85 Sky Tower

22°36′42″N 120°18′00″E / 22.61167°N 120.30000°E / 22.61167; 120.30000Construction started1994Completed1997CostNT$ 5 billionHeightArchitectural347.5 m (1,140 ft)^[1]Tip378.0 m (1,240 ft)Antenna spire378.0 m (1,240 ft)Roof347.5 m (1,140 ft)Top floor341.0 m (1,119 ft)^[1]Observatory341.0 m (1,119 ft)^[1]Technical detailsFloor count85 (+5 basement floors)^[1]Floor area306,337 m² (3,297,384 sq ft)^[1]Lifts/elevators54^[1]Design and constructionArchitect(s)C.Y. Lee^[1]Structural engineerEvergreen Consulting Engineering^[1]Websitehttp://www.85sky-tower.com/References^[1][2]

85 Sky Tower (Chinese: 高雄85大樓; pinyin: Gāoxióng 85 Dàlóu; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: Ko-hiông 85 Tōa-lâu), formerly known as the T & C Tower or Tuntex Sky Tower, is an 85-story skyscraper in Lingya District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The structure is 347.5 m (1,140 ft) high. An antenna increases the pinnacle height to 378 m (1,240 ft). Constructed from 1994 to 1997 by the now-defunct Tuntex Group, it is the tallest building in Kaohsiung, and the 2nd tallest in Taiwan after the Taipei 101.

As of 2023, the building is almost entirely unoccupied except for a few condominiums (some subleased as short-term rentals) and offices between the 12th to 35th floors. Many floors have not been used in decades, and their conditions have become dirty and run-down.^[3] When the building first opened, it once housed a department store, indoor amusement park, five-star hotel, observatory, steakhouse and disco, VIP club and spa, and other amenities.

The building was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners and Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum, and has an unusual 'prong' design with two separate 39-floor sections, which merge into a single central tower rising to a spire. This unique design leaves a substantial space below the central part of the tower. The design was inspired by the Chinese character KAO (高) meaning tall, and also part of the city's name. John W. Milton was Project Director on behalf of Turner International Inc. (New York), a subsidiary of Turner Construction.

There is no 44th floor in the building due to Tetraphobia), so the 43rd floor connects directly to the 45th floor; the 57th floor, a mechanical floor, is numbered 57A. The pyramid shaped crown is the equivalent of three stories high and is hence marketed as 83–85 to arrive at a round number. There is no elevator access to floors above 80.

Occupancy

Floor 34 and 35 are currently leased by Look Hotel Group (Chinese: 樂活商旅租). The 85 Sky Tower Hotel (ceased operations) (Chinese: 君鴻國際酒店) occupies floors 37 to 85, and it owns the observation deck. Office space and studio apartments occupy each side of the lower floors.^[4]

Atrium

There is an Atrium that extends from Level 45's Shimmer Ballroom (as of 2015 the entire floor is dark and unoccupied) to Level 83; it is one of the highest continuous atriums in the world.

Floor Directory

• 83-85: Mechanical
• 81: Radio Broadcasting Facility
• 77-79: Palace VIP Private Club & Spa (ceased operations)
• 76: Sexy Disco Bar (ceased operations)
• 75: Teppanyaki restaurant (ceased operations)
• 74: Observatory (ceased operations)
• 71-73: unoccupied
• 46-70: Guest Rooms (ceased operations)
• 43-45: Meeting Rooms and Ballrooms (no 44th floor) (ceased operations)
• 38-42: Hotel Facilities (ceased operations)
• 36-37: M/E/P
• 13-35: Offices & Residential condominiums
• 12: Nikko Plaza (sky lobby for offices & condos)
• 8-11: Chien-Tai Indoor Amusement Park (ceased operations)
• B1, 2-7: Chien-Tai Daimaru Department Store (ceased operations)
• 1: Lobby
• B5-B3: Parking garage

Transportation

The building is accessible within five blocks walking distance west of Sanduo Shopping District Station of the Kaohsiung MRT.

See also

• List of tallest buildings in Taiwan
• List of tallest buildings in Kaohsiung
• List of tallest buildings
• List of tallest freestanding structures in the world
• List of tallest freestanding steel structures

Gallery

• 
  85 Sky Tower viewed at night.
• 
  85 Sky Tower dominating Kaohsiung's skyline.
• 
  85 Sky Tower illuminated at night
• 
  View of Kaohsiung's streets from 85 Sky Tower's observation deck
• 
  85 Sky Tower viewed from below
• 
  85 Sky Tower viewed from below
• 
  85 Sky Tower Observation Deck
• 
  85 Sky Tower at sunset

References

External links