Taipei 101 - Taiwan

Taipei 101, formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, is a skyscraper in Taipei, Taiwan. This structure was officially classified as the world's tallest from its opening in 2004 until the completion of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE in 2009. When it was finished, it was the world's first skyscraper to reach a height of more than half a kilometer.

Speed records were set by elevators that traveled from the fifth to the 89th floors in 37 seconds (at a speed of 60.6 km/h (37.7 mph). Taipei 101 was awarded a Platinum LEED certification rating in 2011, making it the world's tallest and largest green building. The structure is frequently featured as a symbol of Taipei in international media, and the Taipei 101 fireworks displays are a staple of New Year's Eve broadcasts.

Taipei 101's postmodernist architectural style incorporates traditional Asian aesthetics in a future structure consisting of industrial materials. Its design has a number of features that enable it to withstand earthquakes and tropical storms in the Pacific Ring of Fire. The tower houses offices, cafés, and indoor and outdoor observatories. The skyscraper is flanked by a multilevel shopping area with the world's largest ruyi sign as an exterior feature.

Taipei 101 is owned by Taipei Financial Center Corporation. The structure opened on December 31, 2004, to honor New Year's Eve.

Location: Taipei
Height: 1,667 ft (508 m)
Floors: 101
Architects: C.Y. Lee & Partners Architects/Planners
Building Function: Offices
Completion: 2004