TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Taipei City Government said the Taipei Twin Towers development project will become a new gateway to the city, highlighting the progress of the landmark project in a press release and promotional video released Friday.
The project consists of two skyscrapers: the 53-story C1 tower, which will stand about 280 meters tall, and the 70-story D1 tower, which will reach about 360 meters. Construction of the steel framework for both buildings is nearing the halfway point, with curtain walls being installed and concrete floor slabs being poured on lower levels.
The promotional video revisits a key decision made 21 years ago that city officials said would significantly influence Taipei’s future development. At the time, the central government had planned for the Airport MRT to enter downtown Taipei through a fully elevated route, including an elevated station between Taipei Main Station and the south side of Civic Boulevard.
However, the Taipei City Government proposed placing the Airport MRT underground after considering the city’s long-term urban development and the image of the national gateway. The alternative plan allowed the Department of Rapid Transit Systems to jointly develop the C1 and D1 sites.
City officials said the decision not only changed the nature of the project but also created valuable space for the future development of Taipei’s skyline and transportation network integration. Although placing the Airport MRT underground required an additional NT$7 billion (US$221.62 million) in project costs, the city government decided to absorb the expense as a long-term investment in Taipei’s future development, per a press release.
The Department of Rapid Transit Systems said the decision helped maximize the commercial potential of the C1/D1 development site. Taipei Main Station currently handles more than 500,000 passenger trips daily, and officials described the steady progress of the Taipei Twin Towers project as evidence of the area’s development potential.
The department added that the towers will eventually integrate retail, office, hotel, and observation deck facilities. With a total investment of NT$60.6 billion, the project is expected to create about 16,000 job opportunities.
