List of tallest buildings and structures
The world's tallest structure is the 828 m (2,717 ft) tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The building gained the official title of "Tallest Building in the World" at its opening on 4 January 2010. It is taller than any other man-made structure ever built.
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, an organization that certifies buildings as the "World’s Tallest", recognizes a building only if at least fifty percent of its height is made up of floor plates containing habitable floor area.[1] Structures that do not meet this criterion, such as the CN Tower, are defined as "towers".
There are dozens of radio and television broadcasting towers which measure over 600 metres (about 2,000 ft) in height, and only the tallest are recorded in publicly available information sources.
Debate over definitions
When assessing the placings of structures, there is some debate about:
- whether a structure under construction should be included in the list
- should a building or structure have to be officially opened before it is included on the list.
- whether structures rising out of water should have their below-water height included.
- what should be counted as a building or a tower, and what is being measured.
- for towers, whether guy-wire-supported structures should be counted.
For buildings, there is debate over:
- whether only habitable height is considered
- whether communication towers with observation galleries should be considered "habitable" in this sense
- whether rooftop antennas, viewing platforms or any other architecture that does not form floors, walls and rooms, i.e. not built as an occupiable room, should be considered towards height of building
- what would stop a room built on top of a telecommunications or viewing tower from changing the tower's class to that of "building"
- why a building that is not officially opened should be excluded from the ranks of tallest buildings
- what counts as an official opening
Tallest structures
This category does not require the structure be "officially" opened.
The tallest man-made structure is Burj Khalifa, a skyscraper in Dubai that reached 828 m (2,717 ft) in height on 17 January 2009.[2] By 7 April 2008 it had been built higher than the KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota, USA.[3] That September it officially surpassed Poland's 646.38 m (2,120.7 ft) Warsaw radio mast, which stood from 1974 to 1991, to become the tallest structure ever built. Guyed lattice towers such as these masts had held the world height record since 1954.
The CN Tower in Toronto, Canada, standing at 553.3 m (1,815 ft), was formerly the world's tallest completed freestanding structure on land. Opened in 1976, it was surpassed in height by the rising Burj Khalifa on 12 September 2007.[4][5][6] It has the world's second highest public observation deck at 446.5 m (1,465 ft).
The Petronius Platform stands 610 m (2,000 ft) off the sea floor leading some, including Guinness World Records 2007, to claim it as the tallest freestanding structure in the world. However, it is debated whether underwater height should be discounted in the same manner as height below ground is ignored on buildings. The Troll A platform is 472 m (1,549 ft), without any part of that height being supported by wires. The tension-leg type of oil platform has even greater below-water heights with several examples more than 1,000 m (3,300 ft) deep. However, these platforms are not considered constant structures as the vast majority of their height is made up of the length of the tendons attaching the floating platforms to the sea floor. Despite this, Guinness World Records 2009 listed the Ursa tension leg platform as the tallest structure in the world with a total height of 1,306 m (4,285 ft). The Magnolia Tension-leg Platform in the Gulf of Mexico is even taller with a total height of 1,432 m (4,698 ft).
Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan, was the world's tallest inhabited building in only one of the four main categories that are commonly measured: at 509.2 m (1,671 ft) as measured to its architectural height (spire). The height of its roof, 449.2 m (1,474 ft), and highest occupied floor, 439.2 m (1,441 ft), had been overtaken by the Shanghai World Financial Center with corresponding heights of 487 m (1,598 ft) and 474 m (1,555 ft) respectively. Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) was highest in the final category: the greatest height to top of antenna of any building in the world at 527.3 m (1,730 ft).
Burj Khalifa broke the height record in all four categories for completed buildings by a wide margin. The Shanghai World Financial Center had the world's highest roof, highest occupied floor, and the world's highest public observation deck at 474.2 m (1,556 ft). It retains the latter record, as Burj Khalifa's official observation deck will be at 442 m (1,450 ft).
Tallest structure by category
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (August 2007) |
Due to the disagreements over how to measure height and classify structures, engineers have created various definitions for categories of buildings and other structures. One measure includes the absolute height of a building, another includes only spires and other permanent architectural features, but not antennas. The tradition of including the spire on top of a building and not including the antenna dates back to the rivalry between the Chrysler Building and 40 Wall Street. A modern-day example is that the antenna on top of Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) is not considered part of its architectural height, while the spires on top of the Petronas Twin Towers are counted.
Note: The following table is a list of the tallest structure in each of the categories below. There can only be one structure in each category, unless the title for the tallest is a draw.
