Burj Khalifa

Burj Khalifa
imran shahabuddin · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Burj Khalifa
Location	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Architect	Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
Engineer	South Korea-based Hyundai Engineering and Construction
Developer	Emaar Properties
Owner	Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan

Burj Khalifa. Located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, it was developed by Emaar Properties and designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, with Adrian Smith as the lead architect, in collaboration with Hyundai Engineering and Construction and Besix Group. The tower was named after Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, in recognition of his support for the project, which was also backed by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai. The project was inspired by Islamic architecture and Frank Lloyd Wright's design for the Mile High Illinois.

Introduction

The Burj Khalifa is a mixed-use development that includes residential and commercial spaces, as well as entertainment and leisure facilities, such as the At.mosphere restaurant, located on the 122nd floor, and the At the Top observation deck, which offers stunning views of Dubai Marina, Palm Jumeirah, and the surrounding Arabian Desert. The tower's design was influenced by Middle Eastern architecture, particularly the Great Mosque of Samarra in Iraq and the Taj Mahal in India, and was designed to be a symbol of Dubai's engineering prowess and economic growth, rivaling other major cities like New York City, London, and Tokyo. The project was also supported by Dubai Holding, a conglomerate owned by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, a sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates. The tower's construction was managed by South Korea-based Hyundai Engineering and Construction and United Arab Emirates-based Besix Group, with support from Arabtec Holding and Al Naboodah Group.

Architecture

The Burj Khalifa's design is inspired by Islamic architecture and features a Y-shaped floor plan, which provides more floor space and reduces the structural load on the building, allowing it to reach greater heights, similar to the Willis Tower in Chicago and the Shanghai Tower in China. The tower's exterior is covered in reflective glass and aluminum panels, which provide excellent thermal insulation and help to reduce the building's energy consumption, using technology developed by Schüco International and Saint-Gobain. The building's design was influenced by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, particularly his design for the Mile High Illinois, and was also inspired by the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, designed by Frank Gehry. The tower's architecture was also influenced by the work of I.M. Pei, who designed the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, and Norman Foster, who designed the Gherkin in London.

Construction

The construction of the Burj Khalifa began in 2004 and was completed in 2010, with a workforce of over 10,000 laborers, who were managed by Hyundai Engineering and Construction and Besix Group, with support from Arabtec Holding and Al Naboodah Group. The tower's foundation is supported by a 192-meter deep pile foundation, which was designed by Patrik Schumacher and Zaha Hadid Architects, and was built using high-strength concrete and reinforced steel, supplied by LafargeHolcim and ArcelorMittal. The building's superstructure is composed of high-strength concrete and reinforced steel, and was built using a jump form system, which allowed the builders to complete a floor every 3 days, using technology developed by Peri GmbH and Doka GmbH. The construction process was managed by Dubai-based Emaar Properties and South Korea-based Hyundai Engineering and Construction, with support from Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and Dubai Holding.

Features

The Burj Khalifa features a range of amenities, including 57 elevators, which were supplied by Otis Elevator Company and Kone, and 8 escalators, which were supplied by ThyssenKrupp and Schindler Group. The building also features a range of luxury amenities, including a swimming pool, a fitness center, and a spa, which were designed by GA Design and Hirsch Bedner Associates. The tower's observation deck, At the Top, is located on the 124th floor and offers stunning views of Dubai and the surrounding Arabian Desert, and was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and GA Design. The building also features a range of advanced sustainability features, including a district cooling system, which was designed by Emirates District Cooling, and a waste management system, which was designed by Veolia Environnement.

Records

The Burj Khalifa holds a range of records, including the title of the tallest building in the world, with a height of 828 meters, and the title of the tallest structure in the world, surpassing the CN Tower in Toronto and the Ostankino Tower in Moscow. The building also holds the record for the highest occupied floor and the highest outdoor observation deck, which was previously held by the Shanghai World Financial Center in China. The tower's design and construction were recognized with a range of awards, including the 2010 Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat award for the Best Tall Building Middle East and Africa, and the 2011 International Highrise Award, which was presented by ThyssenKrupp and Deutsche Bank.

Tourism and Reception

The Burj Khalifa has become a major tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors each year, and has been recognized as one of the most iconic buildings in the world, alongside the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Empire State Building in New York City. The building's observation deck, At the Top, offers stunning views of Dubai and the surrounding Arabian Desert, and has been visited by a range of celebrities, including Tom Cruise and Kylie Minogue. The tower has also been featured in a range of films and television shows, including Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and The Amazing Race, and has been recognized as a symbol of Dubai's engineering prowess and economic growth, rivaling other major cities like Singapore and Hong Kong. The building's design and construction were also recognized by UNESCO, which designated the Burj Khalifa as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019, in recognition of its cultural and architectural significance, alongside other iconic buildings like the Taj Mahal and the Great Pyramid of Giza. Category:Skyscrapers