Tall buildings signify man’s achievement and potentiality in the dynamic architecture society. Looking at the landscapes of cities worldwide over the last few decades, one cannot overlook that height has triumphed. These suspense, business, and living structures are considered modern architectural masterpieces in Engineering, design, and technology. In this article, you can learn about the main specifications of the highest buildings worldwide, responsible for the city skyline’s prominent appearance.
Table of Contents
The 10 Tallest Buildings in the World
1. Burj Khalifa – Dubai, UAE
Height: 828 meters (2,717 feet)
Floors: 163
Year Completed: 2010
Purpose: Multifunctional (business, living, tourism).
Design: Adrian Smith designed Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest artificial structure that stands one 828 kilometre high. It has an elongated, streamlined design inspired by the shape of Islamic architecture and is a representation of Dubai’s growth. It also comprises several offices, opulent apartments, a hotel and facilities for the Observation Decks with stunning city views.
2. Merdeka 118 – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Height: 644 meters (2,113 feet)
Floors: 118
Year Completed: 2022
Purpose: Commercial and retail (office, hotel, and residential)
Design: Merdeka 118, finalized in 2022, is currently the tallest building in Malaysia and the second tallest globally. A Malaysian songket textile pattern creates the architectural arrangement of the tower. It is a commercial, tourism and lifestyle destination with a quality hotel, commercial properties, and apartments.
3. Shanghai Tower – Shanghai, China
Height: 632 meters (2,073 feet)
Floors: 128
Year Completed: 2015
Purpose: Commercial – Office space, retail, and hotel.
Design: China’s tallest structure is the Shanghai Tower, which Gensler has designed. Its almost grenade-like design of turning around its centre helps reduce wind drag and the arising wind from it; it is specially designed for energy-efficient structures. The structure has an exterior glazed façade with natural lighting, and the observatory floor offers an extensive skyline view.
4. Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower – Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Height: 601 meters (1,971 feet)
Floors: 120
Year Completed: 2012
Purpose: Hotel, shopping mall, and Islamic museum.
Design: It is among the tallest and closest to the Masjid al-Haram mosque, Mecca’s most famous landmark, the Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower, part of the Mecca Royal Resort. The tower is one of the other towers in the complex with the King Abdulaziz Endowment, and it has a giant clock face visible from miles away. It is also essential for pilgrims who are visiting Mecca.
5. Ping An Finance Centre – Shenzhen, China
Height: 599 meters (1,965 feet)
Floors: 115
Year Completed: 2017
Purpose: Office – hotel – retail or commercial, retail – commercial – residential, commercial – residential – retail.
Design: The Ping An Finance Centre was designed by Norman Foster and is one element of Shenzhen’s growing financial sector. In this context, the tower features a façade made of glass, which harmonizes with the contemporary setting of the city. The building comprises offices, a luxurious hotel, and upscale commercial storefronts.
6. Lotte World Tower – Seoul, South Korea
Height: 555 meters (1,819 feet)
Floors: 123
Year Completed: 2016
Purpose: Commercial, business (offices for rent, hotel, apartment)
Design: The Lotte World Tower is one of the iconic buildings representing South Korea’s modern skyline. It is a sleek, slender design with a triple-glazed exterior to make it naturally energy-friendly. There is a shopping mall in the base, business offices, homes, a hotel for the wealthy, and a lookout point with a vantage point on Seoul.
7. One World Trade Center – New York City, USA
Height: 541 meters (1,776 feet)
Floors: 104
Year Completed: 2013
Purpose: General (office, observation)
Design: Thought of as the Freedom Tower, the One World Trade Center is symbolic of people’s ability to rise again after being attacked on 9/11. Its height is meaningful, and it is 1 776 feet, the number of independent Americans. It serves as an office, observation deck, and 9/11 Memorial & Museum.
8. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre – Guangzhou, China
Height: 530 meters (1,739 feet)
Floors: 111
Year Completed: 2016
Purpose: Many-sided (office, hotel, and living use).
