The Burj Khalifa in Dubai remains the tallest structure at 828 meters. The Metropolitan Life Tower in New York, erected in 1909, is the oldest skyscraper above 200 meters. Its height is 233 meters.
The Landmark Building in Los Angeles was once the tallest building in California and still holds the record for the tallest freestanding building in the state. With a height of 538 feet (163 m), it was completed in 1989. The Willis Tower in Chicago is currently the world's highest office building with 499 feet (150 m). It also holds the record for the tallest building in North America outside of Canada or Mexico, until 1990 when it was beaten by One World Trade Center in New York City.
The Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur are the twin towers of a 52-story office building that stands 491 feet (147 m) high and is the former world's tallest self-supported steel structure. They were built from 1993 to 1998 and hold the record for the tallest buildings in Malaysia as well as Southeast Asia. Before these towers, the title of the region's tallest building was held by the Menara Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, which stand 535 feet (166 m) high and were completed in 1990.
Dubai's Burj Khalifa Last but not least on our list is the world's tallest structure, the Burj Khalifa. The massive tower and spectacular showpiece of Downtown Dubai measures 828.9 meters tall. The construction of the 160-story building began in 2004, with the doors opening six years later in 2010. In its design, the architects took into account the fact that it will be seen from many miles away, so they made sure that it has excellent viewing galleries for guests to enjoy the view.
The building is also home to some amazing restaurants and shops. If you're looking for luxury items, you can go to Bougere by Pierre Hermé which is one of only five restaurants in the world that holds two stars in the Michelin Guide. Or you can go to Ettien, which is one of only three restaurants in the world with a three-star rating from the Grand Chef Award program.
Or if you're looking for something more low-key, there are shopping malls inside the building too. This includes the observation deck at the top of the tower where you can get great views over Dubai.
Do check out our video below for a tour of this incredible building!
The Burj Khalifa is a skyscraper in Dubai that stands 2,717 feet (830 meters) tall and is the world's tallest building. It is also the largest building by volume. The building was designed by Zaha Hadid and its height has been called "the most controversial aspect of the project" by some critics.
The building is also known for its irregular shape which differs from the normally rectangular design of many other skyscrapers. Its smooth contours make it look like a mushroom or a lit torch.
It is worth mentioning that this skyscraper is not occupied by any company but rather it is a luxury hotel. The only office space on the 88th floor is used as a sales gallery.
Construction on the tower started in 2004 and it took about 11 years to complete it. The cost of the project was estimated at $100 million ($140 million today) at the time it was being built. However, since its opening in 2009, the price tag has increased to $150 million ($220 million today).
The building is owned by the Emirate of Dubai who sold it to a private investor in 2011. Before that date, it was under the management of ACCOR which manages several other high-end hotels in addition to this one.
163 floors However, in 2020, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (828 meters spread across 163 storeys) will relinquish its position as the world's tallest tower. This does not mean that it no longer ranks as the world's highest skyscraper, because it continues to be ranked by both the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitats (CTBUH) and the World Building Information Group (BIG). The Burj Khalifa was designed by FUTURIST IMAGINATION OF OMA and built by the BURJ KHALIFA LLC, a company set up by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
The current record holder before the Burj Khalifa is the 722-meter-high Shanghai Tower, which was completed in 2010. The previous record holder was the 632-meter-high Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which were completed in 1998.
The first international standard for skyscrapers was developed by the United States during the 1930s. The Chicago Plan proposed that buildings should be limited to 700 feet (213 m) to allow open space above the office buildings. In 1972, the New York City Planning Commission adopted an expansion of this plan, proposing a maximum height of 1,200 feet (365 m) for any one structure.
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