South Korea’s Lotte World Tower: The Fifth Tallest Skyscraper In The World

South Korea has entered the list of countries with the tallest buildings as Lotte World Tower opened its doors to the public. Built by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates and Lotte Engineering and Construction, the Lotte World Tower is a 123-storey structure that has taken six years to complete. The skyscraper is set in the heart of Seoul’s elite business hub in Jamshil. The construction of the building cost $3.5 billion.

Image source: heatex.com

The Seoul skyscraper is known for its smooth, tapered-glass exteriors. It houses luxury shops, high-end corporate offices, stylish apartments, and a seven-star hotel. The Lotte World Tower is also open to tourists and locals with its observation deck and gallery, overlooking Seoul City. The inclusion of Lotte World Tower in the list of the world’s top 10 tallest buildings has bumped off Malaysia’s Petronas Twin Towers.

Lotte World Tower has its share of controversies, too. In 2014, Seoul’s locals were puzzled with the discovery of sinkholes near the construction site, noting that it might not be safe for the public after it is put into completion. But the construction of the skyscraper continued despite great public opposition.

Image source: koreatimes.co.kr

Liza Dudzik is a contract and claims manager from Perth, Western Australia, who has overseen numerous large-scale construction projects including highways, roads, and public transportation stations. Follow this Twitter page to learn more about her professional work.

A Transportation Dream Come True: The Sydney Metro Project

Image source: sydneymetro.info

The Sydney Metro Project is currently the largest public transport project in Australia. It is expected to cost more than $12.5 billion, which will deliver 31 metro stations, including new ones in Victoria Cross, Crows Nest, Waterloo, Central Station, and many others. It will also create 65 kilometers of new metro rail infrastructure that will span from Bankstown in the south west part of the city to Rouse Hill in the north west.

The entire metro rail system is expected to begin operations in 2024, however, the first stage of the project, the Sydney Metro Northwest, is due for completion in the earlier part of 2019. The tunnels have already been constructed, as bridges and other civil works are expected to be finished ahead of schedule.

When finished, the project will revolutionize commuting in the most populous city in Australia. The Sydney Metro rail system will provide travelers world-class, efficient, safe, and reliable trains, and strategically located stations.

Image source: urbanalyst.com

Additionally, the technology that will be implemented will benefit customers greatly as they would have no more need to rely on timetables. The train service frequency will be every four minutes during peak hours, reducing waiting time. Travel apps will also be developed to allow customers to plan at home how they will commute. Real-time journey information will also be posted at the metro stations and on board the trains.

Lisa Dudzik from Western Australia has over 18 years of experience in managing large-scale infrastructure projects involving high-capacity subways and stations, roads, and highways. For more information about her work, visit this LinkedIn profile.