History of the world's tallest buildings - seattlepi.com History of the world's tallest buildings By AUBREY COHEN, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF Published 8:49 pm, Wednesday, June 20, 2012 In the first 31 years of the 20th century, seven buildings became the world's tallest. We entered a new era of such one-upsmanship in 1998, with completion of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. The latest news comes from China's Broad Group, which has made a name erecting buildings quickly and efficiently using modular construction. It plans to claim the title with the 2,749-foot Sky City One tower in its hometown of Changsha, the capital of Hunan provice. In a written summary, Broad said it started the project in April, plans to start installing pre-fabricated buidling sections in November and expects to finish in January 2013. That's just three months on site. The news got us wondering which buildings have held the title of world's tallest. See the gallery above for the answer, going back to 1901, along with some tidbits from Seattle.

Thanks to Emporis for the data. Read more real estate news . Visit seattlepi.com's home page for more Seattle news . Photo: Broad Group Close Image 1 of 29 Broad Group's proposed 2,749-foot Sky City One tower is depicted in this image from a 2010 planning file. Broad Group's proposed 2,749-foot Sky City One tower is depicted in this image from a 2010 planning file. Photo: Broad Group Image 2 of 29 Broad Group's proposed 2,749-foot Sky City One tower is depicted, along with other tall towers, in this image from a 2010 planning file. Broad Group's proposed 2,749-foot Sky City One tower is depicted, along with other tall towers, in this image from a 2010 planning file. Photo: Broad Group Image 3 of 29 Now we go back to 1901, when Philadelphia City Hall was completed. At 548 feet, it was the tallest building in the world, but not the tallest structure. This photo is circa 1948.

Now we go back to 1901, when Philadelphia City Hall was completed. At 548 feet, it was the tallest building in the world, but not the tallest structure. This photo is circa 1948. Photo: Three Lions, Getty Images Image 4 of 29 The Washington Monument, shown here during a civil rights march on Aug. 28, 1963, is 555.5 feet tall and was the world's tallest structure when it was completed in 1884. The Washington Monument, shown here during a civil rights march on Aug. 28, 1963, is 555.5 feet tall and was the world's tallest structure when it was completed in 1884. Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images Image 5 of 29 As an aside, this is architect Robert Mills' original design for the Washington Monument. According to the National Park Service , this plan "provided for a nearly-flat-topped obelisk surrounded by a circular colonnade on which would stand a statue of Washington in a chariot.

Inside the colonnade, statues of thirty prominent Revolutionary War heroes would be displayed." Photo: Three Lions, Getty Images Image 6 of 29 The Washington Monument held its title for just four years, until the completion of the 984-foot Eiffel Tower, in Paris. The Washington Monument held its title for just four years, until the completion of the 984-foot Eiffel Tower, in Paris. Photo: London Stereoscopic Company, Getty Images Image 7 of 29 But the tallest-building mantle passed from Philadelphia to New York in 1908, with completion of the 612-foot Singer Building. The building was demolished in 1968. But the tallest-building mantle passed from Philadelphia to New York in 1908, with completion of the 612-foot Singer Building. The building was demolished in 1968. Photo: Topical Press Agency, Getty Images Image 8 of 29 The title stayed in New York for a while yet. Next came the 700-foot Metropolitan Life Tower, finished in 1909. The title stayed in New York for a while yet.

Next came the 700-foot Metropolitan Life Tower, finished in 1909. Photo: Library Of Congress In 1913, the 792-foot Woolworth Building was completed. In 1913, the 792-foot Woolworth Building was completed. Photo: Edwin Levick, Getty Images Image 10 of 29 Here's a cool shot of the top of the Woolworth Building above the clouds, circa 1935. Here's a cool shot of the top of the Woolworth Building above the clouds, circa 1935. Photo: General Photographic Agency, Getty Images Image 11 of 29 The 927-foot Bank of Manhattan Trust Building, in New York, briefly became the world's tallest when it was completed in 1930. It's now known as The Trump Building or 40 Wall Street. The 927-foot Bank of Manhattan Trust Building, in New York, briefly became the world's tallest when it was completed in 1930. It's now known as The Trump Building or 40 Wall Street.

Photo: ChrisRuvolo/Wikimedia Commons The iconic Chrysler Building, completed in 1930, broke the 1,000-foot mark by 46 feet. The iconic Chrysler Building, completed in 1930, broke the 1,000-foot mark by 46 feet. Photo: General Photographic Agency, Getty Images Image 13 of 29 But the Empire State Building raised the bar emphatically a year later, topping out at 1,250 feet. But the Empire State Building raised the bar emphatically a year later, topping out at 1,250 feet. Photo: Hulton Archive, Getty Images Image 14 of 29 The Empire State Building was also the tallest self-supporting structure in the world until 1967, when the 1,772-foot Ostankino television and radio tower was erected in Moscow. The Empire State Building was also the tallest self-supporting structure in the world until 1967, when the 1,772-foot Ostankino television and radio tower was erected in Moscow.

