Komtar Skywalk

The Komtar Skywalk is the highest outdoor glass sky walk in Malaysia. It is located at the top of Komtar, the tallest skyscraper in George Town, Penang. The horseshoe-shaped cantilever bridge with a glass walkway sits at an elevation of 248.7 metres (816 ft) above ground.

KOMTAR Skywalk
Coordinates5°24′52.3938″N 100°19′46.45″E
CarriesPedestrian
LocaleGeorge Town, Penang, Malaysia
Official nameRainbow Skywalk
OwnerOnly World Group
Websitethetop.com.my
Characteristics
DesignCurved pedestrian cantilever glass bridge
MaterialGlass
Total length16 metres (52 ft)[1]
Height248.7 m (816 ft)
History
Constructed byOnly World Group
Construction end2016
Opened18 December 2016[2]
Location

Launched in 2016, the Komtar Skywalk, also known as the Rainbow Skywalk, was part of the major facelift of Komtar undertaken by Only World Group, a local private limited firm specialising in food and beverages.[2][3][4]

The U-shaped 16 metre-long glass walkway offers visitors an unimpeded panoramic view of the cityscape of George Town, its surrounding suburbs such as Tanjung Tokong, Pulau Tikus and Air Itam, and the Penang Hill.

Design and construction

In 2012, Only World Group (OWG) was awarded the RM50 million project to revitalise Komtar, which until then had been largely seen as a white elephant.[5][6] This major renovation effort was aimed to rejuvenate Komtar as a tourist attraction in George Town, and included the construction of a banquet hall, a sky lounge at the 65th floor and an international-themed restaurant at the summit of the skyscraper.[3][5] These new tourist attractions are collectively known as 'The Top'.[7]

The U-shaped Komtar Skywalk is situated at the newly added 68th floor of Komtar, which also elevated the skyscraper's height to 248.7 metres (816 ft). The Komtar Skywalk is similar in construction to the Grand Canyon Skywalk, in that both bridges use the same heat-treated and temper-proofed laminated glass.[3] The Penang-based Universiti Sains Malaysia also ran an array of pendulum, wind and vibration tests on the glass, which was designed to withstand the load of 16 adults.[3][8]

In addition, three high-speed bubble lifts were installed along Komtar's facade, one of which connects level 59 with the 68th floor.[9] While the bubble lifts were originally designed with a transparent glass wall to allow for a panoramic view of George Town on the way up, the lifts were then completely concealed in 2016 in accordance with safety advice by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health.[10]

The Komtar Skywalk was opened to the public on 18 December 2016 in a ceremony attended by the CEO of OWG, Richard Koh, and the Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng.[2][3]

Access

The Komtar Skywalk can be accessed between 11am and 10pm daily. The standard entry fares for Malaysians and foreigners are as follows.[7]

Category Non-Malaysian (RM) Malaysian (RM)
Adult 68 48
Children 48 28
Disabled 48 28

See also

References
  1. "Cabar diri berjalan atas laluan berkaca Rainbow Skywalk | Buletin Mutiara". www.buletinmutiara.com. October 2016. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  2. "Malaysia's highest skywalk opens to public". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 2016-12-20. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  3. hermesauto (2016-12-07). "Rainbow Skywalk, the highest in Malaysia, set to open at Komtar in Penang". The Straits Times. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  4. "Malaysia's highest skywalk in Penang sits on top of a giant amusement park". AsiaOne Travel. Archived from the original on 2017-04-10. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  5. "Penang's iconic Komtar gets RM50m facelift". 2013-10-29. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  6. "Komtar: Malaysia's Monument to Failed Modernism — Failed Architecture". Retrieved 2017-01-09.
  7. "Home - THE TOP Komtar Penang: Top Penang Attractions & Restaurants". thetop.com.my. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  8. ""光大长高 68楼注入新生命 KOMTAR Grows Taller, New Lease of Life for 68 Storeys", 光华日报 Kwong Wah Yit Poh". Archived from the original on 2020-02-12. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  9. ""一起见证 光大蜕变 Witnessing Together KOMTAR's Metamorphosis", 光华日报 Kwong Wah Yit Poh". Archived from the original on 2020-02-09. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
  10. ""JKKP 基於安全考量 光大觀景電梯改封閉式", 光明日報 Guangming Daily". Archived from the original on 2017-12-08. Retrieved 2017-04-10.
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