Video #18 - Taiwan: Taipei 101 -- World's Tallest Building
Tuesday, January 10, 2006BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The topping out ceremony for Turner International Taipei 101 Tower was held on July 3, 2003. During the celebration, the President of the Republic of China, Chen Shui-bian, who approved its construction in 1997 when he was mayor of the city, expressed his hopes that: "this building will lead Taiwan to the top of the world." Harace Lin of Taipei Financial Center Corporation, the group that developed and owns the project, said: "It has been our ultimate goal to build a skyscraper that offers the best quality ever. In order to achieve this, we have brought in all the best and experienced teams from around the world to ensure Taipei 101's construction quality, and certainly Turner's participation is crucial on this exceptional structure, which will enhance the character of the entire city." Turner Construction Company, the leading general builder in the U.S., is a sister company to the project and construction manager for Taipei 101. It has built 19 of the world's 100 tallest structures.
Taipei 101 will rise to 508 meters (1,667 feet). The structure is a commercial development offering 2,336,000 sq. ft. of office space for 10,000 people, 7796 square feet of retail space, and 893,000 sq. ft. of parking space for more than 1,800 vehicles. The multi-use structure, made of steel, glass and concrete, 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. It will also be home to the Taiwan Stock Exchange.
The tower is named for its 101 floors. It is presented as a $1.7 billion tribute to Taiwan's success. John Boudreau adds: "It is also a sign of how the muscular architecture of super-tall structures, once a distinctly American symbol of mercantile might, has become a hallmark of Asia. Eight of the world's 10 tallest buildings are in Asian cities. As C.P. Wang, Taipei 101's architect, calls it a sign that "we have arrived."
The building combines traditional Chinese cultural symbols with a high tech futuristic look. The pagoda structure and the shape of bamboo flowers are used in its interior and exterior. The eight exterior sections of the building correspond to the lucky number eight, which means "blooming" or "success."
Critics question the cost of the project at a time of global economic weakness. Taiwan's jobless rate and slower consumer spending does not show signs for high demand for office space. "Taiwan's economy will not be revived even if they build 10 more skyscrapers. Unless the government can attract companies to make investments that can create jobs, all it is doing is creating more empty space," said a Taipei taxi driver. Some have raised concerns about traffic caused by the building. Additionally, Taiwan's earthquake history is also an issue. Developers claim the closest fault line is 200 meters (660 feet) from the building and has not been active for 45,000 years. Moreover, the skyscraper is designed to endure earthquakes above seven on the Richter scale and "once-in-a-century super typhoons," according to The China Post.
Nevertheless, the government sees the Taipei 101 as a way to attract foreign investment and as a symbol of the island's rise as a global high-tech player. The need for Taiwan to claim itself as an entity apart from mainland China is also reflected by this move. China Development Financial Holding Corporation and China United Trust and Investment Company, the main developers, plan to have two-thirds occupancy by year-end and full occupancy sometime in 2005. Taipei 101 is expected to maintain the title of world's tallest building until the Shanghai World Financial Center is completed in 2007.
SOURCES
"Taipei 101 'a monument': Chen." Taipei Times, July 2, 2003. http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2003/07/02/2003057737
"Taipei boasts having the world's tallest building." The China Post, October 18, 2003. www.chinapost.com.tw
"Taiwan economy on steady growth path." INQ7money.net, September 27, 2003. www.inq7money.net
"Topping Out of the TAIPEI 101 Tower in Taipei, Taiwan, Set for July 1, 2003." Silicon Valley Business Ink. June 26, 2003.
Boudreau, John, "Towering new building in Taipei takes title of world's tallest." Mercury News. October 21, 2003. http://www.mercurynews.com
Ho, Laura, "President sees last steel beam placed on Taipei 101." The China Post, July 2, 2003. www.chinapost.com.tw
LESSON PLAN
GRADE LEVEL/SUBJECT:
10-12 grade Economics, International Relations, World History, Geography, International Baccalaureate Programs (IB), Current Events.
PURPOSE:
To present activities to be used in a variety of classroom situations in order to enhance student understanding of the Asian economy and its significance globally.
OBJECTIVES:
Students will be able to:
- Describe the present economic indicators for Taiwan's growth.
- Analyze the impact of Taipei 101 on the city's economy.
- Speculate on the future impact of the skyscraper on the economy of the area.
MATERIALS:
- Background information provided.
- Resources on Taiwan's economy and Taipei 101 available at your school's Media Center and the Public Library System in your area.
- Background information available through Internet "search engines".
- http://www.tfc101.com.tw
ACTIVITIES:
May be assigned as group activities or as individual tasks. They may also be designed as preparation for related presentations either by individuals or groups.
- Use charts and graphs to illustrate Taiwan's economic prospects.
- Create a brochure to promote occupancy and use of Taipei 101's resources.
- Create a scenario, using projected economic data, to describe the impact of Taipei.
101's resources on the financial growth of Taiwan.
EVALUATION:
Individual assignments should be graded by the teacher using established criteria.
Group activities, presentations and projects may be evaluated by teachers and students using the following criteria and scale: Content 1 = Superior (A) Creativity 2 = Excellent (B) Clarity 3 = Good (C) 4 = Fair (D) 5 = Poor (F)
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