A lot of building super tall has to do with the local governments wanting to put their flag in the ground and say, 'We have arrived as an economy.' China, Malaysia and Taiwan are really trying to establish themselves on the skyscraper playing field. They want to make a statement that they have arrived. |
In the Middle East, you might scratch your head a little bit. The overall populations of countries like Qatar and Dubai are quite low, but you're building super-tall buildings with millions of square feet. |
It's the shopping center, golf course and the smaller towers that, in total, make it work economically. |
The number of tall buildings being built around the world is at an all-time high. |
We're seeing a tremendous amount of activity overseas, whether it's in Asia or the Middle East. For countries that are emerging on the economic scene, very tall buildings are symbols of their economic strength. |