AZ Tower in Brno has made it into the top ten among world buildings

Brno - The tallest building in the Czech Republic, AZ Tower in Brno, has made it into the top ten best-rated skyscrapers in the world. In the Emporis Skyscraper Award competition, which evaluates the functionality and appearance of buildings taller than 100 meters, it ranked ninth among 300 buildings. "The award is proof that Brno is continuously catching up with other European metropolises," said Brno Mayor Roman Onderka (Czech Social Democratic Party) to reporters today.
    "Despite numerous critical voices, AZ Tower is proving to be the right choice. All apartments and most offices in the building are occupied, so it is serving its purpose. By being placed in such a prestigious competition as the Emporis Skyscraper Award, we gain further international recognition and independent assurance that we built the building well," Onderka stated.
    The Emporis Skyscraper Award is given by experts from the field of architecture based on two criteria: the functionality of the building and its design. The award has been given since 2000 by the company Emporis, based in Hamburg. "One cannot apply for the competition. The nominee and winner are determined by an independent jury made up of experts," explained Brno city hall spokesperson Pavel Žára.
    In 2013, 300 skyscrapers from around the world competed. For nomination, the building must have been completed in the year of the award and measure at least 100 meters. The top prize went to the London Bridge Tower, which is over 300 meters tall, with Vienna's DC Tower in second place and China's Moon Hotel in third.
    The construction of AZ Tower in Brno began in April 2011. It reached a record height of 111 meters in September 2012. "The building's structure is designed to withstand an earthquake of six on the Richter scale," Žára noted. The building offers 17,000 square meters of commercial, office, and residential space. It includes a restaurant, shops, an archive, a fitness center, and a swimming pool.