Photo: Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Image 15 of 29 Why do we talk about a "self-supporting" tower? This is why. It's the 2,063-foot KVLY-TV tower, in Blanchard, N.D., and it became the largest human-made structure in the world when it was erected in 1963. As you can see, it's supported by cables. Poland's 2,121-foot Warszawa Radio Mast topped it in 1974, but it fell during renovations in 1991. Photo: J. Byrnes, Getty Images Image 17 of 29 New York finally lost its grip on the tallest-building title in 1974, with completion of the 1,451-foot Sears Tower, in Chicago. It has since been renamed the Willis Tower. New York finally lost its grip on the tallest-building title in 1974, with completion of the 1,451-foot Sears Tower, in Chicago. It has since been renamed the Willis Tower.

Photo: SCOTT OLSON, AFP/Getty Images Image 18 of 29 Toronto's 1,815-foot CN Tower, completed in 1976, passed Ostankino to become the world's tallest self-supporting structure. Toronto's 1,815-foot CN Tower, completed in 1976, passed Ostankino to become the world's tallest self-supporting structure. Photo: Library And Archives Canada Image 19 of 29 The tallest-tower title finally left the United States in 1998, with completion of the 1,483-foot Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The tallest-tower title finally left the United States in 1998, with completion of the 1,483-foot Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: JIMIN LAI, AFP/Getty Images Image 20 of 29 The Petronas Towers also make a nifty launching point for fireworks. The Petronas Towers also make a nifty launching point for fireworks.

Photo: AFP, AFP/Getty Images Image 21 of 29 The Sears Tower continued to have the world's highest roof and highest occupied floor until 2004, when Taipei 101 was completed, in Taiwan's capital. It also became the world's tallest building, at 1,671 feet. The Sears Tower continued to have the world's highest roof and highest occupied floor until 2004, when Taipei 101 was completed, in Taiwan's capital. It also became the world's tallest building, at 1,671 feet. Photo: PATRICK LIN, AFP/Getty Images Image 22 of 29 Finally, in 2010, the Burj Dubai tower, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, became the tallest building and structure (supported or not), unifying the three "tallest" titles. The building, since renamed Burj Khalifa, is 2,716.5 feet tall. Photo: Martin Rose, Getty Images Image 23 of 29 Here it is shooting off fireworks during its opening ceremony, on Jan. 4, 2010.

Here it is shooting off fireworks during its opening ceremony, on Jan. 4, 2010. Photo: MARWAN NAAMANI, AFP/Getty Images Image 24 of 29 And here it is flashing lasers. And here it is flashing lasers. Photo: KARIM SAHIB, AFP/Getty Images Image 25 of 29 Assuming Sky City One goes ahead as planned, it might not hold its title long. Last year, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal announced plans to build the 3,300-foot Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Assuming Sky City One goes ahead as planned, it might not hold its title long. Last year, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal announced plans to build the 3,300-foot Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Photo: FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images Image 26 of 29 So where's Seattle in all of this? While the city never had the world's tallest building or tower, it did notch interesting height-related records.

The 462-foot Smith Tower was the tallest building west of the Mississippi River when it was completed in 1914. Photo: P-I File Image 27 of 29 The 605-foot Space Needle was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi when it was completed in 1962. The 605-foot Space Needle was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi when it was completed in 1962. Photo: P-I File Image 28 of 29 The 936.5-foot Columbia Center, completed in 1985, is the tallest building by number of floors (76) west of the Mississippi and was the ninth-tallest office building in the world when opened, according to Emporis. It also was originally designed to be 1,005 feet tall, but the Federal Aviation Administration had it shortened because of a flight path to Sea-Tac Airport. The solution was to cut the floor-to-floor height by six inches. The height from the main entrance along Fifth Avenue is 882.5 feet; the total elevation is counted down the hill, from Fourth Avenue.

History of the World's Tallest Buildings | Statistics | EMPORIS Add Building History of the World's Tallest Buildings Tall structures have always fascinated mankind. There were buildings stretching well over 100 meters into the sky even before industrialization. But how has the history of the tallest buildings in the world developed? Which structures have played a role in this history? The essential details can be found here. There are a few very early examples of architecture reaching far up into the sky. The Pyramid of Khufu for instance, from the 4th Dynasty (2620 to 2500 B.C.), at 139 meters the world's tallest pyramid, or the Pharos of Alexandria, which according to its legend was, at around 140 meters' height, the tallest lighthouse ever built up until the 20th century. And not to forget the Tower of Babel, which according to the Old Testament reached all the way up to Heaven. Since the 19th century, however, it has not just been sacred buildings that have been touching the clouds. Increasing numbers of high-rises with apartments, offices and hotel rooms have been built.

Skyscraper construction received its first significant impulse with the invention of the elevator by Elisha Grave Otis in 1852. While it would, from a technical point of view, already have been possible to build tall structures with more than six stories, one would have been unable to find many tenants for them. The invention of steel frame construction was the next important step on the road toward skyscraper architecture. The first building constructed in this way was the Home Insurance Building in Chicago, built in 1885. At a height of 55 meters and ten floors it was the world's first high-rise – and revolutionary for the development of skyscraper construction. 1901 - 1908 Philadelphia City Hall From 1901 onward, Philadelphia City Hall in the American city of Philadelphia, already substantially taller at 167 meters, reached for the skies. In fact, the architecture of this skyscraper with a bell tower was not based on the recently-invented steel frame construction: to this day it is considered the tallest masonry structure in the world.

