Taipei 101 (Chinese: 臺北101 / 台北101), formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a landmark skyscraper located in Xinyi District, Taipei, 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.[5] Taipei 101 was designed by C.Y. Lee & partners and constructed primarily by KTRT Joint Venture.[6][7][8] The construction was finished in 2004. The tower has served as an icon of modern Taiwan ever since its opening. 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 stores, restaurants and clubs. Taipei 101 is owned by the 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 (Chinese: 臺北國際金融中心). Our engineering investigator affectionately known as The Hamster shares the simple, yet ingenious innovations that makes Taipeis awesome tower typhoon-proof. This documentary travels to Taipei and discovers the secrets of the Taipei 101 skyscraper. This modern marvel of engineering stands at a jaw-dropping 1671 feet. Built on top of a seismic fault line and in a typhoon hotspot, its height is all the more impressive given its location. Richard discovers just what it is in the Taipei 101's DNA that allows it be so tall and cope with these extreme natural events, and what all this cutting-edge engineering has in common with a bird cage, bamboo, boat masts and seat belts. This documentary embarks on a fantastic journey of discovery that will take him from the mines of 17th-century England via the early skyscrapers of Chicago to the top of one of the most advanced buildings in the world.

• published: 22 Sep 2014
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