Tallest destroyed structures by category, not surpassed by existing structures
There are some destroyed architectural structures which were taller than the tallest existing structure of their type.
| Category | Structure | Country | City | Height (metres) | Height (feet) | Coordinates | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guyed mast | Warsaw Radio Mast | Poland | Gąbin | 646.38 | 2,121 | 52°22′3.91″N 19°48′7.04″E / 52.3677528°N 19.8019556°E | completed in 1974, collapsed on 8 August 1991 |
| Guyed tubular steel mast | Shushi-Wan Omega Transmitter | Japan | Tsushima | 389 | 1,276 | 34°36′53″N 129°27′13″E / 34.61472°N 129.45361°E | completed in 1973, dismantled in 1998 |
| Structure for destructive scientific experiment | Smoky Shot Tower | United States | Nevada Test Site | 213 | 700 | Guyed mast, which carried 44 kt yield nuclear bomb "Smoky" ( part of operation Plumbbob) on top until its explosion on August 31, 1957 | |
| Wooden structure | Mühlacker Wood Radio Tower | Germany | Mühlacker | 190 | 623 | 48°56′27.67″N 8°51′8.24″E / 48.9410194°N 8.8522889°E | completed in 1934, destroyed on April 6, 1945, by the Germans to prevent usage by the Allies, replaced by mast radiator |
| Masonry building | Mole Antonelliana | Italy | Torino | 167.5 | 549.5 | 45°04′8.45″N 7°41′35.62″E / 45.0690139°N 7.6932278°E | spire destroyed by a tornado in 1953 (Rebuilt since then). |
| Pre-Industrial Era building | Lincoln Cathedral | England | Lincoln | 160 | 524 | 53°14′3.26″N 0°32′10.54″W / 53.2342389°N 0.5362611°W | completed in 1311, spire blown off in 1549 |
| Lighthouse | Lighthouse of Alexandria | Egypt | Alexandria | 115-135 | 377-443 | 31°12′51″N 29°53′06″E / 31.21417°N 29.88500°E | completed in 279 BCE, destroyed by an earthquake in 1323 |
Tallest building by function
| Category | Structure | Country | City | Architectural top (metres) | Architectural top (feet) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed-Use* | Burj Khalifa | United Arab Emirates | Dubai | 828 | 2,717 |
| Office | Taipei 101 | Taiwan | Taipei | 509 | 1,671 |
| Hotel | Rose Tower | United Arab Emirates | Dubai | 333 | 1,093 |
| Residential | Q1 | Australia | Gold Coast | 323 | 1,059 |
| Educational | Moscow State University | Russia | Moscow | 240 | 787 |
| Church | Ulm Minster | Germany | Ulm | 143 | 469 |
| Hospital | Guy's Hospital | United Kingdom | London | 143 | 468 |
| Library | Shanghai Library | China | Shanghai | 106 | 348 |
* Mixed-Use is defined as having three or more real estate uses (such as retail, office, hotel, etc.) that are physically and functionally integrated in a single property and are mutually supporting.[10]
Tallest buildings
Up until 1998 the tallest building status was essentially uncontested. Counting buildings as structures with floors throughout, and with antenna masts excluded, Willis Tower (previously Sears Tower) in Chicago was considered the tallest. When the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were built, controversy arose because the spire extended nine metres higher than the roof of Willis Tower. Excluding the spire, the Petronas Towers are not taller than Willis Tower. At their convention in Chicago, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) reduced Willis Tower from world's tallest and pronounced it not second tallest, but third, and pronounced Petronas as world's tallest. This action caused a considerable amount of controversy, so CTBUH defined four categories in which the world's tallest building can be measured:[11]
- Height to Architectural Top (including spires and pinnacles, but not antennas, masts or flagpoles). This measurement is the most widely utilized and is used to define the rankings of the 100 Tallest Buildings in the World.
- Highest Occupied Floor
- Height to Top of Roof (omitted from criteria from November 2009 onwards)[12]
- Height to Tip
The height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance. At the time, the Willis Tower held first place in the second and third categories, the Petronas Towers held the first category and the original World Trade Towers held the fourth. Within months, however, a new antenna mast was placed on the Willis Tower, giving it hold of the fourth category. On April 20, 2004, Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan, was completed. Its completion gave it the world record for the first three categories. On July 21, 2007 it was announced that Burj Khalifa had surpassed Taipei 101 in height, reaching 512 m (1,680 ft).
Since being completed in early 2010, Burj Khalifa leads in all categories (the first building to do so). With a spire height of 828 m (2,717 ft), Burj Khalifa surpassed Taipei 101 as the tallest building to architectural detail and the Willis Tower as the tallest building to tip. It also leads in the category of highest occupied floor.
