state government, while the geodesic dome would contain a multipurpose hall. As noted by Dr Gwynn Jenkins in her book, Contested Space, the three residential blocks were to provide a socially-engineered residential community in flats of mixed-income and ethnicity. In addition, the complex was also planned to serve as a commercial district and a public transportation hub, all of which were to be condensed under one roof. The skyscraper shape is from a 12-sided cylindrical shape. The complex was designed by Architects Team 3 (AT3) of Singapore, led by Lim Chong Keat. Lim recounted that he was responsible in making sure that the appointed consultants were competent, and of sufficient national and worldwide standing required to accomplish the project. Experts of other fields, including social researchers from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and a traffic consultant were also included. Construction The Komtar project only got off the ground in 1970, during the tenure of Lim Chong Eu as the then Chief Minister of Penang. It was the single most ambitious urban renewal project undertaken by Penang Development Corporation, the development arm of the Penang state government. The master plan was divided into five phases of implementation. However, the Komtar project also entailed the destruction of hundreds of colonial-era shophouses, schools and temples around the 11-hectare site, displacing the more established neighborhoods in the process. Notably, Gladstone Road, which once ran through the area, was wiped off the map when the construction of Komtar commenced. The then-Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, officiated the first piling ceremony on 1 January 1974, during which he clarified that the project would change the city's appearance and discard the colonial heritage image in favour of one which reflected the identity of Malaysia and its multi-ethnic culture. Komtar Tower was topped out in 1985, making it the tallest skyscraper in Malaysia at the time. The 65-storey, 232-metre-tall skyscraper was also the second-tallest in Asia at that point, behind Sunshine 60 in Tokyo, Japan. Komtar Tower was officially completed the following year and remained as the tallest skyscraper in Malaysia until 1988. Decline As part of Phase 1, Komtar Tower had been completed in 1986. However, out of the original five phases, only Phases 1 and 2A, the latter which involved the creation of Komtar Walk, a 155-metre-long walkway lined with food outlets, was never completed according to plan. Phases 3 and 4 were jointly