Design: The Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre is one of the tallest buildings in China; its exterior is decorated in metal with sharp lines, and the glass surface reflects its postmodernism in the style of the future. Some of the uses of the building are office space, residential, and a service suite of a five-star hotel.
9. Tianjin CTF Finance Centre – Tianjin, China
Height: 530 meters (1,739 feet)
Floors: 98
Year Completed: 2019
Purpose: Commercial (office), Limited services (hotel), Dwelling (residential).
Design: The Tianjin CTF Finance Centre, another of China’s giant leviathans with a growing skyline across the country, is the same as the one in Guangzhou. The layout of the building reflects a lot of style and operation efficiency with energy-conserving facilities and stunning views from the higher floors.
10. CITIC Tower – Beijing, China
Height: 528 meters (1,732 feet)
Floors: 108
Year Completed: 2018
Purpose: Office
Design: CITIC Tower is an elegant contemporary commercial building located in the central commercial area of the Chinese capital. The glass exterior and futuristic look also make it one of the main characteristics of the city skyline. As noted, the building is dominantly used for office space and many companies’ headquarters.
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Comparison Chart
| Rank | Building Name | Height (meters) | Height (feet) | Floors | Year Completed | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Burj Khalifa | 828 | 2,717 | 163 | 2010 | Dubai, UAE |
| 2 | Merdeka 118 | 644 | 2,113 | 118 | 2022 | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia |
| 3 | Shanghai Tower | 632 | 2,073 | 128 | 2015 | Shanghai, China |
| 4 | Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower | 601 | 1,971 | 120 | 2012 | Mecca, Saudi Arabia |
| 5 | Ping An Finance Centre | 599 | 1,965 | 115 | 2017 | Shenzhen, China |
| 6 | Lotte World Tower | 555 | 1,819 | 123 | 2016 | Seoul, South Korea |
| 7 | One World Trade Center | 541 | 1,776 | 104 | 2013 | New York City, USA |
| 8 | Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre | 530 | 1,739 | 111 | 2016 | Guangzhou, China |
| 9 | Tianjin CTF Finance Centre | 530 | 1,739 | 98 | 2019 | Tianjin, China |
| 10 | CITIC Tower | 528 | 1,732 | 108 | 2018 | Beijing, China |
Conclusion
Global skyscrapers remain symbolic milestones of endowment and living environments’ audacious and explosive enthusiasm. While these giant construction projects go on and on, these are the kind of architectural and engineering possibilities today. From the Burj Khalifa to the newest addition of Merdeka 118, tomorrow’s towers are changing skylines and giving a perspective of tomorrow’s cities. Therefore, these structures are all a barrier to changes in the structure’s commercial, residential, and other combined uses.
FAQs
What is the tallest building in the world?
Burj Khalifa in Dubai, UAE, is the tallest building today. It has a height of 828 meters (2,717 feet). It has had this recognition since it was completed in 2010.
Which building is taller: Burj Khalifa or Shanghai Tower?
The Burj Khalifa is taller than the Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in the world. Compared to Burj Khalifa, which is 828 meters or 2,717 feet tall, the Shanghai Tower is only 632 meters or 2,073 feet, making Burj Khalifa the tallest of the two by 196 meters.
How tall is the tallest building in the United States?
The construction of this tower is located in New York City, United States, and has a height of 541 meters, which is 1756 feet tall. This is the tallest building in the United States. This building was constructed in 2013 and is known as the Freedom Tower.
Are there any buildings taller than the Burj Khalifa in the near future?
There are proposals for buildings even taller than the Burj Khalifa at present. The Saudi Arabian project of the Jeddah Tower, “Kingdom Tower,” is now in the construction phase; located in Jeddah, which is intended to be structurally taller than Burj Khalifa, around 1,000 m or 3000 ft in Total height. The construction has been slow; however, it will be the tallest structure globally upon compression.
What is the purpose of the tallest buildings in the world?
The tallest building is used today in different ways, such as offices, apartments, hotels, observation terror, and shopping malls. These include tall buildings with several functions in one building and are intended to act as essential symbols, business centers, and tourist attractions.