Tuesday, May 16, 2006
In the center of the observation deck is an open view of a wind damper there. Taipei 101 is subject to high winds, typhoons and earthquakes, all of which make tall buildings a bad idea, but these dampers help counterbalance what nature throws at it. There's a sign on the wall that gives the damper's specs: 5.5 meters in diameter, composed of 41 layers of 12.5 cm thick steel plates welded together, weighing 660 metric tons, and it reduces the tower's movement by up to 40 percent. This is the uppermost of three dampers, I believe. 
¶ 9:00 AM 
