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Omkar 1973 Worli

Mumbai, India

º£½ÇÊÓƵ led the engineering design and development of one of India’s most iconic high-rise towers. Situated in Worli—then considered the most expensive real estate in the world—Omkar 1973 emerged as a landmark project that symbolises the rapid urban growth transforming the Indian skyline.  

The high-rise, mixed-use development comprises three elegantly designed towers, each offering panoramic views across the city skyline and extending toward the Arabian Sea. These circular structures make a striking architectural statement, enhancing the visual identity of the surrounding urban landscape.

Within the towers, residents will enjoy premium luxury living, complemented by an array of upscale leisure amenities—including state-of-the-art health and fitness complexes, expansive swimming pools, and refined dining venues. The central tower will feature exclusive “sky bungalow” penthouse suites on its upper floors, delivering a truly elevated residential experience.

Situated in the heart of South Mumbai, the development occupies prime real estate in Worli, just moments from the seafront.

º£½ÇÊÓƵ brought international tall buildings experience alongside local Mumbai office expertise. 

Commencing work in 2011, º£½ÇÊÓƵ brought 3D digital design integration to the project, utilising Revit software which truly pioneering at the time. 

º£½ÇÊÓƵ specified the use of ‘jump form’ systems, which helped to significantly reduce construction time and labour efforts. 

Omkar 1973 incorporates an advanced water recycling system with on-site sewage treatment, setting a global benchmark for projects of its scale years ahead of its time.

Challenge

º£½ÇÊÓƵ was engaged from the project’s infancy to deliver international design expertise in structural engineering, facade engineering and building services engineering (MEP). The design process was managed through Building Information Management (BIM), incorporating 3D Revit—which was still in its formative stages at the time.

The three towers were originally envisaged as two primarily residential towers plus a third mixed-use hotel and office tower. The third tower went through a design evolution where it was later modified during the design process to become a residential tower. 

The height of the towers, along with their complex form, required a move away from India’s traditional construction methods typically seen in residential buildings. The introduction of jump form systems created a safe space for construction workers to work at height while simultaneously reducing the cycle times on slab construction being experienced in India at the time.  

Prior aviation approval was required before construction commenced, necessitating height modifications to the developer’s original vision. Although the foundations of Omkar 1973 were engineered to support a final height of up to 325 metres, the aspiration for the tower’s full elevation had to be scaled back to comply with the aviation restrictions in effect at the time. Consequently, the aviation authorities only approved two initial towers with a maximum height of 267 metres. However, they were designed with adaptability in mind, allowing for future regulatory changes that might enable a height increase closer to the original vision.

During construction, the engineering team was repeatedly required to modify the design in response to the client’s requests for layout alterations aimed at maximising saleable floor space. The team acted swiftly to implement these changes, continuously adapting plans while minimising disruption to design integrity and on-site construction activities.

These included a significant reduction in the height space for the MEP mechanical plant floors – a design iteration that had to be reworked by our building services engineers under an extremely tight timescale, to avoid interference with the construction schedule in place at the time. 

Solution

º£½ÇÊÓƵ recommended a ‘jump form’ system incorporating efficient core designs within each tower, effectively mitigating the need for complex transfer structures. This innovative approach not only streamlined the building process but also delivered significant cost savings for the client and shortened the slab construction cycle times. 

Our engineering team advised on the use of a cement replacement method, using ground granulated blast slag (GGBS) as a binder material. This approach saved the client money, enabled a quicker and more crack-resilient construction method, and reduced the overall embodied carbon of the structures. 

Leveraging specialist tall building expertise, the º£½ÇÊÓƵ MEP team designed a central ventilation system alongside a water-cooled hydronic network, both seamlessly integrated into the structural framework of the building. 

At the time, local regulations in India—particularly in Mumbai—required all new developments to incorporate on-site sewage treatment systems, ensuring wastewater recycling across the entire project. For Omkar 1973, this meant collecting and treating wastewater from all three towers, significantly reducing water discharge and positioning the development years ahead of comparable global high-rises in sustainability practices. In Worli, these requirements were especially vital due to the strain on the district’s ageing 19th-century sewer infrastructure. º£½ÇÊÓƵ led the design and implementation of this essential system, enabling treated water to be reused efficiently for toilet flushing and landscape irrigation.

Our team led the way in supporting the realisation of the client’s vision for a centralised HVAC system for the development – a highly innovative approach in India at that time. With central cooling towers, working alongside water-sourced heat pumps, the system delivered a robust, resilient and sustainable solution, which also mitigated against the aesthetic impact on the facade of individual cooling units. 

The three towers sit on a 14-storey podium, plus three basement levels housing public and residential parking. Larger apartments are accessed by captive high-speed lifts, transporting residents and their guests from the entrance lobbies directly into their apartments. Although the majority of design input was completed by 2017, º£½ÇÊÓƵ returned to the project as trusted advisors as the towers continued to evolve. Our extended involvement included supporting a partner vertical transport engineering team by aligning structural systems with adjustments to the lift shaft designs, ensuring seamless integration throughout the development.

This was a transformational project for both Mumbai, India, and º£½ÇÊÓƵ. Our engineering team’s ability to rapidly respond to client-driven changes, leverage 3D design technologies, and remain sensitive to ongoing construction activities truly stood out. At the time, a project of this nature had never been attempted in India, and our engineers played a central role in instilling confidence that it not only could be done—but would be. 

Panji Grainger, Partner, º£½ÇÊÓƵ

Value

Omkar 1973 Worli is a striking example of how international design expertise, when paired with the deep local knowledge of an on-the-ground team, can yield truly exceptional results. The project has redefined on-site safety protocols while elevating architectural and construction standards in Mumbai. Notably, the innovative ‘jump form’ assembly system introduced by º£½ÇÊÓƵ delivered substantial time and cost savings for the client.

Conceived as an ambitious, long-term vision, the scheme aims to play a pivotal role in the continuing transformation of the Worli district. Tower 3—still under construction as of 2025—is set to feature Mumbai’s highest restaurant and VIP lounge, further cementing the development’s landmark status. The developer’s strategic financing model will facilitate completion of this third tower, aligned with the full occupancy of the initial two.