Taipei 101.
Columbia Encyclopedia: Taipei 101,>br> in the Hsinyi dist., Taipei, Taiwan; also known as the Taipei Financial Center. With 101 stories and reaching 1,671 ft (509 m) high, Taipei 101 became the world's tallest building when it was topped out in 2003, surpassing the Petronas Towers; construction, which began in 1999, was completed in 2004. Designed by C. Y. Lee & Partners, the multiuse steel-and-glass skyscraper echoes a traditional Chinese pagoda with its soaring podium base, eight tiers of eight stories (a number that is a homophone for prosperous growth in Chinese), and narrow pinnacle tower and spire. A 18-ft (5.5-m), 882-ton (800-metric-ton), ball-shaped damper located near the top counteracts swaying during earthquakes and typhoons. Companies:
- Architect: C.Y. Lee & Partners
- Contractor: KTRT Joint Venture
- Management: Urban Retail Properties Company
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Facts & Description:

- Taipei 101 was opened to the public on December 31, 2004.

- TAIPEI is mnemonic for Technology, Art, Innovation, People, Environment, and Identity. 101 represents the concept of striving for beyond perfection.

- Taipei 101, whose pinnacle reached full height on Oct. 9, 2003, is currently the official world's tallest building in the categories of highest structurally, highest roof, and highest occupied floor. The Sears Tower in Chicago holds the fourth category of overall height.

- The multi-use structure will house retail facilities on Levels 1-4; a fitness center on Levels 5-6; offices on Levels 7-84; restaurants on Levels 86-88; observation decks on Levels 89, 91, and 101; and communication facilities on Levels 92-100.

- There is a station for the Taipei Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) beneath the building awaiting the eventual construction of the Hsinyi line.

- On December 15, 2004, Toshiba installed the world's two fastest elevators. With top speeds of 1010 m/min, observation deck visitors can whiz from Level B1 to 89 in 39 seconds.

- A 900-ton tuned mass damper is installed on the 87th floor to counter earthquakes and typhoons. It will be available for public viewing from the restaurant levels and observation deck.

- The building underwent numerous redesigns due to aviation restrictions imposed by the nearby Taipei Municipal (Sung Shan) Airport before a special variance was granted and the building was constructed to the full original intended height.
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History: 1997 - 2003

- Originally Taipei 101 was going to be a 66-floor office tower, a symbol of the new development emerging from Taipei’s financial district.

- A groundbreaking ceremony was held on January 13th, 1998, planners later decided to raise the tower’s height from 66 floors to 101 floors.

- Due to the height change, construction was delayed, the first column was finally constructed in the summer of 2000.

- On March 31st, 2002, five construction workers were killed when a 6.8 earthquake caused two cranes to fall from the 56th floor. Construction was halted and resumed after an inspection. Several fires in the podium occurred during construction as well.

- The roof-level topout ceremony was held on July 1st, 2003.

- During the week of August 10-16, 2003 it overtook the Petronas Towers in structural height, becoming the official world's tallest building. Visual confirmation was unavailable until August 22, however.

- The building formally opened on New Years Eve 2004, Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou and Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng cut the ribbon. Visitors where allowed to the observation decks, concerts where held, and on midnight the tower celebrated with a magnificent firework show.

• 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): metres ( ft). Previously held by the Petronas Towers metres ( ft). Ground to roof: metres ( ft). Formerly held by the Sears Tower metres ( ft). Ground to highest occupied floor: metres ( ft). Formerly held by the Sears Tower metres ( 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): metres ( ft). Taipei 101 was the first building in the world to break the half-kilometer mark in height.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 metres ( ft).[4] It also displaced the 85-story, metres ( ft) Tuntex Sky Tower in Kaohsiung as the tallest building in Taiwan and the 51-story, metres ( ft) Shin Kong Life Tower as the tallest building in Taipei.[5] The Burj Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 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 metres ( ft), roof height and top floor height as metres ( ft) and metres ( ft). This lower figure is derived by measuring from the top of a metres ( ft) platform at the base. CTBUH standards[6], 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.