2015-05-12

China Skyscraper Update

The Shanghai Tower is the World's New Sustainable Supertall
A crowning achievement and symbol of the skyline of a world financial capital, the Shanghai Tower is filled with superlatives. China's tallest structure and the second-tallest building in the world, the recently topped-out 2,073-foot-tall tower contains the world's fastest elevator, which rockets up 121 stories at a top speed of 40 miles an hour (the cable is so long, it's the heaviest part of the elevator). The 18-foot-thick concrete slab at the core of the tower was the largest continuous pour on record, requiring three full days. Yet in the long run, those may not stand as the most lasting achievements of the building. According to project manager Grant Uhlir of Gensler, it's the sustainable features of this mixed-use structure—the "sky garden" concept that will introduce green living more than a thousand feet above the city streets—that may change how we construct and conceive of cities. How many supertalls shoot for LEED status?

"With these gardens, you don't have to go down to street level," says Uhlir. "You can grab a cup of coffee and walk among the trees in the sky."

Elsewhere: Plans for 320 Meter Skyscraper in Shenzhen Cut by Half
A property developer in Shenzhen will cut the height of a skyscraper it plans to build in a special economic zone by more than half to meet aviation safety requirements.

Shenzhen Qianhai Hengchang Sci-Tech Development Ltd. had planned to build a 320 meter skyscraper in the Qianhai economic zone, but the building will now reach only 153 meters into the sky, the government bureau that runs the zone said in a notice on May 6.

The Qianhai Administration Bureau said the change was made due to orders issued by aviation authorities in December.

The 15 square kilometer special economic zone in Shenzhen, on the border with Hong Kong, is being planned as a place for China to experiment with financial reforms.

The zone is 12 to 15 kilometers from the busy Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport. The Qianhai bureau and city planners in Shenzhen have been bickering with aviation authorities since 2011 over the height of buildings planned for the zone.

This Chinese article lists the tallest buildings in each province that are at least in the planning or construction stages. Sky City in Changsha is included, even though it is still in limbo. Sky City would be the tallest building if it is ever built, although there's also the 1,000 meter Wuhan Pheonix tower that has been proposed. 中国各省份第一高楼:天空城市838米居首 春之眼排11

The firm behind Sky City put up a mini Sky City in 19 days. Chinese construction firm erects 57-storey skyscraper in 19 days

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