The world has reached a new high point with the news that the tallest skyscraper on earth has just been topped out in Taiwan.
The Taipei 101 office reached its full height of 1,667 feet in a topping-out ceremony yesterday, moving ahead of Malaysia’s Petronas Towers as the tallest man-made structure in the world. The Oriental-style Taipei 101 is more than twice the height of London’s Canary Wharf Tower, at 800 feet, and still significantly higher that New York’s Empire State building, at 1,250 feet.
The new building, which will not be open until next year, will feature the Taiwan Stock Exchange, a shopping mall, enough office space for 12,000 people – and a viewing gallery. The double-deck lifts in the building will be the fastest in the world, taking passengers to the 90th floor of the building in less than 40 seconds.
While Taiwanese pride is no doubt at a high as the building nears completion, there is a blot on the horizon – builders in Shanghai are reportedly already working on a skyscraper that is planned to take the world record in 2007.
