MetLife Centre, Cape Town

[Unregistered1]

Incorrect height stated on various sources.

Correct height:

Main roof: 93 267
Roof: 95 667
Spire: 119 462

[Unregistered1]

Here are the original engineers' drawings:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/21950926/Skyscrapercities/MetLife%20height/90100-3%20rev%201%20ground%20floor%20slab.tif

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/21950926/Skyscrapercities/MetLife%20height/90100-31%20rev%205%20roof.tif

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/21950926/Skyscrapercities/MetLife%20height/90100-47%20rev%203%20tower%20layout%2C%20sections%20and%20details.tif

Tifs doesn't seem to load and jpg's are too large.
Just right-click and save image to view.

[die_kaap]

There was a City of Cape Town document that cited different height numbers for the tallest buildings in the city in a SPELUM (spatial planning committee) report on the approval process for Portside, which is a new tower under construction in the city that will be the city's tallest when finished in 2014. I recall in that report dated in 2011 that Metlife Centre was not the tallest but was lower than BP Centre. Portside will be 139 metres when finished (142 metres when counting the 3 metre antenna).

However it is my belief that other South African cities most particularly Durban, where the 88 on Field tower is quoted on SSP and Emporis at 150 metres, which is the same stated for Metlife Centre in CT. Both 88 on Field and Metlife Centre are 26 floors, both with spires on top. Like in Cape Town situation, 88 on Field is not the tallest tower in Durban (spire included). The tallest building in Durban is Old Mutual Centre.

[Mike K.]

88 on Field is 146.5 meters on SSP and Old Mutual is listed as 130.8 meters, although the drawing we have of Old Mutual likely reflects an earlier incorrect height just shy of 150 meters.

[die_kaap]

88 on Field is 146.5 meters on SSP and Old Mutual is listed as 130.8 meters, although the drawing we have of Old Mutual likely reflects an earlier incorrect height just shy of 150 meters.

I think the 130 metres listed for Old Mutual Centre in Durban is the correct number althogh I cannot believe that 88 on Field is 150 , metres, maybe 130 metres is more accurate. The SA Reserve Bank in Pretoria is listed as 150 metres although it has 37 floors while Metlife Centre in Cape Town is listed for the same height. Highly unlikely to be the real fact as the SARB building is 9 floors higher than Metlife.

You should post a list of buildings in South Africa with their correct heights as the heights being posted for some of the buildings appear to be CBTUH (Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat) estimations that are more accurate for buildings built after 1990.

[Unregistered1]

So are there any mods who can fix MetLife's height for us?

[die_kaap]

Incorrect height stated on various sources.

Correct height:

Main roof: 93 267
Roof: 95 667
Spire: 119 462


When I look at the plans this is what I see:

Main roof: 97.000 metres
Roof: 102.000 metres
Spire: 123.195 metres

[Unregistered1]

When I look at the plans this is what I see:

Main roof: 97.000 metres
Roof: 102.000 metres
Spire: 123.195 metres

MASL, yes.

But we don't measure from sea level do we?

(102 000 is the plinth-structure level, is that what we should use?)

If so:
Main roof: 97 000 – 3733 = 93 267
Roof: 102 000 – 3733 = 98 267
Spire: 123 195 – 3733 = 119 462