The Professor Ali Podcast

In this interview clip, Prof. Ali H. Akhtar (author of 1368: China & the Making of the Modern World, Italy & the Islamic World: From Caesar to Mussolini) talks about what the EU elections mean for Europe and the United States, the 2015 migrant crisis, Ukraine, globalization, and the growing left-right divide across the European and American electorate.

In this online lecture, Prof. Ali H. Akhtar (author of 1368: China & the Making of the Modern World, Stanford Univ. Press 2022) revisits the question of whether the Shanghai Tower was a success or failure. This talk focuses on the four goals of the developers (San Francisco-based firm Gensler), namely symbolism, sustainable development (environmentally friendly real estate), community building, and profitability in large office spaces.

In this episode, Professor Ali H. Akhtar (PhD NYU) takes a closer look at China's tallest skyscraper. This video focuses on community building: can skyscrapers build community? The developers of the Shanghai Tower set out to create a skyscraper that could be "weaved into the fabric of society," bringing locals together alongside visitors and businesspeople from around the world. Like the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and Burj Khalifa in Dubai, the Shanghai Tower features a luxury hotel

In this episode, Professor Ali H. Akhtar (PhD NYU) 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

In this episode, Professor Ali H. Akhtar (PhD NYU) takes a look at China's tallest skyscraper. The Shanghai Tower is the third tallest building in the world and houses the world's highest hotel and observation deck. The developers' goals included profitability (office space rent), symbolism (China's present and future), sustainability in construction (environmentally friendly design), and community (bringing locals and international visitors together). Follow Prof. Akhtar on Twitch at: