Burj Khalifa: The tallest building in the world

Since 2010, the tallest building has been Dubai‘s 828-metre (2,717-foot) Burj Khalifa.

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While it is exceptional in every way, it is the distinctive design of the Burj Khalifa that truly distinguishes it. The centrepiece of this future international capital drew the world’s most renowned designers to an invitation-only design competition. The chosen design was subjected to a rigorous peer review programme to ensure the structural systems’ safety and efficacy.

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Burj Khalifa: Architecture

The structure has a three-lobed footprint that is an abstraction of the Hymenocallis flower. The tower is made up of three components that are organised around a central core. The modular, Y-shaped construction, with setbacks along each of its three wings, provides an intrinsically stable structure with appropriate floor plates for residential use. The cross-section of the tower is gradually lowered by 26 helical levels as it spirals upward.

At the apex, the centre core emerges and culminates in a carved spire. A Y-shaped floor plan provides the greatest view of the Arabian Gulf. The Burj Khalifa resembles the onion domes prominent in Islamic architecture from the ground or in the air.

Burj Khalifa: Wind tunnel testing

Over 40 wind tunnel experiments were performed on the Burj Khalifa to investigate the impact of wind on the skyscraper and its inhabitants. These varied from preliminary experiments to validate Dubai’s wind environment to major structural analysis models and facade pressure tests, as well as microclimate studies of the impacts at terraces and surrounding the tower base. The tower cranes on the tower were used to evaluate the temporary conditions during the building stage to ensure safety at all times.

The stack effect, also known as the chimney effect, is a phenomenon that impacts supertall building design and is caused by variations in pressure and temperature with height. Special studies were conducted on the Burj Khalifa to estimate the scale of the adjustments that would be required in the building’s design.

Burj Khalifa: Interiors

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP’s Chicago office also completed the interior design of the Burj Khalifa’s public sections, which was overseen by award-winning designer Nada Andric. Glass, stainless steel, and polished dark stones are used, as well as silver travertine flooring, Venetian plaster walls, handmade carpets, and stone floors. The interior design was inspired by local culture while keeping the building’s significance as a worldwide symbol and dwelling in mind.

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Burj Khalifa: Artwork

The Burj Khalifa and the adjacent Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard are adorned with over 1,000 pieces of art by notable Middle Eastern and international artists. Emaar commissioned several of the sculptures to pay respect to the spirit of world peace. The artefacts were chosen to represent the multinational partnership that is the Burj Khalifa by connecting cultures and communities.

Burj Khalifa: Construction

Excavation construction for the Burj Khalifa began in January 2004, and the project crossed numerous critical milestones on its way to becoming the highest man-made structure the world has ever seen. After excavation work began in January 2004, the Burj Khalifa became the world’s highest free-standing skyscraper in just 1,325 days.

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Burj Khalifa: Highlights of construction

The concrete and steel foundation, which comprises 192 piles dug more than 50 m (164 ft) deep, was built using over 45,000 m3 (58,900 cubic yds) of concrete weighing more than 110,000 tonnes. The Burj Khalifa required 330,000 m3 (431,600 cubic yds) of concrete, 39,000 tonnes of steel rebar, and 22 million man-hours to construct. The Burj Khalifa’s exterior coating began in May 2007 and was finished in September 2009.

The large project required the participation of over 380 skilled engineers and on-site workers. During the initial stage of installation, the team moved at a rate of roughly 20 to 30 panels per day, eventually reaching 175 panels per day.

With a height of 512 metres, the skyscraper set a global record for the tallest installation of an aluminium and glass façade. The overall weight of aluminium used on the Burj Khalifa is comparable to five A380 aeroplanes.

In November 2007, the tallest reinforced concrete core walls were pumped from ground level with 80 MPa concrete. A vertical height of 601 metres. This shattered the previous pumping record on a building of 470 m on Taipei 101, the world’s second tallest structure, as well as the previous world record for vertical pumping of 532 metres for an addition to the Riva del Garda Hydroelectric Power Plant in 1994. When the pumping reached this level, the concrete pressure was over 200 bars.

The quantity of rebar used to build the tower is 31,400 metric tonnes, which would stretch more than a fourth of the way around the planet if set end to end.