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Lotte World Tower

Coordinates: 37°30′45″N 127°06′10″E / 37.51250°N 127.10278°E / 37.51250; 127.10278
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Lotte World Tower
롯데월드타워
The tower in 2022
Map
Former names
  • Two Lotte World Tower
  • Lotte World Premium Tower
Alternative namesLotte Jamsil Super Tower
Record height
Tallest in the OECD countries since 2017[I]
Preceded byOne World Trade Center
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeObservation, office, hotel, residential, retail
Location(Sincheon-dong) 300 Olympic-ro, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
CountrySouth Korea
Coordinates37°30′45″N 127°06′10″E / 37.51250°N 127.10278°E / 37.51250; 127.10278
GroundbreakingMay 2009[1]
Construction startedJanuary 22, 2010
CompletedDecember 22, 2016
OpeningApril 3, 2017; 7 years ago (April 3, 2017)
Height
Architectural555 m (1,821 ft)
Top floor486 m (1,594 ft)
Technical details
Floor count123 and 6 below ground
Floor area304,081 m2 (3,273,100 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators61
Design and construction
Architect(s)Kohn Pedersen Fox
DeveloperLotte Engineering & Construction
EngineerSyska Hennessy Group (MEP)[2]
Structural engineerLeslie E. Robertson Associates[3]
Other information
Public transit accessJamsil Station: Line 2, Line 8
Website
www.lwt.co.kr

Lotte World Tower (Korean롯데월드타워), is a 123-story, 555 m (1,821 ft) supertall skyscraper, located in Sincheon-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It is the sixth-tallest building in the world, the tallest in OECD countries, and also the first in South Korea to be over 100 stories tall.

It was the fourth-tallest in the world when completed in 2016.[citation needed] The tower opened to the public on April 3, 2017.[4] Haeundae LCT The Sharp in Busan is the second-tallest building in the country.[5]

A "Sky Bridge Tour" is located on the roof of Lotte World Tower at 541 m (1,775 ft),[6] which is the total height of One World Trade Center in New York City, the tallest building in the United States.

History

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After 13 years of planning and site preparation,[7] the tower gained final approval to start construction by the government in November 2010[7] and the first groundbreaking activities of piling and frame assembly were observed at the construction site in March 2012.

On December 31, 2015, the LED-pixels of the façade displayed the number "2016".[8]

On April 3, 2017, Lotte shot off fireworks to celebrate the tower's official opening.[9]

Fireworks display of the Lotte World Tower's grand opening

On January 1, 2018, Lotte shot off fireworks with a LED laser show for seven minutes to celebrate New Year's Day and the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

Design

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On March 17, 2016, before the final phase of external construction, the Diagrid lantern-shaped roof structure was completed. The roof structure was constructed with steel counterparts that are each 12 m (39 ft) and weigh 20 tons. The counterparts were made up of bent metal panels that are 6 cm (2.4 in) thick. The roof structure itself is 120 m (390 ft) high and covers floors 107–123. Approximately 3,000 tons of steel parts, a high-precision 64t tower crane and GPS alignment systems, as well as welding technicians, were used in the construction of the roof.

The roof structure is engineered to withstand its weight without reinforcing pillars, endure earthquakes up to a magnitude of 9 under the Richter magnitude scale, and winds up to 80 m/s (260 ft/s).

The exterior of pale-coloured glass draws inspiration from Korean ceramics and features accents of metal filigree.[10]

Floor plans

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External videos
video icon https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ru1XEFllhtE The elevators in Lotte World Tower

Seoul Sky occupies the top seven levels. Floors 117–118 are the entrance and view floor, including a glass floor and sky show on 118. Sky Friends Cafe and the sky terrace are located on floors 119–120. Seoul Sky Cafe and a souvenir shop are on floors 121–122, and the premium lounge bar, 123 lounge, is on the top floor at 499 m (1,637 ft).

The observatory charges an admission for entry.[11] The skylight of Seoul Sky was the highest glass floor observatory as of the tower's completion. The tower and One World Trade Center have concluded an operation and technical service agreement.[12][13] The operating hours of the observatory are divided into two periods. From Sunday to Thursday, it is open from 10:30 AM to 10:00 PM. On Fridays, Saturdays, and public holidays, it is open from 10:30 AM to 11:00 PM.

