St. Petersburg, Russia
The Lakhta Center is a mixed-use tower, soon to be completed in 2019, located in St. Petersburg, Russia. The tower serves as the center of the Primosky District within the city inhabited by over 5.21 million people. The tower will provide office spaces as well as other resources such as a medical center, bank, performance hall and planetarium. This consideration of programs within the building was an intentional component, as the building designers wanted to create a holistic community within the tower itself.
The tower’s form utilized concepts of tension, extrusion and torsion in the design for the tapering shape. Double-glazing along the façade will increase the building’s thermal insulation reducing the costs for heating and cooling. In addition to this energy saving material, the building will be heated using excess heat from working mechanical equipment. An ice formation control will also be in effect to help protect the building façade and pedestrians near the tower from falling ice that accumulates due to the combination of extreme height and harsh winters.