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
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
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]
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
Safety issues
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]
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
Cherry Blossom Festival
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
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
Citizen's evaluation
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.
^"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)
^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.
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