Lakhta Centre

The Lakhta Centre (Russian: Ла́хта це́нтр, tr. Lahta tsentr) is an 87-story skyscraper[5] built in the northwestern neighbourhood of Lakhta in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Standing 462 metres (1,516 ft) tall, it is the tallest building in both Russia and Europe, and the sixteenth-tallest building in the world.[2][6] It is also the second-tallest structure in Russia and Europe, behind the Ostankino Tower in Moscow, in addition to being the second-tallest twisted building and the northernmost skyscraper in the world.

Lakhta Centre
Лахта центр
The Lakhta Center in 2018
Record height
Tallest in Russia and Europe since 2017[I]
Preceded byFederation Tower
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeOffice
Architectural styleNeo-futurism
LocationLakhta, Saint Petersburg
AddressLakhtinskij Prospect 2
CountryRussia
Coordinates59°59′13.7″N 30°10′37.3″E
Construction started2012 (2012)
Completed2019 (2019)
CostUS$1.77 billion[1]
OwnerGazprom
Height
Architectural462 m (1,516 ft)
Observatory357 m (1,171 ft)
Technical details
Floor count87 above ground
3 below ground[2]
Floor area163,000 m2 (1,750,000 sq ft)[3]
Design and construction
Architecture firmRMJM (until 2011), GORPROJECT[4]
Structural engineerGorproject, Inforceproject
Main contractorRönesans Holding
References
[2]

Construction of the Lakhta Centre started on 30 October 2012, with the building topping out on 29 January 2018.[7] It surpassed the Vostok Tower of the Federation Towers in Moscow as the tallest building in Russia and Europe on 5 October 2017. The centre is designed for large-scale mixed-use development, consisting of public facilities and offices. First designed by British architectural firm RMJM, the project was then continued by Gorproject (2011–2017) under the main contractor, Turkish company Rönesans Holding.

On 24 December 2018, the Lakhta Centre was certified according to the criteria of ecological efficiency at LEED Platinum.[8][9] In August 2021, Gazprom, formerly headquartered in Moscow, completed its re-registration process in Saint Petersburg. The new address of the company is at the Lakhta Center Multifunctional Complex.[10]

History

Planning
See also: Okhta Center

The predecessor of the tower, the Okhta Center, was originally planned to be more centrally located in the city center of St. Petersburg. As the historical center has been a World Heritage Site since 1990, the World Heritage Committee opposed the construction of the 400-metre tower as it would affect the cityscape of historic Saint Petersburg.[11] In December 2006 UNESCO World Heritage Centre Director Francesco Bandarin reminded Russia about its obligations to preserve it and expressed concern over the project. In 2007, the World Monuments Fund placed the historic skyline of St. Petersburg on its 2008 Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites due to the potential construction of the building.[12] Due to this sizeable backlash on the original proposition, the Okhta Center, which had been planned by Gazprom to be in front of Smolny Cathedral, was moved to Lakhta.[13] Plans for a new metro station in the area were announced in March 2012, the station was originally included in the 1980 city development plan of Leningrad, but had not been built.[14]

The permit for construction of the first stage of Lakhta Center, which included the skyscraper and stylobate, was obtained on 17 August 2012.[15]

The Lakhta Center lit at dusk

Construction

Project management is being done by AECOM.[16] German company Josef Gartner was in charge of the glazing of the skyscraper.[17]

Zero cycle works started on 30 October 2012. The main contractor for the construction of Lakhta Center, Rönesans Holding, was selected on 22 April 2014.[18]

Construction schedule
  • March 2013 – zero cycle works are in progress. Piles are being installed. According to the schedule of construction a diaphragm wall is to be completed by the end of April while piling works will continue until 15 August 2013.[19]
  • April 2014 – construction of the skyscraper's foundation pit is complete.[20]
  • June 2014 – piling is completed. 264 piles were mounted for the tower of Lakhta Center, 848 piles were mounted for the mixed-use building and entrance arch and 968 piles were mounted for the stylobate (underground parking). All in all 2080 piles were dug in.
  • February and March 2015 – the pouring of the bottom slab of the skyscraper's box shaped foundation is over. 19,624 cubic meters of concrete were cast in the foundation.[21]
  • September 2015 - all works below zero elevation are finished. The construction of the first floors of the tower core is underway.
  • April 2017 - height exceeds 300 meters, making Lakhta Center a supertall building (international classification).
  • May 2017 - the skyscraper reached a height of 327 meters, making it the tallest structure in St. Petersburg.[22]
  • 5 October 2017 - Lakhta center became the tallest building in Europe as it reached a height of 374 meters.[23]
  • 29 January 2018 - the height of the tower is 462 meters and the assembly of the spire structure is complete.[24]

Other buildings

In addition to the tower, the complex contains multiple other buildings. The multi-functional building (MFZ) consists of two buildings, North and South, which are united by a common foundation, stylobate and roof. The building resembles a boomerang. It has a variable number of storeys with a height difference from 7 to 17 floors, with the peak height being a little more than 80 meters. The structure is approximately 300 meters long.[25] The complex also has a third building,[26] which consists of two separate wings connected by a courtyard.[27][28] The MFZ contains a planetarium, which has a holding capacity of 140 people.[29]

Design

Facilities

The Lakhta Center contains offices, a co-working center, a sports center, a children's science center, and a conference center. The project includes 1,500 square meters of indoor exhibition space. Part of the open area will be used to demonstrate art, installations and sculptures. There is a free public observation deck at the top of the skyscraper at a height of 357 meters.[30]

Environmental technologies

The design of the tower contains several green and energy-saving technologies, which earned it a LEED Platinum certificate. Excess heat generated by technical equipment is used to heat the premises. The skyscraper also uses equipment with reduced noise levels along with noise suppressors, sound-proof curtain walls and floating floors.

