Top 3 Tallest Buildings in the World

Burj Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is still under construction, but at 818 metres is now the tallest man-made structure in the world. The planned completion date is September of 2009, five years from the date it was begun. There will be approximately 160 floors in the building. Burj Dubai dominates a landscape which is mostly flat, with no other skyscrapers nearby. It has been adapted for its environment, with an exterior cladding designed to withstand the extremely high temperatures of Dubai. When complete, the building will rise spectacularly from a man-made lake.

This skyscraper in the Xinyi District of Taipei, Taiwan is 509 metres tall, with 101 stories. Taipei 101 has been the world’s tallest building since 2004, but will be surpassed when Burj Dubai is completed. Taipei 101 is notable for its postmodern design, which resembles elements of both a pagoda and a bamboo plant. The building’s engineering enables it to withstand the typhoon winds and earthquakes which can occur in Taiwan.

The World Financial Center in Shanghai, China, is 492 metres tall. This 101-story tower is marked by a square aperture at its peak. The aperture is both an engineering feature which reduces wind pressure and a striking design element. The SWFC opened in August of 2008, becoming at that time the second tallest building in the world. The building is topped by a roof rather than a spire, and is the tallest roofed building in the world.