Before Burj Khalifa was completed, Willis Tower led in the fourth category with 527 m (1,729 ft), previously held by the World Trade Center until the extension of the Chicago tower's western broadcast antenna in 2000, over a year prior to the World Trade Center's destruction in 2001. Its antenna mast included, One World Trade Center measured 526 m (1,726 ft). The World Trade Center became the world's tallest buildings to be destroyed or demolished; indeed, its site entered the record books twice on September 11, 2001, in that category, replacing the Singer Building, which once stood a block from the WTC site.[citation needed]
Structures such as the CN Tower, the Ostankino Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower are excluded from these categories because they are not "habitable buildings", which are defined as frame structures made with floors and walls throughout.[1]
History of record holders in each CTBUH category
| Date (Event) | Architectural top | Highest occupied floor | Roof | Tip |
| 2010: Burj Khalifa completed | Burj Khalifa | Burj Khalifa | Burj Khalifa | |
| 2009: CTBUH omits Height to Roof category | Taipei 101 | Shanghai World Financial Center | Willis Tower | |
| 2008: Shanghai World Financial Center completed | Taipei 101 | Shanghai World Financial Center | Shanghai World Financial Center | Willis Tower |
| 2003: Taipei 101 completed | Taipei 101 | Taipei 101 | Taipei 101 | Willis Tower |
| 2000: Willis Tower antenna extension | Petronas Towers | Willis Tower | Willis Tower | Willis Tower |
| 1998: Petronas Towers completed | Petronas Towers | Willis Tower | Willis Tower | World Trade Center |
| 1996: CTBUH defines categories | Willis Tower | Willis Tower | Willis Tower | World Trade Center |
World's tallest freestanding structure on land
Freestanding structures include observation towers, monuments and other structures not generally considered to be "Habitable buildings", but excludes supported structures such as guyed masts and ocean drilling platforms. (See also history of tallest skyscrapers.)
The world's tallest freestanding structure on land is defined as the tallest self-supporting man-made structure that stands above ground. This definition is different from that of world's tallest building or world's tallest structure based on the percentage of the structure that is occupied and whether or not it is self-supporting or supported by exterior cables. Likewise, this definition does not count structures that are built underground or on the seabed, such as the Petronius Platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Visit world's tallest structure by category for a list of various other definitions.
As of 12 May 2008, the tallest freestanding structure on land is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The building, which now stands at 828 m (2,717 ft), surpassed the height of the previous record holder, the 553.3 m (1,815 ft) CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, on September 12, 2007. It was completed in 2010, and was topped out at 828 m (2,717 ft) in January 2009.[2]
History
The following is a list of structures that have held the title as the tallest freestanding structure on land. (See also Timeline of three tallest structures in the world until Empire State Building).
| Record from | Record to | Name and Location | Constructed | Height (metres) | Height (feet) | Coordinates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| c. 2700 BCE | c. 2600 BCE | Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt | c. 2700 BCE | 62 | 203 | 29°52′16.53″N 31°12′59.59″E / 29.8712583°N 31.2165528°E | |
| c. 2600 BCE | c. 2570 BCE | Red Pyramid of Sneferu, Egypt | c. 2600 BCE | 105 | 345 | 29°48′31.39″N 31°12′22.49″E / 29.8087194°N 31.2062472°E | |
| c. 2570 BCE | c. 1311 AD | Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt | c. 2570 BCE | 146 | 481 | 29°58′44.93″N 31°08′3.09″E / 29.9791472°N 31.1341917°E | By 1439, the Great Pyramid had eroded to a height of approximately 139 m (456 ft). |
| 1311 | 1549 | Lincoln Cathedral in England | 1092–1311 | 160 | 525 | 53°14′3.26″N 0°32′10.54″W / 53.2342389°N 0.5362611°W | The central spire was destroyed in a storm in 1549. While the reputed height of 525 ft (160 m) is accepted by most sources,[13][14][15][16][17][18] others consider it doubtful[19] |
| 1549 | 1625 | St. Olaf's Church in Tallinn, Estonia | 1438–1519 | 159 | 522 | 59°26′29.07″N 24°44′51.09″E / 59.4414083°N 24.7475250°E | The spire burnt down after a lightning strike in 1625 and was rebuilt several times. The height is 123 m (404 ft) . |
| 1625 | 1647 | St. Mary's Church in Stralsund, Germany | 1384–1478 | 151 | 495 | 54°18′36.01″N 13°5′14.81″E / 54.3100028°N 13.0874472°E | The spire burnt down after a lightning strike in 1647. The height is 104 m (341 ft) . |
