Ramboll wins Best Project Award at Malaysian Construction Industry Excellence Awards 2024

The Malaysian Construction Industry Excellence Awards, presented by Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) Malaysia on 18 November 2024 at M Resort & Hotel, recognises top-performing projects in the Malaysian construction sector, highlighting organisations that have pioneered innovation, quality, sustainability, and made significant contributions to the industry.

Jessie Tan, Country Market Director for Buildings in Asia Pacific, said: “I am honoured that our work on Affin Bank has been recognised with this esteemed award. The development is a remarkable achievement that showcases our commitment to excellence. This project stands as a testament to our collaborative efforts and dedication to creating a vibrant space in the heart of Kuala Lumpur. Together, we have not only built a structure but also a landmark that will serve the community for years to come.”

Situated within the Tun Razak Exchange in central Kuala Lumpur, the Affin Bank development comprises a 43-storey office tower atop a 4-storey podium carpark and 3 basement levels. Its 210m high main structural frame is supported by reinforced concrete (RC) perimeter columns and an off-centred core wall, with RC flat slabs providing horizontal load distribution.

At level 26, four of the tower columns were transferred, altering the building’s structural behaviour and drift performance. To address this challenge, an outrigger system was designed and implemented at level 28. This system effectively redistributed loads, reduced lateral deflection, and enhanced overall stability, ensuring the building's structural integrity under wind and seismic forces.

Additionally, the off-centred core wall presented its own complexities, requiring precise analysis and engineering to maintain balance and stiffness in the tower. The integration of these advanced solutions highlights the ingenuity and precision required to construct a high-rise of this scale in a dense urban environment.

An innovative solution was also implemented to eliminate two mega columns in the auditorium area, avoiding the need for a transfer floor and significantly reducing superstructure costs. Notably, it is the only high-rise in the development built without a piled foundation, achieving additional savings of RM 20-25 million through advanced geotechnical engineering.

Ramboll has successfully showcased our commitment to innovation, quality and sustainability across the industry with a number of structurally challenging projects in Malaysia including the Troika, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Malaysia and the award-winning EQ hotel in Kuala Lumpur.