Dubai skyscraper world's tallest

[Rappy Veteran]

An unfinished skyscraper in the Persian Gulf state of Dubai has become the world's tallest building, its developers say.

Emaar Properties said the 512m (1,680ft) Burj Dubai is now taller than Taiwan's 508m (1,667ft) Taipei 101.

It is thought Burj Dubai will eventually be 693m (2,275ft) tall.

Height records are contentious, with dispute over what defines a "building" and what is being measured - height to the top floor or the tower's antenna.

When finished the building is expected to meet the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat's four criteria - the height of the structural top, highest occupied floor, the roof's top, and the spire's highest point - to become the world's tallest structure.

"Burj Dubai has now reached 141 storeys, more storeys than any other building in the world," the company said in a statement.

There is speculation that, spire included, the final height could be more than 800m, but Emaar is keeping structural details secret.

'Symbol of Dubai'

When finished, the skyscraper will have more than 160 floors, 56 elevators, apartments, shops, swimming pools, spas, corporate suites, Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani's first hotel, and an observation platform on the 124th floor.

To qualify as a building, a structure has to have floors and walls all the way to its roof.

The tower is also expected to break the record for highest man-made structure, currently held by the wire-assisted KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota, US, which is 628m (2,072ft) tall.

"It's a symbol of Dubai as a city of the world," Greg Sang, the project director for Emaar Properties, was quoted as saying by the Associated Press.

Chairman Mohammed Ali Alabbar said Dubai has "resisted the usual and has inspired to build a global icon," according to AP.

"It's a human achievement without equal."

Building began on the structure on 21 September 2004, and is expected to be completed in 2008.

The spire of the building is expected to be able to be seen from 100km (60 miles) away.

"It's a fact of life that, at some point, someone else will build a taller building," Mr Sang said.

"There's a lot of talk of other tall buildings, but five years into Burj Dubai's construction, no one's started building them yet."

Previous skyscraper record-holders include New York's Empire State Building at 381m (1,250 ft); Shanghai's Jin Mao Building at 421m (1,381 ft); Chicago's Sears Tower at 442m (1,451 ft) and Malaysia's Petronas Towers at 452m (1,483 ft).

The CN Tower, in Toronto, Canada, is the world's tallest freestanding structure, at 553m (1,815.3 ft).

(BBC)

[CrashG]

I still thought the Petronas Towers were still the tallest. I guess not. :)

[Computer Guru]

Sears Tower FTW!!

Seriously, these are all imitations just to take the title. They add a bit of spires at the top, and they think they can claim the title. The genuine McCoy is the Sears Tower, no doubt about it.

[IndianPimp99]

While being the world's tallest building probably held some esteem back in the day, it's just a little silly now. Everything will be outdone in due time. What frustrated me most about the Dubai tower was that the building wasn't built as a solution to anything, it was mostly built as a place to pour oil money into like all their other crazy projects (Palm Islands, The World Island, Indoor Skiing, etc). It doesn't even follow any skyline form, most of the buildings around there are barely nubs and this is going to tower above and beyond anything. Atleast the other tall buildings in the world were part of city planning to some extent. If anyone interested in skyscrapers hasn't checked out skyscraperpage.com yet, then it's well worth it. Also, check out this image link at their page for a current top ten buildings to scale.

http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?1241105

[Scirwode]

I still thought the Petronas Towers were still the tallest. I guess not. :)

No, they were replaced by Taipei 101 in 2004.

Sears Tower FTW!!

Seriously, these are all imitations just to take the title. They add a bit of spires at the top, and they think they can claim the title. The genuine McCoy is the Sears Tower, no doubt about it.

Well, you could say that but then again that is not entirely true. Petronas Twin Towers was the tallest building in the world simply because the spire is considered part of the building. The Sears Tower has a radio antenna, which does not make it part of the building. Taipei 101 rightly outstrips both of these towers by a few meters, floor and spire wise.

However, I prefer both the Taipei 101 and the Petronas Twin Towers simply because the design itself is unique to the country it is situated in. Petronas Twin Towers for its Islamic and Malaysian design and its unique two deck bridge and the Taipei 101 for the use of Feng Shui in its construction and the unique bamboo shape and design. The Taipei 101 also a has mass damper on top of the tower to help steady itself in high winds, something which I find unique. And of course, instead of one tower, we have two identical Petronas towers and will probably have it for a long time (unless someone has about 1 billion dollars to spare to beat both towers :p ).

For me the Sears Tower looks like any other building in any other city, no offense. The Empire State building design was synonymous with New York, no matter how you look. For the Sears Tower, nothing stands out for it distinguished itself against others.

