Saidah Tower, a skyscraper in Jakarta that used to function as an elite office location, has been abandoned since 2007. This building was originally a business center and activities of well-known companies, has long been abandoned and has given rise to much speculation. Although no longer used, the existence of Saidah Tower still attracts the attention of many people, both from a historical perspective, mystical stories, and from a construction engineering perspective.
A Brief History of Saidah Tower
In its heyday, Saidah Tower was a symbol of modernity and luxury. Located in a strategic location, this building was once a center for large companies looking for a representative place for their operations. However, since it was closed in 2007, this tower has lost its function and has not had electricity for years. Not only an empty building, Saidah Tower is also guarded by three officers every day to ensure its maintenance and security.
Although no longer a business center, Saidah Tower still has a social role. Every Eid al-Adha celebration, this building is used as a location for slaughtering sacrificial animals. Although this activity is still ongoing, the fact that the building remains standing strong without routine use, shows an interesting aspect of construction durability that can be an important lesson in the world of civil engineering.
Saidah Tower from a Construction Perspective
As a skyscraper that has stood for decades, Saidah Tower provides many new perspectives for engineers and construction experts about the importance of building durability. There are several aspects of construction engineering that can be studied from this building:
1. Structural Durability
Although abandoned for almost two decades without intensive maintenance, Saidah Tower still stands tall. This shows that planning and building a building with a strong foundation and structure is very crucial. Saidah Tower is designed to withstand the pressure of time, even though it is no longer used according to its original purpose.
The structural durability of this building underlines the importance of choosing the right materials, careful design planning, and good construction supervision. In large projects such as skyscrapers, small details in construction planning can have a significant impact on the long-term durability of the building.
2. Aspects of Building Maintenance and Use
One of the challenges in the world of civil engineering is designing buildings that are not only durable, but also easy to maintain. In the case of Menara Saidah, despite being unused for years and without electricity, the building did not suffer major structural damage. However, this can also be a reminder that buildings that are not used and maintained regularly are prone to degradation, which in the long term can cause problems.
For construction companies, long-term maintenance must be considered in building planning. In addition to aesthetic aspects, resistance to weather, earthquakes, and other external factors must always be a priority in modern building design.
3. Adaptation of Building Functions
Although Menara Saidah is no longer used as an office building, the building is still used for social purposes such as slaughtering sacrificial animals every Eid al-Adha. This shows that flexible building design can allow for adaptation of functions in the future. In the world of construction, designing buildings with the potential for adaptation for other functions in the future can add value and utility to buildings in the long term.
Conclusion
Menara Saidah is now only a silent witness to its glory days, but from a construction engineering perspective, this building teaches us about the importance of careful planning, structural resilience, and adaptation of building functions. For engineers, architects and construction practitioners, this building provides a valuable lesson on how construction is not just about the physical construction, but also about how a building can survive for a long time, even when it is no longer used for its original purpose. With a better understanding of the aspects of construction engineering applied to buildings such as Saidah Tower, we can continue to improve the quality and durability of today’s buildings, and ensure that future construction is sustainable and more durable.