1908 - 1909 Singer Building For seven years, Philadelphia City Hall was the world's tallest building until it was superseded in 1908 by the Singer Building in New York City, which was 20 meters taller. This particular skyscraper was only able to stay in pole position a short time, however. 1913, only four years later, saw the opening of the 213-meter-tall Metropolitan Life Tower, also located in New York City. 1909 - 1913 Metropolitan Life Tower The skyscrapers that followed the Met Life Tower were also located in New York City. After just four years, the Woolworth Building, built in the borough of Manhattan and 241 meters tall, forced the Met Life Tower from the top spot. 1913 - 1930 Woolworth Building Construction of the Woolworth Building was only possible thanks to the development of reinforced foundations, technology intended to prevent the skyscraper from leaning too heavily and toppling over in the case of earth movements. Until 1930, the Woolworth Building was the world's tallest skyscraper.

1930 - 1930 The Trump Building The history of the skyscraper was increasingly concentrated in the decades that followed in the one city – New York City. 1930 saw the completion there, after less than a year's construction, of The Trump Building. At a height of 283 meters, it was briefly the world's tallest building. 1930 - 1931 Chrysler Building The Trump Building unfortunately had to cede its title after just a few weeks to the Chrysler Building, which, at 319 meters, exceeded it by far. The man who had it built, Walter Chrysler, was inspired by the Eiffel Tower in Paris – at that time the world's tallest structure – to want to build the world's tallest skyscraper in the Chrysler Building in New York City. To win the race, Chrysler and his architect William van Alen came up with a sophisticated trick: Van Alen had an additional 56-meter-long spire built, which was then delivered secretly in pieces, put together in the elevator shaft and finally placed on the top of the building after its completion in just 90 minutes.

1931 - 1972 Empire State Building Around a year after it opened, the Chrysler Building was superseded by the 381-meter-tall Empire State Building. Built in a record time of 18 months, the tower was viewed as the "Eighth Wonder of the World". The weight of its presence in the media and its use as a setting for films such as "King Kong" or "Independence Day" have helped to make the Empire State Building one of the best-known skyscrapers from anywhere around the world. For 41 years it was the world's tallest building – longer than any other of the record-holders. 1972 - 1974 One World Trade Center Only in 1972 was this emblem of New York overtaken by an even-taller skyscraper in the shape of One World Trade Center, which – like so many of its predecessors as record-holder – was built in New York City. Following a construction period of seven years, the skyscraper and its 415-meter-tall twin tower became the two tallest buildings in the world.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, however, led to the World Trade Center being completely destroyed. 1974 - 1998 Willis Tower In 1974, two years on from the completion of the World Trade Center, the towers were overtaken by Sears Tower in Chicago. For over twenty years, the skyscraper was the world's tallest. In 2009, Sears Tower was renamed Willis Tower after the Willis Group Holding acquired the naming rights to the skyscraper and rented a substantial portion of the office space. 1998 - 2004 Petronas Towers In 1998, with construction of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, the title of the world's tallest building passed for the first time to a skyscraper outside America. A significant feature of the twin towers is the skybridge between the towers, which is intended to serve as an escape route in the case of emergency. The completion of the Petronas Towers finally made it necessary to set up rules for measuring skyscraper heights, as the towers were only awarded the title following a legal battle.

The owner of Willis Tower in Chicago brought the action, since inclusion of the antenna would have meant Willis Tower would have exceeded the architectural height of the Petronas Towers. Since the judgment in favor of the Petronas Towers, television antennas are no longer recognized as an architectural component of buildings. 2004 - 2007 Taipei 101 Until completion of Taipei 101 in Taiwan, the towers were considered the tallest skyscrapers in the world on account of the structural height of 452 meters. Taipei 101 took on this title in 2004 and thus became the first title-holder of the 21st century. The skyscraper claimed several records at once: the greatest architectural height, the greatest roof height and the highest occupied floor.

2007 - present Tallest Skyscrapers - List of Tallest Buildings in the World List of Tallest Buildings in the World List of Tallest Buildings in the World Here is a list of the 10 tallest buildings in the world by height: Burj Khalifa in Dubai (known as Burj Dubai, built in 2010, 828m) is today’s tallest man-made structure in the world and a tallest skyscraper. It also broke many other records when it was finished like: building with most floors, highest installation of an aluminum and glass façade in the world and world’s highest nightclub among others. Mecca Royal Clock Tower Hotel (also Abraj Al-Bait Towers, 2012, 610m) is a building complex in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It holds world records for the tallest clock tower in the world and the world's largest clock face. It has a large prayer room capable of holding more than 10,000 people.

One World Trade Center in New York City (known as Freedom Tower, 2013, 541.3m) is the primary building of the new World Trade Center complex and stands on the place of Six World Trade Center which was demolished in the September 11 attacks in 2001. Its construction is part of an effort to memorialize and rebuild the original World Trade Center complex. Taipei 101 in Taipei, Republic of China (2004, 509m) was the world's tallest building from 2004 until the opening of the Burj Khalifa. In July 2011 it became the tallest and largest green building in the world awarded with awarded with LEED Platinum certification. It has 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground. Shanghai World Financial Center (2008, 492m) in Shanghai, China. It consists of offices, hotels, conference rooms, observation decks, and ground-floor shopping malls. It is the tallest structure in Mainland China and its most distinctive feature is the trapezoid aperture at the peak which is designed to reduce the stresses of wind pressure on the building.

