World's New Tallest Building Will Open In Tapei

By using 'megacolumns' Taipei's new megatower will top out at 101 stories (508 meters).

1 minute read

November 22, 2003, 11:00 AM PST

Taipei, Taiwan: " 'If this building is going to be damaged, other buildings in Taipei will collapse,' claims Shaw Shieh, president of the tower's local structural designer, Evergreen Consulting Engineering Inc." When it is complete, the 101 story building will be 508 meters tall. Its primary feature are megacolumns, designed to withstand seismic events many times greater than the local laws require. Built with two dampers, the vibration at the top of the building will be reduced by 1/3. In selecting a structural system, Evergreen was inspired to adopt the "megacolumn" concept of Chicago's unbuilt 610-m-tall Miglin Beitler tower, designed by New York City-based Thornton-Tomasetti/Engineers. T-T joined the Taipei 101 team in 1998. Shieh says he welcomed the firm's involvement. "They made us feel more confident about designing a supertall building," he says.

Thanks to Adam Weiss

Read the full story: Megastructure Supports Taipei’s 508-Meter ‘Megatower’

Monday, November 24, 2003 in Engineering News Record

Architecture United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

Start Learning

Advertise with us

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.