Taipei 101 Tower

Taipei 101 Tower in Taipei, Taiwan. C.Y. Lee & Partner, Architects.

Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Architect: C.Y. Lee & Partner
Year: 2004
Height: 509 meters / 1,670 feet
Stories: 101

About the Taipei 101 Tower

The design of Taipei 101 borrows heavily from Chinese culture. Both the building's interior and exterior incorporate the Chinese pagoda form and the shape of bamboo flowers. The lucky number eight, which means blooming or success, is represented by the eight clearly delineated exterior sections of the building.

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The Petronas Towers

The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Cesar Pelli, Architect.

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Architect: Cesar Pelli
Year: 1998
Petronas Tower 1 Height: 452 meters / 1,483 feet
Petronas Tower 1 Stories: 88
Petronas Tower 2 Height: 452 meters / 1,483 feet
Petronas Tower 2 Stories: 88

About the Petronas Towers

Traditional Islamic design inspired the floor plans for two Petronas towers in Kuala Lumur, Malaysia. Each floor of the 88-story towers is shaped like an 8-pointed star. The two towers have been called cosmic pillars that spiral heavenward. At the 42nd floor, a flexible bridge connects the two Petronas Towers.

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Sears Tower

Sears Tower in Chicago, USA. Bruce Graham (SOM), Architect.

Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Architect: Bruce Graham, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
Year: 1973
Height: 442 meters / 1,450 feet
Stories: 110

About the Sears Tower

To provide stability against high winds, architect Bruce Graham used a new form of tubular construction for Sears Tower. Two hundred sets of bundled tubes were laid into the bedrock. Then, 76,000 tons of prefabricated steel in 15-foot by 25-foot sections were put into place. Four derrick cranes moved higher with each floor to lift these steel "Christmas Trees" into position.

Facts about the Sears Tower:

• The Sears Tower covers two city blocks and has 101 acres (4.4 million square feet) of office and commercial space.
• The roof rises a quarter of a mile -- 1, 454 feet (442 meters).
• Its highest occupied floor is 1,431 feet above the ground.
• The foundation and the floor slabs have some 2 million cubic feet of concrete -- enough to build an eight-lane highway five miles long.
• The Tower has more than 16,000 bronze-tinted windows and 28 acres of black duranodic aluminum skin.
• The 222,500-ton building is supported by 114 rock caissons. Each is securely socketed into the bedrock.
• A 106-cab elevator system (including 16 double decker elevators) divides the Tower into three separate zones, with skylobbies in between.
• Two domed entrances, one with skylights, were added in 1984 and 1985.

Architect Bruce Graham talks about Sears Tower:

"The stepback geometry of the 110-story tower was developed in response to the interior space requirements of Sears, Roebuck and Company. The configuration incorporates the unusually large office floors necessary to Sears' operation along with a variety of smaller floors. The building plan consists of nine 75 x 75 foot column-free squares at the base. Floor sizes are then reduced by eliminating 75 x 75 foot increments at varying levels as the tower rises. A system of double-deck express elevators provides effective vertical transportation, carrying passengers to either of two skylobbies where transfer to single local elevators serving individual floors occurs."
-from Bruce Graham, SOM, by Stanley Tigerman.

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The Jin Mao Building

Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai. Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), Architects.

Location: Shanghai, China
Architect: Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Year: 1999
Height: 421 meters / 1,381 feet
Stories: 88

About the Jin Mao Building

The architects at Skidmore Owings & Merrill designed the Jin Mao Building around the number eight. Shaped like a Chinese pagoda, the Jin Mao Building is divided into segments. The lowest segment has 16 stories, and each succeeding segment is 1/8 smaller than the one below.

Totalling 88 stories, the Jin Mao Building combines shopping and commercial space with office space and, on the upper 38 stories, the towering Grand Hyatt Hotel.

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Two International Finance Centre (IFC)

Two International Finance Centre (IFC) in Hong Kong. Cesar Pelli, Architect.

Location: Hong Kong
Architect: Cesar Pelli
Year: 2003
Height: 414 meters / 1,362 feet
Stories: 88

About Two IFC

Two IFC is the taller of two International Finance Centre buildings and part of a US$2.8 billion complex that includes a luxury shopping mall, the Four Seasons Hotel, and Hong Kong Station. Architect Cesar Pelli was selected to design Two IFC after winning an international design competition.

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CITIC Plaza, Guanzhou

CITIC Plaza in Guangzhou, China, DLN Architects.

