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World's tallest building

Catherine Deshayes

The Burj Dubai tower is now the tallest in the world, and has reached a new height of 688 metres, taking over from the previous record holder, North Dakota's KVLY-TV mast, which is 628.8 metres tall.

The Dubai tower, which is being developed by Emaar Properties PJSC in the Business Bay District of Dubai, has more than 160 floors, making it not only the tallest building in the world, but also the one with the largest number of storeys in any building.

Described as the new heart of the city, the location of the tower, Downtown Burj Dubai, is a mixed-use neighbourhood with premium hotels, exclusive business facilities, modern residences, shopping malls and leisure facilities.

When completed in September 2009, Burj Dubai will meet all four criteria listed by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which classifies the world's tallest structures.

CTBUH measures the height of buildings to the structural top, the highest occupied floor, the top of the roof and the tip of the spire, pinnacle, antenna, mast or flag pole.

Designed by Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, Burj Dubai is constructed by high-rise experts South Korea's Samsung Corporation. Construction of the tower began in September 2004 and more than 7,500 workers are employed on-site, working on the project, which is now at the interiors stage.

The best energy efficient technologies are being deployed to ensure that the iconic building is also a standard for energy usage and recycling of water.

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