The Top Five Most Spectacular Skyscapers in the World
A Picture Hub of Breathtaking Architecture
The Top Five Most Spectacular Skyscrapers in the World:
1. Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2. Al Hamra Tower, Kuwait City, Kuwait
3. One World Trade Center, New York City, United States
4. Jin Mao Tower, Shanghai, China
5. Abraj Al-Bait, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Honorable Mention: Umeda Sky Building, Osaka, Japan
Burj Khalifa
Height: 2,722 ft (829.8 m) Number of Floors: 163
Construction Start to Opening: January 2004 - January 2010
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Designers: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
World Records: Burj Khalifa is the worlds tallest structure by nearly 700 ft. Naturally, it holds a number of records in regards to building height and architecture. It holds the world's highest restaurant.
Meaning behind the name: Burj is Arabic for Tower. Khalifa is the name of the President of UAE. The skyscraper was originally namedBurj Dubai, "Dubai Tower", but was renamed at it's opening in honor of President, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in return for his backing of the project.
Interesting fact: The elevators in the tower move at 33 ft/second or roughly 22.5 miles per hour. There are 2,909 stairs from the ground floor to the 160th floor.
Al Hamra Tower
Height: 1,354 ft (412.6 m) Number of Floors: 77
Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait
Total Cost: $500 million
Records: Tallest stone-clad structure
Interesting Fact: Over 195,000 square meters of concrete was used in the construction of the building.
One World Trade Center
As of February 2013, this building is topped-out, but not yet completed. Construction started in April 2007 and the building is scheduled to open in late 2013 or early 2014. The building was formerly known as the Freedom Tower. The tower is a part of the new World Trade Center complex which features a September 11 Memorial, a new transportation hub, and other high-rise buildings.
Height: 1776 ft. (546.2 m) Number of Floors: 104
Location: New York, United States
Total Cost: $3.8 billion
World Records: The third tallest skyscraper in the world and the tallest in the western hemisphere.
Interesting Fact: The building is developed and controlled by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Jin Mao Tower
Height: 1380 ft. (420.5 m) Number of Floors: 88
Location: Shanghai, China
Construction Started and Finished: 1994 - 1999
Number of Lifts/Elevators: 61
Total Cost: roughly $530 million
Interesting Fact: Floors 53-87 hold the Shanghai Grand Hyatt hotel, featuring 555 rooms and a barrel-vaulted atrium 32 stories high.
Abraj Al-Bait
Height: 1,972 (601 m) Number of Floors: 120
Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Construction Started/finished: 2004-2012
Total Cost: $15 billion
Interesting fact: the clock on the Abraj Al-Bait tower is the largest in the world. It can be viewed from 16 miles away/
Umeda Sky Building
This 40-story tower deserves an honorable mention simply because of it's unique design and the sky bridges which cross "space" between the two towers.