Icon of modern Taiwan, Taipei 101, formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, was officially classified as the world's tallest building in 2004 (509m), and remained such until the opening of Burj Khalifa in Dubai in 2010. In July 2011, the skyscraper, designed by C.Y. Lee& partners and constructed primarily by KTRT Joint Venture, was awarded the LEED Platinum certification, the highest award according the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design rating system. Fireworks launched from Taipei 101 feature prominently in international New Year's Eve broadcasts and the structure appears frequently in travel literature and international media. Architecturally created as a symbol of the evolution of technology and Asian tradition (for example, the repeated segments simultaneously recall the rhythms of an Asian pagoda), it comprises 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground.
Taipei 101 is designed to withstand the typhoon winds and earthquake tremors common in its area of the Asia-Pacific. The façade system of glass and aluminum panels installed into an inclined moment-resisting lattices contributes to overall lateral rigidity by tying back to the mega-columns with one-story high trusses at every eighth floor. This façade system is able to withstand up to 95mm of seismic lateral displacements without damage. Taipei 101's own roof and façade recycled water system meets 20-30% of the building's water needs. It claimed the official records for the fastest ascending elevator speed, designed to be 1,010 m/min.
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