SOM’s Pertamina Energy Tower for Jakarta, Indonesia is the dramatic centerpiece of a new consolidated headquarters created for the Indonesian state-owned energy company. The tower will rise more than 500 meters above Jakarta as a stunning new landmark on the capital’s skyline. Complemented by performing arts and exhibition pavilion, a mosque, and a central energy plant, the 99-story “beacon of energy” will represent a new standard for sustainable development, bringing together 20,000 employees on its innovative, dynamic campus, as they state at SOM.
Following holistic design approach that integrates architectural design, structural engineering, and sustainable engineering services, this tower is the world’s first super-tall high-rise for which energy is the primary design driver. Sustainable strategies at the core of its design are exposed in its simple profile yet sophisticated architectural expression. The tower opens up at the crown, revealing a ‘wind funnel’ that will take advantage of the prevailing winds and increased wind speeds at the upper floors to generate energy. The tower is precisely calibrated for Jakarta’s proximity to the equator – its curved facade will mitigate solar heat gain throughout the year. Read the rest of this entry »