Feb 11, 2026
Total
private investment in the project has exceeded $800 million, with full
construction completion and commissioning planned by the end of 2029.
Technical
Specifications and Zoning of Iconic Towers
The
total floor area of the futuristic complex will reach 276,800 square meters.
The Iconic Towers complex will include:
·
The primary tower, rising 56
floors, which will house Class A office space and premium residential
apartments.
·
An 80-meter tower dedicated
entirely to a five-star international hotel.
·
A three-level podium forming
the base of the skyscraper, featuring cultural spaces and a retail and
entertainment center with a total area of 58,000 square meters.
Iconic
Towers will become the tallest building in the Almaty region and southern
Kazakhstan, reaching a height of 272 meters, nearly 110 meters taller than
Esentai Tower (162 meters).
The
Architectural Vision Behind Iconic Towers
The
architectural design of Iconic Towers was developed by internationally
recognized industry leaders Zaha Hadid Architects (UK) and Skidmore, Owings
& Merrill (SOM, USA).
The
selected concept design, titled “Mountain Landscape,” was created by SOM, the
firm responsible for designing the world’s tallest skyscraper, Burj Khalifa in
Dubai. SOM has also designed globally significant projects such as One World
Trade Center in New York, the National Commercial Bank Tower in Jeddah, Ben
Gurion Airport in Israel, and the NATO Headquarters in Brussels. Among the
company’s most recent projects is the Olympic Village for the 2026 Winter
Olympic Games in Italy.
With
a portfolio exceeding 10,000 projects across more than 50 countries, SOM is
also known in Kazakhstan for designing the multifunctional Talan Towers complex
in Astana.
Construction
Partner of Iconic Towers
The
construction of Iconic Towers in Alatau City has been entrusted to the global
construction leader China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC).
The partnership was announced in September 2025 during President Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev’s state visit to China.
CSCEC
has built approximately 90% of China’s skyscrapers and landmark projects in
over 100 countries, including the United Nations Headquarters in New York and
Beijing’s National Stadium (“Bird’s Nest”).
Collaboration
with CSCEC provides Iconic Towers with direct access to advanced engineering
solutions. For Alatau City, this represents not just construction but the
introduction of international standards in both quality and construction
efficiency previously applied only to the world’s most prominent skyscraper
projects.
Safety
Technologies and Investment Attractiveness
Given
the region’s seismic activity, Iconic Towers is being designed according to the
most rigorous global safety standards. CSCEC experts have carefully analyzed
Chinese, European, and American construction regulations to integrate best
international practices. The project is currently finalizing its choice between
two advanced engineering approaches:
·
Japanese seismic damping
model, which absorbs earthquake energy through controlled structural movement,
similar to a vehicle suspension system. This technology has proven highly
effective in earthquake-prone cities such as Tokyo and Shanghai.
·
American reinforced structural
framework model, where building stability is achieved through a high-strength
steel skeleton capable of withstanding extreme loads. This method is used in
projects such as the Salesforce Tower in San Francisco.
Strategic
Governance and Investment Guarantees
Construction
oversight will be carried out by a specially established Executive Committee,
responsible for budget approval, risk management, and coordination with
government authorities. The committee includes key members of the Alatau City
Development Council, including Chief Adviser to the President of Kazakhstan on
the design of Alatau City Wong Heang Fine, Chairman of the Board of Caspian Group
Yuriy Tskhay, and Alatau City Bank shareholder Vyacheslav Kim. Representing the
general contractor, CSCEC International Chairman Gao Bo is also a member of the
committee.
At
its first meeting on February 9, the committee reviewed the financial model of
the Iconic Towers project and discussed measures to enhance its economic
efficiency, including optimization of underground construction costs and
redistribution of functional areas to maximize profitability.
The
direct involvement of globally recognized industry leaders SOM and CSCEC,
combined with oversight by the Executive Committee, ensures compliance with
international standards throughout all stages of implementation. For
international investors, this signals a high level of project reliability and
investment security.
Iconic
Towers is set to establish the central business district of Alatau City,
setting a benchmark for future investment projects.