Chang-Gu World Trade Center

The Chang-Gu World Trade Center (Chinese: 長谷世貿聯合國大樓; pinyin: Chánggǔ Shìmào Liánhéguó Dàlóu), also known as Grand 50 Tower, is a 222-metre (728 ft) tall skyscraper in Sanmin District of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. It was completed in 1992 and was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners, who also designed the 85 Sky tower, and the Taipei 101. It was the first building in Taiwan to reach a height of 50 floors, as is highlighted by its alternative name.

Chang-Gu World Trade Center
長谷世貿聯合國大樓
Chang-Gu World Trade Center
Alternative names	Grand 50 Tower
Record height
Tallest in Taiwan from 1992 (1992) to 1993 (1993)[I]
Preceded by	Asia-Pacific Financial Plaza
Surpassed by	Shin Kong Life Tower
General information
Status	Completed
Type	Skyscraper
Architectural style	Oriental revivalism
Classification	Commercial
Location	Sanmin District
Address	80 Min-Tzu 1st Road
Town or city	Kaohsiung City
Country	Taiwan
Coordinates	22°38′35.2″N 120°18′53.7″E
Completed	1992 (1992)
Client	Chang Ku Building Company
Height
Architectural	222 metres (728 ft)
Tip	222 metres (728 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	55 (50 above and 5 below)
Grounds	83,310 square metres (896,700 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architecture firm	C.Y. Lee & Partners
Structural engineer	Evergreen Consulting Engineering
Main contractor	Turner Construction
Other information
Parking	281-space underground parking garage

History

After its completion in 1992, the Chang-Gu World Trade Center became the tallest building in Taiwan surpassing the 169.8 meters high Asia-Pacific Financial Plaza in Kaohsiung. However, it only kept this title for 6 months when the Shin Kong Life Tower in Taipei was completed on 21 December 1993. It kept the title as the tallest building in Kaohsiung for 5 years until the completion of the 85 Sky Tower in 1997. The building is currently the 188th tallest building in the world and 5th tallest in Taiwan.

The building follows a Chinese pagoda style and has an octagonal base to be stable against high winds which are typical in Taiwan as it is prone to typhoons. During the buildings test phase, it was tested to pressures equivalent of wind speeds in excess of 300 mph (480 km/h). It was also tested to withstand earthquakes which are commonplace in Taiwan.

The buildings crown follows the same perimeter as the rest of the building however it stands on an elaborate, thin base. The underside of the crown is lit up at night however the rest is not. The top floor was home to the Grand 50 Club which was managed by the Peninsula Group based in Hong Kong. The Grand 50 Club was known as a prestigious night-spot. As of 2024, the top floor is closed for renovation.^[1]

The building contains a car park with 280 spaces available. This located underneath the building, covering five underground floors. The atrium is 21 stories high and is clad in Spanish granite. At the top of the building is a helicopter pad.

Transportation

The building is accessible within walking distance North East from Kaohsiung Station of the Kaohsiung MRT or Taiwan Railway Administration.

See also

• 85 Sky Tower
• List of tallest buildings in Kaohsiung
• List of tallest buildings in Taiwan