Taipei 101

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Coordinates: 25°2′1″N, 121°33′52″E

Taipei 101 (traditional Chinese: 臺北101 or 台北101; simplified Chinese: 台北101; pinyin: Táiběi Yīlíngyī; Wade-Giles: T'ai-pei I-ling-i) is a 101-floor landmark skyscraper located in Taipei, Taiwan. The building, designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners and constructed by KTRT Joint Venture, is the world's tallest completed skyscraper. Taipei 101 received the Emporis Skyscraper Award in 2004. It has been hailed as one of the Seven New Wonders of the World (Newsweek magazine, 2006) and Seven Wonders of Engineering (Discovery Channel, 2005). The building serves as an icon of Taipei and Taiwan as a whole. Fireworks launched from the tower feature prominently in international New Year's Eve broadcasts, and the landmark appears frequently in films, television shows, print publications, anime media, games, and other elements of popular culture. Taipei 101 is managed by the International division of Urban Retail Properties Corporation based in Chicago USA.^[1]

The name of the building reflects its location in Taipei's 101 business district along with its floor count. (See also Symbolism below.) The number is pronounced in English simply as One Oh One. The original name planned for the building, Taipei World Financial Center, derived from that of its owner, Taipei Financial Center Corporation and the formal name of the structure in Chinese: literally, Taipei International Financial Center (traditional Chinese: 臺北國際金融中心; pinyin: Táiběi Guójì Jīnróng Zhōngxīn).

On 2007-07-21 Taipei 101 was overtaken in height by the Burj Dubai in Dubai, UAE, upon the completion of that building's 141st floor.^[2] Taipei 101 retains its title until the Burj Dubai is completed, though, as international architectural standards define a "building" as a structure that can be occupied.

[edit] Features

[edit] Height

Taipei 101 has 101 stories above ground and five underground. Upon its completion Taipei 101 claimed the official records for:

• Ground to highest architectural structure (spire): 509.2 metres (1,670.60 ft). Previously held by the Petronas Towers 452 metres (1,483 ft).
• Ground to roof: 449.2 metres (1,473.75 ft). Formerly held by the Sears Tower 442 metres (1,450 ft).
• Ground to highest occupied floor: 439.2 metres (1,440.94 ft). Formerly held by the Sears Tower 412 metres (1,352 ft).
• Fastest ascending elevator speed: 16.83 m/s (60.6 km/h or 37.7 miles/h).
• Largest countdown clock: On display every New Year's Eve.

The record for greatest height from ground to pinnacle remained with the Sears Tower in Chicago (USA): 527 metres (1,729 ft).

Taipei 101 was the first building in the world to break the half-kilometer mark in height.^[3] It was the first "world's tallest building" to be constructed in the new millennium.

Taipei 101 displaced the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as the tallest building in the world by 57.2 metres (188 ft).^[4] It also displaced the 85-story, 347.5 metres (1,140 ft) Tuntex Sky Tower in Kaohsiung as the tallest building in Taiwan and the 51-story, 244.2 metres (801 ft) Shin Kong Life Tower as the tallest building in Taipei.^[5]

The Burj Dubai, located in Dubai, UAE, overtook Taipei 101 in height upon completion of its 141st floor on 2007-07-21. The Burj Dubai is expected to hold a number of world records by the time it opens in mid-2009. Taipei 101 retains its official title until the Burj Dubai is completed, however, as the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat does not officially recognize a structure as a "building" for record purposes until it is functional--that is, until it is completed and can be occupied.

Various sources, including the building's owners, give the height of Taipei 101 as 508.0 metres (1,667 ft), roof height and top floor height as 448.0 metres (1,470 ft) and 438.0 metres (1,437 ft). This lower figure is derived by measuring from the top of a 1.2 metres (4 ft) platform at the base. CTBUH standards, though, include the height of the platform in calculating the overall height, as it represents part of the man-made structure and is above the level of the surrounding pavement.^[6][7]

[edit] Construction

Taipei 101 is designed to withstand the typhoon winds and earthquake tremors common in its area of the Asia-Pacific. Planners aimed for a structure that could withstand gale winds of 60 meters per second and the strongest earthquakes likely to occur in a 2,500 year cycle.^[8]

Skyscrapers must be flexible in strong winds yet remain rigid enough to prevent large sideways movement (lateral drift). Flexibility prevents structural damage while resistance ensures comfort for the occupants and protection of glass, curtain walls and other features. Most designs achieve the necessary strength by enlarging critical structural elements such as bracing. The extraordinary height of Taipei 101 combined with the demands of its environment called for additional innovations on the part of engineers.