While being the world's tallest building probably held some esteem back in the day, it's just a little silly now. Everything will be outdone in due time. What frustrated me most about the Dubai tower was that the building wasn't built as a solution to anything, it was mostly built as a place to pour oil money into like all their other crazy projects (Palm Islands, The World Island, Indoor Skiing, etc). It doesn't even follow any skyline form, most of the buildings around there are barely nubs and this is going to tower above and beyond anything. Atleast the other tall buildings in the world were part of city planning to some extent. If anyone interested in skyscrapers hasn't checked out skyscraperpage.com yet, then it's well worth it. Also, check out this image link at their page for a current top ten buildings to scale.

http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?1241105

I agree with you. But I still believe people will build tall buildings simply because they want to break the 2000ft barrier. That is where nearly all the architects these days are aiming for. Once that is broken, then it becomes pointless to build any taller than that as NOBODY wants to work at a height of 2000ft or more. I hope by then design takes centre stage as that is the only way to distinguish other towers from each other.

As for the Burj Dubai, there's not much making it unique from other towers (it looks similar to Freedom Tower). The one thing I can make out is that it's in the middle of an artificial oasis. I wonder what the foundations are like if the oasis is true.

Scirwode

[Allan]

Toronto still has the worlds Tallest Free Standing Structure, 30 years running ... woot woot!

[sundayx Veteran]

^To be taken over by Burj Dubai. This building is simply stunning, I've been watching its construction since its conceptual stages.

For more information http://www.burjdubaiskyscraper.com/

[Allan]

CN ISN"T A building. It's a structure. Unless the spire on top is over 500meter then it won't be.

there is a difference, and CN is and continues to be the Worlds Tallest Free Standing Structure.

[sundayx Veteran]

It doesn't matter whether its free standing, supported, building, structure, mast, whatever, with a projected top of ~700M it tops everything else in every category.

[metallithrax]

CN ISN"T A building. It's a structure. Unless the spire on top is over 500meter then it won't be.

there is a difference, and CN is and continues to be the Worlds Tallest Free Standing Structure.

Until the Burj overtakes it.

[EduardValencia]

Old news!!!!

[Allan]

buildings are NOT free standing ...

There is a difference between a building and a free standing structure.

[jwjw1]

lol....it looks like its designed like a 'oil rig'...sure hope that sand don't shift

[metallithrax]

buildings are NOT free standing ...

There is a difference between a building and a free standing structure.

So what holds a "building" up and what holds a "free standing structure" up?

Since 1976, the tallest freestanding structure on land has been the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, with a height of 553.33 meters (1,815 ft). The Burj Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates will take both this title and that of world's tallest building upon its planned completion in 2009, if it reaches its planned height of over 800 meters (2,625 ft).

[Allan]

The CN Tower is the tallest STRUCTURE on land that doesn't have guay cables because it has it's own concrete structure that provides support. The others are buildings that are defined by some council.

See All About Sky Scrapers who does an awesome job explaining it ...

[I am Reid]

No, they were replaced by Taipei 101 in 2004.

Well, you could say that but then again that is not entirely true. Petronas Twin Towers was the tallest building in the world simply because the spire is considered part of the building. The Sears Tower has a radio antenna, which does not make it part of the building. Taipei 101 rightly outstrips both of these towers by a few meters, floor and spire wise.

However, I prefer both the Taipei 101 and the Petronas Twin Towers simply because the design itself is unique to the country it is situated in. Petronas Twin Towers for its Islamic and Malaysian design and its unique two deck bridge and the Taipei 101 for the use of Feng Shui in its construction and the unique bamboo shape and design. The Taipei 101 also a has mass damper on top of the tower to help steady itself in high winds, something which I find unique. And of course, instead of one tower, we have two identical Petronas towers and will probably have it for a long time (unless someone has about 1 billion dollars to spare to beat both towers :p ).

For me the Sears Tower looks like any other building in any other city, no offense. The Empire State building design was synonymous with New York, no matter how you look. For the Sears Tower, nothing stands out for it distinguished itself against others.

I agree with you. But I still believe people will build tall buildings simply because they want to break the 2000ft barrier. That is where nearly all the architects these days are aiming for. Once that is broken, then it becomes pointless to build any taller than that as NOBODY wants to work at a height of 2000ft or more. I hope by then design takes centre stage as that is the only way to distinguish other towers from each other.

