Skyscrapers: Jin Mao Tower

The Jin Mao Tower (excuse the word "Mao") is one of China's tallest buildings. Located in the Pudong district of Shanghai along with the very recently completed Shanghai World Financial Centre, the tower rises 421 metres above the city, making for an amazing spectacle.

The Jin Mao Tower is 93 storeys high, containing 278,707 sq metres of floor space, much of which is occupied by the Grand Hyatt Shanghai, which is famous for its 115 metre high atrium. The tower is also used as an office building and a shopping mall.

The Jin Mao Tower, keeping with Chinese belief that the number "8" brings good luck, was officially opened on August 28, 1998, and celebrated its tenth birthday a few months ago.

Skyscrapers: Bank of China Tower

The Bank of China Tower is one of Hong Kong's biggest buildings. At 367 metres (1205 feet) to the top of the antenna, the building soars over Hong Kong's skyline.



Topped out on August 8, 1988, completed in 1989 and opened in 1990, the building was designed by world-famous architect I.M. Pei, and is world-renowned for making a bold architectural statement, standing out from other building at the time of its conception (1982). The diagonal white lines (that are supposed to hint at bamboo sticks) making their way up the building symbolize prosperity and livelihood in traditional Chinese culture.

The building was the tallest structure in Hong Kong until the completion of Central Park in 1992, and was the first skyscraper outside of America to reach its height.

Skyscrapers -Sears Tower

The Sears Tower has been America's tallest building for 33 years. And at 442 metres, it's no small competitor -the Petronas Towers only beat it out by 10 metres. It has 108 floors, and from its observation deck 412 metres up, four states can be seen for some 80 kilometres from the tower. It has 108 elevators, for different levels up the tower.

The Sears Tower will be Chicago's tallest until the Chicago Spire is completed early next decade, which will be 158 metres taller, at a whooping 600 metres in height. This will also make it the tallest in the US. Other tall towers in the US currently planned are the Freedom Tower at 541 metres, and Crown Las Vegas at 512 metres. The Sears Tower, however, will still be the quintessential Chicago skyscraper. After all, the Chicago Spire will be a condominium building, not such a symbol of the city's endeavour, like the Sears.

The Greatness of Man's Mind in His Buildings

Man's mind, when put to use, can be a marvelous thing. We witnessed this today with the Burj Dubai overtaking Taipei 101 as the World's Tallest Building. Although it is now officially the tallest, it still has around 200-300 metres left before topping out, at about 800 metres (the official height is being kept a secret).

The greatness of the mind when put to use can produce incredible feats of engineering. This has been seen throughout the ages, from the Pyramids and the Sphinx of Ancient Egypt, to the Colosseum during Rome's heyday, the great Cathedrals of the Middle Ages, the bridges and tunnels of the Victorians and recently skyscrapers soaring several hundred metres into the air.

But these aren't just "big box" buildings, or brutalist 1960's commercial commieblocks; man's great buildings are also feats of engineering and aesthetics. They are designed to be look good and feel the same way. They are true feats of man's mind. (to the point, I think we all know why Howard Roark's career was an architect!)

Keep up the good work, architects of the future-and don't return to the 1960s!