Shanghai World Financial Center, China

Height (Architectural): 492 mHeight (Occupied): 474 mFloors: 101Observation Decks: 474, 439, 423 m

Shanghai World Financial Center (SWFC) was completed in 2008. The foundation stone was laid on August 1997 but work was temporarily interrupted by the Asian Financial Crisis (1997-1998) and resumed on November 2003. Building is designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF-architect William Pedersen), which is one of the world's largest architecture firms. Developer of the project was Japan's most powerful and influential building tycoon Minoru Mori. Main construction works was carried by Mori Building Corporation. The structural system of SWFC is composite, facade material is glass. The SWFC boasts a gross floor area of more than 377,300 m2 (4,061,200 sq ft) and its developing cost about $US1.13 billion. There are 31 elevators and 33 escalators installed. It is a mixed use skyscraper which consists of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and shopping malls on the ground floors.