Burj Khalifa (Burj Dubai) - World's Tallest Building

Burj Khalifa Lake Fountain HD-Video

2010-06-18T07:59:00.000+01:00

At the Top of Burj Khalifa [1080p HD]

2010-06-18T07:43:00.001+01:00

Taken on the Canon 7D

Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa

2010-01-11T07:24:00.000Z

A quick look at the waterfront boardwalk near Dubai Mall, including the world famous Burj Khalifa skyscraper.

Burj Dubai / Burj Khalifa

2010-01-11T07:21:00.001Z

Non English

Burj dubai (Burj Khalifa) fireworks

2010-01-08T13:11:00.000Z

Skydiving from the highest building in the world in Dubai, Burj Khalifa

2010-01-08T13:08:00.000Z

Skydiving from the highest building in the world in Dubai, Burj Khalifa.

The tallest building in the world Burj Dubai Burj Khalifa tower 2010! celebration opening ceremony HD video

2010-01-07T05:49:00.000Z

Burj Dubai (Burj Khalifa tower) Opening Video

2010-01-07T05:47:00.000Z

Opening of Burj Khalifa Burj Dubai Fireworks

Burj Dubai now BURJ KHALIFA - Opening ceremony

2010-01-07T05:35:00.000Z

The world's tallest tower, 'Burj Khalifa' is 828 metres (2,716.5 ft) high.
The world's tallest tower, developed by Emaar Properties, was unveiled tonight to a crowd of thousands and the world in a crescendo of fireworks, lasers and fountain displays.

The official height of the tower, unveiled as 'Burj Khalifa', was announced as 828 metres (2,716.5 ft).

A closely guarded secret, the official height of Burj Khalifa was flashed onto a giant screen before an estimated crowd of more than 400,000, as lasers and fireworks lit up the night sky.

Fireworks cascaded from the tower's spire to the base and lasers blazed out from all levels leaving the crowds awestruck.

The height was disclosed in arithmetic progression, with the numbers being flashed onto the screen, one after another. The tower's height breaks all existing world records for tall buildings.

Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world according to the three main criteria of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). The CTBUH ranks the world’s tallest buildings based on ‘Height to Architectural Top,’ ‘Height to Highest Occupied Floor’ and ‘Height to Tip.’

At 828 metres (2,716.5ft), Burj Khalifa is 320 metres taller than Taipei 101, which at 508 metres (1,667 ft) had held the record for the world’s tallest building measured to the architectural top since 2004, the year the project was announced.

Burj Khalifa achieved the distinction of being the world's tallest structure – surpassing the KVLY-TV mast (628.8 metres; 2,063 ft) in North Dakota, USA – 1,325 days after excavation work started in January 2004.

The tower also beats the 31-year-old record of CN Tower, which at 553.33 metres (1,815.5 ft) had been the world’s tallest free-standing structure on land since 1976.

Burj Khalifa employs a record-breaking 330,000 cubic metres of concrete, 39,000 metric tonnes of steel rebar and 142,000 square metres of glass; and it took 22 million man hours to build.

Other world records for Burj Khalifa include the highest occupied floor in the world, at over 550 metres (1,800 ft); the highest outdoor observation deck in the world – At the Top on Level 124; and the tallest service elevator, which travels to a height of 504 metres (1,654 ft).

Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, said that with the unveiling of the final height of Burj Khalifa, the world now had a new reference point for high-rise developments.

“Burj Khalifa is an example of collaboration on a global scale, and the tremendous positive energy that can be generated when people from all over the world come together to work towards a common goal. Thousands of professionals and skilled workers from around the world worked on this once-in-a-lifetime project.”

“More than 60 of the world’s leading consultants including South Korea’s Samsung Corporation and New York-based Turner Construction International realised the design for Burj Khalifa of Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM),” he said.

Burj Khalifa employed the latest advances in wind engineering, structural engineering, structural systems, construction materials and methods. All design considerations took into account the 12,000 people who will live and work in the tower. The handover to residents of the various components of Burj Khalifa will begin in February.

With a total built-up area of about 6 million sq ft, Burj Khalifa features nearly 2 million sq ft of residential space and over 300,000 sq ft of prime office space, in addition to the area occupied by the keenly awaited Armani Hotel Dubai and the Armani Residences. The tower also features modern lifestyle amenities including clubs, health and fitness facilities, gourmet restaurants and the 124th floor observation deck, 'At the Top.'

Burj Khalifa is the focal point of the 500-acre ‘mega-project’ by Emaar Properties, described as the new heart of Dubai.

Burj Dubai - 2.3 GIGA pixel photo

2009-12-23T12:10:00.000Z

Flying past Burj in Dubai the tallest building in the world 160 story

2009-12-18T14:21:00.001Z

Skyscrapers 2010 - The World's Tallest Buildings

2009-12-15T11:03:00.000Z

Burj Dubai Dec 2009 Timelapse

2009-12-15T10:54:00.000Z

100x Speed

10x Speed

Burj Dubai Closeup View

2009-12-07T11:56:00.000Z

Burj Dubai December 2009

2009-12-07T11:54:00.000Z

Burj Dubai Moon Occultation

2009-12-01T14:56:00.001Z

Inside burj dubai skyscraper

2009-11-28T17:16:00.000Z

Towering high above the Dubai skyline, Burj Dubai, the world's tallest man-made construction, edges closer to completion

These stunning aerial and exclusive interior images provide a glimpse into the lavish creation which has cost an estimated UD$1 billion to build, with a further three billion budgeted for the entire complex.

