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The Petronas Twin Towers (Malay: Menara Berkembar Petronas) (also known as the Petronas Towers or just Twin Towers), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are twin towers and were the world's tallest buildings before being surpassed by Taipei 101. However, the towers are still the tallest twin buildings in the world. They were the world's tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004 if measured from the level of the main entrance to the structural top, the original height reference used by the US-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat from 1969 (three additional height categories were introduced as the tower neared completion in 1996).[2]
The Petronas Twin Towers were the tallest buildings in the world until Taipei 101 was completed in 2004, as measured to the top of their structural components (spires, but not antennas).[3] Spires are considered integral parts of the architectural design of buildings, to which changes would substantially change the appearance and design of the building, whereas antennas may be added or removed without such consequences. The Petronas Twin Towers remain the tallest twin buildings in the world.[4]
The Willis Tower and the World Trade Center towers were each constructed with 110 occupied floors 22 more than the Petronas Twin Towers 88 floors. The Willis Tower and the World Trade Centers roofs and highest occupied floors substantially exceeded the height of the roof and highest floors of the Petronas Twin Towers. The Willis Towers tallest antenna is 75 m (246 ft) taller than the Petronas Twin Towers spires. However, in accordance to CTBUH regulations and guidelines,[2] the antennas of the Willis Tower were not counted as part of its architectural features.[5] Therefore, the Petronas Twin Towers exceed the official height of the Willis Tower by 10m, but the Willis Tower has more floors with occupied office space at a higher level.
Spanning 17 acres (69,000 m2) below the building is the KLCC park with jogging and walking paths, a fountain with incorporated light show, wading pools, and a children's playground. Suria KLCC is one of the largest shopping malls in Malaysia.[16]
The towers feature a skybridge between the two towers on 41st and 42nd floors, which is the highest 2-story bridge in the world.[17] It is not directly bolted to the main structure, but is instead designed to slide in and out of the towers to prevent it from breaking during high winds.[18] The bridge is 170 m (558 ft) above the ground and 58 m (190 ft) long, weighing 750 tons.[19] The same floor is also known as the podium, since visitors desiring to go to higher levels have to change elevators here. The skybridge is open to all visitors, but free passes (limited to 1700 people per day) must be obtained on a first-come, first-served basis.[20] Visitors are only allowed on the 41st floor as the 42nd floor can only be used by the tenants of the building.[21]
The skybridge also acts as a safety device, so that in the event of a fire or other emergency in one tower, tenants can evacuate by crossing the skybridge to the other tower.[22] The total evacuation triggered by a bomb hoax on September 12, 2001[23] (the day after the September 11 attacks destroyed the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City) showed that the bridge would not be useful if both towers need to be emptied simultaneously, as the capacity of the staircases was insufficient for such an event. Plans thus call for the lifts to be used if both towers need to be evacuated, and a successful drill following the revised plan was
Info Taken from Wikipedia.com
Credits to Wikipedia.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petronas_Twin_Towers