World's Tallest Structure Opening: 160+ Story Burj Dubai

[Captain Zissou]

I wonder if this is the base jumping Holy Grail....

I doubt any building will surpass this in height for decades to come, based solely on the impracticality of the height of this building.  I can see Tokyo, Hong Kong, or Singapore build a taller building in maybe 2050, but not before.  

I agree with Aaronius that it is a shame we haven't rebuilt anything on the WTC site.  The age of the skyscraper has somewhat died off in the US, and most certainly in Jax.  We need to work on building great, smart, efficient, dense, livable cities before we worry about supertalls.  

[reednavy]

Singapore can't build any taller than the 3 that are already at the maximum allowed, which is 919ft. It is for airspace height restrictions with the airport.

[Jason]

Freedom Tower (or whatever its called now) is well under construction and is rising rapidly above NYC streets.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=123628&page=353

[Ocklawaha]

Cool! I think they'd all make great BRT stations...

OCKLAWAHA

[Captain Zissou]

Older photo.

[heights unknown]

It (Freedom Tower) will be tall but will nothave anything on BURJ KHALIFA in Dubai.

"HU"

[Bostech]

Exactly Aaron,tall building don't create vibrant downtowns.
Average american city has tall towers,looks great from distance but once you get into downtown,its empty and no life.
Average european city doesn't even know how to spell tower,looks like a mess from distance but once you enter downtown,its full of life.
You need cities with smaller,preferable 4-8 stories buildings that makes city alive.

[Bostech]

Freedom Tower (or whatever its called now) is well under construction and is rising rapidly above NYC streets.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=123628&page=353

I personally think they should have named Freedom tower to Yipikaye Mother%@#@ tower.

:-)

[stjr]

Or, to paraphrase John Stewart, remember when we used to build things? Sure, it takes longer without slaves (just ask the South, not so much gone with the wind as blown to less free societies.) But the United States used to be about creation and invention. Perhaps seeing this tower will remind us of that, shame us, and get us on track.

FYI, the designers/architects for this building are Americans at the firm of Skidmore Owings & Merrill in Chicago:

The opening of the world's tallest building in Dubai could enhance Chicago's architectural reputation.

The building opened with a literal bang from some dazzling fireworks. Noted architect Adrian Smith says the Burj Khalifa is the culmination of his career to date.

Smith was the lead designer and a design partner with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill before he started his own firm.

SMITH: As a model for how to do a successful super-tall building, this will become the model for future super-tall buildings for 10 to 20 years to come.

Smith says super-tall buildings are expensive, so they're rarely built. But each one increases the field's understanding of forces like wind.

He says the building adds to the legacy of Chicago architecture. Smith says it's important to export local knowledge and talent to compete globally.

http://www.wbez.org/Content.aspx?audioID=39152

[stjr]

I doubt any building will surpass this in height for decades to come, based solely on the impracticality of the height of this building.  

Don't count on it.  Here are some buildings either under construction or on the drawing boards awaiting the right market and financing (the current tower, Burj Dubai, is represented at second from left for comparison):



Ironically, the one amongst these that would go still taller is planned (but on hold for now) for Dubai also:


From "Gallery:Future Mega-Towers" at: http://business.maktoob.com/20090000414410/Burj_cost_1_5_bln_to_build_already_in_black/Article.htm

[Captain Zissou]

That Makkah Hotel monstrosity looks awful.  Despite your list, I just don't see something passing it for some time.  The Nakheel tower looks improbably, and the Shanghai tower is still 200 meters shy of Burj Khalifah.

[finehoe]

I agree that it will probably hold the title of "World's Tallest" for a while.  Remember that the Empire State Building stood as the world's tallest building for more than forty years, and it too, opened in the midst of a great economic downturn (1931).

[heights unknown]

Empire State Building opened in the midst of a world economic disaster and catastrophy, ours is a severe downturn.

That monstrosity Naheel whatever, looks like a rocket ship.  I like the design of the Burj Khalifa; I don't believe that Burj Khalifa will be surpassed anytime soon; our world economy will take some time to bounce back to pre-2008 levels, and, whose to say it will ever bounce back.

Don't like that 1000 meter tower at all.

"HU"

[Lunican]

http://www.youtube.com/v/TGD7xX960PQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&

[heights unknown]

Looks like a Christmas tree and Star Trek.

I wonder how much all that cost?  I thought the area was in financial despair?  Fooled me.

"HU"