166
Global
Height rank

MahaNakhon

Bangkok
Height
1
To Tip:
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest point of the building, irrespective of material or function of the highest element (i.e., including antennae, flagpoles, signage and other functional-technical equipment).
320 m / 1,050 ft
2
Architectural:
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the architectural top of the building, including spires, but not including antennae, signage, flag poles or other functional-technical equipment. This measurement is the most widely utilized and is employed to define the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) rankings of the "World's Tallest Buildings."
314 m / 1,030 ft
3
Occupied:
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest occupied floor within the building.
309.8 m / 1,016 ft
1 2 3 MahaNakhon
  Floors
Above Ground
The number of floors above ground should include the ground floor level and be the number of main floors above ground, including any significant mezzanine floors and major mechanical plant floors. Mechanical mezzanines should not be included if they have a significantly smaller floor area than the major floors below. Similarly, mechanical penthouses or plant rooms protruding above the general roof area should not be counted. Note: CTBUH floor counts may differ from published accounts, as it is common in some regions of the world for certain floor levels not to be included (e.g., the level 4, 14, 24, etc. in Hong Kong).
79
Below Ground
The number of floors below ground should include all major floors located below the ground floor level.
1
Height 314 m / 1,030 ft
Floors 79
Official Name
The current legal building name.

MahaNakhon

Other Names
Other names the building has commonly been known as, including former names, common informal names, local names, etc.

King Power MahaNakhon, The Ritz Carlton Residences & Edition Hotel

Type
CTBUH collects data on two major types of tall structures: 'Buildings' and 'Telecommunications / Observation Towers.' A 'Building' is a structure where at least 50% of the height is occupied by usable floor area. A 'Telecommunications / Observation Tower' is a structure where less than 50% of the structure's height is occupied by usable floor area. Only 'Buildings' are eligible for the CTBUH 'Tallest Buildings' lists.

Building

Status
Completed
Architecturally Topped Out
Structurally Topped Out
Under Construction
Proposed
On Hold
Never Completed
Vision
Competition Entry
Canceled
Proposed Renovation
Under Renovation
Renovated
Under Demolition
Demolished

Completed

Completion

2016

Country
The CTBUH follows the United Nations's definition of Country, and thus uses the lists and codes established by that organization.

Thailand

City
The CTBUH follows the United Nations's definition of City, and thus uses the lists and codes established by that organization.

Bangkok

Function
A single-function tall building is defined as one where 85% or more of its usable floor area is dedicated to a single usage. Thus a building with 90% office floor area would be said to be an "office" building, irrespective of other minor functions it may also contain.

A mixed-use tall building contains two or more functions (or uses), where each of the functions occupy a significant proportion of the tower's total space. Support areas such as car parks and mechanical plant space do not constitute mixed-use functions. Functions are denoted on CTBUH "Tallest Building" lists in descending order, e.g., "hotel/office" indicates hotel function above office function.

Residential / Hotel

Structural Material
All-Steel
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from steel. Note that a building of steel construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of steel beams is still considered an “all-steel” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.

All-Concrete
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from concrete which has been cast in place and utilizes steel reinforcement bars and/or steel reinforced concrete which has been precast as individual components and assembled together on-site.

All-Timber
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from timber. An all-timber structure may include the use of localized non-timber connections between timber elements. Note that a building of timber construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of timber beams is still considered an “all-timber” structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.

Mixed-Structure
Utilizes distinct systems (e.g. all-steel, all-concrete, all-timber), one on top of the other. For example, a Steel Over Concrete indicates an all-steel structural system located on top of an all-concrete structural system, with the opposite true of Concrete Over Steel.

Composite
A combination of materials (e.g. steel, concrete, timber) are used together in the main structural elements. Examples include buildings which utilize: steel columns with a floor system of reinforced concrete beams; a steel frame system with a concrete core; concrete-encased steel columns; concrete-filled steel tubes; etc. Where known, the CTBUH database breaks out the materials used within a composite building’s primary structural elements.

All-Concrete

Official Website

MahaNakhon

Height
Architectural
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the architectural top of the building, including spires, but not including antennae, signage, flag poles or other functional-technical equipment. This measurement is the most widely utilized and is employed to define the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) rankings of the "World's Tallest Buildings."

314 m / 1,030 ft

To Tip
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest point of the building, irrespective of material or function of the highest element (i.e., including antennae, flagpoles, signage and other functional-technical equipment).
320 m / 1,050 ft
Occupied
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest occupied floor within the building.
309.8 m / 1,016 ft
Observatory
309.8 m / 1,016 ft
Floors Above Ground
The number of floors above ground should include the ground floor level and be the number of main floors above ground, including any significant mezzanine floors and major mechanical plant floors. Mechanical mezzanines should not be included if they have a significantly smaller floor area than the major floors below. Similarly, mechanical penthouses or plant rooms protruding above the general roof area should not be counted. Note: CTBUH floor counts may differ from published accounts, as it is common in some regions of the world for certain floor levels not to be included (e.g., the level 4, 14, 24, etc. in Hong Kong).

