Insights into the Lakhta Centre: Europe’s Tallest Skyscraper

Installation of the spire at the top of the Lakhta Centre, a multifunctional complex currently near to completion in St Petersburg, was completed in January 2018. IGS covered this story with an amazing video of the building topping out. The top of the skyscraper was lit up with aircraft warning lights and the main building of the complex reached its ultimate height of 462 metres, making it the tallest building in Europe. Construction of the skyscraper above ground has taken two and a half years. Now IGS brings you key insights from people inside the project, as well as design and engineering feats that have been realized in this outstanding project. 

Some Insights from the Chairman and members of the Project Team…

Alexander Dyukov, Chairman of the Gazprom Neft Management Board and the Lakhta Centre Board of Directors:

“Gazprom Neft is an oil company, and building as unique a complex as the Lakhta Centre was a new experience for us. A dedicated company — the Lakhta Centre Multifunctional Complex — was created for implementing this project, and a highly effective team put together, the main core of which comprised our own employees. Gazprom Neft has, subsequently, implemented the project — embodying the most cutting-edge technological and engineering solutions, and taking all environmental and safety issues into account — successfully. As it turns out, proven project management techniques, reliance on high technology and innovation, and the engagement and development of skilled professionals, works equally well both in the oil industry and in implementing major construction projects. Gazprom Neft is committed to remaining a technological leader in Russia’s oil industry. We simply transferred that commitment to implementing the Lakhta Centre project. Unique technologies and solutions — developed specifically for this project — were used in building the complex. The unprecedented experience the Russian project team have gained on the Lakhta Centre will, without a doubt, be much sought after at Gazprom Neft.”

Image courtesy of Gazprom

According to Elena Ilyukhina, Lakhta Centre CEO and a member of the Gazprom Neft Management Board, “The high-rise architecture of the complex is completely in keeping with the innovative spirit of St Petersburg. The Lakhta Centre skyscraper has not only now taken on its complete architectural silhouette, but has become a full-fledged part of the northern capital’s waterfront, as well as a new symbol of a city with its eyes fixed on the future. The Lakhta Centre is being developed as a global project in urban planning — something unprecedented in terms of educational and cultural public space. Implementing such an ambitious project has only been possible thanks to the professionalism of the international crew, under the management of the Russian project team. The Lakhta Centre high-rise building has now reached its planned height, and we expect construction of the full complex to be completed on schedule by the end of 2018.”

Video from Incredible Footage: Topping off the Lakhta Centre in St. Petersburg

What you need to know about Europe’s Tallest Building

The Lakhta Centre is a high-tech skyscraper, involving unique design and technical solutions in its construction. The building, which has a total weight of 670,000 tonnes, is being erected under difficult ground conditions. Piles of up to two metres in diameter — the widest in the world — extend to a depth of 82 metres. Alongside the skyscraper, three more complex facilities are in the final stages of construction — a multifunctional building (including an atrium), together with a slanted podium (a stylobate), with a separate arch, acting as the main entrance. Total floorspace across these facilities runs to 400,000 square metres.

The spire forms the final structural element of the Lakhta Centre skyscraper

Construction of the complex, initiated in October 2012, is expected to be complete by the end of 2018. The key architectural feature of the complex — the 462-metre-high skyscraper — is the highest building in Europe. Approximately 600 Russian and international companies, and more than 20,000 professionals, from 18 countries, have been involved in realising this project.
The Lakhta Centre comprises four facilities, with total floorspace of more than 400,000 square metres:

• an 87-floor skyscraper, following an outline twisting 90 degrees from its foundations to the top
• a multifunctional building
• a separate arch, acting as the main entrance to the complex
• a podium, hiding a car park, storage facilities and service entrance.

The spire was installed without the use of helicopter support, using the highest crane in Europe

The supporting columns of the skyscraper (made of composite materials) have an incline of 2.89°, giving the tower its spiral outline. This solution — used for the first time in Russian high-rise architecture — resulted in a 40-percent reduction in the time spent building the tower, as well as a two-fold reduction in construction costs. The base foundations, at 3.6 metres thick, were poured over a period of 49 hours, without interruption — making the Guinness World Records. The building’s façades — covering a total 130,000 square metres — are made of cold-formed glass. A “smart façade”, together with a unique maintenance system, were developed specifically for the Lakhta Centre.

Approximately 600 Russian and international companies, and more than 20,000 professionals, from 18 countries, have been involved in realising this project

The spire, which forms the final structural element of the Lakhta Centre skyscraper, was installed without helicopter support, using the highest crane in Europe. Useable space will be installed right up to the 87th floor (at 368.8 metres high) within the spire, including an observation platform, giving views previously only possible from aircraft. The 88th floor upwards (377.35 metres) will accommodate façade maintenance, telecommunications and navigation systems equipment. The Lakhta Centre is pre-certified under the international Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED ) system.

The key architectural feature of the Lakhta Centre — the 462-metre-high skyscraper — is the highest building in Europe

Article courtesy of Gazprom

Project Details

The Lakhta Centre was Featured on the cover of IGS spring Issue 2018. You can read the full feature article for FREE in our online E-Magazine here