In this episode, Prof. Ali H. Akhtar (author of 1368: China & the Making of the Modern World, Stanford Univ. Press 2022) takes a closer look at China's tallest skyscraper. This video focuses on sustainability: can skyscrapers be environmentally friendly? The developers of the Shanghai Tower set out to create the world's most environmentally friendly skyscraper in the world, and the building's LEED Platinum certification indicates they succeeded. But how much does it cost to maintain such expensive buildings and their unique features (solar panels, wind turbines) over the next 10-20 years? Sustainability was one of the developers' four main goals. Other goals included profitability (office space rent), symbolism (China's present and future), and community (bringing locals and international visitors together). Follow Prof. Akhtar on Twitch at: www.twitch.tv/aliakhtarPhD
What is The Professor Ali Podcast?
The official podcast of Professor Ali H. Akhtar (PhD NYU), bestselling author of 1368: China and the Making of the Modern World (Stanford University Press), Italy and the Islamic World: From Caesar to Mussolini (Edinburgh University Press), and Philosophers Sufis and Caliphs (Cambridge University Press).