Amidst the pandemic, which stalled construction worldwide, a wide range of high-rise structures/skyscrapers were due for completion between 2020-2022. Ranging from the second tallest structure in the world to the tallest one in the continent of Africa, the construction of these colossal structures was unexpectedly brought to a halt due to the virus outbreak. Considered an inspiring beacon by some and a symbol of economic inequalities by others, the neck-breaking skyscrapers continue to capture the imagination and the public’s attention. Below are ten skyscrapers built or set to be built in 2022 across the globe.
111 West 57th Street | New Skyscrapers
Located in – New York, USA
Height of the structure – 435m
Designed by – SHoP Architects
The newest addition to the New York Skyline at a staggering height of 435 meters is 111 West 57th Street in New York City. Designed by the renowned SHoP Architects, the residential tower is also the thinnest skyscraper in the world with a width-height ratio of 1:24. A masterpiece with an elegant and dramatic shape situated on the famous ‘Billionaire’s Row’ is expected to fetch a hefty amount close to $100 million from the uber-wealthy investors around the globe.
One Park Drive
Located in – London, United Kingdom
Height of the structure – 205m
Designed by – Herzog & de Meuron, Adamson Associates
The ‘One Park Drive’ is a 58-floored new luxury residential skyscraper located in the Southwestern corner of Wood Wharf (Canary Wharf development, Isle of Dogs London). Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the award-winning skyscraper is a striking architectural masterpiece having a cylindrical shape and consists of 471 private residential suites. Additionally, it ranks as the 9th tallest structure in the UK.
CIBC Square Tower | New Skyscrapers
Located in – Toronto, Canada
Height of the structure – 241m
Designed by – WilkinsonEyre, Adamson Associates
The CIBC (Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce) Square Complex in Toronto consists of 2 world-class towers designed by the renowned architectural firm WilkinsonEyre. Housing an art program and an elevated park accessible to the public, the towers offer exceptional amenities and striking features w.r.t. design and overall aesthetics. Connecting the financial core to the south core and the waterfront, the elevated park spans over the railway corridor making it the first of its kind in Canada.
Merdeka PNB 118
Located in – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Height of the structure – 680m
Designed by – Fender Katsalidis
The ‘Merdeka PNB 118’, also known as ‘Warisan Merdeka 118, is the tallest skyscraper under construction currently across the globe. With its structure and façade already completed, the 118-floor and 680m high skyscraper is set to be inaugurated by the end of 2022 making it the tallest building in Malaysia, taking away the title previously held by the famous Petronas Towers, and the second tallest building in the world. Out of the 118 floors, 83 are earmarked for premium office spaces while the remaining floors above will be occupied by the luxurious hotel chain ‘Park Hyatt’.
Citymark Tower | New Skyscrapers
Located in – Shenzhen, China
Height of the structure – 388m
Designed by – Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
Towering at a height of 388 meters, the Citymark Tower is a commercial-use skyscraper and will be one of the tallest buildings in China’s version of Silicon Valley, Shenzhen. Originally rumored to exceed 520 meters before being scaled back down, the Citymark Tower has already reached its structural completion and is expected to be opened for the public, post its finishing touches, by the end of 2022.
Wuhan Greenland Center
Located in – Wuhan, China
Height of the structure – 476m
Designed by – Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architects
Originally designed to be the 2nd tallest skyscraper in the world, the Wuhan Greenland Center was designed to reach a jaw-dropping height of 636 meters, 4 meters taller than the current 2nd tallest building Shanghai Tower (632m). The construction of the skyscraper began in 2012, but the project was put on hold upon reaching its 96th floor due to airspace regulations of the area stating that the tower could not exceed 500 meters above sea level. Redesigned to top out at the height of 475.6 meters, the building was completed in 2022.
