CCTV

The new CCTV Building which will be erected in downtown Beijing before the Olympics and completed in 2009, will most undoubtedly be a modern architectural wonder not just for China but for the world. With a height of 230 meters and floor space covering 400,000 square meters combining space for administration, news, broadcasting, studios and program making, this massive building will be the second largest (in terms of floor space) in the world - only behind the Pentagon.

The biggest challenge for the engineers is the unique structural form of the CCTV headquarters. The building is formed by two leaning towers which are bent at 90 degrees at top and bottom to give the impression of a continuous tube (I am sure there is a better way to describe the form but I think the pic does the trick).

Although this amazing structure, designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaa, will become an impressive symbol of the modernity and rise of China, it has of course met some controversy by those living in Beijing. Many believe that the government, the owner of CCTV, should be spending money on more pressing matters, like healthcare and education, rather than some cool looking building. Maybe they are right - $600 million for a building does seem like a lot money for a developing nation. Secondly, city planners are under the gun. It just doesn't seem logical to put the headquarters of one of the largest companies in China smack in the middle of the CBD (central business district) - ranked among the worst traffic locations on the planet. I am aware of the new subway line being built underneath it and the new underground labyrinth connecting all the major venues in the area, but.... they better know what they are doing or else.

Regardless, they have already started construction and are nearing the point when the two towers become connected - a delicate process that must take place 6 hours before sunrise to minimize the influence the sun rays have on the maleable steel.