International Commerce Centre (known as as Union Square Phase 7, 2010, 484m) in West Kowloon, Hong Kong where is the tallest building. It has 118 floors, a number of five-star restaurants, a class-A office space, a bank on 12 floors, a hotel and an observatory. Petronas Towers (Menara Berkembar Petronas, 1998, 452m) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia are twin skyscrapers that remain the tallest twin building in the world. They were designed by Argentine architect César Pelli and are built on the world's deepest foundations that range from from 60 to 114 m in depth. Zifeng Tower (also had names: Greenland Center-Zifeng Tower, Greenland Square Zifeng Tower, and Nanjing Greenland Financial Center, 2010, 450m) in Nanjing, China. It has 89 floors on which are placed retail shops, office space, restaurants, a hotel, and a public observatory near the top.

Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower, 1973, 442m) in Chicago, USA was the tallest building in the world at the time of completion. Today is the second-tallest building in the United States and the eighth-tallest freestanding structure in the world. It has 108 floors and mainly offices. Tower is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Chicago because of its observation deck, called the Skydeck, placed on the height of 412 m. KK100 (formerly known as Kingkey 100 and Kingkey Finance Center Plaza, 2011, 442m) is located in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China. It has 100 floors used for for office space, a hotel, a garden on the top four floors and several restaurants. © 2017 - History of Skyscrapers | Contact The tallest buildings in the world The tallest buildings in the world 23rd March 2015 by James Wray Here we look at the top ten tallest buildings in the world and celebrate the monumental strides humans are currently making in the fields of construction and engineering.

The barrier of a 2,000ft-tall building has already been broken and the first building set to go above 1,000 metres (3,280 feet), the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is already under construction and set to open in 2019. That will take buildings past another major milestone in height, but until then let’s look at the ten tallest buildings in the world today, counting down to number one… 10 WILLIS TOWER Other names: Formerly known as Sears Tower Country: USA Opened: 1973 Willis Tower. Pic credit: Alex Actipis CC BY 2.0 Chicago’s Willis Tower was the tallest building in the world for nearly 25 years. Finished in 1973 following a three-year construction period, it held the title until 1998 when the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur (see number 8 on this list) took the crown. It has 108 stories with an observation deck on the 103rd floor, which is visited by more than a million people every year.

In May 1981 climber Dan Goodwin scaled the outside of the then Sears Tower while dressed as Spider-Man and using suction cups and safety gear. He was arrested at the top. Then in August 1999 French freeclimber Alain Robert scaled it again without any safety gear at all, and using just his bare hands and feet. It was renamed Willis Tower in 2009 after the Willis Group took out a lease in the building. It has also been the home to the headquarters of United Airlines since August 2012. 9 ZIFENG TOWER Other names: Greenland Center-Zifeng Tower, Greenland Square Zifeng Tower, Nanjing Greenland Financial Center Country: China Opened: 2010 Zifeng Tower. Pic credit: HanjoH CC BY 3.0 The Zifeng Tower has 89 stories and houses office space as well as several restaurants and a hotel. There is also a public observatory on the 72nd floor offering spectacular views of Nanjing on a clear day. It was designed by architect Adrian Smith from American firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. The geometry of the building follows the pattern of existing roads around the site.

There are several sky gardens at various levels up the tower. The InterContinental hotel starts on the 49th floor and stretches up to the 71st. Special structural safetyguards were put in place when building the tower as Nanjing lies in a seismic zone, meaning it is at risk of earthquakes. 8 PETRONAS TOWERS Other names: Petronas Twin Towers/Menara Petronas/Menara Berkembar Petronas Country: Malaysia Opened: 1996 The Petronas Towers. Pic credit: Gavin Firkser CC BY 2.0 The Petronas Towers could count as two separate buildings, but we have put them together on this list as they are connected on the 41st and 42nd floors by a skybridge. They were the tallest buildings in the world for six years, from 1998 to 2004 until the crown was taken by Taipei 101 (see number 5). Because the towers move in the wind and in different temperatures, the skybridge actually moves in and out of both the towers to stop it breaking.

The final scene of 1999 film Entrapment, starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones, was filmed on the skybridge. The towers were designed by Argentine American architect Cesar Pelli. In September 2009, French free climber Alain Robert climbed the outside of the second tower without any ropes or safety gear. It took him just under two hours. He had previously tried the stunt in March 1997 and March 2007, but both times ended up getting arrested on the 60th floor. 7 INTERNATIONAL COMMERCE CENTRE Other names: 環球貿易廣場, ICC Tower Country: China Opened: 2010 The International Commerce Centre. Pic credit: Isaac Torrontera CC BY-SA 2.0 Hong Kong’s International Commerce Centre has 118 storeys, making it the third largest building by number of floors. It houses Hong Kong’s five-star Ritz-Carlton hotel on the top 16 floors, as well as a 360-degree observation deck on the 100th floor, at 1,289ft.

