The Burj Dubai

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Burj Dubai is a supertall skyscraper currently under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. When it is completed in late 2008, it is predicted to be the tallest man-made structure in the world, as well as the tallest building by any measure. Scheduled for occupancy in September 2009, the building is part of a 2 km² (0.8 sq mi) development called ‘Downtown Burj Dubai’ and is located at the “First Interchange” (aka “Defence Roundabout”) along Sheikh Zayed Road at Doha Street.

The building is being built mainly by South K orean company Samsung, along with the Belgian company Besix and the UAE company Arabtec. Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) of Chicago is the lead architect, structural engineer and mechanical engineer of the Burj. George Efstathiou of SOM is the Managing Partner on the project, while Adrian Smith, formerly of SOM, was the Design Partner. Third Party Peer Review has been performed by CBM Engineers Inc. The total budget for the Burj Dubai project is about $4.1 billion US and for the entire new ‘Downtown Burj Dubai’, $20 billion US.

As of 27 December 2007, Burj Dubai has reached a height of 598.5 metres (1,964 feet), with 158 completed floors.

Current records

• Tallest freestanding structure: 598.5 meters (1,964 ft) (previously CN Tower – 553.3 m (1,815 ft))
• Building with most floors: 158 (previously Sears Tower / World Trade Center – 110)
• Vertical concrete pumping (for a building): 601.0 m (1,972 ft) (previously Taipei 101 – 449.2 m (1,474 ft))
• Vertical concrete pumping (for any construction): 601.0 m (1,972 ft) (previously Riva del Garda Hydroelectric Power Plant – 532 m (1,745 ft))

    

Projects under way

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The following skyscrapers are either proposed, approved or due to be completed in the near future:

• Construction of the Burj Dubai is taking place in Dubai. Its exact future height is kept secret, but it is expected to become at least 800 m (2,625 ft) high, making it the tallest building in the world. The Burj Dubai is due to be completed in June 2009.

• Construction is expected to start for the Shard London Bridge, also known as the Shard of Glass in the beginning of 2008. At 310m, is set to be the tallest building in the United Kingdom and the European union on its completion in 2011.

• Standing at 492 m (1,614 ft) and scheduled to be completed in 2008, the Shanghai World Financial Center is a mixed used skyscraper; consisting of office space, hotel rooms and shopping zones at ground level. It will surpass Jin Mao Tower and will be the tallest skyscraper in Shanghai and in main land China.

• Plans for a 358 m (1,175 ft). skyscraper in Boston have been confirmed^[9], to be called Trans National Place. Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in 2008 and be completed in 2011. If completed, it would be the tallest building in Boston and New England.

• Construction has started for a 610 m (2,001 ft) skyscraper in Chicago to be completed in 2011, the Chicago Spire with 150 floors is a mixed use skyscraper, also tallest residential building. Designed by Santiago Calatrava, it will be North America’s tallest free-standing structure.

Tallest Buildings Timeline

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1890 New York World Building, New York City (309 feet, the number of stories is disputed, but figures range from 16 to 26)
 
1894 Manhattan Life Insurance Building, New York City (348 feet, 18 stories)
 
1913 Woolworth Building, New York City (792 feet, 60 stories)
 
1930 Chrysler Building, New York City (1,046 feet, 77 stories)
 
1931 The Empire State Building, New York City (1,250 feet, 102 stories)
 
1972 The World Trade Center, New York City (1,368 feet, 110 stories)
 
1974 The Sears Tower, Chicago (1,450 feet, 110 stories)
 
1998 The Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (1,483 feet, 88 stories)
 
2004 Taipei 101, Taiwan (1,670 feet, 101 stories)