Australian duo Fender Katsalidis have done it again with their new building, the 678.9-metre-tall Merdeka 118 skyscraper located in Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur. The Merdeka is set to become the world’s second-tallest building once it is completed in late 2022.

Alongside office spaces, the building will also feature various hospitality, retail, and residential facilities including a hotel and a double-height observation deck, which will be the highest in Southeast Asia.

The 118-storey skyscraper has actually reached its full height with the completion of its pointed spire. According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat the Merdeka is now classed as a megatall – a building that is over 600 metres in height.

As such it has overtaken the former second tallest building of the Shanghai Tower which sits at 632 metres.

Burj Khalifa, designed by Adrian Smith in Dubai remains the tallest measuring 828 metres.

The Merdeka 118 construction started back in 2016 overlooking ​​Stadium Merdeka, a historically significant site built for Malaysia’s declaration of independence in 1957.

“We feel incredibly proud to have contributed to the creation of this building and its host of community assets which enrich one of the most culturally significant sites in Malaysia,” said Fender Katsalidis’ co-founder Karl Fender.

“First and foremost, our priority was to respect this site and harness every opportunity to create a tower that enriched the social energy and cultural fabric of the city.”