The hotel has a bar and a pool on the top storey, which are the highest bar and pool in the world. It also features a 30,000sq ft Presidential suite on the 117th floor, which costs around $13,000US (100,000HKD) per night to stay in. The ground floor of the International Commerce Centre building is occupied by a shopping mall called Elements. The skyscraper was designed by Kohn Pederson Fox Associates. Six people died in an elevator shaft accident during the construction. The budget for the ICC Tower was shrouded in secrecy, and it wasn’t even revealed to the architects themselves. 6 SHANGHAI WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER Height: 1,614ft (492m) Opened: 2008 Shanghai World Financial Center. Pic credit: Harvey Barrison CC BY-SA 2.0 The Shanghai World Financial Center is the first of two buildings in Shanghai to make this list. It took 11 years to build, with construction starting on in August 1997 before it opened to the public in August 2008.

This was mainly due to the project being put on hold for several years due to the Asian financial crisis. The Shanghai World Financial Center has 101 floors and 91 elevators. It was designed by US architects Kohn Pederson Fox, and features a distinctive trapezoid gap at the top. There are three separate observation decks with the highest situated oon the 100th floor, 1,555ft from the ground. It is home to several leading banks and financial trading firms as well as government agencies. 5 TAIPEI 101 Height: 1,669.9 ft (509 m) Other names: 臺北101/台北101, Taipei World Financial Center Country: Republic of China Opened: 2004 Taipei 101. Pic credit: My Day CC BY 2.0 The Taipei 101 building is in Taipei, the capital city of the Republic of China (Taiwan). It held the crown of world’s tallest building for six years between 2004, when it was completed, and 2010 when the Burj Khalifa opened in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

The Taipei 101 building took five years to build at a cost of $1.8billion. It was designed by C.Y. Lee & Partners, a firm with Chinese architect C. Y. Lee at the forefront. The building often features in New Year’s Eve broadcasts across the world when fireworks are set off from its many floors. It has an indoor observation deck on the 89th floor and one outside on the 91st floor. The many firms with offices inside include Google, KPMG and L’Oreal. 4 ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER Height: 1,792 ft (546.2 meters) Other Names: 1 World Trade Center, 1 WTC, Freedom Tower Country: United States of America City: New York City Opened: 2014 One World Trade Center. Pic credit: Joe Mabel CC BY-SA 2.0 One World Trade Center in New York City is the fourth tallest building in the world. The structure was built in the shadow of the September 11th World Trade Center terrorist attack and acts as a memorial to the lives that were lost.

The One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and has 104 floors. American architect David Childs designed the building, with construction beginning on the $3.9billion project in 2006. It was completed in 2013. Tenants who have signed leases include Conde Nast Publications, whose magazines include Vogue and The New Yorker, the General Services Adminstration, the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Customs and Border Protection. 3 ABRAJ AL BAIT Height: 1,972 feet (601 m) Other Names: Mecca Royal Hotel Clock Tower Country: Saudi Arabia Cost EST: $15billion (for entire complex) Opened: 2012 Abraj Al Bait. Pic credit: Al Jazeera English CC BY-SA 2.0 The Mecca Royal Hotel Clock Tower is the tallest part of a building complex that towers above one of Islam’s holiest sites, the Masjid al-Haram mosque, home to the sacred Kaaba. It was designed by Dar Al-Handasah Architects, and has 120 floors housing a 1,299-room five-star hotel with 56 elevators.

The minaret at the top of the tower was fitted with huge speakers which can emit prayer calls more than four miles away, while 21,000 lamps were also added, which can be seen nearly 20 miles away. They are meant to provide a way for deaf people and those in far off areas to know when there is a call to prayer. Inside. Contruction on the Mecca Royal Hotel Clock Tower is began in 2004 and was completed in 2012. It is part of the Fairmont group of hotels. 2 SHANGHAI TOWER Other Names: 上海中心大厦, Shànghǎi Zhōngxīn Dàshà, Shanghai Central Tower Height: 2,073 ft (632m) Opened: Anticipated in 2015 Shanghai Tower, on far right. Pic credit: Wilson Hui CC BY 2.0 The second tallest building in the world is Shanghai Tower. Work on the main structure of China’s tallest building began in 2008 and was set to be completed in 2014.

However, the highest point, at 2,073 ft (632 metres), was put in place in August 2013. Designed by global architecture firm Gensler, the building opened to the public in 2015. It will have 121 stories, and is designed as nine different cylindrical buildings one on top of the other. Each one will have a separate atrium with gardens, cafes and shops with 360 degree views of the entire city of Shanghai. 1 BURJ KHALIFA Other Names: Burj Dubai, Khalifa tower, برج خليفة Height: 2,722 ft (829.8 m) Country: United Arab Emirates Opened: 2010 The Burj Khalifa. Pic credit: Wilerson S Andrade CC BY-SA 2.0 The tallest building in the world is currently the mighty Burj Khaifa, which towers above the city of Dubai. As of 2014 it was the tallest building in the world by a staggering 643ft (196 meters). There are 163 floors in the building so if you visit, make sure you take the lift.