| 1647 | 1874 | Strasbourg Cathedral in France | 1439 | 142 | 469 | 48°34′54.22″N 7°45′1.48″E / 48.5817278°N 7.7504111°E | |
| 1874 | 1876 | St. Nikolai in Hamburg, Germany | 1846–1874 | 147 | 483 | 53°32′50.94″N 9°59′26.12″E / 53.5474833°N 9.9905889°E | |
| 1876 | 1880 | Cathédrale Notre Dame in Rouen, France | 1202–1876 | 151 | 495 | 49°26′24.54″N 1°5′41.85″E / 49.4401500°N 1.0949583°E | |
| 1880 | 1884 | Cologne Cathedral in Germany | 1248–1880 | 157 | 515 | 50°56′28.08″N 6°57′25.73″E / 50.9411333°N 6.9571472°E ;50°56′29.11″N 6°57′25.85″E / 50.9414194°N 6.9571806°E | |
| 1884 | 1889 | Washington Monument in Washington D.C., United States | 1884 | 169 | 555 | 38°53′22.08″N 77°2′6.89″W / 38.8894667°N 77.0352472°W | |
| 1889 | 1930 | Eiffel Tower in Paris, France | 1889 | 300 | 986 | 48°51′29.77″N 2°17′40.09″E / 48.8582694°N 2.2944694°E | First structure to exceed 300 metres in height. The addition of a telecommunications tower in the 1950s brought the overall height to 324 m (1,063 ft). |
| 1930 | 1931 | Chrysler Building in New York, United States | 1928–1930 | 319 | 1,046 | 40°45′5.78″N 73°58′31.52″W / 40.7516056°N 73.9754222°W | |
| 1931 | 1967 | Empire State Building in New York, United States | 1930–1931 | 381 | 1,250 | 40°44′54.95″N 73°59′8.71″W / 40.7485972°N 73.9857528°W | First building with 100+ storeys. The addition of a pinnacle and antennas later increased its overall height to 448.7 m (1,472 ft). This was subsequently lowered to 443.1 m (1,454 ft). |
| 1967 | 1975 | Ostankino Tower in Moscow, Russia | 1963–1967 | 537 | 1,762 | 55°49′10.94″N 37°36′41.79″E / 55.8197056°N 37.6116083°E | Remains the tallest in Europe. Fire in 2000 led to extensive renovation. |
| 1975 | 2007 | CN Tower in Toronto, Canada | 1973–1976 | 553 | 1,815 | 43°38′33.22″N 79°23′13.41″W / 43.6425611°N 79.3870583°W | Remains the tallest in the Western Hemisphere |
| 2007 | present | Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 2004–2009 | 828 | 2,717 | 25°11′50.0″N 55°16′26.6″E / 25.197222°N 55.274056°E | Holder of world's tallest freestanding structure. Topped out at 828 m (2,717 ft). |
Notable mentions include the Pharos (lighthouse) of Alexandria, built in the third century BCE and estimated between 115–135 m (383–440 ft). It was the world's tallest non-pyramidal building for many centuries. Another notable mention includes the Jetavanaramaya stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, which was built in the third century, and was similarly tall at 122 m (400 ft). These were both the world's tallest or second tallest non-pyramidal buildings for over a thousand years.
The tallest secular building between the collapse of the Pharos and the erection of the Washington Monument may have been the Torre del Mangia in Siena, which is 102 m (335 ft) tall, and was constructed in the first half of the fourteenth century, and the 97 m (318 ft) tall Torre degli Asinelli in Bologna, also Italy, built between 1109 and 1119.
World's highest observation deck
Timeline of development of world's highest observation deck since inauguration of Eiffel Tower.
| Held record | Name and Location | Constructed | Height above ground (m) | Height above ground (ft) | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | |||||
| 1889 | 1931 | Eiffel Tower, Paris, France | 1889 | 275 | 902 | Two lower observation decks at 57 m (187 ft) and 115 m (377 ft). |
| 1931 | 1973 | Empire State Building, New York City, USA | 1931 | 369[20] | 1211 | A second observation deck is located on the 86th floor at 320 m (1,050 ft). |
| 1973 | 1976 | World Trade Center, New York City, USA | 1973 | 420 | 1378 | Destroyed during the September 11, 2001 attacks |
| 1976 | 2008 | CN Tower, Toronto, Canada | 1976 | 446.5 | 1464.9 | Two further observation decks at 342 m (1,122 ft) and 346 m (1,135 ft). |
| 2008 | present | Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China | 2008 | 474 | 1555 | Other observation decks are at 423 m (1,388 ft) and 439 m (1,440 ft). Note: Burj Khalifa, opened on 4 January 2010, has the world's highest outdoor observation deck at 452 m (1,483 ft). |
Higher observation decks have existed on mountain peaks or cliffs, rather than on tall structures. For example, the Royal Gorge Bridge in Cañon City, Colorado, USA, was constructed in 1929 spanning the Royal Gorge at a height of 321 m (1,053 ft) above the Arkansas River. The Grand Canyon Skywalk, constructed in 2007, protrudes 21 m (70 ft) over the west rim of the Grand Canyon and is approximately 1,100 m (3,600 ft) above the Colorado River, making it the highest of these types of structures.[citation needed]
Timeline of guyed structures on land
As most of the tallest structures are guyed masts, here is a timeline of world's tallest guyed masts, since the beginning of radio technology.
