Burj Dubai!

Amidst the crisis, Dubai is keeping its date to create history by opening the Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building, tomorrow, even as it is keeping the whole world guessing about the final height of the magnificent tower whose parent is fighting for survival.

Though the final height of the super-scrapper is not known, the 1-billion pound Burj Dubai is at least 2,683 ft from its base to the tip of its spire—-equivalent of three-and-a-half Canary Wharf towers or two Empire State Buildings stacked up.

Its final height is being kept a secret until tomorrow, but architects who have worked on the building have hinted it could break the 2,700-ft mark.  The tower is more than 1,000ft higher than its nearest inhabited rival, Taiwan’s 1,671-ft Taipei 101.

Not only is Burj Dubai the world’s tallest building, it has also broken two other impressive records: tallest structure, previously held by the KVLY-TV mast in Blanchard, North Dakota, and tallest free-standing structure, previously held by Toronto’s CN Tower. The Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has established 3 criteria to determine what makes a tall building tall. Burj Dubai wins by far in all three categories.

Height to architectural top
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the architectural top of the building. This includes spires, but does not include antennae, signage, flagpoles or other functional-technical equipment. This measurement is the most widely used and is used to define the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat rankings of the Tallest Buildings in the World.

Highest occupied floor
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest continually occupied floor within the building. Maintenance areas are not included.

Height to tip
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest point of the building, irrespective of material or function of the highest element. This includes antennae, flagpoles, signage and other functional-technical equipment.

Read more about Burj Dubai!

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