Location: Guanzhou, China
Architect: DLN Architects
Year: 1997
Height: 391 meters / 1,283 feet
Stories: 80

About CITIC Plaza:

The CITIC office tower in Guanzhou, China is flanked by two 38-story apartment buildings. The CITIC Plaza complex also has a train station, a metro station, and the Tianhe Sports Center.

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Shun Hing Square

Shun Hing Square in Shenzhen, China. K.Y. Cheung Design Assc., Architects.

Location: Shenzhen, China
Architect: K.Y. Cheung Design Assc.
Year: 1996
Height: 384 meters / 1,260 feet
Stories: 69

About Shun Hing Square:

Shun Hing Square in Shenzhen, China is like an entire city in a single building. Shun Hing Square includes a 5-story shopping mall, offices, apartments, and, on the top floor, a public observatory called the Meridian View Centre.

The spires on Shun Hing Square account for much of the building's height. If you don't measure its spires, Shun Hing Square is 325 meters, or 1,066 feet, tall.

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Empire State Building

Empire State Building in New York City. Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, Architects.

Location: New York City, New York, USA
Architect: Shreve, Lamb and Harmon
Year: 1931
Height: 381 meters / 1,250 feet
Stories: 102

About the Empire State Building:

The Empire State Building was designed in the Art Deco period. The building does not have zigzag Art Deco decoration, but its shape is typical of the Art Deco style. The Empire State Building is tiered, or stepped, like an ancient Egyptian or Aztec pyramid. The spire, designed as a mooring mast for dirigibles, adds to the Empire State Building's height.

When it was constructed in 1931, the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the World, and it remained the world's tallest until 1972, when the New York World Trade Center Tower was completed. After terrorist attacks destroyed the World Trade Center in 2001, the Empire State Building became New York's tallest building.

Located at 350 Fifth Avenue, the Empire State Building has an observation deck and is one of New York City's most popular tourist attractions. Unlike most skyscrapers, all four facades of the Empire State Building are visible from the street.

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Central Plaza, Hong Kong

Central Plaza in Hong Kong. Ng Chun Man, Architect.

Location: Hong Kong
Architect: Ng Chun Man
Year: 1992
Height: 374 meters / 1,227 feet
Stories: 78

About Central Plaza

The office tower at Central Plaza appears to be triangular, but the three corners are cut off to maximize interior space. The modified triangular shape of the tower enhances views from the offices. A square or rectangular shape would have not offered as many views of the Wanchai waterfront.

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Bank of China Tower

The Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong. Ieoh Ming Pei, Architect.

Location: Hong Kong
Architect: Ieoh Ming Pei
Year: 1990
Height: 369 meters / 1,209 feet
Stories: 70

About the Bank of China Tower

When commissioned to design the Bank of China Tower, I.M. Pei wanted to create a structure that would represent the aspirations of the Chinese people yet also symbolize good will toward the British Colony. Original plans included an x-shaped cross-brace. However, in China the X shape is seen as a symbol of death. Instead, Pei opted to use less threatening diamond forms.

Another symbol used for this building is that of the bamboo plant, which represents revitalization and hope. The sectioned trunk of the Bank of China Building is inspired by the growth patterns of bamboo.

The four triangular shafts which form the building grow more narrow as the building rises. These shafts support the weight of the building and eliminate the need for many internal vertical supports. Consequently, the Bank of China uses less steel than typical for a building its size.

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Emirates Towers

Emirates Towers in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Norr Group, Architects.

Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Architect: Norr Group Consultants Int. Ltd., Hazel W.S. Wo
Emirates Office Tower Year: 1999
Emirates Office Tower Height: 355 meters / 1,165 feet
Emirates Office Tower Stories: 54
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel Year: 2000
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel Height: 309 meters / 1,014 feet
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel Stories: 56

About Emirates Towers:

A two-story shopping arcade called The Boulevard connects the sister skyscrapers in the Emirates Towers complex. Emirates Office Tower much taller than Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, but the hotel has more stories. This is because the office tower has higher ceilings.

The Emirates Towers complex is surrounded by gardens with lakes and waterfalls.

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Tuntex Sky Tower

Tuntex Sky Tower, or the T & C Tower, in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan. C.Y. Lee & Partners and Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, architects.

Location: Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
Architect: C.Y. Lee & Partners and Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum
Year: 1997
Height: 348 meters / 1,140 feet
Stories: 85

About the Tuntex Sky Tower

Tuntex Sky Tower has an unusual fork shape that resembles the Chinese character Kao or Gao, which means tall. Kao or Gao is also the first character in the name Kaohsiung City.

The two prongs rise 35 stories and then merge into the central tower. An antenna at the top adds 30 meters to the total height of Tuntex Sky Tower.

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