SHANGHAI | World Financial Center | 1,614 FT / 492 M | 101 FLOORS

[xiahoudun]

Giallo, any chance of you being able to go up the Oriental Pearl Tower, and take one or two pictures of the SWFC construction from there? I would really appreciate such a picture...

[xiahoudun]

Any developements?

[giallo]

I've been pretty busy this past week, so I haven't been able to make it out to Lujiazui. I'm going to try tomorrow, but I can't promise anything.

[giallo]

Well, I'm two weeks late, but I got out and took some pictures. I'll try to update every week, but I'm stupid busy right now.

All shots were taken on Dec 19th.



Looking at how the SWFC will fit in to the area

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/dec192.jpg




The core height hasn't increased for about two weeks, but they have put up a lot more steel

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/dec19.jpg




Sexy orange. What a massive structure!

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/dec191.jpg





*Anyone know about this building? I still haven't found any information on it. The floor to ceiling height ratios are crazy on this thing




Dec 19th

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/dec19unknown.jpg

[xiahoudun]

Great pictures, Giallo. End of January I'll be back in Shanghai myself. I plan to take lots of pics and maybe a video.

[malec]

Looking great

[JACKinBeantown]

Is itg just the angle or is SWFC narrower than Jin Mao?

[The Chemist]

Is itg just the angle or is SWFC narrower than Jin Mao?

I think it's just the angle. In person, it seems like the SWFC tower width is about the same as Jin Mao.

They're making good progress here, but it does seem to be going up a lot slower than Burj Dubai for some reason. Thanks for the photos.

[RafflesCity]

thats an exciting update

I was last in Shanghai in June and it was still in the ground then

[tuy]

I will probably be their next month. I will have to make sure that I am taken by the site to get a picture.

[ronson]

ah ma god how cool is that!

[avcellvs]

Hi everybody !

I'm sorry I disappeared so suddenly, but I got too busy to go on updating my threads.
By now, I'll just pay the forum occasional visits when I have some news.

Being on location, Giallo's contribution to the forum is greater than what I could do from Paris.

Among my sources was this WFC thread by Cityrain who regularily post pix taken from the China Merchants Building :

http://www.xitek.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=321571

The downside is that the forum does not allow direct linking to its pix.

[choyak1]

Wow the close up rendering of the square/trapezoid does look better than the original circle, like it is meant to be there. Also no cheating involved. There are 2 floors on top of the square and in the sides, the floors (albeit skinny) are real floors!!

[giallo]

Dec. 26th

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/dec26swfc.jpg





http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/dec26swfc2.jpg





http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/dec26swfc3.jpg

[Chad]

Great Shanghai updates man, I really appriciated it..:)

[skysoldier]

Great Shanghai updates man, I really appriciated it..:)

Great update, the speed is about 6 Floors / month recently...
I do think speed of construction will smoothly speed up soon.

[coth]

great!

[STR]

Is itg just the angle or is SWFC narrower than Jin Mao?

I think it's just the angle. In person, it seems like the SWFC tower width is about the same as Jin Mao.

They're making good progress here, but it does seem to be going up a lot slower than Burj Dubai for some reason. Thanks for the photos.

SWFC is almost exatly the same width as Jin Mao. SWFC is like 205 feet square while JM is ~210ft.

[xiahoudun]

Avcellvs, nice to have you back. Thanks for the link to Cityrain's thread. There are some nice pics there too.

Giallo, thanks for the new updates. keep up the good work.

[giallo]

I was walking home from work and spied this view.



Dec 28th



http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/dec28swfc2.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/dec28swfc.jpg

[Patrick]

Thats cool, its back on track. Its going up fast too.

[mSeattle]

Sweet!

[tuy]

It is cool to see it with Jin Mao. It really shows that construction is only started. Just think it will be taller than Jin Mao.

[JACKinBeantown]

The fact that this building is made of so much metal makes me think that it will go up faster than Bruj Dubal, and therefore potentially be a world's tallest for a while.

[giallo]

It's raining, it's pouring....

Jan. 4th

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/jan4swfc.jpg

[Chad]

and it's growing!!!

