On March 5, 2026, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) revealed images of a new landmark project in Kazakhstan, in Central Asia. The project consists of two towers, the "Iconic Complex," and a master plan for the area, the "Gateway District." The complex is located in Alatau, a new city along the Almaty–Qonaev highway planned to become an international investment hub. A strategic project for the country, the city's master plan extends through 2050, with the first phase of major infrastructure projects scheduled for completion by 2030. Within this context, SOM's design is expected to serve as the city's economic and administrative nucleus, establishing the central business district of Alatau City and setting a benchmark for future investment projects in the area.
The landmark pyramidal towers are intended to be a symbol of Alatau's business center. SOM's Iconic Complex design forms a 276,800-square-metre vertical district defined by two gateway towers. The complex includes office, residential, hospitality, retail, and cultural programs, establishing a dense, mixed-use urban core for the new city. Rising 272 metres across 56 floors, the primary tower is expected to accommodate office space and premium residences, becoming the tallest structure in the Almaty region and southern Kazakhstan upon completion. The adjacent 80-metre tower integrates a luxury hotel and branded residences. At the base of the towers, a three-level podium of 58,000 square metres anchors the complex and terraces toward the public space with retail, cultural venues, and event spaces surrounded by pedestrian walkways.
In September 2025, the construction of the towers was entrusted to the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), which has opted for two approaches to seismic conditions: the "Japanese seismic damping model," which absorbs earthquake energy through controlled structural movement, and the "American reinforced structural framework model," where building stability is achieved through a high-strength steel skeleton.
Read more: https://www.archdaily.com/1039500/som-designs-landmark-mixed-use-tower-complex-for-the-new-city-of-alatau-in-kazakhstan?ad_source=search&ad_medium=projects_tab&ad_source=search&ad_medium=search_result_all