79

Floors Below Ground
The number of floors below ground should include all major floors located below the ground floor level.

1

# of Apartments
Number of Apartments refers to the total number of residential units (including both rental units and condominiums) contained within a particular building.

209

# of Hotel Rooms
Number of Hotel Rooms refers to the total number of hotel rooms contained within a particular building.

150

# of Parking Spaces
Number of Parking Spaces refers to the total number of car parking spaces contained within a particular building.

918

# of Elevators
Number of Elevators refers to the total number of elevator cars (not shafts) contained within a particular building (including public, private and freight elevators).

22

Top Elevator Speed
Top Elevator Speed refers to the top speed capable of being achieved by an elevator within a particular building, measured in meters per second.

8 m/s

Tower GFA
Tower GFA refers to the total gross floor area within the tower footprint, not including adjoining podiums, connected buildings or other towers within the development.

121,782 m² / 1,310,851 ft²

Rankings

#
166
Tallest in the World
#
108
Tallest in Asia
#
2
Tallest in Thailand
#
2
Tallest in Bangkok

Construction Schedule

2009

Proposed

2011

Construction Start

2016

Completed

Architect
Design

Usually involved in the front end design, with a "typical" condition being that of a leadership role through either Schematic Design or Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.

Structural Engineer
Design

The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.

Engineer of Record

The Engineer of Record takes the balance of the engineering effort not executed by the “Design Engineer,” typically responsible for construction documents, conforming to local codes, etc.

Peer Review

The Peer Review Engineer traditionally comments on the information produced by another party, and to render second opinions, but not to initiate what the design looks like from the start.

MEP Engineer
Design

The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.

Peer Review

The Peer Review Engineer traditionally comments on the information produced by another party, and to render second opinions, but not to initiate what the design looks like from the start.

Project Manager

The CTBUH lists a project manager when a specific firm has been commissioned to oversee this aspect of a tall building’s design/construction. When the project management efforts are handled by the developer, main contract, or architect, this field will be omitted.

Contractor
Main Contractor

The main contractor is the supervisory contractor of all construction work on a project, management of sub-contractors and vendors, etc. May be referred to as "Construction Manager," however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Main Contractor" exclusively.

Other Consultant

Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).

Vertical Transportation
Wind
Material Supplier

Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).

Sealants
Owner
King Power International
Developer
PACE Development Corporation Plc.
Architect
Design

Usually involved in the front end design, with a "typical" condition being that of a leadership role through either Schematic Design or Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.

Architect of Record

Usually takes on the balance of the architectural effort not executed by the "Design Architect," typically responsible for the construction documents, conforming to local codes, etc. May often be referred to as "Executive," "Associate," or "Local" Architect, however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Architect of Record" exclusively.

Hok Lok Siew Design Co., Ltd
Structural Engineer
Design

The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.

Engineer of Record

The Engineer of Record takes the balance of the engineering effort not executed by the “Design Engineer,” typically responsible for construction documents, conforming to local codes, etc.

Peer Review

The Peer Review Engineer traditionally comments on the information produced by another party, and to render second opinions, but not to initiate what the design looks like from the start.

Aurecon; CivilPark International; Robert Bird Group
MEP Engineer
Design

The Design Engineer is usually involved in the front end design, typically taking the leadership role in the Schematic Design and Design Development, and then a monitoring role through the CD and CA phases.

Arup; P & T Group
Peer Review

The Peer Review Engineer traditionally comments on the information produced by another party, and to render second opinions, but not to initiate what the design looks like from the start.

Project Manager

The CTBUH lists a project manager when a specific firm has been commissioned to oversee this aspect of a tall building’s design/construction. When the project management efforts are handled by the developer, main contract, or architect, this field will be omitted.

Contractor
Main Contractor

The main contractor is the supervisory contractor of all construction work on a project, management of sub-contractors and vendors, etc. May be referred to as "Construction Manager," however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Main Contractor" exclusively.

Other Consultant

Other Consultant refers to other organizations which provided significant consultation services for a building project (e.g. wind consultants, environmental consultants, fire and life safety consultants, etc).

Façade

These are firms that consult on the design of a building's façade. May often be referred to as "Cladding," "Envelope," "Exterior Wall," or "Curtain Wall" Consultant, however, for consistency CTBUH uses the term "Façade Consultant" exclusively.

