Whats the new tallest building in the world?

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Introduction to How the Burj Dubai Works

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In the latest pictures of Dubai's skyline, one building looms over the rest. The dark structure almost seems as though it's on a di�fferent scale -- like an oversized toy that got mixed in with a matching set. At 156 stories and growing, the Burj Dubai is, in fact, on a different scale. It's the new tallest building in the world and the new tallest structure in the world -- and it's not even complete.

On July 22, 2007, the Burj Dubai hit 1,680 feet, pushing ahead of Taiwan's Taipei 101 by 13 feet. The Burj then quickly surpassed Toronto's 1,815 foot CN Tower, which held the title of world's tallest freestanding structure for 31 years. As of October 2007, the Burj spans 1,922 feet and 156 floors.

George Rose/Getty Images
The Burj Dubai could reach 2,275 feet by the time it is complete.

The Burj Dubai's developers will not reveal specifics on the building's final height, but speculators predict it will reach 2,275 feet by its completion in late 2008. Skyscraper developers strive to build the world's tallest structures, and some developers will erect hasty towers or extend a roof to gain height over a rival. The Burj Dubai will dominate all four criteria used by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat to measure skyscrapers. It should have the highest structural top, occupied floor, roof and spire in the world.

The tower is only one of the booming city of Dubai's superlative plans -- plans that include the largest mall, the largest ski run and the largest artificial island. Yet, it was not conceived as such. Designers originally planned for a 90 story, three-wing building but Dubai's ruler and mastermind, Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, pushed the developers, Emaar Properties, to sensationalize the project and build a globally recognized structure. Construction on the Burj Dubai started in January 2004. �

In the next section, we'll learn about the components of the Burj Dubai.

The New Tallest Building in the World

�Photographer:BarbaraTripp/Agency:Dreamstime.com A flower from the Hymenocallis genus inspired the Burj Dubai's shape.

Perhaps it's surprising that the new tallest structure in the world would take its inspiration from a diminutive flower. Designers were motivated by the Hymenocallis genus's spidery, layered form. The Burj Dubai makes use of a "buttressed core" and has a modular, Y-shaped structure, somewhat reminiscent of the flower's sculpted shape. Reinforced concrete walls surround a hexagonal concrete core. The tower is designed to withstand high winds and seismic events.

Inside the Burj Dubai, the world's fastest elevators will whisk guests to an observation deck at 40 miles per hour. Other lifts will deposit residents at the 800 apartments between the 17th and 108th floors. The higher floors will house offices, while a club will span three levels in the 140s. Giorgio Armani even plans to open a hotel and designer-furnished residential suites in the building.

The Burj Dubai's innovative design is matched by its state-of-the-art systems. The US$20 billion site, including the tower and its surrounding buildings, will require 145,000 tons of refrigeration. Low temperature chillers that run on a special glycol solution will keep even the uppermost floors of the Burj cool. In case of system failure, an ice storage system will provide an alternative source of air-conditioning.

AFP/Getty Images
The Burj Dubai
lights up the city.

To prevent condensation buildup, a collection system will trap moisture formed inside of the air-conditioned tower, drain it to a holding tank and pump the salvaged water into an irrigation system. Ultimately, the system should collect 15 million gallons of water per year. Three track-mounted building maintenance machines will perform the work of a fleet of window-washers.

Construction on the tallest building in the world has progressed rapidly. It took only 1,276 days of work for the Burj Dubai to surpass Taipei 101. More than 30 contracting companies are working on the tower and the larger Burj Dubai development with a peak of 5,000 workers on-site at one time. However, construction has been interrupted as laborers protest low pay and poor working conditions. Dubai's contractors are often accused of treating their migrant workforce unfairly. In 2006, 2,500 laborers walked out of the Burj site and rioted for increased pay. Skilled carpenters make only about US$7.60 per day, while laborers earn $4 [BBC].

No Towering InfernoThe Burj Dubai has been designed with highly fire-resistant concrete corridor walls and slabs. Certain elevators will function in emergencies to allow a controlled evacuation. And because people cannot easily walk down 160 flights of stairs, pressurized, air-conditioned waiting areas are located every 25 floors to allow evacuees the chance to stop and rest.

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Whats the new tallest building in the world?