There have been no structural modifications made to Taipei 101 for Alex Honnold’s planned free solo ascent.
Honnold will climb the skyscraper’s original exterior architecture, relying solely on the same concrete, glass and steel design elements visible to anyone looking up at Taiwan’s most iconic building. There are no added holds, no safety cables and no alterations to the facade, according to interviews conducted ahead of the climb.
“That was one of the things with the Urby: it was harder to climb smoothly,” Honnold told The New Yorker, explaining that part of the appeal is confronting the structure exactly as it exists. “Taipei 101 is a little more flow-y.”
The building’s exterior is made up of stacked, pagoda-like modules inspired by bamboo stalks, featuring subtle 10- to 15-degree overhangs that create both opportunity and complexity for a climber.
The challenge is less about height than texture and rhythm. While Taipei 101 stands 1,667 feet tall, it is shorter than El Capitan — the granite wall in Yosemite National Park that Honnold famously climbed without ropes in 2017. Still, the skyscraper would represent the tallest building ever climbed without safety gear. Urban climber Alain Robert, known as the French Spider-Man, scaled Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2011, but only while wearing a harness and rope.
Honnold said the most unnerving moments on previous building climbs weren’t mechanical hazards, but proximity to residents inside. He recalled passing sleeping occupants separated from his foot by only a pane of glass, forcing him to move with extra care.
Unlike a natural rock face, buildings present logistical challenges — windows, doors, fire hatches and access points that require careful navigation. Honnold completed a roped inspection climb last fall to confirm the route’s viability and arrived in Taiwan early to adjust to travel and conditions.
The ascent will be live on Netflix with a brief broadcast delay. If successful, it would mark another unprecedented feat for a climber known for the extraordinary.
