Next World’s Tallest Building Awaits Approval

CHANGSHA, Hunan — Sky City, the world’s tallest proposed building project that Chinese architects said could be completed in 90 days in south central China, has been put on hold, pending approval from the Chinese government.

Broad Sustainable Building (BSB), a Hunan-based construction company and subsidiary of Chinese technology enterprise Broad Group, announced plans to erect the 838-meter, 220-story building in June. Construction was originally scheduled to begin in November 2012 and to be completed at the end of January 2013 at a cost of $628 million. In comparison, the current tallest building, Burj Kahlifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, took more than five years to build and cost about $1.5 billion.

Not only would the building be the tallest and built for a fraction of the Burj Kahlifa’s cost, BSB also has plans for high levels of sustainability. For instance, they plan to achieve five times more energy efficiency than conventional buildings with more than 20 energy-saving technologies, such as 20-centimeter thermal insulation external walls, four-paned windows, LED lighting, auto power-generated lifts and fresh air heat recovery. Air quality would consist of 100 percent fresh air without cross contamination, fresh air with three-stage filters and eliminating PM2.5 in the air by 99 percent.

Because of the building’s height, it would take up less land as well; the 220 stories will provide 1 million square meters of usable space, linked by 104 elevators. The plans allow for housing of more than 3,000 residences, offices, schools, hospitals, retail stores and hotel space. In short, residents of the building would never have to walk outside to complete their daily routines.

Although the whole project seems almost unattainable, BSB has completed similar projects in the past. In December 2011, it created the 30-story T30 Hotel in 15 days at a cost of just $17 million. Its portfolio also includes building the six-story Broad Pavilion for the 2010 Shanghai Expo in one day and erecting another 15-story building in six days in June 2010.

Their speedy construction time is due to the fact that the company uses a construction technique involving piecing together pre-made components. In fact, supposedly 95 percent of Sky City would be completed before even breaking ground — that is, if the project ever gets approved.