The Burj Khaifa took just over five years to be completed, with construction beginning in September 2004 and completed in October 2009. It was designed by American architect Adrian Smith, who is also credited for being the architect behind the Jin Mao Tower in China and the Trump Tower in Chicago. It has an observation deck on the 124th floor, and is surrounded by a landscapd park. It features both apartments, stores and office space. 28 dizzying photos from the top of the world's tallest skyscrapers by Matt Hershberger April 23, 2014 In the 20th century, engineering and architectural techniques and resources became stronger and more sophisticated, and skyscrapers took off. For a solid 40 years, the undisputed “World’s Tallest Building” was Manhattan’s Empire State Building. That was shortly followed by the original World Trade Center and then Chicago’s Willis (Sears) Tower. But since the Willis Tower lost its spot in 1998 to Malaysia’s Petronas Towers, we’ve built a ton of crazy huge skyscrapers all over the world.

Asian and Middle Eastern countries like China and the United Arab Emirates seem to be firing back and forth, topping each other every few years. But right now, the title holder is the stupidly tall Burj Khalifa in Dubai. The good news for those of us not footing construction bills is that often, workers will snap pictures while doing maintenance on the towers. Or maybe a journalist will seek a special permit to photograph the towers. Or maybe a daredevil (who, after researching this piece, I’ve discovered is most likely to be a young Russian man) will elude the building’s guards, climb all the way to the top with no safety gear, and take a pant-shittingly terrifying photo of the city that lies beneath. However the pictures are taken, here are some of the most dizzying, mind-blowingly awesome pictures we’ve been able to find from mankind’s tallest creations. Burj Khalifa The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the tallest skyscraper in the world and, at a height of 2,717 feet, is nearly 700 feet taller than the closest runner-up. This image is actually from Google Streetview.

( via ) Shanghai Tower This picture, taken from atop the world’s second tallest building, was taken by Russian daredevils Vadim Makhorov and Vitaliy Raskalov, who climbed to the top. ( via ) Macau Tower Taken from the Macau Tower bungee platform (after closing). It’s the second highest skyjump in the world. ( via ) Hong Kong’s Causeway Bay This photo was taken from one of the many skyscrapers in Hong Kong’s super-dense Causeway Bay by rooftopper Javin Lau. ( via ) The Golden Gate Bridge San Francisco’s iconic and gorgeous Golden Gate Bridge is also the second most-used site for suicides in the world (behind Nanjing’s Yangtze River Bridge), and there are plans to put a net under the bridge to catch jumpers. ( via ) Taipei 101 Taipei 101 was the world’s tallest building from 2004 until the Burj Khalifa was finished in 2010. In 2007, daredevil Felix Baumgartner (the guy who skydived from the stratosphere ) BASE jumped off it.

See more like this: 21 examples of you-fall-you-die photography with the world's most insane skywalkers Burj Khalifa This photo, also from the top of the Burj Khalifa, was Instagrammed by National Geographic photographer Joe McNally. ( via ) Princess Tower Dubai claim to skyscraper fame isn’t just the Burj Khalifa, of course. Here’s a shot from near the top of Princess Tower, a 1,358ft residential building in the Dubai Marina. ( via ) Burj Khalifa Photographer Gerald Donovan did a full panoramic photo from the top of the Burj Khalifa. You can see an interactive version here . ( via ) One World Trade Center The tallest building in the United States, as of last year, is One World Trade Center in New York, standing at a very symbolic 1,776 feet tall. ( via ) Empire State Building For nearly 40 years, the iconic Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world, until it was topped by its New York neighbor, the former World Trade Center.

( via ) Abraj Al-Bait AKA the Mecca Royal Hotel Clock Tower, the Abraj al-Bait is the world’s tallest clock tower, and the world’s third tallest building. It stands in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. ( via , via , via ) The Cologne Cathedral This photo was taken by Vadim Makhorov and Vitaliy Raskalov at the Cologne Cathedral. While the cathedral isn’t super tall in comparison to many of these other structures — it’s only 516 feet high — this image is too incredible not to post. ( via ) The Eiffel Tower Another from Makhorov and Raskalov. Pretty much anyone can go to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Not everyone can do this. ( via ) One World Trade Center One World Trade Center replaced the towers that were destroyed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and briefly caused a feud between Chicagoans and New Yorkers over which city had the taller building (and the better pizza). As with the Burj Khalifa, One World Trade Center has a fully interactive panoramic version as well, which you can check out at Time Magazine’s site .

( via ) Sagrada Familia Another image by Russian rooftoppers Makhorov and Raskalov. The Sagrada Familia Cathedral in Barcelona has been under construction for over a century. See more like this: Urban free climbing: The new extreme sport you shouldn't try Moscow State University This one is another that doesn’t rank particularly high in the global skyscraper charts, but it gets on the list because of the lengths free-climber and extreme selfie-taker Kirill Oreshkin went to get the picture. ( via ) The Willis Tower Until One World Trade Center was finished, Willis Tower in Chicago (probably better known as the Sears Tower) was the tallest building in the United States. It was the world’s tallest building for 25 years, but is now ranked 11th. This picture is taken from its infamous glass balcony. ( via ) Moscow Bridge Enjoy the stomach-turning view from several hundred feet above the Dnieper River at the top of Kiev’s Moscow Bridge. ( via ) The Petronas Towers The Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur held the record for the world’s tallest building(s) from 1998 until displaced by Taipei 101 in 2004.