CapitaSpring
Located in – Singapore
Height of the structure – 280m
Designed by – BIG and Carlo Ratti Associati
The 280-meter-tall skyscraper situated in Singapore was an effort to offer the visitors an aesthetic and seamless transition between the garden and the city. Designed by the architectural firm BIG and Carlo Ratti Associati, the 51-floor mixed-use skyscraper consists of diverse restaurants, sky gardens, and office & residential space. The design of the building is a dynamic mixture of large pockets of lush fauna and contrasting textures.
The Spiral | New Skyscrapers
Located in – New York City, USA
Height of the structure – 314m
Designed by – BIG (Bjarke Ingels Group)
Designed by the renowned architecture firm BIG, the newest addition to the Manhattan skyline is ‘The Spiral’. At a height of 314 meters, the skyscraper is the 13th tallest skyscraper in the city and will be the headquarters of the Coronavirus Vaccine maker Pfizer. It will also be the office space for firms like Debevoise & Plimpton (Law) and Alliance-Bernstein (asset management). Completed in 2022, The Spiral is situated in Manhattan’s Hudson Yards neighborhood and features a stepped design with landscaped terraces around its façade.
DJI Sky City
Located in – Shenzhen, China
Height of the structure – 213m
Designed by – Foster + Partners
Designed as the headquarters for the renowned Drone manufacturer DJI, the 213-meter-high skyscrapers are connected by a mid-air suspension bridge hanging over 100m above the ground. Designed by the award-winning architecture firm Foster + Partners, the building’s asymmetrical suspended steel structure design was determined with an aim to become the ‘heart of innovation’.
Varso Tower | New Skyscrapers
Located in – Warsaw, Poland
Height of the structure – 310m
Designed by – Fosters + Partners
The Varso Tower, designed by the British architectural firm Fosters + Partners, is an office building situated in Warsaw, Poland. Set in the Polish capital, the skyscraper’s construction began in 2016 and was completed in September 2022. The developers of the 53-floor skyscraper claim that the skyscraper is over 310m tall and is the tallest building in the European Union, beating the previous title holder ‘The Shard’ in London by a narrow margin.
Reference List:
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- Canary Wharf Group plc (2016). One Park Drive – Canary Wharf Residential [online]. Available at: https://residential.canarywharf.com/one-park-drive/ [Accessed 30 November 2022]
- CIBC (2021). CIBC Square [online]. Available at: https://www.cibcsquare.com/ [Accessed 1 December 2022]
- Dezeen (2021). Supertall skyscraper The Spiral by BIG reaches full height in New York [online]. Available at: https://www.dezeen.com/2021/02/16/spiral-supertall-skyscraper-big-tops-out/ [Accessed 1 December 2022]
- PNB Merdeka Ventures SDN. Berhad (2019). Merdeka 118 Precinct [online]. Available at: https://www.merdeka118.com/ [Accessed 1 December 2022]
- Love Property (2021). Jaw-dropping new skyscrapers set to rule the skies 2022 [online]. Available at: https://www.loveproperty.com/gallerylist/122807/jawdropping-new-skyscrapers-set-to-rule-the-skies-2022 [Accessed 2 December 2022]
- Res Humana | Associazione Vivaio (2022). The 7 most extraordinary skyscrapers under construction in 2022 [online]. Available at: https://www.reshumana.com/projects/buildings/the-7-most-extraordinary-skyscrapers-under-construction-in-2022/ [Accessed 5 December 2022]
- Build In Digital_ (2022). These are the world’s top 10 best new skyscrapers [online]. Available at: https://buildindigital.com/these-are-the-worlds-top-10-best-new-skyscrapers/ [Accessed 5 December 2022]
- ArchDaily (2022). DJI Sky City / Foster + Partners [online]. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/989549/dji-sky-city-foster-plus-partners [Accessed 6 December 2022]
- ArchDaily (2022). CapitaSpring / BIG + Carlo Ratti Associati [online]. Available at: https://www.archdaily.com/989946/capitaspring-big-plus-carlo-ratti-associati [Accessed 6 December 2022]
