I like the fact that the floor counts of today's skyscrapers are increasing all the time. No longer are developers shying away from that legendary 100. Now, they climb to 100 and they keep going. New York City was and has so far been the only city to boast three buildings that contained 100 floors or more. As we all know they were unjustly deprived of two. This means that in the entire world there are four buildings that have at least 100 floors. Two members of this very exclusive club reside in Chicago, however I bring good news. This elite club is going to be accepting some new members in the next few years.
In the past, 100 floors served as Pillars of Hercules to the designers of skyscrapers the world over. They would approach 100 and then see inscribed upon it the phrase Non Plus Ultra, "nothing further beyond."
In the history of the skyscraper, only six have reached 100 floors or higher, and of them the newest was built in 2004. Why the apprehension towards building 100 floors? Elevators are no longer any problem, we've done it before, so we're going to do it again. Those who are constructing these behemoths no longer approach the legendary 100 floors and see Non Plus Ultra. No, now they see a whole new world of possibilities.
So, according to our friends at SkyscraperPage.com, as of now there are eight monsters with 100 floors or more under construction. The honour roll is as follows:
1. Burj Dubai, Dubai, 162-4?
2. Chicago Spire, Chicago, 150
3. International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong, 118
4. Freedom Tower, New York City, 108
5. Princess Tower, Dubai, 107
6. Guangzhou International Finance Center, Guangzhou, 103
7. Marina 101, Dubai, 101
8. Shanghai World Financial Centre, 100
Terrific news, splendid news. I think it's safe to say that at the end of the decade, Dubai will become the tallest and most visually spectacular city on earth. They are rewriting the books and I for one commend them on their valiant efforts.
Post Script: I am aware of a particular structure called Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea. While it does contain 105 floors, it's more of a white elephant than a skyscraper.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Friday, January 11, 2008
Freedom Tower
It was pleasing to see that New York City is currently constructing a new World Trade Center, on a site which otherwise would continue to exist as a white elephant. The first design the city was looking at building was an absolute disaster, actually I do remember there were several designs that were all competing to be selected as the new World Trade Center. None of them were worthy to be built on such hallowed ground.
New Yorkers decided in no uncertain terms that these designs were to go. Eventually the Freedom Tower was decided upon, a 108 floor tower that only has 82 floors for office space, yet had a roof height identical to that of 1 WTC. I will admit that the look of the building is growing on me and I find it clever how the building twists as it ascends. The base of the building, however, needs to be redesigned. The glass tower can look quite majestic, but the concrete base is doing it no favours.
If an identical tower were built adjacent to the Freedom Tower then I would have no qualms about the design at all, since the lack of a twin tower doesn’t quite sit well with me. One popular design that was ultimately ignored suggested rebuilding the towers almost exactly as they were, only this time the towers would be a dark-grey colour and contain 111 floors each. It would have been magnificent, and in an age where tapering towers are king, it would have been held in high regard. It is rare for skyscrapers of that height to contain the same amount of office space on the top floor as there is on the first.
Of course no design will be universally accepted, yet in lieu of a twin tower, why couldn’t there be more usable floors. The Chicago Spire will reign supreme in Chicago with 150 floors, and until recently the Crown Las Vegas was going to contain 142 floors, until the FAA showed up and ruined the party. Only joking, they’re just doing their job.
It does vex me that developers are cautious about building tall in New York ever since 9/11. What about all that determined American spirit that was to ensure that ‘the terrorists don’t win?’ While I am pleased that the building’s roof isn’t shorter than its predecessor, I just don’t understand why the floor count couldn’t be matched. I have no doubt there are reasons for these decisions, reasons we may not all agree with. Nevertheless, it is a valiant effort, and hopefully when it’s built I’ll learn to love it.
New Yorkers decided in no uncertain terms that these designs were to go. Eventually the Freedom Tower was decided upon, a 108 floor tower that only has 82 floors for office space, yet had a roof height identical to that of 1 WTC. I will admit that the look of the building is growing on me and I find it clever how the building twists as it ascends. The base of the building, however, needs to be redesigned. The glass tower can look quite majestic, but the concrete base is doing it no favours.
If an identical tower were built adjacent to the Freedom Tower then I would have no qualms about the design at all, since the lack of a twin tower doesn’t quite sit well with me. One popular design that was ultimately ignored suggested rebuilding the towers almost exactly as they were, only this time the towers would be a dark-grey colour and contain 111 floors each. It would have been magnificent, and in an age where tapering towers are king, it would have been held in high regard. It is rare for skyscrapers of that height to contain the same amount of office space on the top floor as there is on the first.
Of course no design will be universally accepted, yet in lieu of a twin tower, why couldn’t there be more usable floors. The Chicago Spire will reign supreme in Chicago with 150 floors, and until recently the Crown Las Vegas was going to contain 142 floors, until the FAA showed up and ruined the party. Only joking, they’re just doing their job.
It does vex me that developers are cautious about building tall in New York ever since 9/11. What about all that determined American spirit that was to ensure that ‘the terrorists don’t win?’ While I am pleased that the building’s roof isn’t shorter than its predecessor, I just don’t understand why the floor count couldn’t be matched. I have no doubt there are reasons for these decisions, reasons we may not all agree with. Nevertheless, it is a valiant effort, and hopefully when it’s built I’ll learn to love it.
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