Building for the Future
Friday, November 28th, 2008You have to admire the Chinese. As the article below from “The Shanghai Daily” (www.shanghaidaily.com) notes: where some see crisis…others see opportunity. The Chinese obviously do. Perhaps it is natural in a 5,000 year old civilization to take the long view? Building skyscrapers during a recession sounds illogical to some-those who must find tenants to occupy the space for example- but it does reflect confidence in the future, as well as inspire it.
There was a time when Americans had this perspective. During the darkest days of the Great Depression in the 1930s, some of the greatest and tallest structures in America were built, including the Hoover Dam and the iconic Empire State Building. You would think that this spirit would be present in the midst of the current economic situation, but sadly it has not appeared yet.
Interestingly, a few of my Chinese friends told me after September 11th, 2001 that if America did not re-build the World Trade Center, higher and better than before, then that would portend America’s decline.
Defying the downturn, city builds even higher
WHERE some see crisis, others see opportunity.
Three months after opening the world’s second-tallest skyscraper, Shanghai is about to start construction of an even taller building - in the face of an economic slowdown and falling property prices.
Construction on the 632-meter Shanghai Tower, expected to cost 14.8 billion yuan (US$2.17 billion), will begin in Pudong’s Lujiazui financial district tomorrow, developers said yesterday.
Gu Jianping, general manager of Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co, said that by starting work in an economic downturn, construction materials would be cheaper. He also predicted that by the time the 121-floor, glass-and-steel tower is opened, China’s economy is likely to be soaring again.
“Launching construction at this time will help boost Shanghai’s confidence in fighting the financial crisis,” he told a news conference.
The tower, which will comprise offices, retail space, a super-five-star hotel and cultural facilities, will be part of a triangle of tall buildings. The recently opened World Financial Center, at 492 meters, is now the world’s second-tallest building. Its neighbor, the Jin Mao Tower, rises 420.5 meters above the Shanghai skyline.
The new skyscraper will surpass the height of the 501-meter-high Taipei 101 in Taiwan, but the world’s-tallest title will go to the Burj Dubai, now under construction in the United Arab Emirates. The Burj is expected to be roughly 800 meters tall, though its exact height has been kept secret.
The Shanghai Tower is scheduled to open partially in 2012 when the top floor is finished and go into full operation two years later.
The tower’s pinnacle will feature the world’s highest non-enclosed observation deck. And the building’s high-tech office space is expected to help boost Shanghai’s financial industry.
WHERE some see crisis, others see opportunity.
Three months after opening the world’s second-tallest skyscraper, Shanghai is about to start construction of an even taller building - in the face of an economic slowdown and falling property prices.
Construction on the 632-meter Shanghai Tower, expected to cost 14.8 billion yuan (US$2.17 billion), will begin in Pudong’s Lujiazui financial district tomorrow, developers said yesterday.
Gu Jianping, general manager of Shanghai Tower Construction and Development Co, said that by starting work in an economic downturn, construction materials would be cheaper. He also predicted that by the time the 121-floor, glass-and-steel tower is opened, China’s economy is likely to be soaring again.
“Launching construction at this time will help boost Shanghai’s confidence in fighting the financial crisis,” he told a news conference.
The tower, which will comprise offices, retail space, a super-five-star hotel and cultural facilities, will be part of a triangle of tall buildings. The recently opened World Financial Center, at 492 meters, is now the world’s second-tallest building. Its neighbor, the Jin Mao Tower, rises 420.5 meters above the Shanghai skyline.
The new skyscraper will surpass the height of the 501-meter-high Taipei 101 in Taiwan, but the world’s-tallest title will go to the Burj Dubai, now under construction in the United Arab Emirates. The Burj is expected to be roughly 800 meters tall, though its exact height has been kept secret.
The Shanghai Tower is scheduled to open partially in 2012 when the top floor is finished and go into full operation two years later.
The tower’s pinnacle will feature the world’s highest non-enclosed observation deck. And the building’s high-tech office space is expected to help boost Shanghai’s financial industry.
Anton Olff
Technorati Tags: China, Shanghai, Shanghai Daily, civilization, opportunity, skyscrapers, recession, America, Depression, Hoover Dam, Empire State Building, Dubai, construction, Pudong, confidence
