China's 'Pentagon' Mall

A five-sided, consumerist bit of America has rubbed off on China, which has duplicated the U.S. Pentagon building in Shanghai—but will use it to house a massive shopping center. The replica--which was begun in 2003 and is just now having its roof sealed--is even bigger than the original, a 40-minute car ride from the center of Shanghai, and cost about $236 million to construct. A spokesman for the project said it was "inspired" by the Pentagon's appearance and "is actually a very smart design" that lets people "circulate freely inside." The U.S. Pentagon was reportedly designed so that workers could reach any office in under seven minutes by foot. The Shanghai building has "signed thousands of tenants already, including a number of Western brands," according to a spokesman, who declined to cite specifics. However, it is known that the U.N. will also place its procurement and logistics center in the building.