A city in the interior of São Paulo could be home to the world's tallest building, with 170 floors and 1 km high. The project, which promises to revitalize the city center, foresees the creation of 5 thousand jobs and an investment of R$ 2 billion by the private sector.
A city in the interior of São Paulo may be about to become the new center of global attention.
Sorocaba, with its 723 thousand inhabitants, is planning a grand feat: the construction of a skyscraper of proportions never seen before in the world, promising to transform the urban landscape and boost the local economy.
But what is behind this project? Why did a municipality outside of the major urban centers decide to embark on a project of this magnitude?
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The answer involves a combination of urban revitalization, political ambitions and a billion dollar proposal that promises to change the course of the city.
According to the announcement made by Mayor Rodrigo Manga (Republicans), the future building will have an impressive 170 floors, reaching the mark of one kilometer high.
The aim of the work is to revitalize the central region of Sorocaba, which in recent decades has suffered from the population decrease and the loss of attractiveness.
According to the mayor, the building will have commercial and residential functions, in addition to attracting investment, boosting tourism and creating 5 thousand direct and indirect job vacancies.
A project inspired by the Burj Khalifa
The Sorocaba plan follows in the footsteps of another global icon: the Burj Khalifa, in the United Arab Emirates. Currently, this is the tallest building in the world, at 828 meters high and with 163 floors.
Although Sorocaba still needs to overcome several barriers to carry out its project, the mayor is confident in the city's potential to receive such a project.
The largest building currently in Brazil is the Yachthouse, located in Balneário Camboriú (SC), with 290 meters and 81 floors.
The new building in Sorocaba will be almost four times bigger, completely transforming the city's landscape and placing Brazil at the top of the ranking of the tallest skyscrapers in the world.
Challenges and investments
To make this ambitious project viable, Sorocaba is counting on private partnerships and an estimated investment of $ 2 billion.
The city hall, in turn, will offer incentives, such as exemption from fees and concessions, in addition to carrying out a review of the Master Plan, which has been unchanged for ten years, to remove height limits in the city center.
According to the mayor, the measure is part of a larger urban revitalization effort, including the restoration of historic buildings and improvements in mobility.
The skyscraper project will also create an unprecedented infrastructure in the region, requiring the modernization of the entire central area, which currently has medium-sized buildings, with a maximum of 30 floors.
If everything goes according to plan, Sorocaba will see an economic boom never seen in the history of the municipality.
Next steps and interest from companies
Although there is still no confirmation about which companies will be involved in the construction, Manga said that some have already shown interest and that the details are being handled confidentially.
An engineering company, not identified at this time, was responsible for the Master Plan review studies, and public hearings are expected to be held in the coming weeks to discuss the proposed changes.
A futuristic Sorocaba
If the project comes to fruition, Sorocaba will be seen in a different light on the national and international scene.
The mega-building could attract a large volume of tourists, in addition to becoming a symbol of modernity and innovation for the city.
The revitalization of the center goes beyond the construction of the building; includes the restoration of a historic train station, which will be integrated into the Intercity Train project, connecting Sorocaba to the capital of São Paulo.
This mobility plan will also be an important connection point between the business generated by the new venture and employment opportunities for the inhabitants of the city and region.
Similar plans in other cities
Interestingly, the idea of building the world's largest building on Brazilian soil has already been proposed in another city: São Paulo.
During the election campaign for mayor of São Paulo, the then candidate Pablo Marçal (PRTB) also promised to build a building of one kilometer high.
Marçal failed to be elected, but the mayor of Sorocaba invited him to take on the role of Secretary of Economic Development of the city from 2025.
This alliance can accelerate the viability of the project in Sorocaba.
Meanwhile, the Santa Catarina city of Balneário Camboriú is also aiming for its own giant skyscraper: the Senna Tower, in honor of the pilot Ayrton Senna.
The building, which aims to achieve Meters 509, could become the largest residential building in the world, but will still be far from competing with the Sorocaba project, if it is implemented.
Current list of tallest buildings in the world
Check out the ranking of the tallest skyscrapers on the planet, according to Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat:
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates: 828 meters – 163 floors
- Merdeka 118, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: 679 meters – 118 floors
- Shanghai Tower, Shanghai, China: 632 meters – 128 floors
- Makkah Royal Clock Tower, Mecca, Saudi Arabia: 601 meters – 120 floors
- Ping An Finance Center, Shenzhen, China: 599 meters – 115 floors
Does Sorocaba have the capacity to accommodate a project of such magnitude? Or could this dream become a nightmare for the city and its inhabitants? Leave your opinion in the comments!