Russia’s 1,516ft tall Lakhta Center is named skyscraper of the year for its ‘blazing flame’ shape

A unique building that twists almost 90 full degrees has been named skyscraper of the year.

Towering more than 1,500 feet above St. Petersburg, Russia, Lakhta Center has received Emporis’ 2020 Skyscraper Award, beating out more than 700 buildings under consideration.

The real-estate data company named Zaha Hadid’s Leeza Soho in Beijing and 35 Hudson Yards in New York City second and third place winners, respectively.

Designed by Gorproject and RMJM, the Lakhta Center is the tallest building in Russia and in Europe, and the 14th-tallest building worldwide.

When it opens in 2021, it will be the headquarters for Gazprom, a Russian natural gas company.

The exterior structure of the building consists of five wings that rotate nearly 90 degrees, resembling the blazing flame that’s part of Gazprom’s logo.

Scroll down for video

In addition to its impressive design, Lakhta Center scored points with the jury for being energy efficient and environmentally friendly, despite being exposed to St. Petersburg’s extreme temperatures.

‘A double skin facade prevents unnecessary heat loss and makes it extraordinarily energy efficient,’ the jury said in a statement. ‘In addition, thanks to the innovative use of infrared radiators, excess heat is not lost but fed back into the system.’

It was certified LEED Platinum making it one of the five most eco-friendly skyscrapers on Earth.

This year marks the first a European building has won the Skyscraper Award since 2013.

The MGM Cotai in Macau was chosen in 2019, and the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea, in 2018.

‘This year’s results show again that Europe is quite capable of keeping up with the competition from Asia and North America, Emporis said in a statement.

Principle construction on the building is complete, though public areas and landscaping are still being developed and businesses are being installed.

According to the building’s website, a full public opening will take place some time in 2021.

The 87-story tower, the northernmost skyscraper in the world, stands 1,516 feet tall with more than 69,0000 cubic feet of concrete poured to create its foundation.

Initially developers wanted to put the building in St. Petersburg’s historic center, but concerns about its impact on the city led them to move to the Primorsky District, a burgeoning business corridor.

In addition to office space, Lahkta Center will be home to a planetarium, a medical center and a performance hall.

An open 2,000-seat amphitheater and green promenade with fountains, paths, and benches are all integrated into grounds.

The second-place winner, Leeza Soho, was one of Hadid’s final projects before her death in 2016.

The jury praised the building’s 636-foot atrium, the highest in the world, which runs the full height of the building and divides it into two halves.

‘The continuous glazing of the atrium ensures that the building is flooded with light and allows an exceptional view into the building, as well as to the busy streets of Beijing,’ Emporis said.

A focal point of Manhattan’s Hudson Yards, 35 Hudson Yards includes 143 apartments and a luxury hotel that extends over 11 floors. The jury said it was particularly impressed by ‘the use and mix of special building materials.

The façade of the 72-story building is made of Bavarian limestone and glass, adding to its unique appearance with several setbacks over a full height of 1,037 feet.