Taipei 101 , formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark supertall skyscraper in Xinyi District, Taipei, Taiwan. The building was officially classified as the world's tallest in 2004, and remained such until the opening of Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010. In 2011, the building was awarded the LEED platinum certification, the highest award according the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system, and became the tallest and largest green building in the world.
The Taipei 101 tower comprises 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground. It was not only the first building in the world to break the half-kilometer mark in height, but also formerly the world's tallest building from March 2004 to 10 March 2010 and it still remains the world's tallest, largest and highest-use green building since 28 July 2011.
Upon its completion Taipei 101 set records in three skyscraper categories; at the time it remained the world's tallest inhabited building 509.2 m (1,671 ft) as measured to its height architectural top (spire), beating the previous record of 451.9 m (1,483 ft) held by the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. The height to top of roof 449.2 m (1,474 ft) and highest occupied floor 439.2 m (1,441 ft) beating the previous record of 442 m (1,450 ft) and 412.4 m (1,353 ft) held by the Willis Tower in Chicago. It also displaced the 85-story, 347.5 m (1,140 ft) Tuntex Sky Tower in Kaohsiung as the tallest building in Taiwan and the 51-story, 244.15 m (801 ft) Shin Kong Life Tower as the tallest building in Taipei. Taipei 101 claimed the official records for the tallestsundial and the largest countdown clock that can be displayed on New Year's Eve in the world.
Planning for Taipei 101 began in July 1997 during Chen Shui-bian's term as Taipei mayor. Talks between merchants and city government officials initially centered on a proposal for a 66-story tower to serve as an anchor for new development in Taipei's 101 business district. Planners were considering taking the new structure to a more ambitious height only after an expat suggested it, along with many of the other features used in the design of the building. It wasn't until the summer of 2001 that the city granted a license for the construction of a 101-story tower on the site. In the meantime, construction proceeded and the first tower column was erected in the summer of 2000.
The Taipei 101 tower comprises 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground. It was not only the first building in the world to break the half-kilometer mark in height, but also formerly the world's tallest building from March 2004 to 10 March 2010 and it still remains the world's tallest, largest and highest-use green building since 28 July 2011.
Upon its completion Taipei 101 set records in three skyscraper categories; at the time it remained the world's tallest inhabited building 509.2 m (1,671 ft) as measured to its height architectural top (spire), beating the previous record of 451.9 m (1,483 ft) held by the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. The height to top of roof 449.2 m (1,474 ft) and highest occupied floor 439.2 m (1,441 ft) beating the previous record of 442 m (1,450 ft) and 412.4 m (1,353 ft) held by the Willis Tower in Chicago. It also displaced the 85-story, 347.5 m (1,140 ft) Tuntex Sky Tower in Kaohsiung as the tallest building in Taiwan and the 51-story, 244.15 m (801 ft) Shin Kong Life Tower as the tallest building in Taipei. Taipei 101 claimed the official records for the tallestsundial and the largest countdown clock that can be displayed on New Year's Eve in the world.
A major earthquake took place in Taiwan during 31 March 2002 destroying a construction crane at the roof top, which was at floor number 47. The crane fell down onto the Xinyi Road beneath the tower, crushing several vehicles and causing five deaths – two crane operators and three workers who were not properly harnessed. However, an inspection showed no structural damage to the building, and construction work was able to restart within a week.
Taipei 101's roof was completed three years later on 1 July 2003. Ma Ying-jeou, in his first term as Taipei mayor, fastened a golden bolt to signify the achievement. The formal opening of the tower took place on New Year's Eve 2004. President Chen Shui-bian, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng cut the ribbon. Open-air concerts featured a number of popular performers, including singers A-Mei and Stefanie Sun. Visitors rode the elevators to the Observatory for the first time. A few hours later the first fireworks show at Taipei 101 heralded the arrival of a new year.
Comments
Post a Comment