Top 10 Tallest Buildings
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Humans have always had a fascination with making big things such as tall mountains. From the earliest civilizations building the Tower of Babel and the Pyramids, mankind has always wanted to build upwards. Perhaps it has been our desire to commune with the gods. Maybe it has been our desire to show our power over nature. However, in modern times, building the tallest building stands for something else. It is a sign of global power and prestige. Many people may wonder what the tallest building in the world is? Every country is always trying to outdo each other to show the economic and scientific might of their nation.
While the list is constantly changing due to new buildings being made and the criteria as to what the total height actually is we will be using the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat’s (CTBUH), the world’s leading authority on tall buildings, criteria of architectural height in determining the tallest building in the world. Architectural height is defined as being “measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the architectural top of the building, including spires, but not including antennae, signage, flag poles or other functional-technical equipment.” [1]The Skyscraper Center – Height: Architectural Thus, using that certified definition, check out below for a definitive list of the current top 10 tallest buildings in the world.
#10: Taipei 101
Taipei 101 is located in Taipei, Taiwan. It is the tenth largest building in the world coming in at an architectural height of 1,667 feet (508 meters) and 101 floors.[2]The Skyscraper Center – TAIPEI 101 Construction started in 1999 and was completed in 2004 making it the oldest building on this list. However, it remained the world’s largest building until the construction of the Burj Khalifa in 2010. The building stands as a testament to the advances of Asian technology and Asian history. Its design reflects the symbolic nature of a pagoda, which traditionally represented the link between the earth and the sky. In addition, this building has received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) platinum certification, giving it the title of the largest green building in the world by combining energy efficient designs and self-recycling systems.
#9: China Zun
The China Zun is located in Beijing, China. It is the ninth largest building in the world coming in at an architectural height of 1,732 feet (528 meters) and 108 floors.[3]The Skyscraper Center – Citic Tower The China Zun tower gets its name from the shape of the Chinese ceremonial vessel called a “zun”, which it mimics. Builders started construction in 2011 and will finish in 2018. Designers intend for the building to be a mixed use building with space for office spaces, luxury apartments, a hotel, and a rooftop garden. In fact, it is intended to be the flagship building in Beijing’s meticulously planned business district.
#8: Tianjin CTF Finance Centre
The Tianjin CTF Finance Centre is located in Tianjin, China (northern China near Beijing). It is the eighth largest building in the world coming in at an architectural height of 1,739 feet (530 meters) and 97 floors.[4]The Skyscraper Center – Tianjin CTF Finance Centre Construction started in 2013 and is expected to be completed in 2018. The building is part of the areas larger economic development and hosts office spaces, luxury apartments, and a hotel. Its curved outer columns both services to strengthen the building against earthquakes as well as to add an elegant feature to the city’s skyline.
#7: Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre
The Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre is located in Guangzhou, China (southern part of China). It is the seventh largest building in the world (3rd largest in China) coming in at an architectural height of 1,739 feet (530 meters) and 111 floors.[5]The Skyscraper Center – Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre Construction started in 2009 and was finished in 2016. The building is a mixed used building that houses a shopping mall, offices, apartments, and a hotel and reflects that in its architectural design. Interestingly, it sets back into itself to change its size to accommodate each of its different types of tenants. Furthermore, the Centre has some of the world’s fastest elevators, traveling at speed of 44.7 mph (71.9 kph). This means that it can travel from the ground floor to the 95th floor in around 43 seconds. In order to accommodate this, designers pressurized the elevators.
#6: One World Trade Center
The One World Trade Center is located in New York City, USA. It is the sixth largest building in the world. However, it is the tallest building in the US. It comes in at an architectural height of 1,792 feet (546.2 meters) and 94 floors.[6]The Skyscraper Center – One World Trade Center It stands on the previous site of the World Trade Center buildings that fell in the infamous 9/11 terrorist attacks. Builders started construction in 2006 and finished in 2013. However, the building officially opened in 2014. Architects designed the building and the whole complex as a memorial to the original Twin Towers as well as to rebuild and revitalize the area. Residents mainly use the building for office space in the Wall Street area of New York City. However, it also has space for public observation decks as well as a communication tower.
