Kuala Lumpur has some big-ticket projects under construction, including the first megatall skyscraper in Southeast Asia. Like the rest of Southeast Asia, Malaysia had an international lockout when Covid broke out in 2020, and it didn’t fully reopen until 2022. This affected projects that rely on migrant labour, but the projects that were already funded slowly built their way through the pandemic.
This is a snapshot of the major construction projects in Kuala Lumpur as of July 2022.
Kuala Lumpur Map
This map includes all projects listed on Future Kuala Lumpur.
[Map of Kuala Lumpur construction projects.]
Merdeka 118
Let’s start with the most obvious new addition to the city skyline. Merdeka 118 topped out in November 2021 at 678.9 metres, and it’s now the second-tallest building in the world.
The building looks complete from a distance, though there is still a crane operating on the roof. The podium-level mall is also not complete.
The top 17 floors will be home to the Park Hyatt Hotel, and there will be an observation deck. The most recent estimate has the building completed by late 2022.
Bukit Bintang City Centre
Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) is located at the old Pudu prison site, and the historic prison gates have been left on the site as a monument.
[Old prison gate at Bukit Bintang City Centre.]
Some of the apartment towers are complete, and a retail plaza is open to the public.
[Bukit Bintang City Centre shopping area.]
The mall is operated by LaLaport from Japan.
The signature tower hasn’t started construction yet, and there are no details of when it will start or the final height. It will be comprised of 80 floors and over 400 metres tall.
[Bukit Bintang City Centre< at Jalan Pudu.] Read more about Bukit Bintang City Centre.
Tun Razak Exchange
Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) is a 70-acre development in central KL that is being built to become the financial district of the city. Unlike BBCC, TRX built the signature tower first. The Exchange 106 is 445.5 metres high, 6.4 metres shorter than the Petronas Twin Towers.
[The Exchange 106 at TRX.]
The precinct will include more offices, residential, and hotels. There is also a metro station with one line operation, and a second line set to open in 2023.
8 Conlay
8 Conlay features 3 towers on a retail podium. The 68-storey tower will be home to Kempinsky Hotel and Hotel Residences, and the two residential towers will be YOO8 serviced by Kempinski. The two residential towers are the world’s tallest spiralled twin residential towers.
Tower A topped out in November 2021, while Tower B topped out in July 2022.
[8 Conlay construction (9 July 2022).]
The sole penthouse at 8 Conlay sold for RM30 million. In July 2022 the developer refuted the claim of financial stress.
Bandar Malaysia
Bandar Malaysia is transit-oriented development at the former Sungai Besi Airport. The site was to be the terminus for the terminated Singapore – Kuala Lumpur high-speed railway.
The high-speed railway was cancelled by Malaysia in January 2021, and a partnership agreement for Bandar Malaysia fell through in July 2021.
There are talks about reviving the high-speed railway and Bandar Malaysia.
IBN Bukit Bintang
IBN Bukit Bintang is 68-storey/325-metre tower that will include serviced apartments and a 5-star hotel.
There is a showroom next to the construction site at Hotel Izuma.
Axon Bukit Bintang
Axon Bukit Bintang is a two-tower apartment project between Bukit Bintang Station and Tun Razak Exchange Station.
[Axon Bukit Bintang under construction (11 July 2022).]
The two towers are connected by a sky bridge.
[Axon Bukit Bintang under construction (9 July 2022).]
Agile Bukit Bintang
Agile Bukit Bintang is a residential apartment complex with three towers: 211m/60 fl, 211m/59 fl, 190m/53 fl.
Oxley Towers @ KLCC
Oxley Towers is a 3-tower development in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre. Everything is this area is overshadowed by the Twin Towers, but Oxley Towers is now starting to make its mark on the skyline. The tallest tower will be 78 stories.
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