Floor Use
123 Premium Lounge Bar (123 Lounge)
122 Seoul Sky Cafe, Angel in Us Cafe
121 Observation (Seoul Sky) exit, Seoul Sky Shop
120 Observation (Seoul Sky) exit, Sky Terrace
119 Observation (Seoul Sky), Character Dessert Cafe (Sky Friends Cafe)
118 Observation (Seoul Sky) entrance, Sky Deck
117 Observation (Seoul Sky) entrance
115–116 Mechanical floor
108–114 Private office (Premier 7)
107 Private office (Premier 7) Lobby, Signiel Club (member restaurant)
103–106 Mechanical floor
102 Refuge area
87–101 Signiel Seoul Hotel guestrooms
86 Spa, staff restricted area
85 Indoor pool, fitness centre, sauna
84 Mechanical floor
83 Refuge area
82 Bicena Korean restaurant
81 Stay French restaurant, Bicena Korean restaurant
79–80 Signiel Hotel lobby
76–78 Signiel ballroom
72–75 Mechanical floor
61–71 Signiel Residences
60 Refuge area
59 Mechanical floor
44–58 Signiel Residences
42–43 Signiel Residences lobby, fitness centre, golf room, ballroom
41 Mechanical floor
40 Refuge area
39 Mechanical floor
32–38 Office
31 Seoul Sky 31 food court, Sky 31 convention
24–30 Office
23 Mechanical floor
22 Refuge area
21 Mechanical floor
14–20 Office
13 Mechanical floor
12 Lotte Financial Centre, Hana Financial Investment, KEB Hana Bank, Woori Bank, Lotte World Tower Banking Centre
11 BGN Eyeclinic
10 Medical centre
8–9 Lotte duty free shop
7 Lotte Museum of Art
6 Fitness platform (Move 360)
5 Lotte World Tower publicity center, public relation office, press room
3–4 Mechanical floor, store room, staff restricted area
2 Office lobby
1 Office, Signiel Hotel lobby, Angel in Us Cafe
B1 Observation (Seoul Sky) entrance, Signiel Residences lobby, Lotte World Tower emergency operation center, drop-off, Seoul Sky shop, Signature pharmacy
B2 Observation (Seoul Sky) entrance, loading dock, parking lot
B3–B5 Parking lot
B6 Mechanical floor

Incidents and accidents

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Safety issues

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In 2013 and 2014, three construction workers died during the construction of the tower, and an executive director of Lotte's construction arm was given a suspended sentence of eight months in prison in 2016 for his role in neglecting safety measures at the site.[14] In December 2014, the Seoul city government ordered the mall and cinema complex at the base of the tower, which opened before completion of the tower, to be closed for five months after water was found leaking from an internal aquarium. Independent engineers who assessed the building found that the issues bore little relation to the overall structural integrity of the building and the mall and cinema complex reopened in 2015.[15]

Illegal entries and climbing

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In 2016, two men from Ukraine illegally climbed the under-construction Lotte World Tower via its stairs, and one of them free solo climbed up the crane to the top.[16][17] Lotte World Tower had advanced knowledge of their interest in climbing the tower and their entering the country, and responded with the posting of approximately 400 security agents around the construction site.[18] Posters with the photos of the two stated they were banned from the building were plastered around the construction site.[19][20]

On June 12, 2023, a 24-year-old British man illegally climbed the tower without ropes from the ground. The building security discovered him on the 42nd floor at 192 m (630 ft) above ground at 7:50 am. While he was taking a break on the 72nd floor, the police stopped him on the 73rd floor at 313 m (1,027 ft) above ground by using a building maintenance unit at 8:47 am. After his arrest, he said that he had planned the climb for six months.[21]

Culture

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Cherry Blossom Festival

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Even when Lotte World Tower was under construction, there were many people who celebrated the cherry blossom festival on April 10–12, 2015, and it is still possible to celebrate after its completion. In 2017, the Seokchon Lake cherry blossom festival was held from April 1 to April 9. It was held at Seokchon Lake waterfront stages(East and West Lake), Seoul Playground, and Gallery Sue, and was free of charge. Recently, it was held from April 5–9 in 2023, and March 27–31 in 2024.[22]

Fireworks Festival

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The World Tower was completed in December 2016, and the fireworks festival was held for the first time on April 2, 2017. The venue is in the Lotte World Tower and Seokchon Lake area and is free of charge. There was a K-POP concert from 7:30 pm to 9 pm, a Lotte World Tower fireworks show from 9 pm to 9:10 pm, and recreation and giveaways from 9:10 to 9:30 pm. The Lotte World Tower Fireworks Show was held again on May 4, 2019, and was accompanied by an eight-hour public broadcast event in collaboration with CBS Music FM.[23] From 2020 to 2022, it is not progressing due to COVID-19.

