56 random facts and figures of Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest structure…
Basics
2. It’s 828 metres tall (2,717 feet).
3. The exact height was not revealed until final stages of the construction.
4. It was officially opened on Jan 4, 2010.
5. It was previously known as Burj Dubai.
6. Burj means Tower in Arabic language.
7. It’s renamed after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of UAE and ruler of Abu Dhabi.
8. The tower’s official website is www.burjkhalifa.ae
World records
9. Tallest building, previously Taiwan’s Taipei 101 (509m).
10. Tallest free-standing structure, previously Canada’s CN Tower (555m).
11. Tallest man-made structure, previously USA’s KVLY-TV Mast (629m).
12. Tallest man-made structure ever, previously Poland’s Warsaw Radio Mast (647m).
13. Building with most floors (160), previously USA’s World Trade Center (110).
14. Highest elevator installation.
15. Highest outdoor observation deck (~440m)
16. Highest mosque at 158th floor.
17. Highest (insert here) which requires another long list to be completed ;p
18. Fastest elevators at speed of 64km/h, or 18m/s.
19. It would take just a minute to reach from ground level to top floor.
Architecture
20. Burj Dubai has more than 162 floors.
21. It has 49 office floors.
22. It houses 1044 residential apartments.
23. It has a floor area of 334,000 square metres.
24. There’s 57 lifts in the tower.
25. There’s 28,261 of glass-panels on the exterior of the tower.
26. Its top spire can be seen from 95km afar.
27. The architecture features a triple-lobed footprint, an abstraction of the Hymenocallis flower.
28. The Y-shaped floor plan aims to maximize views of the Gulf.
29. Over 1,000 pieces of art from prominent Middle Eastern and international artists will adorn the tower and the surrounding Emaar Boulevard.
Environmental
30. The tower’s peak electricity demand is estimated at 50MVA, equivalent to roughly 500,000 100-watt light bulbs.
31. It’s expected to use an average of 946,000 litres of water each day.
32. During peak cooling conditions, the tower will require around 12,500 tons of cooling, equivalent to the cooling capacity of about 10,000 tons of melting ice.
Construction
33. Construction began in September 2004.
34. The tower’s architect and engineer is Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (Chicago).
35. The main constructor is Emaar Properties, a joint venture by Korea’s Samsung C&T, Belgium’s Besix and UAE’s Arabtec.
36. The construction project manager is Turner Construction Company.
37. Bill Baker is the chief structural engineer.
38. Adrian Smith is consulting design partner.
39. It took some 22 million man-hours to be completed.
40. On downside, foreign construction workers were pay as little as $4 per day.
41. Over 45,000 cubic-metres of concrete, weighing more than 110,000 tonnes, were used.
42. Concrete used was enough to lay a 2,065km-long pavement; and equivalent to the weight of 100,000 elephants.
43. Total weight of aluminium used is equivalent to that of five A380 aircraft.
44. Total length of stainless steel bull nose fins used is equal to 293 times the height of France’s Eiffel Tower.
45. The foundations were dug to depths of 50m.
Finances
46. Total cost estimated at US$1.5 billion.
47. The price for the offices spaces reached as high as US$4,000 per sq ft.
48. Residential spaces as high as US$3,500 per sq ft.
49. The building is part of the a 490-acre flagship development called Downtown Burj Khalifa.
Random
50. Burj Khalifa is about twice the height of Empire State Building (443m).
51. It’s taller than Hong Kong’s Victoria Peak (552m).
52. It’s the first world’s tallest structure in history to include residential space.
53. It will feature the world’s first Armani Hotel, which occupies 15 of the lower 39 floors.
54. The exterior temperature at the top of will be 6°C cooler than its base (some say 10°C).
55. Jan 4, its opening date, was the birthday of Sir Isaac Newton.
56. Around 12,000 people are expected to live and work in the tower when it’s fully occupied.
[References: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5][Image by Leandro]
Its kind of funny how huge it is and all the other buildings around it not that tall
finally opened. and it happens when Dubai is in the midst of its worse financial crisis. the construction has taken a big toll on this country.
Well, Dubai (emirate/state) is in trouble, but UAE (country) not. They probably received some huge favours from Abu Dhabi (another emirate), so huge that Dubai decided to name the tower after Abu Dhabi’s ruler (who also happens to be the president of the country).
it’s so tall!
Is it a really tall tower in the world?
6 years is a lot.
Give people some more money like $100 per week.
It is the tallest structure in the world.
Can’t they built a bigger tower like Burj Dubai.
I’m not sure what you mean. Burj Khalifa is the new name Burj Dubai.
This Website sucks.
its new record break in the world. thanks to those persons who are build it and help to build it.
Burj is the latest,highly,expensive and large building.Who are working of this building at any kinds of work-many many thanks all of them.And who are woner this building, they are lucky. May Allah bless & live long to them. Live long Burj Dubai & workers.
Thanks & Best Regards
Mohammad Saokat Ali-Mo:971-0501169101
Really monumental. So far my favs are KLCC and Taipei 101, but I hope one day I can see the Burj Kalifa. I love skyscrapers.
ive had bigger shits
Burj Babel anyone?
Burj khalifa is wonderful.I lie it.I wish it was in India.
Yoo! Really its a tall building. Congradulations to ALL WHO WENT THROUGH ITS PAINS TO MAKE IT A SUCCESS. May God Bless Them.
It would have been appreciatable if the workers were given a better pay to claim the credits than a pat on their back.