Authored by Sylvia Cochran in Arts and Entertainment
Published on 09-10-2009
The list of the world’s tallest buildings is not as easily compiled as simply applying a measuring tape to the foundation and going up. Instead, it begs the question exactly what constitutes a building, whether or not it should be a habitable structure, and also if manmade structures that incorporate natural locales in their height should be part and parcel of the listing. That being said, there are certainly a number of structures that are eye catching and ought to be included in any such collection.
The Dubai Tower
The Dubai Tower, also known as Burj Dubai, is currently number one among the world’s tallest buildings. Situated in the United Arab Emirates, the building is not yet completely constructed, but already measures 2,684 feet. Construction began in 2004, and upon its completion at the end of 2009, the Dubai Tower will feature 162 floors. When finished, the building will house a hotel, restaurants, offices and residential apartments.
The Taipei 101
Now ranking second on the list of the world’s tallest buildings, the Taipei 101 is situated in Taiwan’s Xinyi District of Taipei. Measuring in at a height of a little over 1,473 feet, the building features 101 floors devoted to office, retail, restaurant, and conference use. While the casual observer might cite the Willis Tower in Chicago as the bona fide runner up to the Dubai Tower, it is actually the Taipei 101, which also features five floors that are built underground and serve as anchoring to the structure.
The Willis Tower
The 108 stories of the Willis Tower are located in the “Windy City” of Chicago. It is 1,450 feet tall and therefore ranks third on the list of the world’s tallest buildings. The building has been in existence since 1973, when it became known as the Sears Tower. When contractual obligations to naming rights expired in 2009, the building was renamed for a new tenant. The primary use of the tower is for office space, but there are also observation decks for visitors.
The CN Tower
Purists might argue that the CN Tower has no place in the listing of the world’s tallest buildings, since it provides neither commercial nor residential floor space. Truth be told, it is little more than a communications tower that doubles as a tourist attraction with its observation decks. Nevertheless, a roof height of 1,500 feet – which extends to 1,815 feet when counting the spire and antenna – most certainly qualifies for at least an honorable mention.