The design achieves both strength and flexibility for the tower through the use of high-performance steel construction. Thirty-six columns support Taipei 101, including eight "mega-columns" packed with 10,000-psi concrete.^[9] Every eight floors, outrigger trusses connect the columns in the building’s core to those on the exterior.

These features combine with the solidity of the its foundation to make Taipei 101 one of the most stable buildings ever constructed. The foundation is reinforced by 380 piles driven 80 meters into the ground, extending as far as 30 meters into the bedrock. Each pile is 150 cm in diameter and can bear a load of 1100-1450 tons.^[9] The stability of the design became evident during construction when, on 2002-03-31, a 6.8-magnitude earthquake rocked Taipei. The tremor was strong enough to topple two construction cranes from the 56th floor, then the highest, and kill five people in the accident. An inspection still showed no structural damage to the building and construction soon resumed.

Thornton-Tomasetti Engineers along with Evergreen Consulting Engineering designed a 662 metric ton steel pendulum that serves as a tuned mass damper. Suspended from the 92nd to the 88th floor, the pendulum sways to offset movements in the building caused by strong gusts. Its sphere, the largest damper sphere in the world, consists of 41 layered steel plates, each with a height of 125 mm being welded together to form a 5.5-meter diameter sphere.^[10] Another two tuned mass dampers, each weighing 4.5 tons, sit at the tip of the spire. These prevent cumulative damage to the structure due to strong wind loads.

Taipei 101's characteristic blue-green glass curtain walls are double glazed, offer heat and UV protection, and can sustain impacts of eight tons.^[8]

[edit] Symbolism

The height of 101 floors symbolizes high ideals by going one better on 100, a traditional number of perfection. It commemorates the renewal of time: the new century that arrived as the tower was built (100+1) and all new years (January 1 = 1-01). The number also evokes the binary numeral system used in digital technology.^[9]

The main tower features a series of eight segments of eight floors each. In Chinese-speaking cultures the number eight is associated with abundance, prosperity and good fortune. In the context of a seven-day week the number eight also symbolizes renewal of time (7+1). In digital technology the number eight is associated with the byte, the basic unit of information.

The repeated segments simultaneously recall the rhythms of an Asian pagoda (a tower linking earth and sky also evoked in the Petronas Towers), a stalk of bamboo (an icon of learning and growth), and a stack of ancient Chinese ingots or money boxes (a symbol of abundance). The four discs mounted on each face of the building where the pedestal meets the tower represent coins. The emblem placed over entrances shows three gold coins of ancient design with central holes shaped to imply the Arabic numerals 1-0-1.^[9]

Curled ruyi figures appear throughout the building as a design motif. The ruyi, or "magic mushroom", is an ancient artistic motif connoting heavenly clouds, healing, and fulfilment. The symbol confers protection and marks the attainment of new career heights.^[11] Each of the ruyi ornaments on the Taipei 101 exterior stands at least eight meters tall.

At night the bright golden glow at its pinnacle casts Taipei 101 in the role of a candle or torch upholding ideals of liberty, enlightenment, and hospitality. Each week the lights on the tower cycle through the seven colours of the spectrum:^[12]

The cycle evokes the symbolism of rainbows as bridges linking earth to sky and earth's peoples to one another. The pattern further connects the tower with the cycles of time.

Taipei 101, like many neighbouring structures in Taiwan, shows the influence of feng shui design traditions. A notable example of this is the fountain, topped by an inwardly-rotating ball, placed at the intersection of Songlian Road and Hsinyi Road near the tower's east entrance.^[13] Feng shui thought regards a T intersection near a threshold as a drain on the positive energy, or ch'i, of a building and its occupants. Fountains or waterfalls placed at such spots, though, can preserve a positive inward flow of ch'i.

Taipei 101 blends images of ancient tradition and modern technology even as it renews the role of all tall towers as cosmic centers. Its symbols display a special interest in optimism, abundance, and the renewing patterns of time.

[edit] Interior

Taipei 101 is the first record-setting skyscraper to be constructed in the twenty-first century. Appropriately it exhibits a number of technologically advanced features as it provides a center for business and recreation.

