Tuntex Sky Tower

Tuntex Sky Tower
General information
Status	Complete
Type	Mixed Use
Location	Lingya District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Coordinates
Construction started	1994
Completed	1997
Cost	NT$ 5 billion
Height
Architectural	347.5 m (1,140 ft)
Roof	347.5 m (1,140 ft)
Top floor	341.0 m (1,119 ft)
Observatory	341.0 m (1,119 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	82 (+5 basement floors)
Floor area	306,337 m2 (3,297,384 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators	54
Design and construction
Architect	C.Y. Lee
Website
gfk.com.tw
References

Tuntex Sky Tower, or the T & C Tower or 85 Sky Tower (the Tuntex & Chien-Tai Tower; Chinese: 高雄85大樓; pinyin: Gāoxióng 85 Dàlóu), is an 82-story (marketed as 85-story) skyscraper located in Lingya District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The structure is 347.5 m (1,140 ft) high. An antenna pushes the building height to 378 m (1,240 ft). Constructed from 1994 to 1997, it is the tallest skyscraper in Kaohsiung, and was the tallest in Taiwan until the completion of Taipei 101.

There is no 44th floor in the building (see Tetraphobia); the 43rd floor connects directly to the 45th floor. The pyramid shaped crown is the equivalent of 3 stories high and hence marketed as 83-85 to arrive at a round number. There is no elevator access to floors above 79.

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 高 (pinyin: gāo), meaning "tall"). This is the first character of the city's name 高雄, which was coined during the Japanese era. John W. Milton was Project Director on behalf of Turner International Inc (New York), a subsidiary of Turner Construction.

The building was owned by the now defunct Tuntex Group (Chien-Tai is a subsidiary), and is mainly offices, but includes residential space, a department store and the Splendor Kaohsiung hotel occupies the 38th to 70th floors. An observation deck on the 74th floor offers views over the Kaohsiung City, the Love River and the Kaohsiung Harbour, and is accessed by high speed elevators, capable of speeds of 10.17 m/s.

Occupancy

Over half of the building is unoccupied as of 2015. Many tenants in the 1990s and 2000s have moved out, gone bankrupt, or otherwise terminated their operations.

Floor Directory

• 83 Pyramid crown (3 stories high), not open to public
• 80-82 Some radio stations have registered mailing addresses on these floors, but no evidence exist they actually operate there
• No elevator access to floors 80 and above
• 77-79 VIP Club (restaurants, banquet facilities). Open to anyone who pays 30000 NTD/year membership fee.
• 76 Sexy Disco Bar - Shut down / closed as of 2015
• 75 Steakhouse - Shut down / closed as of 2015
• 74 Indoor observatory (270 degrees, one side is partially blocked off)
• 71-73 Empty
• 46-70 Hotel guest rooms
• 38-43,45 Ballrooms and hotel facilities (there is no floor 44)
• 13-35 Offices - Shut down / closed as of 2015
• 12 Nikko Plaza
• 8-11 Magical Carnival Indoor Amusement Park - Shut down / closed as of 2015
• 2-7 Chien Tai Dept Store - Shut down / closed as of 2015
• 1 Jewelry store
• B1-B2 Food Court - Shut down / closed as of 2015
• B3-B5 Parking Lot

Atrium

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

Transportation

The building is accessible within 5 blocks walking distance west of Sanduo Shopping District Station of the Kaohsiung MRT.

Gallery

• 

  Tuntex Sky Tower at night.

• 

  Lantern Festival at Tuntex Sky Tower.

See also

• List of tallest buildings in Taiwan
• List of tallest buildings in the world

External links

• Tuntex Sky Tower on CTBUH Skyscraper Center
• Emporis
• Tuntex & Chien-Tai Tower at Structurae

Preceded by Shin Kong Life Tower

Tallest building in Taiwan 1997 – 2004

Succeeded by Taipei 101