The Burj Khalifa is a skyscraper located in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. This skyscraper is 2,722 feet high and the roof is 828 miles. This structure is considered to be the tallest in the world since 2009.
The Burj Khalifa took several years to build. Work began in 2004 and it was not completed until 2009. One of the reasons why construction took so long was that the concrete needed to be reinforced so the structure of the building would be safe. When the building opened to the public in 2010, it was part of the new project known as Downtown Dubai. The government was looking to gain the attention of the world and bring attention to its oil industry. The design of this building fit this plan perfectly. Not too many people can see they have seen the world’s tallest building The antenna makes the building stand out even more in the city.
The Design
The design for this building came from Adrian Smith who designed other structures such as the Willis Tower. The Hyder Consulting firm was going to be the engineering supervisors and the NORR Group Consultants International Limited was going to supervise the architecture design part of the project. The design for the project used Islamic architecture and the Y shaped floor wanted to make the most room for hotels as well as residential living spaces. To support the weight and the height of the building there is a central core and there are wings. The building was designed with a cladding system so it can remain stable during the hot summer months. There are 57 elevators in this building and there are also 8 escalators.
The Building
This building has been received well and it the winner of many awards. In addition to being the building that is the tallest in the world, this building is the tallest structure with residential space, is home to the highest nightclub in the world which is on the 144th floor, and has the highest restaurant in the world which is on the 122nd floor. There is 163 floor total in the Burj Khalifa.
There are many great features that a person can see when they visit the Burj Khalifa. There is the WET Enterprises fountain system that has 6,600 lights and 50 different colored projectors. It is 900 feet long and is able to shoot water 500 feet into the air. The light show is set to music. On the 124th floor, a person can check out the view of the city from the observation deck. This deck is named At the Top and is 1,483 feet above the ground. This offers a one of a kind view. There are electronic telescopes and even an augmented reality device where people can view their surroundings in real time. It is the largest observation deck in the world and is not for those that are afraid of heights. This building holds several world records and is open to visitors all year.
