The L Tower wins an Emporis Skyscraper Award!
By Lucas DeClavasio on Dec 05, 2017
Emporis, the world’s leading source for building and construction projects, just announced the Top 10 Skyscrapers of the year!
An international panel of industry experts had more than 700 eligible skyscrapers to consider, and they settled on these 10, including the L Tower in Toronto! Any building in the world completed in 2016 and standing at least 100 meters tall was eligible for the award.
The Emporis Skyscraper Award began in 2000 and has become one of the most prestigious awards in high-rise architecture. The jury’s decisions are based on the buildings’ aesthetic and design function.
1) VIA 57 West
Copyright: Nic Lehoux
Designed by BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, Schuman, Lichtenstein, and Claman & Efron, VIA 57 West is a new landmark residence in New York. This is BIG’s first completed project in North America.
At the centre of the development, there is a courtyard with 47 species of native plants. Residents have access to unique amenities like a poker room and golf simulator, and there are 36 affordable apartments among the “ultraluxe” residences.
2) Torre Reforma
Copyright: Alfonso Merchand
Coming in second is Torre Reforma in Mexico City, designed by LBR&A Architectos. The tower has been certified LEED Platinum and the design is inspired by an open book. The building is divided into 14 clusters, each one with its own interior garden.
3) Oasia Hotel Downtown
Copyright: K. Kopter WOHA Architects Pte. Ltd.
The third spot is taken by Oasia Hotel Downtown in Singapore, designed by WOHA Architects Pte. Ltd. The architects took a “club sandwich” approach to the design, creating different layers and levels, each with its own sky gardens. There are 54 species of plants and trees, all of which bloom at different times of the year, creating a transforming facade.
4) MahaNakhon
Copyright: Alexander Roan
Designed by Buro Ole Scheeren Group through HLS, MahaNakhon is currently the tallest completed tower in Thailand. Because of its design, it’s also known as the Pixel Tower. The name and design are inspired by the meaning behind the Thai name for Bangkok, “the city of angels, the great city.”
5) Elbphilharmonie
Copyright: Tim Bindels
Located in Hamburg, Germany, the Elbphilharmonie features one of the world’s largest acoustically advanced concert halls. Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, Hohler+Partner Architekten und Ingenieure, the glass facade resembles a sail or wave of water.
6) 56 Leonard Street
Copyright: Matt Clare CC BY 2.0
Both New York and Herzog & de Meuron make second appearances in the Top 10 with 56 Leonard Street. The tower was also designed with Costas Kondylis & Partners LLP Architects.
The building has been nicknamed the Jenga Tower because of the cantilevered balconies. Every floor is different and rotated relative to the floors above and below.
7) Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre
Copyright: Tim Griffith courtesy of KPF
Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, DLN Architects & Engineers, and Guangzhou Design Institute, this tower is the tallest completed in 2016, standing 530 meters and 111 storeys. It is also currently the tallest building in Guangzhou, China.
Being the tallest in the city, the tower also has 95 elevators and they are the fastest in the world at 72 km/h.
8) The L Tower
Copyright: Edvard Mahnic
Coming in at eighth is Toronto’s own L Tower! Designed by Studio Daniel Libeskind and Page + Steele/IBI Group Architects, the residential building is part of the redevelopment of the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts. The design of the tower really stands out on Toronto’s skyline and the curve at the top prevents shadowing on Berczy Park to the north.
9) Beijing Greenland Dawangjing Tower
Copyright: Lv Hengzhong
Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP, the thing that stands out most about the Beijing Greenland Dawangjing Tower is the self-shading aspect of the facade. This design characteristic enhances the building’s environmental performance.
10) Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower
Copyright: Oscar Hirata
Designed by Nikken Sekkei Ltd., the Sumitomo Fudosan Roppongi Grand Tower is located in Tokyo and features the largest passenger type elevators in Japan.