As many large guyed masts were destroyed at the end of World War II, the dates for the years between 1945 and 1950 may be incorrect. If Wusung Radio Tower survived World War II, it was the tallest guyed structure shortly after World War II.
| Held record | Name and Location | Constructed | Height (m) | Height (ft) | Coordinates | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | ||||||
| 1913 | 1920 | Central mast of Eilvese transmitter, Eilvese, Germany | 1913 | 250 | 820 | 52°31′40″N 9°24′24″E / 52.52778°N 9.40667°E | Mast was divided in 145 m by an insulator, demolished in 1931 |
| 1920 | 1923 | Central masts of Nauen Transmitter Station, Nauen, Germany | 1920 | 260 | 853 | 52°38′56″N 12°54′30″E / 52.64889°N 12.90833°E | 2 masts, demolished in 1946 |
| 1923 | 1933 | Masts of Ruiselede transmitter, Ruiselede, Belgium | 1923 | 287 | 942 | 51°4′44″N 3°20′6.9″E / 51.07889°N 3.335250°E? | 8 masts, destroyed in 1940 |
| 1933 | 1939 | Lakihegy Tower, Lakihegy, Hungary | 1933 | 314 | 1,031 | 47°22′23.45″N 19°0′17.21″E / 47.3731806°N 19.0047806°E | Blaw-Knox Tower, insulated against ground, destroyed in 1945, afterwards rebuilt |
| 1939 | 1946 | Deutschlandsender Herzberg/Elster, Herzberg (Elster), Germany | 1939 | 335 | 1,099 | 51°42′59.76″N 13°15′51.5″E / 51.7166000°N 13.264306°E | Insulated against ground, dismantled 1946/1947 |
| 1946 | 1948 | Lakihegy Tower, Lakihegy, Hungary | 1946 | 314 | 1,031 | 47°22′23.45″N 19°0′17.21″E / 47.3731806°N 19.0047806°E | Blaw-Knox Tower, Insulated against ground, rebuilt after destruction in 1945 |
| 1948 | 1949 | WIVB-TV Tower, Colden, New York, USA | 1948 | 321.9 | 1,056 | 42°39′33.19″N 78°37′33.91″W / 42.6592194°N 78.6260861°W | |
| 1949 | 1950 | Longwave transmitter Raszyn, Raszyn, Poland | 1949 | 335 | 1,099 | 52°4′21.72″N 20°53′2.15″E / 52.0727000°N 20.8839306°E | Insulated against ground |
| 1950 | 1954 | Forestport Tower, Forestport, New York, USA | 1950 | 371.25 | 1,218 | 43°26′41.9″N 75°5′9.55″W / 43.444972°N 75.0859861°W | Insulated against ground, demolished |
| 1954 | 1959 | Griffin Television Tower Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA | 1954 | 480.5 | 1,576 | 35°32′58.59″N 97°29′50.27″W / 35.5496083°N 97.4972972°W | |
| 1956 | 1959 | KOBR-TV Tower, Caprock, New Mexico, USA | 1956 | 490.7 | 1,610 | 33°22′31.31″N 103°46′14.3″W / 33.3753639°N 103.770639°W | Collapsed in 1960, afterwards rebuilt |
| 1959 | 1960 | WGME TV Tower, Raymond, Maine, USA | 1959 | 495 | 1,624 | 43°55′28.43″N 70°29′26.72″W / 43.9245639°N 70.4907556°W | |
| 1960 | 1962 | KFVS TV Mast, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA | 1960 | 511.1 | 1,677 | 37°25′44.5″N 89°30′13.84″W / 37.429028°N 89.5038444°W | |
| 1962 | 1963 | WTVM/WRBL-TV & WVRK-FM Tower, Cusseta, Georgia, USA | 1962 | 533 | 1,749 | 32°19′25.09″N 84°46′45.07″W / 32.3236361°N 84.7791861°W | |
| 1963 | 1963 | WIMZ-FM-Tower, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA | 1963 | 534.01 | 1,752 | 36°08′05.49″N 83°43′28.01″W / 36.1348583°N 83.7244472°W | |
| 1963 | 1974 | KVLY-TV mast, Blanchard, North Dakota, USA | 1963 | 628.8 | 2,063 | 47°20′31.85″N 97°17′21.13″W / 47.3421806°N 97.2892028°W | |
| 1974 | 1991 | Warsaw Radio Mast, Gąbin, Poland | 1974 | 646.4 | 2,121 | 52°22′3.91″N 19°48′7.04″E / 52.3677528°N 19.8019556°E | Mast radiator insulated against ground, collapsed in 1991 |
| 1991 | KVLY-TV mast, Blanchard, North Dakota, USA | 1963 | 628.8 | 2,063 | 47°20′31.85″N 97°17′21.13″W / 47.3421806°N 97.2892028°W | ||
Tallest structures, freestanding structures, and buildings
The list categories are:
- The structures (supported) list uses pinnacle height and includes architectural structures of any type that might use some external support constructions like cables and are fully built in air. Only the three tallest are listed, as more than fifty US TV masts have stated heights of 600–610 metres (1969–2000 ft).