[xiahoudun]

Here is a picture of SWFC taken today, 06-01-06. It's from Cityrain's thread.

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_swfc127.jpg

[Fabb]

Thanks.
Over twenty floors now.

[tuy]

I am off to Shanghai next Friday, Hopefully will get a chance to take a good picture while I am there. However, it is work! work! work! when I travel.

[giallo]

Jan 11th

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/jan11swfc.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/jan11swfc2.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/jan11swfc3.jpg

[xiahoudun]

Thanks for the pics Giallo. It seems that the first diagonal metal beams are finished :D Higher, higher, and higher. :banana:

[roland2007]

Sweet

[Chad]

Great shots!!!, really appriciated them my self :)

[Fabb]

The structure is very elegant. Too bad it'll be covered by the sheathing.

[raymond_tung88]

Does anyone know what hotel will be in this goregous building?

[Jonas]

That just looks powerful! I wish I could see this with my own eyes. :tup:

[buildup]

I hope to see all these new skyscrapers completed when I make my trip to China in 2 to 3 years. I'm glad it got posponed back in 2003. None of this would have been there and how many times will I get to China!

[tuy]

I will see it tomorrow. I arrived in Shanghai tonight.

[xiahoudun]

Here is a picture of the SWFC and Jin Mao. It was taken by Cityrain. It's a great picture to compare the current height.

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_swfc129.jpg

[tuy]

Another angle, taken about an hour ago.

http://hometown.aol.com/Vanbraman/jinmaoswfc.JPG

I got there a little late in the day, so the picture is not so great. I am not so good at low light or night photography. Have never worked with the settings on my camera. I just point and shoot.

[giallo]

Nice shot. So, how are you liking Shanghai, tuy?

[Stu]

Awesome shots!

I was wondering, giallo, tuy or any other non-native what it's like to live in Shanghai?

[Fabb]

Another angle, taken about an hour ago.

http://hometown.aol.com/Vanbraman/jinmaoswfc.JPG

^Interesting angle.
Can you imagine the same photo in a couple of years ?

[tuy]

Working away in the fog, just before the rain. Tuesday Night, Jan 17th.

http://hometown.aol.com/Vanbraman/swfc.JPG

Just for good measure. Here is SWFC's neighbor Jin Mao.

http://hometown.aol.com/Vanbraman/jinblue.JPG

[xiahoudun]

Here are two more pictures taken 17-01-06. They are from Cityrain's thread.

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_swfc130.jpg

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_swfc131.jpg

By the way, great pictures, Tuy! I will join you in Shanghai the end of next week :)

[tuy]

^I will be going back home on Saturday. Have fun here though.

[Slugbelch]

Nice update to the second tallest in the world and the biggest since Sears.

What a massive base:tup:

[giallo]

The weather has been terrible the past couple of weeks. It finally got better on the 23rd.


Jan 23

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/jan23swfc3.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/jan23swfc4.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/jan23swfc5.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/jan23swfc.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/jan23swfc2.jpg

[JACKinBeantown]

Great shots. This building is starting to really take off. Is 500 feet/150 meters still the offical height for a skyscraper? It should be there in a month or two.

[The Chemist]

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/jan23swfc.jpg

That is an absolutely fantastic picture. Do you have a bigger version that I could have to use as wallpaper?

SWFC is making quick progress - I can't wait to see it when it's finished.

[Chad]

Marvel...ous.

[tuy]

Giallo, Do you know what is under construction on the other side of Jin Mao?

[Fabb]

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/jan23swfc2.jpg

It's already shiny ! Jin Mao will cease to be the focal point before long.

[Leo Chen]

Excuse me, any one knows whether the SWFC will still raise its total height from 492m up to 500m+? above or not. Please tell us. Thanks a lot.

[xiahoudun]

I'll be in Shanghai next weekend with my video- and photocamera. I'll be staying 3 weeks or so. Any special requests for pics? Let me know from which skyscrapers, and I'll see what I can do.

[giallo]

Chemist, I'm having trouble with my FTP account right now, it won't let me upload any pics. Hold tight and I'll get it up asap.

