Financial Times has published a pair of articles about China Broad Group, the Chinese company which has announced plans for an 838-meter tall prefabricated tower. The articles include interviews with  company Chairman Zhang Yue and an extensive profile of the company.

According to the FT, Mr. Zhang is confident that the tower will become a reality. Financing is in place, architects are “putting the finishing touches to the blueprints,” engineers were producing a model for earthquake tests and construction was slated to begin in December, he told the FT.

Mr. Zhang is especially proud of his company's prefabrication techniques. "Whether a 30-story hotel or a 220-story skyscraper, the component pieces are all identical; they are simply stacked higher or lower depending on the size of the building," he told the FT, describing the technique as “nothing short of a revolution for the construction industry, reducing building costs and minimizing environmental harm.”

Mr Zhang’s bigger point “was to prove that skyscrapers are the most efficient solution for housing the world’s growing population, because they concentrate so many people on such little land."

The article details the corporate strategy at Broad Group, including a set of 110 commandments Mr. Zhang for his workers, including brush your teeth twice a day. "Mr. Zhang has tried to build not just a company but a culture,” The FT reports. “Most employees live in dormitories on the factory campus known as Broad Town. Located in a suburb of Changsha, Broad Town features a Versailles-like palace for corporate training. Each day begins with employees gathering outside to sing the Broad anthem.”

In the articles, Mr. Zhang expresses his firm belief that his company can solve the world's climate problems. He has even ceased flying his private jet because of its negative impacts on the environment.

He told the FT, "'There is not enough innovation globally for dealing with climate, pollution and resource problems. Our plans are the most concrete, the most realistic.'"

Find the articles here (registration required).

CTBUH Executive Director Antony Wood recently made a trip to Broad Group's headquarters for an inside tour of the facilities. Find his report here.

China Broad is offering a tour of its facilities to registered attendees of the CTBUH 9th World Congress.