- The structures (media supported) list uses pinnacle height and includes architectural structures of any type that are not totally built in the air but are using support from other, denser media like salt water. All structures greater than 500 metres (1,640 ft) are listed.
- The freestanding structures list uses pinnacle height and includes structures over 400 metres (1,312 ft) that do not use guy-wires or other external supports. This means truly free standing on its own or, in similar sense, non-supported structures.
- The building list uses architectural height (excluding antennas) and includes only buildings, defined as consisting of habitable floors. Both of these follow CTBUH guidelines. All supertall buildings (300 m and higher) are listed.
Notes:
- Seven buildings appear on the freestanding structures category list with different heights than of another category. This is due to the different measurement specifications of those lists.
- Only current heights and where reasonable target heights are listed. Historical heights of structures that no longer exist, for example, for having collapsed, are excluded.
| Rank | Name and location | Year completed |
Architectural top[21] (metres) |
Architectural top (feet) |
Floors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structures (supported) | |||||
| 1 | KVLY-TV mast, Blanchard, North Dakota, United States | 1963 | 629 | 2,064 | – |
| 2 | KXJB-TV mast, Galesburg, North Dakota, United States | 1998 | 628 | 2,060 | – |
| 3 | KXTV/KOVR Tower, Walnut Grove, California, United States | 2000 | 625 | 2,051 | – |
| Structures (media supported) | |||||
| 1 | Petronius Platform, Gulf of Mexico | 2000 | 610 | 2,000 | – |
| 2 | Baldpate Platform, Gulf of Mexico | 1998 | 580 | 1,900 | – |
| 3 | Bullwinkle Platform, Gulf of Mexico | 1989 | 529 | 1,736 | – |
| Freestanding structures | |||||
| 1 | Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 2010 | 828 | 2,717 | 160 |
| 2 | Canton Tower, Guangzhou, China | 2010 | 600 | 2,000 | – |
| 3 | CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada | 1976 | 553 | 1,814 | – |
| 4 | Ostankino Tower, Moscow, Russia | 1967 | 540 | 1,770 | – |
| 5 | Willis Tower, Chicago, United States | 1974 | 527 | 1,729 | 108 |
| 6 | Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan | 2004 | 509 | 1,670 | 101 |
| 7 | Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China | 2008 | 492 | 1,614 | 101 |
| 8 | International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong | 2010 | 484 | 1,588 | 118 |
| 9 | Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai, China | 1994 | 468 | 1,535 | – |
| 10 | John Hancock Center, Chicago, United States | 1969 | 457 | 1,499 | 100 |
| 11 | Petronas Tower I, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 1998 | 452 | 1,483 | 88 |
| Petronas Tower II, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 1998 | 452 | 1,483 | 88 | |
| 12 | Nanjing Greenland Financial Center, Nanjing, China | 2009 | 450 | 1,480 | 89 |
| 13 | Empire State Building, New York City, United States | 1931 | 443 | 1,453 | 102 |
| 14 | Milad Tower, Tehran, Iran | 2007 | 435 | 1,427 | – |
| 15 | Kuala Lumpur Tower, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 1995 | 421 | 1,381 | – |
| 16 | Jin Mao Building, Shanghai, China | 1998 | 421 | 1,381 | 88 |
| 17 | Chimney of GRES-2 Power Station, Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan | 1987 | 420 | 1,380 | – |
| 18 | Two International Finance Centre, Hong Kong | 2003 | 415 | 1,362 | 88 |
| 19 | Tianjin Radio and Television Tower, Tianjin, China | 1991 | 415 | 1,362 | – |
| 20 | Central TV Tower, Beijing, China | 1992 | 405 | 1,329 | – |
| Buildings | |||||
| 1 | Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 2010 | 828 | 2,717 | 160 |
| 2 | Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan | 2004 | 509 | 1,670 | 101 |