The original 2004 fiber-optic and satellite Internet connections enabled transfer speeds up to a gigabyte per second.

The doubledeck elevators built by Toshiba Elevator and Building Systems Corporation (TELC) set a new record in 2004 with top ascending speeds of 16.83 metres per second (63 km/h or 37.5 mph). This speed is 34 percent faster than the previous record holders in the Yokohama Landmark Tower. Taipei 101's elevators sweep visitors from the fifth floor to the 89th-floor observatory in 37 seconds. Each elevator features an aerodynamic body, full pressurization, state-of-the art emergency braking systems, and the world's first triple-stage anti-overshooting system. The cost for each elevator is over $US 2 million. ^[14][15][16]

A 660-metric-ton (730 tons) tuned mass damper stabilizes the tower against movements caused by high winds.^[3] The damper can reduce up to 40% of the tower's movements (see "Construction").

The 101st floor is home to a private club named Summit 101. No information about this club has been made public save for a reference in the observatory pamphlet.

The observatories are located in the 91st and 89th floors. (See 'Observatories' below.)

Two restaurants have opened on the 85th floor: Diamond Tony's, which offers European-style seafood and steak, and Shinyeh 101 (欣葉), which offers Taiwanese-style cuisine. Occupying all of the 86th floor is Japanese restaurant XEX, which will open in 2008. ^[17]

The multi-story retail mall at the base of the tower houses shops, restaurants, night clubs and other attractions. The mall's interior is modern in design even as it makes use of traditional elements. The curled ruyi symbol (see "Exterior symbolism" above) is a recurring motif inside the mall. Many features of the interior also observe feng shui traditions.

[edit] Observatories

Taipei 101 features an Indoor Observatory (floor 89) and an Outdoor Observatory (floor 91).^[18] Both offer 360-degree views and attract visitors from around the world.

The Indoor Observatory stands 382 meters above ground and may be reached by high-speed elevators from the shopping mall fifth floor. It offers visitors a comfortable indoor environment, large windows with UV protection, recorded voice tours in seven languages, informative displays and special exhibits. Here one may view the skyscraper's main damper, nicknamed "Damper Baby", and buy food, drinks and gift items.

A staircase takes visitors up two more flights to the Outdoor Observatory.

The Indoor Observatory is open twelve hours a day (10:00 AM-10:00 PM); Outdoor Observatory hours are the same as weather permits. Tickets may be purchased on site in the shopping mall fifth floor, or in advance through the Observatory's web site (see links below).

[edit] Art

Many works of art appear in and around Taipei 101. These include:^[9]

• Rebecca Horn (Germany). Dialogue between Yin and Yang. 2002. Steel, iron.
• Robert Indiana (USA). Love and 1-0. 2002. Aluminum.
• Ariel Moscovici (France). Between Earth and Sky. 2002. Rose de la claret granite.
• Chung Pu (Taiwan). Global Circle. 2002. Black granite, white marble.
• Jill Watson (Britain). City Composition. 2002. Bronze.

[edit] History

[edit] Beginnings

Planning for Taipei 101 began in 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. By the time the ground-breaking ceremony took place on 1998-01-13 planners were considering taking the new structure to a more ambitious height. Ten months later the city granted a license for the construction of a 101-story tower on the site. Construction proceeded and the first tower column was erected in summer 2000.

Taipei 101's roof was completed three years later on 2003-07-01. Ma Ying-jeou, in his first term as Taipei mayor, fastened a golden bolt to signify the achievement. Three months later the pinnacle was placed.

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 variety of popular stars such as A-Mei and Sun Yan Zi. 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.^[19][20]

[edit] Chronology

Important dates in the planning and construction of Taipei 101 include the following:^[9]

[edit] Gallery

Taipei 101, cosmic pillar

Love at Taipei 101

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Taipei
• Taiwan
• Tuntex Sky Tower
• Shin Kong Life Tower
• Burj Dubai
• Petronas Towers

• Skyscraper
• List of skyscrapers
• List of tallest buildings and structures in the world

[edit] External links

• Official Site: Taipei 101
• Official Site: Taipei 101 Mall
• Official Site: Taipei 101 Observatory
• Official Site: Taipei 101 Tower
• Official Site: Taipei Financial Center Corp.
• Skyscraperpicture.com - Taipei 101
• A 3 minute video about Taipei 101

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