A lot is at stake as Taipei's slumping property market hopes to pick up from the popularity of Taipei 101, which will be the world's tallest building when completed.
"Taiwan hopes the landmark will draw foreign companies to its capital, which has less than 10 buildings more than 328 feet tall. Analysts, however, say no single building can prevent Taiwan's depressed property market from being upstaged by China....Indeed, Shanghai is building a skyscraper that may top Taipei's in 2007....A big challenge was to make Taipei 101 strong enough to withstand the typhoons and earthquakes that plague Taiwan--a tricky problem as powerful wind calls for heavy buildings whereas lighter structures are better at withstanding earthquakes....Taipei has not had much urban planning in the past 50 years, a legacy from when the former ruling Nationalist Party escaped to Taiwan after losing the civil war in China in 1949--the refugees had no intention of staying long. Taiwan hopes the new landmark, which will be managed by Cushman & Wakefield, will put Taipei on the global map."
Thanks to Connie Chung
FULL STORY: World's Tallest Building to Withstand Typhoons, Quakes

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