Taipei 101

Its original name was Taipei Fianicial Centre, based on its official Chinese name, Taipei International Fianicial Grand Tower-Building (臺北國際金融大樓).

Upon completion in June-July 2003, it will hold 3 out of 4 official World's Tallest Building[?] titles designated by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). It will have 101 stories above ground (hence the name) and 5 under ground.

The four categories are:

• Ground to pinnacle - currently held by Sears Tower (529m/1736ft)
• Ground to structural top - currently held by Petronas Towers (452m/1483ft)
• Ground to roof - currently held by Sears Tower (431m/1430ft)
• Ground to highest occupiable floor - currently held by Sears Tower

Taipei 101's measures, respectively, are 508m/1667ft (pinnacle & structural top); 448m/1470ft (roof); and 438m/1437ft (highest floor).

It will be, undisputably, the most technologically advanced skyscraper ever constructed to date. The building will feature fiber-optic and Satellite Internet connections allowing speeds up to 1 gigabyte per second. Toshiba will be supplying the world's two fastest elevators[?] which will run at a top speed of 1008 meters per minute. An 800 ton tuned mass[?] damper[?] will be held at the 88th floor, stabilizing the tower against earthquakes, typhoons[?], and winds.

Adjacent to the tower will be a 6-story mall.

As of 13 June, construction is up to the 97th floor. Topout is expected in July.

External links and references

• Taipei 101 Page (http://snow.prohosting.com/~mwlin/taipei101): Project Information, Weekly-updated construction status, construction news, construction photos, construction progress, floor to floor heights and figures, floor directory, external links
• Taipei Financial Corp (http://www.tfc101.com.tw): Company information, timeline, shareholders, tenant information and pricing, newsletter
• Photo gallery, basic info (http://www.skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=18)