Although many European and American companies canceled their rented apartments and office rooms in high buildings after attacks September 11 in the US, China's financial center Shanghai still shows a great interest in the construction of high-rise buildings. As is known from the Economic and Trade Office of Pudong New District, Shanghai has determined to build a 466-meter-high global financial center despite the "9.11 attacks".
Corner stone laid four years ago
The tower, designed to rewrite world record, is located in the financial area of Lujiazui, Pudong Road, with a total floorspace of 335,420 square meters. It would have 3 floors underground and 94 floors above the ground, near the world third Jinmao Mansion. When finished, it will rise 466 meters high, 14 meters over the current world top, the 95-storied Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpar.
As early as 1997 the project was approved by the Economic and Trade Committee of Shanghai, with a supporting fund of 75bn yen from Japan. On August 27, 1997 foundation stone was laid. However, due to fund shortage on the Japanese side caused by Asian financial crisis the project was halted, and nothing had since been done to the projected structure.
A different opinion then appeared on its design. The tower was designed by KPE, a famous architecture and designing company in the US. Glass and metal were covered on simple geometric bodies to create mysterious sight effects. Two sightseeing bridges were set on the upper part of the mansion, on the tip of which is a round-shaped fretwork at a diameter of 50 meters. The Chinese side turned down the design because the pierced work looks much like the national flag of Japan. So construction was again brought to a halt.
To be built into a multi-function mansion
Not implemented within two years, the project should have been canceled according to relevant regulations. However, because it is a project of huge investment and there have been no other suitable investors, the building remained, and in four years would finally rise up in Shanghai.
It was learned that the Chinese side had made concession in designing but the Japanese side expects to build it into a multi-function mansion with deluxe hotel and art gallery imbedded in.
Construction of super high buildings booms in Shanghai
Statistics show six of the world top ten high-risers are in Asia, including the first three, the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpar, and Jinmao Mansion in Shanghai, a city now rising with most high-rise buildings in China's mainland.
Some overseas media say that with China's WTO entry more transnational enterprises would enter China and choose Shanghai as their headquarters in Asia. Then, more high-risers would be needed.
An official from Pudong says construction of more high-risers is a result of development of urban economy and will properly solve the problem from a continually reduced usable space for men and demand for a growth of business and more office construction.
(People's Daily 09/30/2001)