Leo, I've never heard of any increase. You'd think they'd want to beat Taipei 101 on all four records.

Xia, PM me if you want information on some great FREE vistas for skyscraper photography. I found an awesome location yesterday.

tuy, I've investigated the plot, but came up with nothing. The pictures that are placed around the site are all already built Shanghai skyscrapers. I did hear that a german firm is planning to build a 48 story office tower in that area. Whether this is the one remains to be seen.

[xiahoudun]

I've been in Shanghai for 4 days now. The weather has been pretty bad, and I've been busy visiting my wife's family. It was either to cloudy or there was too much smog to take good pics. I was impressed how much Shanghai has changed in the past three years. The new Shimao International Plaza is really amazing looking, and fits well with Sunjoy tomorrow Square. I'll be sure to go to Pudong Lujiazui and take pics of SWFC soon. I'll be uploading the pics after I get back home...

[Bokimon]

The Oriental Pearl and the view from the top.
THe Shanghai Maglev.. Holy shit I swear it has to be the world's fastest LRT.
Max speed on this thing during trial runs went as high as 506km/hr..
DOwntown to the Pudong AIrport.. 15-20 minutes.. surreal.
Inside shots of the Pearl and the Jin Mao.

[tuy]

The Maglev was impressive. Less than 10 minutes from Pudong out to the Airport. We topped out at 431km/hr. The countryside was flashing past. I have ridden high speed rail in France, Germany and this was a totally new experience.

[xiahoudun]

Yesterday I went to Lujiazui, and took some pics of the SWFC. There hasn't been much progress though the past week due to the chinese new year. I also went up the Oriental Pearl Tower, and took some pics from SWFC from there. It's very visible now. Today I was riding a bus along the Bund, and I could clearly see the SWFC from across the river.

[JACKinBeantown]

Since the updates for this building seem to be few and far between, I'm stealing from the enemy... this is from Cityrain at Skyscrapercity...
http://s02.picshome.com/321/54574_1139217112.jpg

[tuy]

Hopefully now that the Chinese New Year is past, the pace will pick up. It looks pretty much the same as it did three weeks ago when I was there.

[giallo]

Yeah, it hasn't changed at all since late January. That's why I haven't updated this thread with any photos. Everyone in China went back to work on Monday, so it should pick up again.

[giallo]

Feb 10

Most of Pudong is still a dead zone at this point. More workers are slowly trickling in from the holiday, but a lot of sites are empty still.
SWFC had one crane operating.

Not the best update, but I was in a hurry

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/feb10swfc.jpg

[simms3_redux]

It really has been rising slowly...

[Chad]

Chinese New Year perhaps.

[xiahoudun]

This morning the weather in Shanghai was very sunny and there is little smog. I went to Lujiazui by taxi, walked around the SWFC site, and took about 30 pics. I took pics from every side, and close-ups. The eighteenth of February I will be back in my country, and then I will post the pics for you guys to see.

Contruction has really resumed, and ther was lots of activity on the site. Later this week I will go up the Jin Mao Tower, and take pics of SWFC from the 88-floor downwards. Any requests? PM me. I still have 4 days to take pics..

[giallo]

Feb 17

All three cranes are back in action. I hope the speed of construction will start to pick up again.

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/feb17swfc.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/feb17swfc2.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/feb17swfc3.jpg

[tuy]

The steel is now up about three floors since I was there.

[mclancer]

Why is there a "steel ring" on top of the concrete core?

[erwin]

The builders pour the (fluid) concrete into this ring and when the concrete is solid enough, they move the ring higher to do it all again.

[xiahoudun]

Guys, I just got back from China, and here are some of the SWFC pics I took. These pics were taken on 13-02-06, a very sunny day.

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100106.jpg

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100107.jpg

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100109.jpg

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100112.jpg

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100118.jpg

[JACKinBeantown]

Nice. I think this one is the best framing.

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100109.jpg

And this one shows an angle of the ground I haven't seen before.

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100118.jpg

[xiahoudun]

I tried to take pics from all four sides, because most picture-updates are from the same angle. Here are some more pics I took that day.

