Kuala Lumpur Tower

The Kuala Lumpur Tower (KL Tower; Malay: Menara Kuala Lumpur) is a communications tower located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Its construction was completed on 1 March 1995. It features an antenna that increases its height to 421 metres (1,381 feet) and is the 7th tallest freestanding tower in the world. The roof of the pod is at 335 metres (1,099 feet). The rest of the tower below has a stairwell and an elevator to reach the upper area, which also contains a revolving restaurant, providing diners with a panoramic view of the city.

Kuala Lumpur Tower
Menara Kuala Lumpur
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Kuala Lumpur Tower, December 2020
General information
StatusComplete
TypeTelecommunications, Islamic Lunar observatory, Adventure (basejump), Tourism, Cultural
LocationKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Coordinates3°9′10″N 101°42′12″E
Groundbreaking1 October 1991
Construction started4 October 1991
Completed13 September 1994
Opening23 July 1996
Inaugurated1 October 1996
Height
Antenna spire421 m (1,381 ft)
Roof335 metres (1,099 ft)
Technical details
Floor count13 (G, UG, TH00 to TH10)
Floor area7,700 m2 (82,882 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators4
Design and construction
ArchitectKumpulan Senireka Sdn. Bhd.
References
[1][2]

Races are held annually, where participants race up the stairs to the top. The tower also acts as the Islamic falak observatory to observe the crescent moon which marks the beginning of Muslim month of Ramadhan, Syawal, and Zulhijjah, to celebrate fasting month of Ramadhan, Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Aidiladha. The tower is the highest viewpoint in Kuala Lumpur that is open to the public.

History

The official groundbreaking for the Kuala Lumpur Tower was overseen by the 4th Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad on 1 October 1991. Construction of the tower was a three-phase process.

The first phase was the widening of Jalan Bukit Nanas and the excavation of soil from the construction site. This phase was completed on 1 August 1992.

On 1 July 1992, the second phase began with the construction of the foundation and basement of the tower. Approximately 50,000 cubic metres of concrete were continuously poured for 31 hours, thus setting a record in the Malaysian construction industry. The foundation work, requiring no piling, was completed on 1 April 1993.

The third phase was the construction of the 'superstructure' which began in May 1994. The construction of the tower started with the erection of the tower shaft, then the tower head. As the finishing touches to the tower head were applied, the construction of the touristic building began.

The main lobby of the upper ground floor is decorated with exquisite glass-clad domes that sparkle like giant diamonds. These domes were designed and arranged in the form of the Muqarnas by Iranian craftsmen from Isfahan.

On 13 September 1994, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad performed the 'topping-up ceremony' where the antenna mast was installed, thus marking the final height of the tower, 421 metres above the ground. After installation of facilities and amenities, Menara Kuala Lumpur was opened to public on 23 July 1996.

Menara Kuala Lumpur was officially inaugurated by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad on 1 October 1996 at 20:30 MST. Among the distinguished guests were the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Najihah, the wives of the Sultan of Brunei, Sultana Hajah Saleha and Princess Hajah Mariam Binti Abdul Aziz.[3]

Broadcasting

Kuala Lumpur Tower, a member of the World Federation of Great Towers, is utilised by several organisations for various broadcasting purposes. Originally intended only for television broadcasting, radio antennas were included during the construction. The tower now broadcasts free-to-air terrestrial television stations that use the tower's antenna include:

Television:

Media telecommunications and broadcasting mast. Television stations which are transmitted from the tower includes private (commercial) station, NTV7 a subsidiary of Media Prima Berhad broadcasting through UHF obtained from an antenna by 200 metres.

Malaysia currently employs both analogue broadcasting and all television broadcasting is to be analogue. Kuala Lumpur Tower is not a reliable broadcasting antenna for completely digital broadcasting because the tower is not tall enough to transmit the higher frequency waves needed to areas surrounded by forests or high-rise buildings. As an alternative, a new 421-metre-tall (1,381-foot). To make Kuala Lumpur Tower more appealing to one free-to-air terrestrial commercial broadcasting on Media Prima Berhad who plan to move their transmitting stations to the new tower have drafted a plan to extend its digital broadcasting antenna by 401 to 421 metres. To increase the height of the tower's antenna by 421 metres, the structure itself will have to be lengthened by 200 metres, which would cost approximately RM4 billion. In addition to covering this cost, the company would put RM3.5 billion into refurbishing the transmitting station, offering four times more area to each broadcaster. Current Kuala Lumpur aviation restrictions limit Kuala Lumpur Tower's height, but has stated that the company plans to discuss the matter with related ministries and agencies. If these plans are not realised, however, Kuala Lumpur Tower is expected to stop transmitting television waves with the exception of Media Prima Berhad, who will continue to broadcast through the tower. also pointed out the possibility of the tower depending on what the television broadcasters want or need.

Channels listed by frequency

Television

All services television broadcast at 20 kW relay of Kuala Lumpur Tower based in Klang Valley (surrounding based in Kuala Lumpur)

Facts
Comparison of the Kuala Lumpur Tower with the world's seven tallest towers

The KL Tower is the seventh tallest telecommunication tower in the world (after Tokyo Skytree in Japan, the Canton Tower in China, CN Tower in Canada, the Ostankino Tower in Russia, the Oriental Pearl Tower in China, and the Milad Tower in Iran). Built to enhance the quality of telecommunication services and the clarity of broadcasting, KL Tower is a symbol of Kuala Lumpur.

The structure is divided into five basic sections:

  1. The foundation base houses three basement floors for safety purposes, storage and maintenance work.
  2. The touristic building bears the administration office, souvenir shops and the 146-metre-long pedestrian mall with cascading pools.
  3. The tower shaft comprises 22 levels with four elevators and flights of stairs with a total of 2,058 steps.
  4. The tower head holds the public observation platform (276 m) and revolving restaurant, as well as the telecommunication and broadcasting stations.
  5. The antenna mast crowns the tower and is utilised for telecommunication and broadcasting transmissions.

When constructing the KL Tower, the builders took special care to construct a retaining wall around a 100-year-old jelutong tree (Dyera costulata). The tower was moved at a cost of RM430,000 to avoid harming the monumental tree, which is found near the pedestrian mall.

KL Tower is managed by Menara Kuala Lumpur Sdn. Bhd., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Telekom Malaysia Group.

KL Tower was the first Pit Stop in The Amazing Race Asia 1 and fielded a route marker on the final leg of the same season.[4]

Panorama image taken from observation deck

Transport

The Tower is located on Jalan Puncak, which branches off from Jalan P. Ramlee. Even though they're not very close, the closest rapid transit stations would be Bukit Nanas Monorail station and Dang Wangi LRT station. The tower also has outdoor parking for cars and bus (KL tower parking rate).

Tourism

Tourists visit KL Tower to have a 360-degree view of the city. The lift takes only 54 seconds going up to the observation deck and takes 52 seconds to come down.

  • Inside the Observation Deck
  • KL Tower as seen from below the tower
  • Kuala Lumpur tower in KL Malaysia
  • KL Tower Head in Dusk

See also

References
  1. "Kuala Lumpur Tower". SkyscraperPage.
  2. Kuala Lumpur Tower at Emporis
  3. Kuala Lumpur Tower was opened, 1 October 1996 New Straits Times
  4. Anne Lee, Sarah (6 March 2017). "7 Famous Architectural Landmarks in Kuala Lumpur You Should Visit". Culture Trip. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
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