#5: Lotte World Tower
The Lotte World Tower is located in Seoul, South Korea. It is the fifth largest building in the world (and the 3rd largest in Asia) coming in at an architectural height of 1,823 feet (555.7 meters) and 123 floors.[7]The Skyscraper Center – Lotte World Tower After 13 years of planning, builders started construction in 2011 and finished in 2016. While many of the other countries on this list that have built some of the tallest building in the world have size or natural resources that help, South Korea is a small peninsular nation.
The design of the tower combines sleek modern aesthetics with traditional Korean ceramics, porcelain, and calligraphy to make a beautiful building that can add the Korean capital’s city skyline while also standing as a testament to the new economic power of this small nation. As such, the building services multiple function and has many different types of tenants from retail outlets, large offices, private residences, a luxury hotel, private small offices, and public spaces (such as an observation deck).
#4: Ping An Finance Centre
The Ping An Finance Centre is located in Shenzhen, China. It is the fourth largest building in the world coming in at an architectural height of 1,965 feet (599.1 meters) and 115 floors.[8]The Skyscraper Center – Ping An Finance Center Builders started construction in 2010 and finished in 2016. It is the second tallest building in China behind the Shanghai Tower. However, there were talks to build a 196.9 feet (60 meter) antenna on the top the building to beat the Shanghai Tower. But, due to concerns that it would obstruct flight paths, designers scrapped the plan. Architects designed the building to embody the history of its name sake the Ping An Insurance company, who use the building as their headquarters. However, the building also contains space for many other tenants such as offices, hotels, retail, shopping mall, and an observation deck for the public.
#3: Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower
The Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower (officially known as the Abraj Al-Bait Endowment) is located in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is the third largest building in the world coming in at an architectural height of 1,972 feet (601 meters).[9]flickr – Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower On top of this honor, it also has the world’s largest clock face(s) on its exterior. There is one clock on each of its four sides. They each measure at 141 feet (43 meters) in diameter. They are so big that people can see them from as far as 16 miles (25 kilometers) away.
It is part of country’s work at modernizing the Muslim holy pilgrimage site. As such, the Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower is part of a complex of 7 towers all in proximity of each other. Additionally, it stands directly next to the Great Mosque of Mecca. In fact, the mosque is the world’s largest, the holiest site in Islam, and site of Hajj.
#2: Shanghai Tower
The Shanghai Tower is in Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai and is the second tallest building in the world. It comes in at an architectural height of 2,073 feet (632 meters) and 128 floors. Construction started in 2008 and finished in 2015. However, between July and September of 2016, the building went through a soft opening. Architects built the Shanghai Tower with the purpose “to provide higher quality office and shopping space. It also contributes to the completeness of the city skyline’s and the entire region’s functionality”.[10]China News It does this through its tiered construction. Furthermore, this design is energy efficient and provides plenty of space for work, living, and pleasure.
#1: Burj Khalifa
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, is currently the tallest building in the world. It comes in at an architectural height of 2,717 feet (828 meters) and 163 floors.[11]The Skyscraper Center – Burj Khalifa However, residents of the building can only use 154 floors. Floors 155 to 163 are mechanical, broadcasting, and communication floors. To help people get up and down, the Burj Khalifa has 57 elevators and 8 escalators. However, if you are looking to take the stairs, you will be climbing a lot. In fact, there are 2,909 stairs from the ground floor to the 160th floor. Construction started in 2004 and finished in 2009. However, the official grand opening was in 2010.
It was built as part of Dubai’s plan to diversify its economy. In fact, it is the crowning jewel in Dubai’s plan to change itself from a purely oil based one to one more focused on tourism and entertainment. The building has y-shape and spiral pattern. The pattern takes its influence from traditional Islamic architecture such as the Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq. However, it also uses this design to help reduce vibrations caused by desert winds. The Burj Kalifa is a multi-use building. For example, it features the Armani Hotel on its lower flowers (15 of the lower 39 floors are part of the 304 room luxury hotel personally designed by Giorgio Armani himself), residential spaces, corporate offices, restaurants, and observation decks.
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