The Alatau Iconic Complex and Gateway District is a mixed-use vertical development under construction by Alatau City Development Group in Alatau, Kazakhstan.
The 276,800m虏 (2.9 million square feet) development is presented as a major national scheme contributing to Alatau鈥檚 evolution as a central Asian hub.
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The project is being delivered by Alatau City Development Group in collaboration with long-term investors and government partners.
Backed by an estimated investment of $800m, the scheme integrates office, residential, hospitality, retail and cultural functions to create a compact, high-density urban centre for the expanding city.
The project will include two Iconic Towers, with the primary tower reaching 272m (892.4ft) in height, making it the tallest building in the Almaty region and in southern Kazakhstan.
Scheduled for completion by the end of 2029, the Alatau Iconic Complex and Gateway District is intended to establish a new model for large-scale urban development in Kazakhstan and the wider central Asian region.
Location
The mixed-use project is being developed in the new city of Alatau, situated along the Almaty-Qonaev highway, a key segment of the Western Europe-Western China transport corridor.
Alatau City is due to extend over 88,000 hectares (217,452 acres) and comprise four districts. It is intended to strengthen regional connectivity, economic development and innovation, linking Almaty with central Asia and wider international networks.
The project is conceived to support long-term growth in the Almaty region through a resilient and transit-oriented model, functioning as Alatau鈥檚 cultural, economic and administrative centre.
Alatau Iconic Complex and Gateway District design details
The Alatau Iconic Complex and Gateway District project is based on the concept of a 鈥渧ertical city鈥�, intended to accommodate the day-to-day needs of employees and residents within a single integrated environment. Residential, commercial and hospitality areas will be separated to maintain operational efficiency and privacy.
The project鈥檚 architectural approach draws inspiration from the surrounding Trans-Ili Alatau range, a 350km landscape of valleys, glaciers and layered terrain. These local geological and natural features are reflected in the building design, giving the development an identity closely linked to the Kazakh landscape.
The wider Gateway District has been designed with a strong emphasis on walkable neighbourhoods, higher-density development and integrated transport options.
Proposed express rail links and light rail transit routes are set to establish the area as a key regional interchange, while landscaped boulevards, tree-lined streets and public squares support a more people-focused, street-level environment.
The scheme also incorporates next-generation micromobility facilities including allowances for electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, working alongside pedestrian routes and public transport to deliver connectivity at every level.
The area鈥檚 high seismic activity was a primary determinant of the integrated architectural and structural concept for the Iconic Towers.
Structural robustness is incorporated into the design through seismically resistant framing and damping systems, similar to those applied in high-seismic countries such as Japan and Taiwan. These technologies and systems are intended to help dissipate earthquake forces, support long-term safety and enable post-event operability.
Details of Iconic Towers
The 272m-high primary tower will comprise more than 56 storeys, accommodating 57,600m2 of Class A office space and 40,300m2 of high-end residential units.
Adjacent to it, an 80m tower will contain a 21,806m2 luxury five-star international hotel and branded residences.
Both towers are designed with high鈥憄erformance facades and integrated shading systems to limit solar heat gain, while central atria bring natural light deep into the interior floorplates and provide extensive views of the surrounding mountain landscape.
The two towers are set on a 58,000m虏 three鈥憇torey podium, which forms the base of the complex.
Modelled on the stepped foothills of the Alatau, the podium terraces down to the public realm. It incorporates retail space, cultural facilities and event venues, encouraging active pedestrian use and engagement at street level.
Construction timeline
Preparatory activity at the construction site is in an active phase. Engineering and geological investigations, together with test pile installation, are expected to be finalised in the coming months, with the start of full-scale excavation planned for May 2026.
Technical planning is also advancing in parallel. The consultancy stage is scheduled for completion by summer 2026, and the complete design and cost documentation is due to be finalised by April 2027.
Contractors involved
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), an architecture practice based in the US, is serving as the lead architectural and master planning company for the project. SOM has drawn from its expertise in designing international projects such as the One World Trade Center in New York, US, for the project.
China State Construction Engineering Corporation, an international contractor, has been appointed to deliver the Iconic Towers for the Alatau Iconic Complex and Gateway District project.
