Thailand Plans One of World's Tallest Skyscrapers

Higher than a bird, almost as high as some planes. It's Super Tower. And it's coming to Bangkok.

A Thai property developer has announced plans to build a skyscraper in the Thai capital that will be among the 10 tallest buildings in the world when it is completed in 2019.

The 125-floor tower will rise 615 meters (2,018 feet) and include a luxury hotel, offices and an observation deck with panoramic views of the Thai capital, developer Grand Canal Land Public Company Ltd. said in a statement.

According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, which maintains a database of the tallest skyscrapers, the Bangkok "Super Tower" will be the world's ninth tallest if it is built on schedule. It would be the second tallest if built today.

The developer intends the tower as the center of a new business, shopping and residential district in Bangkok costing 100 billion baht ($3.1 billion).

The ambitious plans, which were announced Tuesday, are a vote of confidence in the Thai economy, which has lost much of its dynamism and struggled to grow during several years of political strife.

The military seized power from the elected government on May 22, the 12th coup in Thailand since the end of its absolute monarchy in 1932. Martial law remains in place but business and daily life continues as normal.

The tallest building in the world is currently Dubai's Burj Khalifa, which has 163 floors and is 828 meters (2,717 feet) high.

Source: ABC News