100-Story Skyscraper Approved for Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv will soon be the home of a true world-class skyscraper – a 100-story tower that will be built in downtown Tel Aviv, near the municipal border with Ramat Gan. The building was approved last week by the Tel Aviv Building and Planning Council, after hearing hundreds of objections by residents, environmentalists and public officials, concerned that the height of the building could constitute a danger in the case of an earthquake. Currently, the tallest building in Israel rises to a height of 61 stories.

The building, the highest ever to be built in Israel, will include 120,000 square meters of offices, hotel space, commercial space, and public areas. Along with the tower, the contractors responsible for the project will build two six story buildings for public use.

The contractors for the project have yet to be selected. With the approval of the plan, the city will begin a tender process. The project is expected to attract bids from Israel’s largest contractors, given the complicated and far-reaching nature of the project.

The project was opposed by local residents, including people living in the numerous apartment towers in the area. Objections were also filed by municipal engineers and officials of the Netivei Ayalon company, responsible for the Ayalon Freeway, which the new tower will be built next to. Both objected to the project on the grounds of safety issues, especially concerned about what would happen if an earthquake took place.