Construction of what observers say could temporarily be the tallest building in Africa is set for completion.
The Leonardo is a 55-storey mixed-use development that has steadily been rising above Sandton skyline in South Africa over the past two years.
Its developer Legacy Group has said that they made a conscious choice not to broadcast the plan to make the tallest building in the country, instead letting the tower “speak for itself.”
CEO Bart Dorrestein, however said that the decision was taken in September 2018 to push beyond 50 floors, with the final build height now expected to reach 230 metres, and a value of R3 billion.
Carlton Centre is the tallest building in Africa which is recorded at 222.5 metres high.
“We believe that The Leonardo will be the most technologically advanced, environmentally friendly building on the continent. That has certainly been the thinking behind the planning and development of the property,” said Dorrestein.
It will offer luxury residential units in the form of apartments and penthouse suites, as well as over 15,000 square metres of premium office space. It will also house a business and conference centre and other amenities, like a gym and spa, restaurants and a lifestyle and recreation zone.
Construction on the Leonardo began three years ago and some 2 000 workers are currently on site.It is scheduled to be completed by the second quarter of this year.
The race for the sky continues in Africa with many countries planning mega skyscrapers.Kenya for example is building what it says would be the largest structure in Africa.
The Pinnacle Towers will be 900 ft tall and have 70 floors including a 45-floor Hilton Hotel, 20 floors of offices, 200 residential houses, 3-floor basement parking, gaming zone, 3-floor luxury mall, helipad and Africa’s highest viewing deck.
Its Dubai based developers say that upon completion, the project will be one of the tallest in the world.
Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the tallest at 800M, Malaysia’s Petronas Towers stands at about 400M which compares well with The Pinnacle’s 300M.
Morocco on the other hand says its BMCE Bank of Africa Tower in Rabat will be the tallest in Africa.
Standing 250 meters high, with 55 floors, and covering an area of 86,000 m2, its developers has billed it the tallest tower Africa. The tower will adopt of ecological and sustainable design concepts.
It will include offices, hotels and luxury apartments, according to the report. Such projects have put morocco top when it comes to investment destination of choice says a recent study by French Intermat Construction Observatory
Egypt is also planning the construction of two buildings which it says would be among the tallest in Africa; the Nile Tower and the Iconic Tower.
The Nile Tower has been designed to be a 70 storey building with fantastic view of the Nile, while the top floors gives one an opportunity to see the historical pyramids.
The Iconic Tower will stand 390 metre tall.