What is the Tallest Building in the World?

Designed by American architect Adrian Smith of the architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, and developed by Emaar Properties, the Burj Khalifa was built for offices, residences, and observation decks, and to become the new tallest building in the world.

In its nearly 17 years of standing tall above the city, the Burj Khalifa has set multiple records in architecture, engineering, and stunts.

For example, it holds the record for most floors in a building with 163, the record for the longest elevator travel distance of 504 meters, and the record for the highest base jump from a building from its 828-meter peak.

As early as March 9, 2003, Emaar Properties invited global architectural firms, including Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, to participate in a competition to design the world’s tallest building.

Nine months later, on January 6, 2004, foundational excavation work began.

During the foundational construction, workers implemented 192 reinforced concrete piles that were one-and-a-half meter wide 50 meters into the desert to distribute the buildings’ 500,000 ton weight.

Its Y-shaped design helps reduce wind forces and allows the building to have less sway.

Moreover, the completion of the Burj Khalifa set forth the goal pushed by leaders of Dubai to transition from an economy dependent on petroleum production to a worldwide hub for retail and tourism.

For years, the tower has put Dubai on the map to draw foreign investment and position the city as a city of the future.

Overall, the Burj Khalifa has helped transform Dubai’s skyline and reinforced the city as a global destination, while attracting millions of visitors annually.