By Hu Yuanyuan (China Daily)
Updated: 2007-09-15 11:14

 

Shanghai - The Shanghai World Financial Center, the highest building on the mainland, was topped out on Friday.

The Shanghai World Financial Center on the way up, at different stages of construction. The 101-story building, the highest on the mainland, was topped out on Friday. Niu Yixin

"The 101-floor office tower is expected to be completely finished in the spring of 2008," said Sun Wenjie, general manager of China State Construction Engineering Corp.

The Shanghai skyscraper is located in the prime Lujiazui zone in Pudong on a 30,000-sq-m site.

With an overall construction area of 381,600sqm, the Shanghai World Financial Center will be one of the tallest buildings in the world at 492 meters. That's 70 meters higher than Jinmao Tower, formerly the highest on the Chinese mainland.

Japan's Mori Building Co and 40 other foreign companies will invest a total of 8 billion yuan in the development.

"As the economy warms up, we are more confident about Shanghai and the whole of China," said Hiroo Mori, president of the Shanghai World Financial Center Co, a subsidiary of Mori Building Co Ltd.

The building is expected to become home to high-profile international businesses, department stores, art galleries, clubs and a five-star hotel.

"As China's economy roars ahead, more capital and businesses are expected to flow into the country, especially to Shanghai. The city aims to become a world center for trade and finance - with Lujiazui as its showpiece," said Mori.

Lujiazui will have three tall buildings, one of which is the completed Jinmao Tower, each rising above 400 meters. The buildings were planned by local government after an international design competition in the early 1990s.

The Shanghai World Financial Center will be the "mountain peak" of the city's skyline, with neighboring buildings descending in height on either side.

Mori said the design and technology used in the construction of the building should allay any safety fears.

Beams will be used to connect the outer supports and the internal elevator area instead of bolts, as were used in the World Trade Center in New York City.

"We will use welding to fasten the frame and the triangular construction will enhance its stability," Mori said.

Construction of the building began in 1997, but was stopped shortly after because of financial problems brought about by the Asian financial crisis. Building work resumed in 2003.