The Burj Dubai
\nSoaring 818 meters (2,684 feet) the Burj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates claims to be the world’s tallest building. But the Burj Dubai is still under construction, and statistics include the skyscraper’s enormous spire.
\nThe Taipei 101 Tower
\nOther record-breaking skyscrapers are on the drawing board, but they are too far from completion to enter the running. Among buildings that are fully completed, the world’s tallest appears to be the soaring Taipei 101 Tower in Taipei, Taiwan. The Taipei 101 Tower measures 509 meters (1,670 feet). However, the Tower’s massive 60-foot spire contributes to much of that height.
\nI decided to Google about the Burj Dubai a little, and i found an interesting interview at Wired with SOM\u00b4s structural engineer Bill Baker, telling the story behind the design, the structure and construction. The foundations were overengineered just in case the client wanted to rise the height of the building during construction\u2026 which he did!. Now the final height won\u00b4t be disclosed until the construction is finished.
\nEven though the Burj Dubai is still under construction, set to be completed in September 2009, it’s already the world’s tallest manmade structure. As of the end of September 2008, Burj Dubai rose to 2,320 ft (707 m) tall. The exact height is top secret but is estimated to be at least 2,313 ft and 167 floors high. Designed by the firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Burj Dubai features a triple-lobed footprint that was inspired by an abstract rendering of the Hymenocallis, a desert flower native to the area. The structure, which somewhat resembles the Sears Tower, is located in the heart of Dubai’s bustling business district. A hotel will occupy the bottom 37 floors of the building. Floors 45 through 108 will house apartments, and corporate offices will take up the remainder of the building<\/p>\n