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100116.jpg

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100119.jpg

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100123.jpg

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100120.jpg

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100114.jpg

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100125.jpg

[Fabb]

Very detailed photos. Thanks !

[xiahoudun]

I wasn't always lucky with the weather. The pictures below were taken a week before the ones above. I went up the Oriental Pearl Tower, and you can see how SWFC has grown the past few months.

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100054.jpg

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100062.jpg

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_m4100064.jpg

[Spooky873]

I will give this building the nickname, Zipper building.

[giallo]

Feb 23


http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/feb23swfc.jpg

[JACKinBeantown]

Movin' on up.

[Slugbelch]

They are really keeping it closed up at the bottom.

[Stephenapolis]

It looks to be rising quickly now. It will be nice when they start adding glass to it.

[Fabb]

They are really keeping it closed up at the bottom.

Right.
It looks like there's plenty of concrete at the foot of the building. Some kind of protection ?

[JACKinBeantown]

Sort of like the plans for the French Tower in New York?

[JBinCalgary]

its really coming along nicely!

[Fabb]

Sort of like the plans for the French Tower in New York?

That's what I was thinking. But I didn't want to say.

[xiahoudun]

Amazing what they can do in 10 days... Thanks for the update, Giallo. Seems you had nice weather the 23rd.

[avcellvs]

a february 24th 2006 posted pic, from the Oriental Pearl.

http://image63.webshots.com/63/8/84/1/2680884010083364709cRwgIh_fs.jpg

[Fabb]

a february 24th 2006 posted pic, from the Oriental Pearl.

http://image63.webshots.com/63/8/84/1/2680884010083364709cRwgIh_fs.jpg

Nice view.
Thanks !

[JACKinBeantown]

It looks pretty tall from the ground, but that picture makes you realize that it still has a long way to go.

(edit) Here it is...
http://image63.webshots.com/63/8/84/1/2680884010083364709cRwgIh_fs.jpg

[xiahoudun]

A view of the SWFC from the Bund (waitan). This pic is from Cityrain's thread.

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/thumbNail/belal_swfc135.jpg

Sorry, it seems to be very small... Here is the link:

http://image2.xitek.com/forum/200602/2473/247303/247303_1141049054.jpg

Darn, link doesn't work... I'll see what I can do...

[giallo]

I was able to get a variety of different angles today.

Mar 1


http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/mar1swfc.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/mar1swfc2.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/mar1swfc3.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/mar1swfc4.jpg




http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/mar1swfc5.jpg

[xiahoudun]

Wow, very nice pics, Giallo. Especially the one taken from one of the scrapers on the other side of the park. Which scraper is it?

http://www.inclearimage.com/giallo/mar1swfc3.jpg

And the one taken from the JinMao is also very good.

[giallo]

China Communications Bank building was the one used to get that shot. I lucked out and somehow got up to the 41 floor. It's where the president of the bank has his office. Needless to say I was promptly told to leave, but the security guard was cool and let me snap some photo before I left.

[colemonkee]

Great photos, Giallo. Huge props for sneaking into the bank building.

Looks like they're putting concrete around the steel at the corners to further reinforce the building, which is probably one of the reasons it can go so high with the size of the floorplates it has. The only drawback is that it won't have any corner offices.

[Slugbelch]

Is the corner in the last photo going to be where the setback side is (front)? The corner beams are very close together compared to the other two corners.

[Slugbelch]

Playin' in the paint today:

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/8351/swfc1a1a5xx.jpg

[tuy]

Cool, Now you know that you must keep this updated for all of us.

[Slugbelch]

^ I was afraid of that. BD is bad enough and luckily US7 is moving slow. I wish I could find a big render of Fed. tower and maybe start on that one, but I will try to keep it updated:)

[xiahoudun]

I found this comparison of the 'big three' currently under construction. It compares the situation on the 1st of March. The picture is from the CityRain thread.

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_thebig3_010306.jpg

Tell me what you guys think?

[Fabb]

http://belal.komterug.nl/docroot/img/fotos/belal_thebig3_010306.jpg

Tell me what you guys think?

Excellent diagram.
I was just wondering what were the current heights of the constructions. Looks like SWFC will be topped out first.