at its tip was completed

According to a statement, hotel guests will enjoy a ‘fine dining experience’ and can check in to rooms and suites that offer ‘panoramic views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline’. 

There will also be residential facilities and rentable office spaces incorporated into the megatall tower. 

A glass-dome-covered ’118 Mall’ with shops and retail facilities will be connected to the tower at its base, a statement reveals. 

Beside the skyscraper, plans are in place to design a ‘Merdeka Boulevard at 118’ park, a textile museum with ‘a focus on Malay-world textiles’, a childcare centre, and a new mosque – named ‘Masjid Merdeka’ – with a capacity for up to 3,000 people. 

Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob described the skyscraper as a ‘great achievement’ at a ceremony that celebrated the topping out of the tower last month, according to The Star.  

He said: ‘Merdeka 118 will also be the first tower in Malaysia that has earned a triple-platinum rating with international sustainability certifications including the highly prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (Leed).

‘This is not only a great achievement in the field of engineering, but also further strengthens Malaysia’s position as a modern and developed country.’  

A rendering shows the completed tower illuminated at night. The developers behind the project described it as an ‘incredible engineering achievement’

Pictured is a rendering of the ‘View at 118’, which is set to become the highest observation deck in Southeast Asia

A rendering shows ‘Merdeka Boulevard at 118’, a public park that is set to open beside the skyscraper 

A rendered picture of a room at the Park Hyatt hotel. According to a statement, hotel guests will enjoy ‘panoramic views of the Kuala Lumpur skyline’

PNB’s President and Group Chief Executive, Encik Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn, added: ‘The Merdeka 118 tower shares the same location with some of our beloved historical sites, which makes for a remarkable blend of the historical and the contemporary.  

‘Despite the challenges of the pandemic, I am happy to report that the tower and the surrounding infrastructure upgrades are on track for completion by late 2022. 

‘Today, I am excited to announce the incredible engineering achievement attained. We thank everyone who contributed to this important milestone.’ 

For more information visit merdeka118.com. 

MERDEKA 118 JOINS AN ELITE RANK OF SKYSCRAPERS: HERE ARE THE 10 TALLEST TOWERS IN THE WORLD 

1 – The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE: This jaw-droppingly lofty tower measures 828m (2,717ft) in height. It was designed by architects Adrian Smith, George J Efstathiou, and Marshall Strabala, and completed in 2010.

The Burj Khalifa, pictured centre-right, is the tallest building in the world at 828m (2,717ft) in height

2 – Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Merdeka 118, created by Fender Katsalidis Architects, is set to open in 2022. It measures 678.9m (2,227ft) in height and is officially the tallest building in Southeast Asia.

3 – The Shanghai Tower in Shanghai, China: The tower measures 632m (2,073ft) in height and boasts the unique title of the world’s tallest twisted building. It was completed in 2015 and was designed by architects Marshall Strabala, Andy Cohen, Jun Xia, and Arthur Gensler. 

4 – The Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia: This 2012 tower measures 601m (1,972ft) in height and is the world’s tallest building with a clock face. Dar Al-Handasah Architects were behind this design.

The Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower in Mecca, pictured, is the world’s tallest building with a clock face

5 – The Ping An International Finance Centre in Shenzhen, China: This skyscraper, completed in 2017, measures 599.1m (1,966ft) in height. Along with the Shanghai Tower, which ranks at number two, it shares the record for the world’s highest observation deck – the ‘Free Sky 116’ deck sits at 562m (1,843ft) high. The US firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates was behind the design.

6 – The Lotte World Tower in Dubai, UAE: This striking tower, completed in 2017, measures 554.5m (1,819ft) in height and was designed by New York-based architect James von Klemperer.

7 – One World Trade Center in New York: Famed as the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, One World Trade Center was completed in 2014. It measures 541.3m (1,776ft) in height. Architects Daniel Libeskind, David Childs, and TJ Gottesdiener are behind the design.

New York’s One World Trade Center (pictured in the centre) is officially the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere

8 – Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre in Guangzhou, China: This giant building was designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates – the firm that was also behind the Ping An International Finance Centre (number five). The Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre was completed in 2016. It measures 530m (1,739ft) in height.

9 – The Tianjin CTF Finance Centre in Tianjin, China: This building measures 530m (1,739ft) in height and was designed by the global architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. It was completed in 2019. 

10 – China Zun, also known as the Citic Tower, in Beijing, China: Like the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre (number eight) and the Ping An International Finance Centre (number five), this structure was designed by the US firm Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates. The skyscraper measures 527.7m (1,731ft) in height and was completed in 2018.