Design and construction of Merdeka 118 tower using high performance concrete: Pushing the boundaries of concrete technology for a megatall building.

This paper presents the structural engineering, construction innovations and key challenges in the design and construction of Malaysia’s next landmark. Merdeka 118 is a large-scale mixed development that includes a 118-storey-679.9m tall mega-tall tower, the second tallest tower in the world. The effective application of High Performance Concrete (HPC) up to C105 has significantly optimized the size of structural elements and improved the economics of the building by maximizing premium floor space. HPC up to C105 has been applied to the mega column and core walls to optimize the size of the elements and improve the gravity and lateral load resisting capability of the elements. To ensure delivery of HPC to the highest standard, extensive planning, testing programs, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) program have been developed. The challenges in Merdeka 118 tower have pushed the boundary of HPC utilization in Malaysia since the Petronas twin towers.