Front Inc.; Facade Associates
Geotechnical
CivilPark International
Interiors
David Collins Studio; Ian Schrager Company; Kengo Kuma and Associates
Landscape
Landscape Architects 49, Limited
Lighting
Isometrix Lighting + Design, Ltd.; Seam Design
Observatory
Vertical Transportation
Wind
Aurecon; CivilPark International
Material Supplier

Material Supplier refers to organizations which supplied significant systems/materials for a building project (e.g. elevator suppliers, facade suppliers, etc).

Crane
COMANSA
Sealants

CTBUH Awards & Distinctions

Best Tall Building, by Height, 300-399 meters 2019 Award of Excellence

2019 CTBUH Awards

 

CTBUH Initiatives

CTBUH 2019 Award of Excellence Winners Announced

5 December 2018 - Awards

2018 Tall Building Predictions

17 January 2018 - CTBUH News

Videos

17 October 2016 | Bangkok

Bangkok and the MahaNakhon Tower

When the developer and architect behind MahaNakhon Tower set out to design and build the tallest building in Bangkok, they were determined to construct a...

Research

25 April 2019

Best Tall Buildings 2019: Dominant Trends

CTBUH

This year, CTBUH has vastly expanded its Awards program to consider the Best Tall Building category through several classes of height, rather than geographic regions,...

About MahaNakhon

MahaNakhon is a mixed-use development providing residences, retail, hotel and an observatory in the heart of Bangkok. Located in the Silom business district, directly adjacent to the Bangkok Skytrain public transport system (BTS) and Bus Rapid Transport System (BRT), MahaNakhon is Thailand’s tallest building.

The inner city site is irregularly shaped, resulting in a three building program, the main 314m tower, a smaller retail building at the front of the site and an automated parking tower positioned towards the back. The form of the tower has a distinctive sculptural appearance which takes advantage of the tropical climate and views. The three dimensional ribbon of architectural pixels cut away the façade of the tower to reveal the inner core, creating unique one of a kind residences as well as special features such as oversized terraces and skyboxes, protruding out from the main building.

The main structure and life core is wrapped by a series of mega columns, connected at several transfer floors, and the pixelation means 30% of the tower’s floor plates are in cantilever. The building uses 129 piles drilled to a depth of 65 meters capped with a massive 8.75 meter thick mat foundation, to compensate for Bangkok’s soft soils. Construction began in 2011, requiring a design-build approach with construction staged in a manner to allow for a steady delivery of material deliveries working around Bangkok’s high levels of traffic congestion. Seismic design used CTBUH recommendations and the unconventional form has been tested with 36 directions of wind load during wind tunnel testing. The tower was officially completed in 2016.

MahaNakhon means ‘Great Metropolis’ in Thai language, and integrates with the city through its organic form by dissolving the mass as it moves between sky and ground, flowing into the large outdoor retail spaces into a public landscaped square at the tower’s base. The development brings in several international brands including leading restaurants and dining adjacent to the main street, The Bangkok Edition Hotel in the lower section of the main tower, with Ritz-Carlton branded freehold luxury residences in the upper section of the tower. At the top of the tower, a multi storey observatory and bar tourist destination showcases the views of Bangkok.

CTBUH Awards & Distinctions

Best Tall Building, by Height, 300-399 meters 2019 Award of Excellence

2019 CTBUH Awards

17 October 2016 | Bangkok

Bangkok and the MahaNakhon Tower

When the developer and architect behind MahaNakhon Tower set out to design and build the tallest building in Bangkok, they were determined to construct a...

17 October 2016 | Bangkok

MahaNakhon Observatory: Developing a Tourism Destination for Thailand's Tallest Building

Monday October 17, 2016. Shenzhen, China. Kipsan Beck of PACE, presents at the 2016 China Conference Session 4b: Bangkok and the MahaNakhon Tower. As Thailand’s...

17 October 2016 | Bangkok

Other Asia Case Studies Q&A

Monday, October 18, 2016. Shenzhen, China. Kipsan Beck of MahaNakhon, PACE and Karl Fender, of Fender Katsalidis Architects, answer questions at the end of 2016...

27 October 2015 | Bangkok

2015 New York Conference - Plenary 2 - Q&A

H.E. Abdulrahman Al-Shaikh, MOMRA; Mounib Hammoud, Jeddah Economic Company; Irvine Sellar, Sellar Property Group; and Sorapoj Techakraisri, PACE Development, answer questions at the end of...

27 October 2015 | Bangkok

Interview: Sorapoj Techakraisri

Sorapoj Techakraisri of PACE Development is interviewed by Chris Bentley during the 2015 CTBUH New York Conference at the Grand Hyatt New York. Sorapoj discusses...

