The first phase of Jamaica’s tallest building is set to get underway next month.
The 27-storey building that is being developed by Stratosphere Development Limited at 1B Oxford Road in St Andrew will be dubbed The Ascent at the Oxford, Sheer Luxury. The building will surpass The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, which has 17 stories and is currently seen as Jamaica’s tallest structure.
A team of Jamaican Americans from New York Drill, who will be building out the foundation of the complex, prides itself in having a wealth of experience in constructing superstructures and skyscrapers.
Dr. Roland Rose of New York Drill described his team members as experts at building substructures.
“Substructure is the basement level which involves the drilling and stability of the entire project; this building will stand quite a few stories up. It is important that you have a solid foundation in the event of earthquakes or unforeseen natural disasters. We have about 20 years’ experience doing superstructures in New York City, in and around the boroughs of Brooklyn, Queen’s, the Bronx and Manhattan.”
The building will be a major attraction for tourism and other industries. It will include 28 residential units, 11 office levels, 305 parking spaces, observatory floors, swimming pools, a museum, and helicopter pads.
The construction is also expected to provide employment to Jamaicans in both skilled and unskilled areas.
Dr. Roland explained that this is much needed positive news from Jamaica “I think we are going in the right direction. A lot of times people in the diaspora, we tend to hear a lot about the high crime situation in Jamaica. We are here to say let us change that narrative and start sending out good news about Jamaica. This is the tallest building in the Caribbean. As diaspora Jamaicans, this will cement us as number one in the Caribbean. Jamaica should be leading in the forefront when it comes to development and the future”
Stratosphere’s Chairman Warren McDonald expressed confidence that the development will set the trend in ensuring the highest standards on future skyscraper projects.
“This project is the first in Jamaica and, naturally, we want to ensure that we set the highest standards. As such, we are working well with our regulators,” McDonald said.
