The highest transmitter in the world was designed by Tadao Ando

Tokyo - The transmitter in Tokyo, which is still under construction, has become the tallest freestanding broadcasting tower in the world. The Tokyo Sky Tree now stands at a height of 601 meters, surpassing the previous tallest transmitter, the Canton Tower in China, by one meter. Once completed, it will measure 634 meters. This was reported today by Hirotake Takanaši, a spokesperson for Tobu Tower Sky Tree Co., which is responsible for the tower.
    The new tower is set to replace the older one from 1958, which measures 333 meters. Takanaši added that the construction of the remaining 30 meters is a crucial phase, involving the installation of a digital antenna. According to the plan, the construction is expected to be completed in December, with a grand opening planned for spring 2012.
    The tower is being built by six leading Japanese media companies. Its goal is to enhance the transmission of television and radio signals in the capital. The tower will also house shops, restaurants, and other entertainment facilities, and it is set to become a new tourist attraction for the capital. Its height will surpass that of the second tallest building in the world, the Taipei 101 skyscraper.
    The transmitter was designed by architect Tadao Ando and sculptor Kiiči Sumikawa. The tower's foundations are triangular and coated in a bluish-silver color, and the shape of the tower gradually changes to a cylinder.
    The old Tokyo Tower is one of the most visible landmarks in the city. Approximately three million tourists visit it each year, reported the AP agency.