Shin Kong Life Tower
| Shin Kong Life Tower 新光人壽保險摩天大樓 |
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| General information | |
| Type | Mixed |
| Location | 66 Zhongxiao West Road Zhongzheng District, Taipei, Taiwan |
| Coordinates | 25°2′45.40″N 121°30′55.21″E / 25.0459444°N 121.5153361°ECoordinates: 25°2′45.40″N 121°30′55.21″E / 25.0459444°N 121.5153361°E |
| Completed | 1993 |
| Height | |
| Antenna spire | 245 m (804 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 51 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Kaku Morin |
Shin Kong Life Tower (Chinese: 新光人壽保險摩天大樓; pinyin: Xīnguāng Rénshòu Bǎoxiǎn Mótiān Dàlóu) is the third tallest building in Taiwan at 51 storeys 245 metres (803.8 ft). The rose-coloured skyscraper topped by a pyramid stands in Zhongzheng District, Taipei. Its first twelve floors and two underground floors house a Shin Kong Mitsukoshi Department Store; the remaining floors provide office space and serve as headquarters for the Shin Kong Life Insurance Company. The tower stands across Zhongxiao Road from Taipei Main Station near the Asiaworld Department Store.
The Shin Kong Life Tower was Taiwan's tallest building when it opened in 1993. In 1997 it was surpassed by the Tuntex 85 Sky Tower in the city of Kaohsiung. Both were overtaken in height by Taipei 101 in 2004.
The 10,000-square-metre plot of land across from Taipei Main Station was owned by four companies in 1981 when discussions began about ways to develop the site. Agreement on a plan was never reached and ownership of the land passed to two companies in 1985. The company that held the eastern half, Asiaworld International Group, built the Asiaworld Department Store on its parcel; the store opened in 1990. The company that held the western half, Shin Kong Life Insurance Company, hired Kaku Morin Group (KMG) Architects and Engineers of Japan to build a dual-use tower that would house offices and a major department store.
Space limitations and heavy traffic at the site made the task a challenge. KMG created a 1,170-square-metre plaza around the tower by setting the front of the building 31 m back from the street and setting other sides back to allow wide pedestrian walkways. Inspectors from National Taiwan University were consulted to help ensure the building's stability in earthquakes. The design featured an observatory level at the 46th floor. Separate elevators were installed to serve department store customers, office workers, and visitors to the observatory. Mindful of Taiwan's typhoons and tropical sun, designers used aluminium for the exterior so it would weather well. The rose colour chosen for the exterior was inspired by the national flowers of Taiwan and Japan, the plum blossom and cherry blossom.
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