Unfortunately for tourists, the observation deck is actually a bridge that only gets about halfway up the building. ( via ) Al Hamra Tower A BASE jumper gets ready to launch off of Kuwait City’s Al Hamra Tower, the tallest sculpted tower in the world. ( via ) Manhattan Midtown East The World's Tallest Buildings | Statistics | EMPORIS Add Building The World's Tallest Buildings Dubai, Shanghai, New York City: All around the world, ever taller and ever more spectacular new skyscrapers are being planned and built. Read here which buildings are currently the ten tallest in the world, where they are located and what makes them stand out. 1. Burj Khalifa Since its completion in 2010, the world's tallest skyscraper has been Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The building, which was designed by the architects Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, is a mighty 828 meters tall and has 163 floors. Burj Khalifa is one of Dubai's most famous buildings.

Its potential successor, Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, is however already in the starting blocks: At a kilometer in height, this ambitious construction project, which was started in 2013, is due to surpass the current record holder by some distance. 2. Shanghai Tower At a height of 632 meters, Shanghai Tower, located in the Chinese city of Shanghai, is almost 200 meters shorter than Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Although the skyscraper is due to be completed during the course of 2014, it has already topped out (reached its final height) and thus garnered second place in the list of the world's tallest buildings. In addition, Shanghai Tower will be home to the world's fastest elevators, which will climb the tower at the speed of 18 meters per second. 3. Makkah Clock Royal Tower The third-tallest building in the world is the Makkah Clock Royal Tower, whose most striking feature is its clock tower. The clock face is so large that the clock can be seen from 25 kilometers away. The 601-meter-tall building was completed in 2012 and is situated in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 4.

Ping An International Finance Center With its 599 metres the Ping An Finance Centre in Shenzhen China will be the tallest building completing in 2016. Designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox the tower is to be found in fourth place in the ranking and once complete, the 116-storey skyscraper will be the world's tallest office building. It wil steal the title from One World Trade Center in New York. 5. Goldin Finance 117 The Goldin Finance 117 tower is a 597-metre-high skyscraper designed by the P&T Group. Located in Tianjin, China this diamond-shaped building will be completed in 2016 and it will house offices and a hotel. The Goldin Finance 117 just measures 2 meters less than the Ping An Financial Centre, so it achieves position 5 in the list of the world's tallest buildings. 6. Lotte World Tower Also designed by Kohn Pedersen Fox, the Lotte World Tower reaches postion 6 with its 556 meteres. The Tower is located in Seoul and will be the tallest building in South Korea after completion 2016.

The skyscraper surpasses the Northeast Asia Trade Tower by over 200 metres and will include a seven-star hotel. 7. One World Trade Center 60 meters behind in fourth place follows One World Trade Center in New York City, which topped out at 541 meters on May 10, 2013, since when it has not only been the world's fourth-tallest building but also the tallest skyscraper in New York City. The building is being constructed on the site of the former World Trade Center, which was destroyed in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Completion is due in late 2014. 8. CTF Finance Centre Now the eighth-tallest skyscraper in the world after it topped out in July 2014, CTF Finance Centre, located in Guangzhou, is a mixed-use tower that will feature office space, a hotel, apartments and a shopping center in its podium. Due to complete in 2016, its 530 meters make it 21 meters taller than the next-tallest, Taipei 101. 9.

Taipei 101 509 meters is the height of Taipei 101, which occupies ninth place in the list. The building was even the tallest in the world from 2004 to 2007 until it was surpassed by Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Taipei 101 is named for its location in Taiwan's capital Taipei and for the number of stories in the building – 101 in total. Its striking design won it the 2004 Emporis Skyscraper Award. 10. Shanghai World Financial Center The Shanghai World Financial Center measures just 16 meters less than Taipei 101. The building, which due to its shape is also referred to as the "bottle-opener", is a direct neighbor of Shanghai Tower and was completed in 2008 from a design by Kohn Pedersen Fox. Taipei 101: Interesting Facts and Visitor Info By Greg Rodgers Updated February 23, 2016.

A few Taipei 101 facts surprise people, but none more than the existence of Summit 101 -- a "secret" VIP club purported to exist on the 101st floor of the building. The Taipei 101 tower in Taipei, Taiwan, was the world's tallest building from 2004 until 2010, when it was beat out by Dubai's impressive Burj Khalifa. Regardless, Taipei 101 is still considered the tallest green building in the world for its innovative and energy-saving design. Even the 2015-2016 New Year's Eve firework's show was nature themed. Rich with symbolism and tradition, Taipei's iconic landmark is a standing monument to ancient feng shui traditions and modern architecture. Before heading to Taiwan, read some Taipei travel essentials to know what to expect. Taipei 101 Specifications Height: 1,667 feet (508 meters) as measured from the ground to the tip of the spire on top. Highest Occupied Floor: 1,437 feet (438 meters). Number of Floors: 101 (an additional five basement floors are underground).

continue reading below our video Tips for Taking Better Travel Photos Outside Observation Deck: 91st floor. Construction Cost: US $1.8 billion. Symbolism and Design Even the neighborhood and sculptures in the park surrounding Taipei 101 are meant to support the tower's feng shui and to prevent positive energy from escaping. The park is round to reinforce the idea that the tower is a giant sundial. From the shape of entrances to curving surfaces and colors, the landmark is designed to symbolize prosperity and good fortune. To some onlookers, Taipei 101 looks like a stack of Western-style Chinese food carryout boxes (traditional oyster pails), however, the tower is meant to represent a stalk of bamboo reaching into the sky to connect heaven and earth. The 101 floors represent adding one to the number 100, which is considered perfect and auspicious in Chinese culture. In other words, even better than perfect! The eight sections of the tower are a nod to the auspicious number eight, which represents abundance and good fortune in Chinese culture .

