Armenia’s $470 million World Trade Center will rise as twin towers on Yerevan’s Saryan Street, set to be the tallest building in the city’s history, reports Zartonk Media.
Launched on October 10, Yerevan’s 2,808th anniversary, the project will replace the Soviet-era HayPost building, now being demolished, and will include a 4-star hotel managed by Hyatt. The mixed-use complex is designed by British architecture firm Foster + Partners, which revealed the designs on Tuesday, October 20.
The towers will rise to 200 and 224 meters, one holding offices and the other a hotel and residences, linked at 3 points by shared terraces and amenities. UK Export Finance, the British government’s export credit agency, has signed a memorandum to partly fund the project.
Both towers are oriented to frame views of the city’s landmarks, including Mount Ararat, the Armenian Genocide Memorial, the National Assembly and the Opera House.
“We are delighted to present our design for the masterplan in Armenia’s capital. Our new development is in close dialogue with the country’s history and culture,” said Niall Dempsey, Senior Partner at Foster + Partners. “The low-rise buildings seamlessly stitch into the wider urban fabric, while the towers are elevated above ground level, freeing up 50 percent of the site and making an important contribution to the life of the city.”
A plaza with a row of fountains will extend the nearby Diana Abgar Park. A walkway between the towers crosses the preserved Frik Street to a second public space with a theater, music venues and an events hall for up to 3,000 people.
“To the north of the towers, the events plaza responds to the significant St John the Baptist Church and its forecourt, creating a seamless connection between old and new,” said Juan Frigerio, a Partner at Foster + Partners.
The site falls within Alexander Tamanian’s 1924 master plan, which shaped Yerevan as a garden city, and sits on one of the city’s highest points, above a pair of pedestrian tunnels cut through the rock. A series of staircases carries people up through the plaza.
Because Yerevan lies in a seismically active zone, the towers are designed with concrete frames and steel bracing, in stacked 7-story blocks with glass facades. The development is the first in Armenia to target LEED and WELL Gold certification and is designed to be net zero ready.
“WTC Yerevan is conceived as a next-generation mixed-use destination that brings together business, culture, and community,” said Artashes Tonoyan, CEO of World Trade Center Yerevan.
The center will join the World Trade Centers Association, a network represented in 100 countries, and is intended to position Armenia as a regional business hub.
