China -- Hong Kong to develop a $3.2 billion Disney theme park.
Macau -- New center planned on reclaimed land between Taipa and Coloane islands.
USA -- Boston is building a new convention center in the Seaport district.
USA -- Washington, D.C., is building a new 2.4 million-sq.-ft. (223,000-sq.-m.) convention facility.
USA - The Atlanta World Congress Center is planning a major expansion.
USA - Chicago's McCormick Place is being expanded.
USA -- Hawaii has a new Waikiki center.
USA -- Las Vegas. New $1.6 billion Bellagio Hotel.
USA -- Las Vegas. $1.5 billion Venetian, projected to have more than 6,000 rooms.
USA -- Las Vegas. 3,000-room Paris Las Vegas hotel.
USA -- Las Vegas. New $1 billion Aladdin.
UAE -- Dubai. New $1 billion Chicago Beach hotel and resort.
UK - London. $1.3 billion Millennium Dome.
Japan -- $2.2 billion stadium projects for 2002 World Cup Soccer.

Urban Development
There are many pressures on urban areas. They bear the brunt of world population growth, plus the influx from rural areas. They have an urgent need for job-producing economic activity. And they need, somehow, to provide a better quality of life.

These challenges translate into many projects -- housing, mixed-use, infrastructure and other developments. Of particular interest are the changing urban forms proposed to meet new and specific needs. These include domed structures, loop highways, man-made islands, underground and ultra high-rise construction.

Common to most urban areas are prime needs for such elements as rapid transit and business and industrial parks. While most development involves addition to an existing mix, there are numerous new-town projects.

High-Rise Projects
It is likely that for the foreseeable future there will be many competing plans to build "the world's tallest" office, hotel or other structure. Here are some high-rise projects presently being reported:

Japan -- Sky City 1000, Tokyo. 3,000+ ft. (914 m.) Concept published 1989. No reported action.
India -- Centre of India Tower, Katangi, India. 2,200 ft. (671 m.) Estimated completion 2008. China -- Shanghai World Financial Center. 1,500 ft. (457 m.) Estimated completion 2001.
Taiwan -- Asia Plaza, Kaohsiung, 1,400 ft. (427 m.) Estimated completion 2008.
Taiwan -- Taipei International Finance Center. 1,400 ft. (427 m.) Estimated completion 2002.
China -- International Finance Center, Hong Kong. 1,300 ft. (396 m.) Estimated completion 2003.
China -- Posts and Telecom Building. Xiamen. 1,200 ft. (366 m.) Estimated completion 2000.
UAE -- Emirates Tower. Dubai. 1,160 ft. (354 m.) Estimated completion 2001.
Australia -- Grollo Tower, Melbourne, Australia. 1,800 ft. (549 m.).
USA -- Stratosphere Tower (hotel), Las Vegas.
USA -- 7 South Dearborn (office tower), Chicago, projected to be 1,550 ft. (472 m.).

New Urban Forms
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the pattern of the city of the future includes a series of perimeter highways that effectively link a central city with the hinterland it serves. Cities that already have inner perimeter routes include, for example, London, Paris, Moscow, Atlanta, Boston and Washington.

Projects to provide perimeter routes are now reported at Denver, Philadelphia, Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Valencia, Athens and Tokyo. In Brazil, Sao Paulo has planned "Rodoanel," a $2.9 billion loop running 99 miles (160 km.) around the city. Moscow already has added an outer perimeter route and is planning a third loop still farther out.

An outer loop has been proposed for Atlanta for many years, but it has met environmental opposition. More recently, it has been proposed that this project be merged into a newer plan to create an "Ecoloop" around the city. This would be a corridor that would include a continuous greenway connecting nature preserves. Wherever key greenway links and the circumferential highway came together, there would be grade separations. Thus, animals and hikers could move freely throughout a 250-mile (402-km.) route without crossing a street.

Another emerging urban form is the dome structure. Many believe that the great domes now being built to cover sports arenas will eventually cover entire communities. There would be special benefits in the Arctic region. The largest such project is the Millennium Dome in the United Kingdom.