Because four is considered an unlucky number in superstition, having a 44th floor was purposely avoided by creating a floor 42a to bump the 43rd floor into that position. Interesting Facts About Taipei 101 When it opened in 2004, the Taipei 101 tower beat the twin Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia, by a height of 184 feet for title of " tallest building in the world ." Although owned by the Taipei Financial Center Corporation, the tower is actually managed by a company based in Chicago, USA. Taipei 101 is symbolically boasted as the tallest sundial in the world; the circle-shaped park around the tower adds to the effect. There are 61 elevators inside of the tower. Each elevator has atmospheric controls to keep passengers' ears from popping. The two fastest elevators inside Taipei 101 moves at an astonishing speed of 37.7 miles per hour (55.2 feet per second); they were once the fastest in the world. Reaching the 89th floor from ground level only takes around 44 seconds!

French climber Alain Robert, nicknamed the "French Spider Man," climbed Taipei 101 legally on Christmas Day in 2004. He had already climbed the Eiffel Tower, Empire State Building, and many of the world's tallest structures; the climb took four hours to complete. Austrian Felix Baumgartner, best known for breaking the sound barrier during his 2012 space jump, did an illegal base jump from Taipei 101's outside observation deck on the 91st floor in 2007. The parking area in the basement of Taipei 101 is 893,000 square feet (82,962 square meters) and can accommodate more than 1,800 vehicles -- don't forget where you parked! Taipei 101 cycles through seven different colors (each with symbolic meaning) with a new color for each day of the week. The History of Taipei 101 Construction on the Taipei 101 tower began in 1999 after two years of planning; work concluded in 2004.

The ground-breaking ceremony was held on January 13, 1999, and the tower opened to the public on December 31, 2004. Construction was delayed for only a week during a catastrophic earthquake in 2002 that caused five deaths at the site after a construction crane plummeted to the street below. Taipei 101 surpassed Malaysia's iconic Petronas Towers to grab the title of "tallest inhabited skyscraper." At the same time, the tower took the record for "highest inhabited floor" from the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower) in Chicago. The chief architect for Taipei 101 was Chinese-born C.Y. Lee; he received his master's degree from Princeton University in New Jersey, USA. Construction Caveats The Taipei 101 tower had to be constructed with more than just beauty and symbolism in mind; Taiwan is regularly subjected to powerful typhoons and regional earthquakes. According to the designers, the tower can withstand winds of up to 134 miles per hour and the strongest earthquakes on modern record.

To survive potentially destructive forces of nature, Taipei 101 incorporates a steel pendulum -- the largest and heaviest damper in the world -- suspended through the core of the building between the 92nd and 87th floors of the structure. The suspended sphere weighs 1.76 million pounds (725,749 kilograms) and sways freely to offset the movement of the building itself. Visitors can see the aesthetically shaped pendulum in action from a restaurant and the observation decks. The anti-sway system passed a real-life test during Taiwan's 6.8-magnitude earthquake in 2002 while the tower was still under construction. What Is Inside the Taipei 101 Tower? Taipei 101 is home to scores of tenants including communications companies, banks, motor companies, consulting groups, and financial companies. Some notable tenants include: Google Taiwan on the 73rd floor, L'Oreal' -- the world's largest cosmetic company, and the Taiwan Stock Exchange. The tower is also home to a library, fitness center, a shopping mall with over 828,000 square feet of shops, and all the expected retail and restaurant chains.

Taipei 101 Observation Decks Taipei 101 has two indoor observatories (88th and 89th floor) that provide 360-degree views of Taipei. Stairs go up to the 91st floor outside observation deck which is open when weather permits. The record-breaking wind damper can be viewed from the indoor observatories. Food, drinks, souvenirs, and voice tours are available for purchase. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets are available at the entrance located in the mall on the 5th floor. Ticket sales stop at 9:15 p.m. Adult entrance for indoor decks: NT $500 (around US $15). Outdoor observation deck (only open when weather permits) requires separate ticket purchase. Appropriate dress and footwear are required to visit Taipei 101's observatories -- don't wear flip-flops! The Summit 101 Club Perhaps most interesting of Taipei 101's inhabitants is Summit 101 -- a secretive, exclusive VIP club purported to exist on the 101st floor of the tower.

Aside from once being listed in the tower brochure, the club is shrouded in secrecy and is unreachable via the regular elevators. Despite widespread publicity and millions of visitors a year that come to see the tower, no one is really sure what goes on up there! The irony is that millions of people from around the world stare at the top of the tower on New Year's Eve as Taipei 101's spectacular fireworks shows are broadcasted internationally. Only in 2014 was a TV film crew finally allowed inside of the Summit 101 club; it's existence was publicly acknowledged. Rumor has it that only foreign dignitaries, special VIPs, and people who spend a hefty sum in the mall are invited to the top for the best view of the city. The 101st floor is divided into different sections, so speculation still exists that the public hasn't seen all that there is to know about the secret floor.

Question: What city had the world's tallest building from 2004 until 2010?
Answer: Taipei