The Empire State Building and the Sears Building in the United States were at various times the tallest buildings in the world. But they were overshadowed by some really massive structures. Engineering tools and building capabilities have come a long way over the past few decades as construction continues to skyrocket.
However, this did not detract from the importance of those first skyscrapers. The first such building was built in Chicago in 1885. Known as the Home Insurance House, it was bolted together with a steel frame, which was innovative at the time, and was 10 stories high (although two more were added in 1890). The landmark was demolished in 1931 and replaced by a taller building.
Though long gone, the Home Insurance House and other similar early towers taught architects and civil engineers a thing or two about how to protect skyscrapers from elements like wind and lightning, and how to build elevators, plumbing, and electricity. The current tallest building in the world due to the current state of these early buildings. Here are the top seven in reverse order:
The creation of the One World Trade Center came about after the tragic collapse of the World Trade Center’s twin towers on September 11, 2001. The new building, opened to the public in 2014, is the tallest building in North America at 1,776 feet (541.3 meters), although 408 feet of that belongs to its spire. Some consider the calculation of spiers to be controversial in determining the height of buildings. One World Trade Center has 3 million square feet (278,709 square meters) of office space, a 55-foot (17-meter) office lobby with extra-thick concrete walls for security, and shops and restaurants. The World Trade Center is made up of seven buildings, including the one we highlighted, and is home to the 9/11 Victims National Monument.
This gigantic building is probably the most interesting on our list, as it not only has an indoor theme park and several theaters, but also an outdoor park and the Korean Folk Museum. The 123-story Lotte World Tower in Songpa-gu, Seoul is the tallest in Korea (1,819 feet or 554 meters). Approximately 13 million visitors flock here each year to enjoy the quirky shops, restaurants and views. With its 42,000 glass windows, many of which are curved for sheer aesthetic effect, others appreciate the inherent artistry of the building itself. It was completed in 2017.
Located in Shenzhen, China, this stunning glass, stone and stainless steel building is 1,965 feet (599 meters) tall and has 115 floors above ground. The tallest building in Shenzhen was completed in 2017, and today Ping An Financial Center houses a convention center, large retail stores, and about 100 office floors. It is also aptly named as it is the headquarters of the Ping An insurance company. Unlike many of the other buildings on our list, there are no living quarters here.
The building makes Big Ben look like a pocket watch. The Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel in Mecca, Saudi Arabia is 1972 feet (601 meters) high and was completed in 2012. The building has 120 floors of commercial and residential space in seven towers. All this on top of an amazing shopping place. The clock tower is the tallest clock tower in the world, with over 2 million LEDs installed on its façade. A hotel within a hotel is naturally a five-star hotel operated by Fairmont Hotels. Due to its close proximity to Islam’s holiest site, the Masjid al-Haram (Mosque of Mecca), the hotel has a prayer room for more than 10,000 worshipers, an Islamic museum and moon viewing center, and separate fitness rooms for men. and women. It cost over $15 billion to build and is also considered the most expensive building in the world!
The tallest building in China is the third tallest building in the world with 128 floors above the ground (2073 feet or 632 meters). The property is actually owned by the Shanghai Municipal Government and has the fastest elevator in the world, reaching speeds of 49 miles per hour (74 km/h). The layout of the building corresponds to the latest generation, as it consists of nine “cylindrical buildings stacked on top of each other”, as the Institute of Civil Engineers put it. A particularly luxurious part of the tower is the Four Seasons Hotel, which has a pool on the 84th floor, making it one of the tallest on Earth. The Shanghai Tower remains a good company, as two other, slightly smaller “mega-skyscrapers” are also located in the financial district.
The brand new building only recently surpassed the Shanghai Tower as the second tallest building in the world. The 118-story building in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is 2,227 feet (678.7 meters) tall. The construction of the facility is completed, the opening is expected at the end of 2022. In addition to office, retail, residential and hotel space, Merdeka 118 will have the largest observation deck in Southeast Asia called View of 118. It is the first tower in Malaysia to receive the Triple Platinum International Sustainability Certification.
When the giant building opened in downtown Dubai in 2010, the Burj Khalifa officially became the tallest building in the world. Twelve years later, it still holds its name. Named “Vertical City”, the building stands at a height of 2,716 feet 6 inches (828 meters). This makes it more than twice the height of the famous Empire State Building. Not surprisingly, his height also earned him several additional records, including the tallest restaurant on earth, the tallest elevator in a building, and the most floors in a building. Within its considerable limits, on more than 160 floors, there are many different businesses, including hotels, office space, restaurants, health and fitness centers, residential buildings and mosques. A visit to its observation deck is a popular tourist attraction. The Burj Khalifa is reported to have cost $1.5 billion to build.
Despite its impressive status, if construction on the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia is completed, the days of the Burj Khalifa as the tallest building in the world will be numbered. Estimated altitude is 3281 feet (1000 meters). However, experts are unsure when that will happen as the Saudi Arabian project has been plagued by construction delays for years and work on the project was halted in 2018.
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