Burj Khalifa
The tower's architecture and engineering were performed by Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill of Chicago, with Adrian Smith as chief architect, and Bill Baker as chief structural engineer. The primary contractor was Samsung C&T of South Korea.
The total cost for the project was about US$1.5 billion; and for the entire "Downtown Dubai" development, US$20 billion.In March 2009, Mohamed Ali Alabbar, chairman of the project's developer, Emaar Properties, said office space pricing at Burj Khalifa reached US$4,000 per sq ft (over US$43,000 per m2) and the Armani Residences, also in Burj Khalifa, sold for US$3,500 per sq ft (over US$37,500 per m2).
The project's completion coincided with the global financial crisis of 2007–2010, and with vast overbuilding in the country, led to high vacancies and foreclosures. With Dubai mired in debt from its huge ambitions, the government was forced to seek multibillion dollar bailouts from its oil rich neighbor Abu Dhabi. Subsequently, in a surprise move at its opening ceremony, the tower was renamed Burj Khalifa, said to honour the UAE President, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his crucial support.
Due to the slumping demand in Dubai's property market, the rents in the Burj Khalifa plummeted 40% some ten months after its opening. Out of 900 apartments in the tower around 825 were still empty at that time.
Height
Current records
- Tallest skyscraper to top of spire: 828 m (2,717 ft) (previously Taipei 101 – 509.2 m/1,671 ft)
- Tallest structure ever built: 828 m (2,717 ft) (previously Warsaw radio mast – 646.38 m/2,121 ft)
- Tallest extant structure: 828 m (2,717 ft) (previously KVLY-TV mast – 628.8 m/2,063 ft)
- Tallest freestanding structure: 828 m (2,717 ft) (previously CN Tower – 553.3 m/1,815 ft)
- Building with most floors: 160 (previously Willis Tower – 108)
- Building with highest occupied floor in the world: 160th floor
- World's highest elevator installation, situated inside a rod at the very top of the building
- World's fastest elevators at speed of 64 km/h (40 mph) or 18 m/s (59 ft/s) (previously Taipei 101 – 16.83 m/s)
- Highest vertical concrete pumping (for a building): 606 m (1,988 ft) (previously Taipei 101 – 449.2 m/1,474 ft)
- The first world's tallest structure in history to include residential space
- Highest outdoor observation deck in the world (124th floor) at 452 m (1,483 ft)
- World's highest mosque (located on the 158th floor)
- World's highest installation of an aluminium and glass façade, at a height of 512 m (1,680 ft)
- World's highest swimming pool (76th floor)
- World's highest nightclub (144th floor).
Floor plans
The following is a breakdown of floors.| Floors | Use |
|---|---|
| 160 and above | Mechanical |
| 156–159 | Communication and broadcast |
| 155 | Mechanical |
| 139–154 | Corporate suites |
| 136–138 | Mechanical |
| 125–135 | Corporate suites |
| 124 | At the Top observatory |
| 123 | Sky lobby |
| 122 | At.mosphere restaurant |
| 111–121 | Corporate suites |
| 109–110 | Mechanical |
| 77–108 | Residential |
| 76 | Sky lobby |
| 73–75 | Mechanical |
| 44–72 | Residential |
| 43 | Sky lobby |
| 40–42 | Mechanical |
| 38–39 | Armani Hotel suites |
| 19–37 | Armani Residences |
| 17–18 | Mechanical |
| 9–16 | Armani Residences |
| 1–8 | Armani Hotel |
| Ground | Armani Hotel |
| Concourse | Armani Hotel |
| B1–B2 | Parking, mechanical |
Construction
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Strata Luxury Tower
Dubai is coming out to be the next destination as far as architectural designs are concerned. An example of the same is the Strata tower, a forty story, luxury residential building designed by architects Hani Rashid and Lise Anne Couture of Asymptote. The work has started on the Al Raha Beach and is slated to be completed by early 2011.The tower would be 160 meters high and will be tallest building in the Al Dana precinct, which is the centerpiece of Aldar Properties PJSC’s prestigious Al Raha Beach development. The project and its development shall be showcased at Cityscape Abu Dhabi from May 13–15, 2008. the Strata Tower is designed to signify an important and dignified future for the Abu Dhabi and the surrounding region.
