Taipei 101

Taipei 101 ( Chinese: 台北101 / 臺北101),
formerly known as the Taipei World Financial
Center , is a landmark skyscraper located in
Xinyi District , Taipei, Republic of China (Taiwan ).
The building ranked officially as the world's
tallest from 2004 until the opening of the Burj
Khalifa in Dubai in 2010. In July 2011, the
building was awarded LEED Platinum
certification, the highest award in the
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED) rating system and became the tallest and
largest green building in the world. [3] Taipei
101 was designed by C.Y. Lee & partners and
constructed primarily by KTRT Joint Venture and
Samsung C&T . The tower has served as an icon
of modern Taiwan ever since its opening, and
received the 2004 Emporis Skyscraper Award .
[4] Fireworks launched from Taipei 101 feature
prominently in international New Year's Eve
broadcasts and the structure appears frequently
in travel literature and international media.
Taipei 101 comprises 101 floors above ground
and 5 floors underground. The building was
architecturally created as a symbol of the
evolution of technology and Asian tradition (see
Symbolism ). Its postmodernist approach to
style incorporates traditional design elements
and gives them modern treatments. The tower
is designed to withstand typhoons and
earthquakes. A multi-level shopping mall
adjoining the tower houses hundreds of
fashionable stores, restaurants and clubs.
Taipei 101 is owned by the Taipei Financial
Center Corporation (TFCC) and managed by the
International division of Urban Retail Properties
Corporation based in Chicago. The name
originally planned for the building, Taipei World
Financial Center , until 2003, was derived from
the name of the owner. The original name in
Chinese was literally, Taipei International
Financial Center

Watch "(Discovery Channel) TAIPEI 101 (3/5)" on YouTube