Dubai Skyscraper is Now the World's Tallest

Posted in: Technology in NicheFunny's Blog

Dubai skyscraper reaches 555 metres; eclipsing Canada’s CN Tower
By The Canadian Press
Thursday, September 13, 2007

The under construction Burj tower stands on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.(AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

TORONTO (CP) - The iconic skyline silhouette of the world-famous CN Tower, long billed as the tallest free-standing structure in the world, has been eclipsed by a new Middle Eastern monolith.

Burj Dubai, a soaring Y-shaped needle of glass and stainless steel, is now two metres taller than the 553-metre downtown Toronto tower that guards the Lake Ontario shoreline, the developer, Emaar Properties, said in a release Thursday.

The building, slated to have an interior designed by Giorgio Armani, also has scaled 150 livable levels, the largest number of storeys for any building in the world.

Burj Dubai had already beaten Taipei 101, which at 508 metres has been holding the tallest-building title since it opened in 2004.

"Burj Dubai is setting new world records in construction of super tall buildings, and the accomplishment of being the world’s tallest free-standing structure is another defining moment," said Emaar chairman Mohamed Alabbar.

While calling the Dubai feat "a commendable engineering achievement," CN Tower’s chief operating officer, Jack Robinson, pointed out that the CN Tower is "much more than just a tall building."

"When the time comes and the building is complete, we will congratulate the Burj Dubai project on their unique achievement," Robinson said.

"For now, we remain proud of the 30-year-plus record Canada’s National Tower has held as the world’s tallest, and will continue to celebrate the architectural marvel and wonder that the CN Tower represents to Toronto, Ontario, Canada and the rest of the world."

The Burj Dubai project was launched in 2004 as part of a US$20-billion, 200-hectare downtown development billed as the most prestigious square kilometre on earth.

The tower’s planned height is a closely guarded secret.

But Emaar says when completed in 2009, Burj Dubai will be the tallest structure in the world in all four of the criteria listed by the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago, the tower is being built by Samsung Corp. of South Korea.

In addition to residential, commercial and retail components, Burj Dubai will also feature the world’s first Armani Hotel.

Dubai is the commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates.

History Rising: Now 129 Levels Tall

Any day now Burj Dubai will overtake Taipei 101 and become the world's tallest building. It's already significantly higher than the Chicago Sears Tower (not counting the spire), and is quickly approaching the title of the highest concrete free-standing structure. Skyscraperpage forum has been quick to announce: "Ladies and Gentleman, the next tallest structure EVER built by the humans race !!!!!", and judging by the following pictures of construction progress, it will be a matter of only a few days.

Architecture, Real Estate

(images credit: Nakheel Properties)

Construction update:

- Designed by Chicago architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill for Emaar Properties.
- Will house hotel and condominiums, be largely residential.
- Completion date: June 30, 2009
- 959 meters high, 189 - 200 floors?
- An observation deck will be located on the 124th floor.
- The top residential level will only be 8 meters wide.
- Will have the fastest elevators in the world with a speed of 700m/min (42.3 kmh / 26.1 mph)
- When finished, It will be almost 40% taller than the the current tallest building, the Taipei 101.

Architecture, Real Estate

dubai, skyscraper, world, tallest, building, skidmore, owings, merrill, emaar, taipei, 101, Canada, National, Tower, Burj, sheikh, zayed, 555, meters

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Comments

Comment by yongyut3

Dec. 08,2007

cool +1

Comment by jashmin

Sep. 21,2007

good +1 please take a review to my blog http://www.flixya.com/post/jashmin/24176/Babys_Bliss_Apple_Gripe_Water_Recalled,_Potential

Comment by topone

Sep. 20,2007

that was awesome skyscrapper

Comment by jimi

Sep. 18,2007

I've working with Samsung. To add more, that skyscraper is building one story in 3 days!

Comment by hitarth18

Sep. 17,2007

Nicely written

+1 Added

Comment by rajaravi123

Sep. 17,2007

Nice post, wow hit +1

Comment by shoppingdiva

Sep. 17,2007

Been to the CN tower and that amazing, but I would love to check out the view from the new tower when it is completed !
I imagine that it would be awesome.