27 October 2015 | Bangkok

MahaNakhon: A Pixelated Punctuation Mark on the Bangkok Skyline

As Thailand becomes an increasingly important economic force in Asia, the quality of its architecture has risen to match the expectations of an increasingly sophisticated...

26 October 2015 | Bangkok

2015 New York Conference - Session 1d - Q&A

Ole Scheeren, Buro Ole Scheeren and Yuki Ikeguchi, Kengo Kuma and Associates, answer questions at the end of 2015 New York Conference Session 1d: The...

26 October 2015 | Bangkok

Bangkok Rising

As architecture keeps expanding vertically – with the skyscraper having long become the predominant typology of architectural production in most geographic regions of hyper-growth, we...

26 October 2015 | Bangkok

Regional Materiality in the Asian Context

As the lead interior design architect in collaboration with Ian Schrager on the EDITION Hotel in the MahaNakhon, Kengo Kuma and Associates employed their extensive...

26 October 2015 | Bangkok

The Structural Design and Construction of MahaNakhon Tower

Bouygues-Thai was appointed by PACE Development Corporation PLC as the structural contractor for the design-build contract of MahaNakhon Tower, soon to be the tallest tower...

25 April 2019

Best Tall Buildings 2019: Dominant Trends

CTBUH

This year, CTBUH has vastly expanded its Awards program to consider the Best Tall Building category through several classes of height, rather than geographic regions,...

10 January 2017

Interactive Study on Year in Review: Tall Trends of 2016

Jason Gabel, Annan Shehadi, Shawn Ursini & Marshall Gerometta, CTBUH

CTBUH has determined that 128 buildings of 200 meters’ height or greater were completed around the world in 2016 – setting a new record for...

17 October 2016

Bangkok and the MahaNakhon Tower

Sorapoj Techakraisri, PACE Development Corporation

When the developer and architect behind MahaNakhon Tower set out to design and build the tallest building in Bangkok, they were determined to construct a...

17 October 2016

Cities to Megacities: Perspectives

CTBUH 2016 Conference Speakers

The CTBUH 2016 International Conference is being held in the three cities of the Pearl River Delta, the world’s largest “megacity,” projected to have 120...

17 October 2016

MahaNakhon Observatory: Developing a Tourism Destination for Thailand’s Tallest Building | MahaNakhon

Kipsan Back, PACE Development Corporation

As Thailand’s tallest building, MahaNakhon seeks to redefine the skyline and create a beacon of expression for Thailand with the positioning of “Bangkok Rising.” Developer...

26 October 2015

Bangkok Rising

Ole Scheeren, Buro Ole Scheeren

As architecture keeps expanding vertically, with the skyscraper having long become the predominant typology of architectural production in most geographic regions of hyper-growth, we need...

26 October 2015

MahaNakhon: A Pixelated Punctuation Mark on the Bangkok Skyline

Sorapoj Techakraisri, PACE Development

As Thailand becomes an increasingly important economic force in Asia, the quality of its architecture has risen to match the expectations of an increasingly sophisticated...

26 October 2015

Regional Materiality in the Asian Context

Kengo Kuma, Kengo Kuma and Associates

As the lead interior design architect in collaboration with Ian Schrager on the EDITION Hotel in the MahaNakhon, Kengo Kuma and Associates employed their extensive...

26 October 2015

The Boutique Hotel Concept

Ian Schrager, Ian Schrager Company

In addition to the 207 residential units in the tower, the MahaNakhon will feature the Bangkok EDITION, a 159-room boutique hotel catering to a growing...

26 October 2015

The Structural Design and Construction of the MahaNakhon Tower

Kanokpat Chanvaivit, André Ly & Chloé Clair, Bouygues Thai Ltd

Bouygues-Thai was appointed by PACE Development Corporation PLC as the structural contractor for the design-build contract of MahaNakhon Tower, soon to be the tallest tower...

5 December 2018

CTBUH 2019 Award of Excellence Winners Announced

These projects will be represented at the CTBUH 2019 Tall + Urban Innovation Conference, where they will compete in real time for winning distinctions in each category.

17 January 2018

2018 Tall Building Predictions

Check out all of our 2018 Tall Building Predictions, and dive into the full 2017 Tall Building Year in Review data report.

16 September 2014

Seismic Issues Workshop, Shanghai 2014

Seismic issues tend to be the predominant controlling factor in tall building structural design, particularly along the Pacific Rim.

24 June 2013

CTBUH Thailand Chapter Launches

Part of a growing campaign of outreach in Southeast Asia, CTBUH Thailand laid out future plans for the Chapter on the site of Thailand’s next tallest building, MahaNakhon.