Hawilti Tower

Hawilti Tower is a 30-floor mixed-use property development in Kedala, Adwa that stands at 106 m (348 ft) as the tallest building in the nation. Standing at 30 floors, the development includes street level shops as well as an above ground base, where a swimming pool, restaurant, and other facilities such as offices are located. The facilities are open to public use, and were constructed and run by Ichorian company Viranda-Mas Consortium.

History
Hawilti Tower, also called the Kedala Viranda-Mas Consortium Business Center, was commissioned by the Adwan government under the rule of Emperor Merhanu II in 1574 AC in hopes of encouraging growth in the capital’s commercial and retail sectors. It was designed and built by employees of the Ichorian Viranda-Mas Consortium, which the emperor lauded as, “an ideal example of the two nations’ cooperation and friendship.” Construction began in 1576, and was carried out in three phases. Phase I was the construction of base, Phase II consisted of the core of the tower, and Phase III rounded out the tower’s construction. Although projected to take only five years, the third phase would not be complete until 1586, as the project was riddled with delays and issues due to Kedala’s inland location and limited Adwan transportation infrastructure.

The opening ceremony occurred in the Fall of 1586, presided over by Emperor Merhanu II himself, as well as a representative from Viranda-Mas. The building was dubbed the Kedala Viranda-Mas Consortium Business Center, although in its construction local Kedalites had dubbed it Hawilti Tower, after Mount Hawilti, one of Adwa’s tallest mountains overlooking the imperial capital. As agreed, the tower was to be run by the Viranda-Mas Consortium with special tax breaks from the state, as part of the emperor’s edicts encouraging development there.

Many problems have hounded the structure since its opening. The building’s construction cost $7.5 million, significantly more than originally intended, in large part due to issues involving infrastructure as well as bribes solicited by local contractors. Furthermore, the rents collected by Viranda-Mas did not meet net profit levels until 1594, with the Adwan government agreeing to continue subsidizing the property until it became profitable on its own. Despite financial incentives, businesses were slow to move to Kedala, meaning that tenants were few for the first years of the complex’s operation.

In 1594, the Adwan company Codex Entertainment Broadcasting, the country’s largest telecommunications company, rented office spaces from the upper parts of the building, making the operation profitable for the first time in its history. Despite unsubstantiated rumors of the Adwan government bribing higher-ups in Codex to solicit the contract, the tower’s newest tenant only added to the mystique of the building for locals. Soon, other businesses rushed to the complex, eager to brag that their offices were in the same building as Codex’s. Today, the Center is known as a leading meeting venue for the city’s businesspeople, as well as a popular tourist spot for the attractions found in its lower levels. .

Structure
The tower is a concave cylinder of alternating vertical stripes of glass and white concrete, which serve to accentuate the structure’s curvature. It sits atop a narrower rectangular foundation, giving it the appearance of being lifted over the Kedala skyline. The building inspires a great deal of local pride, and to many has served as an enduring symbol of Adwa’s eternal march into the future.

There are several well-equipped conference and meeting rooms, frequently used both by tenants as well as businesses who rent the spaces but are based elsewhere. These rooms are equipped with Simultaneous Interpretation Equipment with a capacity of up to seven languages, a modern business center, a banking facility, and even tour and travel services.

Plans for a revolving restaurant at the top of the building were scrapped early in construction, but renovations done in 1602 finally brought the dream to life. Called Dining Ambrosial, the restaurant serves both Adwan and Ichorian fare as well as fusion dishes. It seats 148 and has a revolving base programmed to make approximately one revolution every 76 minutes.