As for the Burj Dubai, there's not much making it unique from other towers (it looks similar to Freedom Tower). The one thing I can make out is that it's in the middle of an artificial oasis. I wonder what the foundations are like if the oasis is true.

Scirwode

See the thing about sears tower is that the newer towers that the tops for the most part were simply added to take the title, especially in the case of the Petronas towers, which are only taller then the actual sears tower structure because of its mast. Now of course the new tower in Dubai has a legit claim to the title. In my opinion though nothing is more impressive. The fact that it was build over 75 years ago is amazing. 75 years for something like that in the modern world is sort of like how the pyramids were to the ancient world.

[Scirwode]

See the thing about sears tower is that the newer towers that the tops for the most part were simply added to take the title, especially in the case of the Petronas towers, which are only taller then the actual sears tower structure because of its mast. Now of course the new tower in Dubai has a legit claim to the title. In my opinion though nothing is more impressive. The fact that it was build over 75 years ago is amazing. 75 years for something like that in the modern world is sort of like how the pyramids were to the ancient world.

Heh? Since when was the Sears Tower built 75 years ago :blink: ? In fact I'm not even sure what you're trying to say to be honest. We can argue it all day but the fact of the matter is Petronas strips the Sears using its spire, Taiwan strips the Petronas in building height but both do not outstrip the radio tower of Sears. All things considered, the Burj Dubai will outstrip them all and leave them in the dust (no pun intended :p ).

Scirwode

[sundayx Veteran]

Buildings including Burj Dubai is considered a free standing structure, there are no support cables that hold them up. I know where you are arguing at, having one single solid foundation as its fundamental framework, but other than the antenna masts that have diagonal wires as support, buildings are considered free standing in itself. Therefore buildings are free standing structures.

Every time I am reminded of the Twin Towers, two near identical 110 story buildings side by side, just astonishing.

[Allan]

All right, according to the "Rules" of The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (which is an international organization that runs this stuff),

But add to this trouble people started saying the CN Tower should be counted as a 'building' so it could get the label of the tallest building. But technically, observation towers and communications towers are considered structures, not buildings, because they are not habitable. They do not have residential or office space. The CN Tower is only a pole of concrete with an observation deck on top. So, as far as im concerned the CN Tower is not a building, it is considered just a structure. So, how could you call it the tallest building?

Source: All About Skyscrapers.com

CN Tower is a structure, since you can't live or have large office spaces. The Burj Dubai is a BUILDING since it has massive amounts of office / living space.

And the Worlds Tallest Tower according to CTBUH rules, is the CN Tower, see here.

[sundayx Veteran]

I don't know why you're defending so hard on the CN Tower lol but it was your statement of "CN Tower remains to be the tallest free standing structure" that started the argument. I just want to say that Burj Dubai is 1) the tallest free standing structure/building/skyscraper 2) the world's tallest structure (while under construction) and 3) world's tallest building. How you would define the purpose or quality to the building under Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, or say Emporis, is up to you, but the important thing is that a building is more important and dominant than a structure, and the amount of tenant space yields building efficiency, and the "Council/Emporis" usually grade buildings and neglects structures.

Don't get me wrong though, I live 10 minutes from the CN Tower, I'm a proud Canadian to have CN Tower reign as the tallest tower/free standing structure in the world, but when it comes to Burj Dubai, it totally dominates the skyscrapers and structures race to be the tallest, it will be at the top of the list for a pretty damn long time.

[I am Reid]

Heh? Since when was the Sears Tower built 75 years ago :blink: ? In fact I'm not even sure what you're trying to say to be honest. We can argue it all day but the fact of the matter is Petronas strips the Sears using its spire, Taiwan strips the Petronas in building height but both do not outstrip the radio tower of Sears. All things considered, the Burj Dubai will outstrip them all and leave them in the dust (no pun intended :p ).

Scirwode

I meant to say the empire state building in that part

[HawkMan]

A Building IS a structure, ut a structure isn't necessarily a building.

[Toology]

Heh? Since when was the Sears Tower built 75 years ago :blink: ? In fact I'm not even sure what you're trying to say to be honest. We can argue it all day but the fact of the matter is Petronas strips the Sears using its spire, Taiwan strips the Petronas in building height but both do not outstrip the radio tower of Sears. All things considered, the Burj Dubai will outstrip them all and leave them in the dust (no pun intended :p ).

Scirwode

I think he meant the Empire State Building; completed in just 410 days (1930-1931.)

[Shuu]

this tallest/biggest in the world stuff fascinates me. freakin amazing.

makes me wonder just how high man can go...

:o

makes me want to build something at least twice as tall as this.