Like a Phoenix from the Ashes: Return of the CCTV Tower

Dan Edwards | Oct 27, 2009 12:00 pm | 4 comments | 1767 reads



Yesterday (October 26) the English-language edition of the Global Times claimed that reconstruction of the burnt out TVCC Tower, part of the CCTV complex in the middle of Beijing’s CBD that includes the famous "pants" building, is imminent.

Ever since the spectacular incineration of the tower last February following a ill-conceived fireworks display to celebrate the end of the Chinese New Year, the tower’s charred remains have sat abandoned, inspiring considerable speculation about the building’s ultimate fate.

The Global Times article is vague about the reconstruction schedule, but notes: “sources close to the construction project said workers will be employed to work on the outer body soon to revive the controversial ‘ghost tower.’”

The report also states: “More than 1,000 workers would be employed for the repair work, by China Construction Engineering Corporation.”

It seems the work is expected to take some time, however: “The CCTV crew may move into the new headquarters within two years, and… the interior furnishing of the CCTV tower and the repair of the exterior of the TVCC building destroyed by fire, must be done by then.”

As every Beijinger who hasn’t slept through the last few years would be aware, the tower is part of the new showcase CCTV headquarters designed by Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas, built at a cost of RMB 5 billion according to the Global Times.

The complex has been plagued by controversy since its inception, including recent rumors that Koolhaas’ design was inspired by human genitalia.

In any case, given the price tag of the complex, it’s not surprising that the fire last February led to CCTV head Zhao Huayong losing his job and the arrest of 20 other CCTV staff.

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Aier2's picture Aier2 Submitted by Guest on Fri, 11/06/2009 - 11:42

Thanks, it's not a big deal or anything.

Though the first person I know who saw it did in fact imply the pants was on fire.
When I arrived on the scene alas...there were no hot-pants. Sad

Guess we have a tendency to sensationalize things. Or maybe Irish people are just full of shit.

"Television Cultural Center" you say?
That would imply that there is some sort of Television culture worth having a center for! Blum 3

Fancy name for a hotel.

danedwards's picture danedwards Submitted by Guest on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 10:33

Yes, the building that caught fire was the Television Cultural Center (TVCC), which is part of the CCTV complex that includes the pants. But given this site is aimed at people living here in Beijing, many of whom witnessed the fire, I think most people are aware we are talking about hotel tower, and not the "pants."

Just to make it absolutely clear the first line has been amended.

Register and post your own events on the beijinger website.

Aier2's picture Aier2 Submitted by Guest on Thu, 11/05/2009 - 09:53

^ My thoughts exactly.

I wont be going there if I can possibly avoid it.

I guess they would normally hire a team of experts to determine structural damage.
But in this town, with all the money that's at stake .....there's no way you can know for sure it was all honest and above board.

Also, like Sky3 said....the implication in this article is that the "cctv headquarters" was on fire and will be occupied within two years.
The building that was on fire is a hotel.

Very misleading to an outsider

Sky 3's picture Sky 3 Submitted by Guest on Wed, 11/04/2009 - 18:12

Who would wanna live there knowing that the structure of the building might be compromised due to the fire? And wasn't this suppose to be some hotel that is part of CCTV? This articles keeps calling it CCTV tower as if it was the actual Big Pants building that got burnt. (which didn't)

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