The development of Khan Shatyr Entertainment Centre in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, Asia, has passed a key construction phase with the erection of its 150m-high marquee.

The 80,000sq m entertainment and shopping centre, designed by UK architect Foster + Partners and initiated by Kazakhstan’s President Nursultan Nazarbaev, is being built on 7 hectares of land. It is intended to provide a new civic focus for the city. The tent-like structure, developed by real estate firm COALCO and built by Turkish company Sembol Construction, will house a sports centre, an indoor beach and spa as well as an urban park, shops and cafés. The core of the building is a large flexible space, which will be used as the centre for events and exhibitions.

The project is expected to be completed in July.