Taipei 101 by 中岑 范姜 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
Taipei 101, located in Taipei, Taiwan was once the world record holder for tallest skyscraper. That title now belongs to the Burj Khalifa in Dubai.
It was completed in October 2003 at a cost of $1.8 billion and is currently among the most expensive buildings in the world. It stands at 1,671 feet high and contains 101 floors. Shops, restaurants, and the Taiwan Stock Exchange call it home. It also includes 2 observation decks.
Taipei 101 by Terry Ku is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0
It was designed by architect C.Y. Lee & Partners. Some design challenges included earthquakes, strong wind, and weak soil. Which explains why it houses an 800 ton tuned mass damper (TMD) in five of its upper floors! The TMD helps it to maintain stability during earthquakes or strong winds.
Taipei 101 is rich with symbolism making it fun to view. It features 8 prominent sections. They resemble a stalk of bamboo representing strength and longevity or ancient Chinese ingots representing abundance. Ryui or stylized cloud motifs adorn the structure as well, symbolizing healing and fulfilment. The “101” itself signifies achievement, going 1 past 100. It also evokes computer programming and digital technology.
Besides being interesting to look at Taipei 101 is a very green building. It was awarded the LEED platinum certification in 2011. LEED, or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design is a rating system that determines the environmental performance of a building. Scores are calculated with a point based system and platinum is the highest level available.