| 3 | Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China | 2008 | 492 | 1,614 | 101 |
| 4 | International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong | 2010 | 484 | 1,588 | 118 |
| 5 | Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 1998 | 452 | 1,483 | 88 |
| 6 | Nanjing Greenland Financial Center, Nanjing, China | 2009 | 450 | 1,480 | 89 |
| 7 | Willis Tower, Chicago, United States | 1974 | 442 | 1,450 | 108 |
| 8 | Jin Mao Building, Shanghai, China | 1998 | 421 | 1,381 | 88 |
| 9 | Two International Finance Centre, Hong Kong | 2003 | 415 | 1,362 | 88 |
| 10 | CITIC Plaza, Guangzhou, China | 1997 | 391 | 1,283 | 80 |
| 11 | Shun Hing Square, Shenzhen, China | 1996 | 384 | 1,260 | 69 |
| 12 | Empire State Building, New York City, United States | 1931 | 381 | 1,250 | 102 |
| 13 | Central Plaza, Hong Kong | 1992 | 374 | 1,227 | 78 |
| 14 | Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong | 1990 | 367 | 1,204 | 70 |
| 15 | Bank of America Tower, New York City, United States | 2008 | 366 | 1,201 | 54 |
| 16 | Almas Tower, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 2008 | 360 | 1,180 | 74 |
| 17 | Emirates Office Tower, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 2000 | 355 | 1,165 | 54 |
| 18 | Tuntex Sky Tower, Kaohsiung, Taiwan | 1997 | 348 | 1,142 | 85 |
| 19 | Aon Center, Chicago, United States | 1973 | 346 | 1,135 | 83 |
| 20 | The Center, Hong Kong | 1998 | 346 | 1,135 | 73 |
| 21 | John Hancock Center, Chicago, United States | 1969 | 344 | 1,129 | 100 |
| 22 | Rose Tower, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 2007 | 333 | 1,093 | 72 |
| Shimao International Plaza, Shanghai, China | 2006 | 333 | 1,093 | 60 | |
| 24 | Minsheng Bank Building, Wuhan, China | 2007 | 331 | 1,086 | 68 |
| 25 | Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea (topped out) | 1992 | 330 | 1,080 | 105 |
| China World Trade Center Tower 3, Beijing, China | 2008 | 330 | 1,080 | 74 | |
| 27 | Q1, Gold Coast, Australia | 2005 | 323 | 1,060 | 78 |
| 28 | Burj Al Arab, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 1999 | 321 | 1,053 | 60 |
| 29 | Chrysler Building, New York City, United States | 1930 | 319 | 1,047 | 77 |
| Nina Tower I, Hong Kong | 2007 | 319 | 1,047 | 80 | |
| New York Times Building, New York City, United States | 2007 | 319 | 1,047 | 52 | |
| 32 | Bank of America Plaza, Atlanta, United States | 1992 | 312 | 1,024 | 55 |
| 33 | Kingdom Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 2000 | 311 | 1,020 | 41 |
| 34 | U.S. Bank Tower, Los Angeles, United States | 1989 | 310 | 1,020 | 73 |
| 35 | Menara Telekom, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | 2001 | 310 | 1,020 | 55 |
| 36 | Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 2000 | 309 | 1,014 | 56 |
| 37 | One Island East, Hong Kong | 2008 | 308 | 1,010 | 70 |
| 38 | AT&T Corporate Center, Chicago, United States | 1989 | 307 | 1,007 | 60 |
| 39 | The Address Downtown Burj Khalifa, Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 2008 | 306 | 1,004 | 63 |
| 40 | JPMorgan Chase Tower, Houston, United States | 1982 | 305 | 1,001 | 75 |
Source: Emporis
Under construction and on-hold
Numerous supertall skyscrapers are in various stages of proposal, planning, or construction. Each of the following are under construction and, depending on the order of completion, could become the world's tallest building or structure in at least one category:
- India Tower is under construction in Mumbai's Marine Lines, is expected to be 720 m (2,360 ft) tall. Will be used for hotel and residential. Construction was started in 2010.[22] and expected to complete by 2016.[23][24]
- The Pingan International Finance Centre, under construction in Shenzhen, is expected to be 648 m (2,126 ft). Completion is expected in 2015.