Evaluation

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Citizen's evaluation

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In 2014, Lotte held a 10-day pre- opening in the second week of September, commissioning experts to diagnose the structural safety of the building and offering preview tours to the public, which was generally well received, although it was pointed out that Lotte's actions were merely a publicity stunt for the building. The building under construction at the time received negative reviews for being dangerous and poorly constructed, but Lotte Engineering&Construction rehabilitated it, and in 2016 it received positive reviews for being safe and well designed for earthquake resistance. In 2017, Seoul residents rated the second Lotte World as safe and well designed.

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Lotte World Tower". CTBUH Skyscraper Center. Retrieved August 4, 2017.
  2. ^ "Lotte World Tower – the Skyscraper Center".
  3. ^ Editors. (April 20, 2016), "Korea's Tallest Tower Embodies Industrial Malaise" The Chosun Ilbo
  4. ^ Jung, Wooyoung (March 17, 2016). "롯데월드타워 555m 달성". Yonhap News (in Korean). Retrieved March 20, 2016.
  5. ^ "LCT The Sharp Landmark Tower Busan". Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. May 9, 2024. Archived from the original on May 9, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024. #38 Tallest in the World #25 Tallest in Asia #2 Tallest in South Korea #1 Tallest in Busan
  6. ^ "Sky Bridge Tour : Facilities Guide : Seoul Sky".
  7. ^ a b "Lotte World 2 Gains Final Approval". KBS World. Archived from the original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  8. ^ "Das frohe Neue Jahr kann kommen! I'm sudkoreanischen Seoul wurde bereits die LED-Schrift Auf dem Lotte World Premium Tower getestet." Picture of LED-lit facade tested with the vertical display of "2016" (viewed from the north). Kronen Zeitung (Print), Vienna, December 31, 2015, p 14. (German)
  9. ^ FOX. "WATCH: Fireworks at the grand opening of the Lotte World Tower". fox5atlanta.com. Archived from the original on April 6, 2017. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
  10. ^ "KPF Pen 555m Tall Korean Tower – Article #2338". Archived from the original on January 3, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  11. ^ "티켓안내 : 이용안내 : 롯데월드 전망대".
  12. ^ "Lotte World Tower – skyscraper". skyscrapercenter.com. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
  13. ^ "555m Seoul Sky · 541m won World Trade Center". news.hankyung.com. August 20, 2017. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  14. ^ "Lotte executive gets suspended jail sentence in construction worker's death". The Korea Herald. January 21, 2016. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  15. ^ Sang-Hun, Choe (July 14, 2015). "Lotte World Tower Rises, and Leery Koreans Watch". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
  16. ^ Rakalov, Vitaliy; Makhorov, Vadim (April 10, 2016). "Climbing Lotte World Tower (555 meters)". Ontheroofs. Archived from the original on December 20, 2021 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ Rakalov, Vitaliy; Makhorov, Vadim (April 10, 2016). "Climbing Lotte World Tower ontheroofs story with photos and video". Ontheroofs. Archived from the original on September 27, 2016.
  18. ^ 임정요 (March 28, 2016). "Daredevils unwelcome in Korea". The Korea Herald. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  19. ^ "Ukrainian Daredevil Scales Seoul's Lotte World Tower". Haps Magazine. March 30, 2016. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016.
  20. ^ Dong-hwan, Ko (March 30, 2016). "Daredevil climber beats security, tops Lotte World Tower". The Korea Times. Before his stunt, posters were released banning Raskalov and his Russian partner, photographer Vadim Makhorov, from the building. The poster gave a phone number to call if they were spotted.
  21. ^ "Moment British man climbs to 72nd floor of Seoul skyscraper". The Independent. Retrieved August 7, 2023 – via YouTube.
  22. ^ Lee, Hyemin (March 21, 2024). "Exploring Korea: Top 5 cherry blossom spots with festivals!". Stripes Korea. Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
  23. ^ Jae-won, Choi (April 26, 2019). "Lotte World Tower firework extravaganza set for May 4". Archived from the original on June 1, 2024. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
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Media related to Lotte World Tower at Wikimedia Commons