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On October 17, 2003, the pinnacle was fit on top of Taipei 101 and after this the skyscraper became
the new tallest building in the world, with a total height of 509 metres (1,671 feet).
It took over the title from the two Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur (452m/1,483),
that held the title of the world's tallest skyscrapers from 1997 - 2003.

Taipei 101 was designed by C.Y. Lee and Partners, a Taiwanese architectural firm that was also responsible
for Kaohsiung's Tuntex Sky Tower, Taiwan's tallest building before the completion of Taipei 101.
The building has 101 floors (hence its name) and is also known as Taipei Financial Center,
which is based on its Chinese name (臺北國際金融大樓), Taipei International Financial Grand Tower-Building.

On this page, you can find several pictures of Taipei 101.
The building was nearly completed when these pictures were taken (June 2004).
Some parts of the building were already in use, while other parts were still under construction
(among others the two main entrances and work inside of the tower).
The building was opened for the public at the end of 2004, and is currently in full use.



Some facts about Taipei 101:

* The building can be found in the Xin-Yi district of (east) Taipei.
This is a relatively new part of Taipei, with a lot of newer buildings.
These were built in the past few years and many others are planned to be built here in the next couple of years.
The Xin-Yi district is the new city centre of Taipei and is an area with a lot of shopping malls,
cinema's and other leisurement enjoyment.
* The building will have the two fastest elevators (Toshiba) in the world.
These will travel at a top speed of 1,008 metres per minute or 16,8 metres per second (just over 60 km/h).
A trip up in these elevators will take 43 seconds; down will go in just over 52 seconds.
* Taipei 101 will have an indoor and an outdoor observation deck. The indoor one will be on the 89th floor (382m),
and the outdoor one will be located on the 91st floor (391m). They will be opened for the public early 2005.
* At the 87th floor an 800 ton tuned mass damper is held,
stabilizing the tower against possible earthquakes, typhoons, and strong winds.
The building is designed to withstand earthquakes above 7 on the Richter scale,
and winds forces of more than 60 metres per second.
* Connected to the building is a 6-story shopping mall (five above and one under ground), called Taipei 101 mall.
This mall was opened in November 2003. It is for the most part home to very exclusive and very expensive shops.
* Work on the tower began in 1999 and until the completion, the construction was hit by a few tragedies.
Among them was a 6.8 earthquake that hit Taipei at the end of March 2002.
Because of the earthquake a construction crane fell from the 56th floor, killing five people.
* The design of the building resembles a bamboo shoot rising, steadily but strong, from the ground,
reaching the top one step at a time
* The whole complex is constructed on a site with a total of 30,278 square metres.
The total floor area of the building is 357,721 square metres.
* The building is divided into six zones.
Each zones has four double-deck elevators with a capacity of 20 persons each.
In total the building has 61 elevators.
* Building costs were approximately $ 1,7 billion.
* Early plans for this tower called for a 60-story tower with a pair of 20-story blocks.
Then an 88-story tower was proposed, but the architects convinced the owner to go even higher.
* The foundation of the tower goes as deep as 80 metres/262 feet.
* When the building is in use over 10,000 people will work in the tower each working day.
* Total height to the roof is 448m (1,470 feet), which makes it the tallest building in this category as well.
This also means that the spire on top is over 60 metres (197 feet) tall.
Total height to the highest occupied floor is 438m (1,417 feet). Here Taipei 101 is the #1 as well,
although technically speaking it will not win this title until the building is in use.
At the time of writing, Taipei 101 is the world tallest skyscraper in three categories:
ground level to structural top (509m/1,671f),
ground level to roof (448m/1,470f), and
ground level to highest occupied floor (438m/1,417f)
The only record that is missing is the one measuring from ground level to pinacle
(including masts and spires that are NOT part of the architectural design of the building).
In this category Chicago's Sears Tower is still the tallest building in the world: 529m/1,736f.
Sears Tower is 443 metres (1,454 tall) and ranks #4 behind Taipei 101 and the two Petronas Towers.








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