- The Tokyo Sky Tree under construction in Tokyo's Sumida district, is expected to be 634 m (2,080 ft) tall. It will be a broadcasting tower to replace the old Tokyo Tower. Construction began in 2008 and completion is expected in 2011, with public access in the spring of 2012.
- The Shanghai Tower, under construction in Shanghai, next to the Shanghai World Financial Center and the Jin Mao Building, is expected to be 632 m (2,073 ft). Completion is expected in 2014.
- The Pentominium, under construction in Dubai, is expected to be 516 m (1,693 ft) tall and have 120 floors. If completed, it would be the tallest all-residential building in the world. Construction began in 2007 and completion is expected in 2013.
- The Abraj Al Bait Towers are under construction in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The tallest tower is expected to be 601 m (1,972 ft) tall when completed in 2011, becoming second-tallest building in the world when completed. It will also be the largest building in the world with a floor area of 1,500,000 m2 (16,150,000 sq ft) and the tallest hotel in the world.
- The Jakarta Tower (Menara Jakarta) is on-hold in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is expected to be 558 m (1,831 ft) tall up to the antenna, thus may be tallest concrete tower. It was expected to be completed in 2012, but has been put on hold.[25]
- One World Trade Center, currently under-construction in New York City, will be the tallest building in the United States and the Western Hemisphere. Also, it will become the world's tallest all-office building. Its spire will top out at 1,776 ft (541 m).
Proposed
Many proposed structures have not yet been built, and many probably never will be built. See proposed tall buildings and structures for structures that have been or are being proposed.
See also
- List of tallest buildings in the world
- List of tallest structures in the world
- List of tallest freestanding structures in the world
- List of tallest towers in the world
- List of architects of supertall buildings
- List of cities with most skyscrapers
References
- ^ a b "CTBUH Criteria for Defining and Measuring Tall Buildings". Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. Retrieved 2008-08-19.
- ^ a b "Burj Dubai all set for 09/09/09 soft opening". Emirates Business24/7. Retrieved 2009-01-17.
- ^ "Burj Dubai surpasses KVLY-TV mast to become the world's tallest man-made structure" (Press release). Emaar. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
- ^ "CN Tower dethroned by Dubai building". cbc.ca. CBC News. 2007-09-12. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
- ^ "Burj Dubai scales 150 storeys and is the world's tallest free-standing structure" (Press release). Emaar Properties PJSC. 2007-09-13. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
- ^ "Dubai building surpasses CN Tower in height". CTV.ca. CTVglobemedia. 2007-09-13. Retrieved 2008-09-02.
- ^ "Highest Dams (World and U.S.)" (chart). 1998 ICOLD World Register of Dams. Retrieved 2007-08-11.
- ^ Guinness World Records - Science & Technology - Structures - World's Highest Concrete Dam [1]. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
- ^ "Azerbaijan hoists world's largest flag". AzerNews. 03-09-2010. Retrieved 13-09-2010.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ Schwanke D. et al. (2003). Mixed-use Development Handbook, 2nd edition. Washington: Urban Land Institute ISBN 978-0-87420-888-7
- ^ - CTBUH Criteria for Defining and Measuring Tall Buildings
- ^ "CTBUH changes height criteria, Burj Khalifa height increases". Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. 17 November 2009. Retrieved 18 November 2009.
- ^ Haughton, Brian(2007),Hidden History: Lost Civilizations, Secret Knowledge, and Ancient Mysteries,p.167
- ^ Michael Woods, Mary B. Woods(2009), Seven Wonders of the Ancient World,p.41
- ^ Skyscraper News
- ^ Darwin Porter, Danforth Prince(2010), Frommer's England 2010,p.588
- ^ Mary Jane Taber(1905), The cathedrals of England: an account of some of their distinguishing characteristics,p.100
- ^ A Brief History of the World's Tallest Buildings Time magazine
- ^ A.F.K. "The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Cathedral Church Of LINCOLN, by A.F. KENDRICK, B.A". Gwydir.demon.co.uk. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
- ^ "The Empire State Building". Wired New York. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
- ^ height for inhabited buildings with floors; does not include TV towers and antennas
- ^ http://www.thenational.ae/thenationalconversation/industry-insights/property/economic-downturn-barely-dents-appetite-for-super-tall
- ^ http://buildingdb.ctbuh.org/?do=building&building_id=9199
- ^ http://www.pozzocrete.co.in/index.php?id=69&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=148&tx_ttnews[backPid]=4&cHash=95ebc8b5da
- ^ http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=208756&page=19
External links
- Collection of many record holders on Skyscraperpage
- Tallest Building in the World information