Due to the peculiarities of the highly humid and windy climate in the North Western region of Russia, the possibility of icing up of buildings is relatively high. In order to prevent complete icing up of the tower's spire, engineers changed glassing to metal gauze. Glass at high floors will be heated to prevent ice accumulation, ensuring good visibility.[31]

In order to provide Lakhta Center and adjoining areas with electricity without imposing any extra burden on existing infrastructure, a new standalone power substation will be constructed.[32]

Lakhta Center seen from the shore of the Neva Bay in Olgino

Transportation development

Two traffic circles are to be built near Lakhta Center, which will become part of the М32А highway in the future.[33] A light rail service from Finland Railway Station and a new tram line from Primorskaya underground station will be built to serve Lakhta Center. Plans are ongoing to build a new underground station with the working title of "Lakhta". Bicycle lanes near Lakhta Center with 90 parking places for bicycles are also planned.[34][35]

Reception

Lakhta Center received the Emporis Skyscraper Awards' "Skyscraper of the Year"-award in 2020.[36] On 20 May 2021, the skyscraper won the facade engineering category award at the CTBUH Awards. The building also received 2 other Awards of Excellence that year: the structural engineering and geotechnical engineering awards. In October 2021, IFC Lakhta Center won the Grand Prix of Russia's largest engineering and architectural award 100 + Awards.

Lakhta Center in February 2021

See also

References
  1. "«Газпром» раскрыл стоимость строительства самого высокого здания Европы".
  2. "Lakhta Center". skyscrapercenter.com. CTBUH.
  3. "Lakhta Center". www.permasteelisagroup.com. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  4. Europe's tallest skyscraper is nearing completion in St. Petersburg
  5. Burj Khalifa To Taipei 101: These Are The Tallest Skyscrapers In The World
  6. https://lakhta.center/en Lakhta Center
  7. The installation of the spire of the Lakhta Center, Press release of 29 January 2018.
  8. "Lakhta Center-Tower". usgbc.org. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  9. "LEED Certification". Lakhta.center. 24 December 2018. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  10. "Gazprom registered in St. Petersburg". www.gazprom.com. Retrieved 21 October 2021.
  11. "UNESCO welcomes backing by President of Russian Federation for the preservation of St Petersburg". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  12. "Russian tower plans cause alarm". BBC News. 23 September 2009. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  13. "36th session of the World Heritage Committee". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  14. "Выход из станции метро "Лахта" будет расположен у старого поста ГИБДД". www.fontanka.ru (in Russian). 16 March 2012. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  15. (in Russian)"Лахта-центру" выдано разрешение на строительство
  16. "Key Contractors". Retrieved 23 December 2015.
  17. Немецкая Gartner откроет в Петербурге производство для остекления "Лахта центра"
  18. "Potential General Contractor Selected". lakhta.center. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  19. (in Russian)Исполнительный директор ОДЦ "Охта" А.Бобков: "В „Лахта-центре“ деловая функция будет дополняться культурно-развивающей"
  20. "Готов котлован для строительства небоскреба "Лахта-центра" — Новости строительства Санкт-Петербурга — Канонер". kanoner.com. Retrieved 23 August 2021.
  21. (in Russian)Alexey Miller: First floors of the skyscraper in Lakhta will appear this year
  22. "Лахта Центр перерос телебашню (фото)". www.fontanka.ru (in Russian). 13 May 2017. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  23. Harris, Chris (6 October 2017). "Russian skyscraper 'becomes Europe's tallest building'". euronews. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  24. Lakhta Center reached the design height
  25. "Горизонталь против вертикали. Или за? Для чего Лахта Центру "лежачая" доминанта". habr.com (in Russian). Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  26. "С новым зданием площадь Лахта Центра превзойдет полмиллиона квадратных метров. Как идет стройка (фото)". www.fontanka.ru (in Russian). 28 March 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  27. "«Комплекс зданий и сооружений». Его построят у «Лахта-центра» в 2021 году". The Village (in Russian). Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  28. "Комплекс зданий вокруг "Лахта центра" построит Renaissance Construction - Северо-Запад || Интерфакс Россия". www.interfax-russia.ru (in Russian). 10 April 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  29. "Planetarium | Lakhta Center". lakhta.center. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
  30. Смотровую площадку Лахта-центра оборудуют цифровыми интерактивными телескопами (in Russian). 19 August 2014. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  31. "Специальные ледовые генераторы позволят "Лахта центру" экономить до 13 тыс. руб. в сутки на электроэнергии - главный инженер - Северо-Запад || Интерфакс Россия". www.interfax-russia.ru (in Russian). 26 September 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  32. (in Russian)"Nevskaya guba" power substation will be built in Lakhta
  33. "Два разворотных кольца появятся в Приморском районе". spbdnevnik.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  34. "В проекте развязки трассы М-32 и Приморского шоссе предусмотрели велодорожку". www.fontanka.ru (in Russian). 15 July 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  35. "Общественные слушания". Archived from the original on 13 April 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2014.
  36. "Sustainability Plays a Key Role in Emporis Skyscraper Award's Winning Buildings". Buildings. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
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