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This is the updated list of the 10 giant structures around the world, but does not include those who are still under construction.
01. Burj Dubai
The Burj Dubai is the tallest building made by the humans hand. When I looked at the first pictures in the beggining of the construction in 2005, I almost couldn’t believe in the enormous building they wanted to put in that place. The Burj is far taller than the previous record, the Taipei 101 Tower, in Taiwan with 509m. The building can be viewed from 95km away, is covered with 26,000 glass panels and the estimate cost for the Burj Khalifa was about US$1.5 bilion.
02. Empire State Building
The structure most easily recognized among the top 10 list. At the height of 381 meters is the tallest building in the world from 1931 to 1972. The Empire State Building is a skyscraper of 102 floors in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It is the second tallest in the Americas only surpassed by the Sears Tower.
03. TV tower
The final 13 schemes of the future landmark of Guangzhou, TV tower, are displayed for public inspection from July 24 to 30 in old Guangzhou Fair Venue.
04. International Finance Centre
With its height reaching 413.80 meters, this building is the tallest in Hong Kong. It is the exact height of the former World Trade Center. The 2 International Finance Center is a complex compound of four buildings and was completed in 2003. The highrise is designed to accommodate financial institutions and consists of two skyscrapers.
05. Petronas Towers
This 452-meter Malaysian edifice has been the tallest building for seven years until 2003 when TAIPEI 101 was finally inaugurated. It is one of the most recognized and popular building worldwide due to its unique spires. The 88-floor towers are constructed largely of reinforced concrete, with a steel and glass facade designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection of Malaysia’s Muslim religion.
06. Shanghai World Financial Center
This superstructure was designed to be the tallest building expecting to surpass the spires of Petronas Towers once construction is completed. Because of suspension of construction, the Taiwan Taipei 101 surpassed its height and construction was already underway when it resumed construction in 2003. With the foundations already done, the building could not be built more than its present height of 492 meters.
07. Jin Mao Tower
This is a 88-story skyscraper, a reference point in the Lujiazui area of Pudong district of Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. This is currently the tallest building in the People’s Republic of China and a strong proof of the country’s preeminent position as one of the most important economic giants of today. It occupies the 5th place with a height of 420.50 meters. It was built at an estimated cost of 530 million U.S. dollars.
08. Shun Hing Square
With a height of 384 meters and 69 floor high, it is regarded as China’s tallest skyscraper made of steel. It was the erstwhile tallest building in Asia until it was surpassed by CITIC in 1997. The building was built at the fast pace of four floors in nine days. There is five story shopping arcade at the base and an observation level on the top floor, named the ‘Meridian View Centre’. It also consists of offices and apartments.
09. Taipei 101
This engineering wonder was officially opened to the public on the 31st of December 2004. This building is officially the world’s tallest building with its pinnacle reaching the height of 508 meters. The building contains 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground. Its postmodern style combines Asian and international modern and traditional elements.
10. Sears Tower
Located in Chicago, Illinois, The Sears Tower was constructed in 1974, and has been the world’s tallest building, overtaking the World Trade Center. Although, it is no longer the tallest building in the world, the Sears Tower is the 5th tallest and still has the world’s highest occupiable floors, highest elevator ride and the highest roof deck. The top of the tower is the highest point in Illinois. It is said that four states can be seen from the top of the tower.
This tower was designed by architect Bruce Graham and engineer Fazlur Khan in a “bundled tube” system with nine squares, sheathed in a dark tinted glass curtain wall. The building leans a few inches due to its asymmetrical design and this can be felt occasionally. The Sears Tower has a separate tourist entrance and attracts more 1.5 million tourists each year.
