Taipei 101

Taiwan has many large cities and towns.  One of the most well known building in Taiwan is Taipei 101 also known as the Taipei World Financial Center.  It was officially recognized as the world’s tallest in 2004. 

I have visited Taipei 101 several times when I was in Taiwan and every time I visited, it really surprised by how tall this building is.  It was very pleasing to see the structures of Taipei 101 as well. 

Taipei 101 is designed to withstand the typhoon winds and earthquake tremoes that are common in the east area in Taiwan. 

Here is the view from the Taipei 101.  

What’s more surprised me was that within Taipei 101, there was a 660-tonne steel pendulum that serves as a tunes mass damper.  According to the guide, it cost US $4 million to create it.  In addition, this sphere is considered as the largest damper sphere in the world, consists of 41 circular steel plates of varying diameters.  This sphere serves as to prevent damage to the structure due to strong wind loads.  Just from this sphere, I felt the struggle and efforts that workers have put to build such astonishing building like this 660-tonne steel pendulum and Taipei 101.