Its physical presence is striking as it encapsulates the meaning through abstract form which is drawn from both motifs and local cultural landscapes along with forces of global influence. Its design utilizes the mathematical means in design to achieve a highly pertinent architecture for UAE. This innovative form was created using techniques from various influences along with the state of the art advanced parametric modeling tools and factors including economies of production and fabrication with special consideration given to environmental sustainability. Sophisticated computer modeling tools were utilized to produce the building’s intelligent, environmentally responsive louver system which is held in a cantilevered exoskeleton structure. This exoskeleton veils the entire tower in a shimmering curvilinear form set against Abu Dhabi’s surrounding desert and sea, embracing and reflecting the ever-changing light and atmospheres that contain and enfold it.
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Las Vegas City Center
The sustainable buzz around CityCenter starts with the team. At the core of the design are some of our favorite green-minded architects including Pelli Clarke Pelli, Foster + Partners, and Rafael Vinoly. The developers have also employed hundreds of sustainability consultants to bring a whole systems approach to the project, and the tradesmen carrying out construction are educated in green building practice. MGM MIRAGE has trained over 10,000 construction trade and craftsmen on green building techniques that are already being forged into the site.
CityCenter is making some pretty big efforts to tout itself as a model of sustainability. Green building practices like recycling construction waste, using eco-friendly materials, boosting natural lighting, and incorporating an onsite co-generation power plant are just a few of the ways that the project is earning its eco-credentials. Materials from the imploded Boardwalk Hotel (cleared for the site of CityCenter) are being recycled into the project, crushed to be recycled into material going into the project, and bathroom fixtures are being shipped to other countries wrapped in the old drapes and carpeting from the original hotel to be used again.
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The new hotel, conference, and exhibition complex is coming up in the emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates can be nominated for the designer masterpiece. Designed by Nowergian architects Snøhetta, this 150km construction is expected to begin later this year. Right in the middle of the complex is the proposed 200 m tower which is a setting for a 5 star hotel which will offer panoramic view of the emirates. The space shall be utilized for various purposes as it can be developed for conference center, hotel and other commercial activities. One thing is for sure that this will be one of the most advanced centers in Dubai.
Official words from Snøhetta :
Snøhetta has been commissioned by the Ras Al Khaimah investment Authority and RAKEEN to undertake the architectural design for the Gateway project in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Situated in the desert 150 km to the east of Dubai this landmark project will mark the gateway to the emirate and form the entrance to the new planned capital city of Ras Al Khaimah.
The programme calls for a mixed-use development comprising a conference centre, exhibition centre, hotels and retail space. In total it is expected to be 270 000m2 of build area. In addition there will be substantial areas of associated garden and landscape. Externally the building will be clad in ceramic panels, this will be developed together with Ras Al Khaimah ceramics, one of the world leading producers of ceramic products.
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The new hotel, conference, and exhibition complex is coming up in the emirate of Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates can be nominated for the designer masterpiece. Designed by Nowergian architects Snøhetta, this 150km construction is expected to begin later this year. Right in the middle of the complex is the proposed 200 m tower which is a setting for a 5 star hotel which will offer panoramic view of the emirates. The space shall be utilized for various purposes as it can be developed for conference center, hotel and other commercial activities. One thing is for sure that this will be one of the most advanced centers in Dubai.
Snøhetta has been commissioned by the Ras Al Khaimah investment Authority and RAKEEN to undertake the architectural design for the Gateway project in the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah. Situated in the desert 150 km to the east of Dubai this landmark project will mark the gateway to the emirate and form the entrance to the new planned capital city of Ras Al Khaimah.
The urban master plan for the city is currently being under taken by the Netherlands based architectural practice OMA. The Gateway project is situated at the entrance to the city and will form a landmark for the city entrance.
The architectural expression for our proposal is inspired by the surrounding desert and mountain landscape. This concept provides for an infinite variety of naturally shaded, intimate and protected spaces, around which the multiple uses associated with the development are woven. The undulating architectural landscape is resolved in a dramatic landmark tower marking the main gateway plaza. This 200 m high tower will be the setting for a 5 star plus hotel affording panoramic views across the emirate, to the gulf and mountains beyond.The programme calls for a mixed-use development comprising a conference centre, exhibition centre, hotels and retail space. In total it is expected to be 270 000m2 of build area. In addition there will be substantial areas of associated garden and landscape. Externally the building will be clad in ceramic panels, this will be developed together with Ras Al Khaimah ceramics, one of the world leading producers of ceramic products.
