THE LAKHTA CENTER IS A MULTIFUNCTIONAL COMPLEX LOCATED ON THE COAST OF THE GULF OF FINLAND IN ST. PETERSBURG. ITS
OF THE FACILITIES
LAKHTA CENTER & ST. PETERSBURG
Today, the Lakhta Center is the core element of St. Petersburg’s architectural ensemble as seen from the sea. The complex has become the city’s landmark and one of its modern symbols. The public spaces of the Lakhta Center provide an impetus to promote the city’s tourism potential and improve its urban environment. Due to its business functions, the complex facilitates the shift towards a polycentric development model of St. Petersburg with a view to preserve the historical sites of the city center.
ARCHITECTURE
The architectural concept of the complex is respectful to the existing appearance of the city, while at the same time encompassing the boldest and most advanced ideas of modern architecture and technology.
The tower resembles an ice ridge and the adjacent multifunctional building looks like a broken iceberg. The tower’s organic spire-like shape symbolizes the power of water, and its tailor-made glass faсade changes color with the movement of the sun, making the building look like a living thing.
FACILITIES OF THE COMPLEX
87-floor skyscraper that twists 90 degrees from base to tip. It is the second-tallest twisted building in the world after the Shanghai Tower- Multifunctional building that varies in height, resembling a boomerang; the building is divided into two blocks by a longitudinal atrium. Stretching for 260 meters, its facade is longer than that of the Hermitage Museum
- Arch is a separate building that forms the main entrance to the complex. It is a unique structure with long-span unsupported trusses of 98 meters in length as measured between the Arch’s ends
- Stylobate with a parking area, warehouses and a passageway for cargo vehicles inside
- Administrative building of Gazprom
CONSTRUCTION & TECHNOLOGIES
Freezing cold temperatures, gales and the location itself, near the gulf and on soils having the most difficult geotechnical properties, posed major challenges during the construction of the Lakhta Center complex. All tasks were accomplished using innovative approaches and technologies.
The Lakhta Center can be called the most research-intensive construction project in Russia. Over a hundred of innovative solutions were introduced, a number of patents were obtained, design codes for buildings and structures were developed, and dozens of scientific publications were written.
Construction specialists used the most cutting-edge materials and tools, from self-climbing formwork to satellite systems & BIM-modeling, from self-compacting concrete to cold-bent glass. Steel-reinforced concrete columns were used for the first time ever in Russia’s civil construction.
Russian materials, including high-strength concrete and steel, were massively used to build the Lakhta Center; a number of domestic production facilities were launched.
TRADITIONS OF THE INNOVATIVE CITY
REFLECTING ST. PETERSBURG
Eliseyev Emporium built in the early 20th century was a genuine technological breakthrough for the people of that time. Transparent walls were a true innovation in those days.
The Lakhta Center tower follows those traditions. Its unique facade consists of 16,505 cold-bent glass units, 70 per cent of which are one-of-a-kind in terms of shape. Due to a special cold-bent glazing technology, the tower is gleaming like a smooth water surface, which is so familiar to the residents of this city built on water.
The complex’s total glazing area of 130,000 square meters is one of the largest in the world. A unique building maintenance unit was custom-made for the skyscraper.
16,505
COLD-BENT
GLASS UNITS,
70 PER CENT OF WHICH
HAVE A UNIQUE SHAPE
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS:
PROMINENT STATUS CONFIRMED
2015
Guinness World Records. When concreting the lower slab of the Lakhta Center’s box-shaped foundation, a new world record is set for the largest continuous pouring of foundation concrete: 19,624 cubic meters in 49 hours.
2016
BIM-technologies 2016. The Lakhta Center wins the national competition.
2018
Archdaily, a major international architectural portal, names the Lakhta Center one of ten best skyscrapers of the year.
2018
Dezeen, a major international architectural portal, adds the Lakhta Center to the list of the world’s best skyscrapers.
2019
LEED, the world’s most widely used international environmental certification system for buildings and structures. The Lakhta Center becomes the only skyscraper in Europe to be awarded LEED Platinum status, the highest level of international environmental certification under the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability criteria.
2019
NOPRIZ. The Lakhta Center wins the International Professional Contest of the National Association of Surveyors and Design Engineers as Best Multifunctional Complex Project.
2019
Green Awards, a prize for eco-friendly development and green building. The Lakhta Center is named a winner.
2019
The Russian Post issues a stamp set depicting the new symbols of St. Petersburg, the Lakhta Center and the Gazprom Arena stadium.
2020
Emporis Skyscraper Awards, an international prize for high-rise architecture. The Lakhta Center becomes the first Russian skyscraper to receive this award. The tower is awarded for its unusual shape, as well as for its green solutions and technological innovations.
2020
CRE Awards. The Lakhta Center is named the best multifunctional complex of the year.
2021
CTBUH AWARDS, a major international prize awarded by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. The Lakhta Center wins in four categories: Best Tall Building in Europe, Best Tall Building 400+ Meters, Construction Award, and Facade Engineering Award. Competing in the final round were more than 160 projects that had been delivered over the last two years with the use of innovative construction technologies and outstanding engineering solutions.
2021
100+ Awards, Russian award in engineering and architecture. The Lakhta Center is awarded the Grand Prix of the competition.
2023
Guinness World Records. A long parachute jump from the highest building in Russia. Parachutist: Sergey Boytsov. St. Petersburg, the Lakhta Center.
2023
Russian Book of Records. A massive tower running race that took place on the skyscraper’s staircase with the participants taking the largest number of steps in the world. St. Petersburg, the Lakhta Center.
2023
Petersburg 2.0. The Lakhta Center complex is on display at the Petersburg 2.0 exhibition dedicated to the most significant architectural projects created in St. Petersburg over the last twenty years.
2023
Zodchestvo, the 31st International Architecture Festival. The Lakhta Center is on display in the exhibition section devoted to St. Petersburg.
2023
Russia — Land of Opportunity. The Lakhta Center complex is on display as part of the Russia — Land of Opportunity project (the Достижения.рф website) at Russia International Exhibition and Forum (VDNKh, Moscow).
2023
Russia International Exhibition and Forum. A mockup of the Lakhta Center complex with three high-rises is on display.
2023
TASS. A story line about the Lakhta Center project implementation is included into the film by the TASS news agency devoted to the key achievements of Russia’s construction industry. The film was made on the occasion of the 3rd World Construction Championship and was shown at Russia International Exhibition and Forum (VDNKh, Moscow).
2024
Russian Book of Records. World record for juggling a football ball (keepie-uppie) at a height of 300+ meters in a building above the ground level. St. Petersburg, the Lakhta Center.
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Anton Galahov
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Alexander Zotov
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Liana Muhamedzjanova
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Stanislav Zaburdaev