Petronas Towers, Twin skyscrapers in the KLCC area, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Petronas Towers are two skyscrapers with 88 floors each, rising to 451.9 meters (1,483 feet) and joined by a double-deck skybridge midway up. Steel and glass facades form a unified silhouette that can be spotted from far across the city.
Construction started in 1993 on the site of the former Selangor Turf Club and continued until 1999. When completed, they briefly held the title of tallest buildings in the world.
The towers' cross-section follows the Rub el Hizb, an eight-pointed Islamic star formed by two overlapping squares, with circular sectors added for office space. Below them stand Suria KLCC mall and the Petronas Philharmonic Hall, home of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. The 1999 film Entrapment shot its climax on the skybridge linking the two towers.
The complex includes a shopping center on the lower levels, and the observation deck is open Tuesday through Sunday. Visitors planning to see the skybridge and upper floors should arrive early, as access is limited.
The foundation reaches 120 meters (394 feet) below ground with 104 concrete piles, among the deepest building foundations ever built. Each tower was constructed by a different contractor, which led to an informal competition during the work.
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