The Tokyo Sky Tree, the world's second-tallest building at 2,084 ft, was officially completed on February 29th. The tower is nearly double the height of Japan's previous tallest structure, the 1,091-foot Tokyo Tower transmitter.

Considering its location in a major earthquake zone, though, such a tall building needs some serious quake protection. The Sky Tree's architects at Nikken Sekkei say it's safer than any other super-tower because of its narrow 9:1 height to width ratio.

The building is supported by extremely thick steel tubes, which have a diameter of 7.5 feet at the base, and it uses its massive central beam as a both a counterweight and an anti-earthquake damping system.

The tower's three legs are anchored by a 164-foot-deep "root system" of concrete and reinforced steel that the architects describe as "monolithically integrated" with the ground.

The Sky Tree will open to the public on May 22nd.

[gizmag]