Despite reports that construction firm Broad Sustainable Building (BSB), a subsidiary of Broad Group, could not complete its 220-story Sky City tower in 90 days, the company's senior VP Juliet Jiang has announced that the skyscraper "will go on as planned with the completion of five storeys a day."
Thus, rather than in seven months, the world's tallest tower (838 m; 2,750 ft) will be finished in three - topping out at the end of March 2013.
As we've discussed before here on ArchDaily, the tower could truly be revolutionary in China; Broad Group's 95% prefabricated modular technology, which is responsible for the incredible rate of construction, is also radically environmentally-friendly, earthquake-safe, and cost-effective. In fact, Sky City, designed by engineers who worked on the Burj Khalifa, will cost a tenth of that famous skyscraper (only $1,500 per square meter) - and take a twentieth of the time to build.
More info on the world's tallest tower, after the break...
According to ConstructionWeekOnline, Sky City will be 83% residential, housing 31,400 people from both luxury and low-income communities. The building will also include schools, hospitals, offices, shops and restaurants.
Broad Group has advertised that the structure, which will require 200,000 tons of steel (although relatively little concrete), will withstand earthquakes of up to 9.0 on the Richter scale, resist fire for up to three hours, and include many eco-friendly features, such as 15cm thermal insulators, four-paned windows, and fresh air heat-recovery systems.
However, the tower still needs approval from the Chinese government to go ahead - which isn't certain. Experts have expressed doubt about the structural integrity of a structure so light; Kevin Brass, the public affairs manager and journal editor for the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, told ConstructionWeekOnline that he doubted the stiffness and strength of the structure would be able to bear the significant wind load at such a height.
Either way, we'll keep you updated as this story unfurls.
For a more in-depth look at Sky City, and the visionary leader behind it, click here.
Story via ConstructionWeekOnline