Standing at a reported 818 m (the official height will not be revealed until next year) and consisting of 162 floors above ground, the giant tower - described as the 'jewel of the Gulf regions' - is an awesome sight to behold.

But while the exterior of the building has taken shape, interior shots suggest there is still some way to go before the official unveiling in January 2010.

Taken in November, interior images display giant office spaces from the lofty 125th floor with vertigo-inducing views.

On floor 39, a luxury bathroom and entertainment area from the Armani Hotel provide an insight into what the rich and famous can expect upon their lavish stay.

Made up of 175 rooms, the 40,000 sq. m Armani Hotel, will be the first of its kind to open in the world.

Reports have suggested that Giorgio Armani himself will oversee all aspects of content, design and style, including interiors and amenities. And the fashion guru will be incorporating the his exclusive label's designs into the furnishings.

The statistics behind the mega structure are as impressive as the building itself. The rods that reinforce the structure weigh a total 31,400 tonnes alone. Laid end to end they would stretch more than a quarter of the way around the world.

The water system will supply 250,000 gallons each day and the tower's external surface is the size of 17 football fields. The building will have the worlds fastest elevators at speeds of 64 km/h (40 mph) or 18 m/s (59 ft/s).

The tower will include 800 private apartments and an observatory 442 metres above the ground on the 124th floor - the highest public observation deck in the world. There will be a club on floors 144 to 146.

Sitting at the foot of the tower is the 500 acre Downtown Burj Dubai development, which when completed is expected to cost around US$20 billion, offering 30,000 homes and the world's largest shopping mall - the Dubai Mall - covering 836,000 square metres. The Burj Dubai Mall will have areas for leisure, including a world-class aquarium, fashion show arena, a souk and an ice rink.

The Burj Dubai has been designed to be the centre of a large-scale, mixed-use development that will include 30,000 homes, 9 hotels, 6 acres of parkland, 19 residential towers, and the 12 hectare Burj Dubai Lake.

However, Dubai has been hit hard by the global downturn. This week, Dubai World, one of the emirate's main state holding companies, said it was asking for a delay on major parts of its debt repayments until at least May 30.

Dubai was among the most dramatic victims of the credit crunch, with property prices halving from their highs in September 2008, leaving a huge overhang of debt.

Dubai borrowed $80bn in a four-year construction spree designed to turn its economy into a Middle Eastern powerhouse of finance and tourism.

Burj Dubai has also been hit by press reports of the poor conditions faced by its labourers, mostly immigrants from South Asia.

Source

Burj Dubai Timelapse Nov 2009

2009-11-25T10:40:00.000Z

A 25 minute time lapse in 25 seconds

Burj Dubai Fountain

2009-11-23T06:01:00.000Z

The musical fountain located next the tallest tower in the world, The Burj Dubai

Burj Dubai from the address

2009-11-23T05:59:00.000Z

Burj Dubai Evolution

2009-11-23T05:57:00.001Z

Worlds tallest tower Burj Dubai

2009-11-20T11:44:00.001Z

Burj Dubai - downtown, dancing fountains

2009-11-20T11:40:00.000Z

Burj Dubai View From The Top

2009-11-19T12:51:00.000Z

Burj Dubai View From The Top

Burj Dubai tallest building in world at night

2009-11-17T14:07:00.000Z

Burj Dubai Construction elevator

2009-11-17T10:49:00.000Z

Going from ground level to 115 on the world tallest building in the construction elevator...up the outside of the building!

See Video

Megabuildres Burj Dubai - Discovery Channel Show

2009-11-16T05:47:00.000Z

3 More videos

Inside the Burj Dubai - World's tallest building

2009-11-16T05:40:00.000Z

Fact Sheet - Burj Dubai

Currently the worlds tallest building and tallest man-made structure, Burj Dubai is at the centre of Downtown Burj Dubai, the flagship mega-project of Emaar Properties in Dubai. The final height of the tower will be revealed on its completion in 2009.

With a development value of over US$1 billion, Burj Dubai, when completed, will fulfil all the criteria of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which ranks the worlds tallest buildings on the basis of spire height, the highest occupied floor, roof height and pinnacle height.

At a current height of over 800 metres (2,625 ft), Burj Dubai has now also scaled over 160 levels, the most number of storeys in any building in the world. Burj Dubai has already surpassed the height of the KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota, USA - 628.8 metres (2,063 ft), which held the distinction of being the worlds tallest man-made structure. Burj Dubai is taller than Taipei 101 in Taiwan, which at 508 metres (1,667 ft) has held the tallest-building-in-the-world title since it opened in 2004. The tower also surpassed the 31-year-old record of CN Tower, which at 553.33 metres (1,815.5 ft) has been the worlds tallest free-standing structure on land since 1976.

Leveraging on the advancements in construction engineering, Burj Dubai undertook height enhancement in 2008 and is also upgrading its interior finishes. International designers from California have revisited the designs to make the residences more attractive and functionally superior.

In just 1,325 days since excavation work started in January, 2004, Burj Dubai became the tallest free-standing structure in the world. More than 11,000 consultants and skilled construction workers are employed on site, and the worlds fastest high-capacity construction hoists, with a speed of up to 2 m/sec (120 metres/min), were used to move men and materials.

When completed, the tower will have used 330,000 cubic meters of concrete, 39,000 metric tons of steel rebar and 142,000 sq m of glass and 22 million man hours.

The design inspiration for Burj Dubai is drawn from the desert flower, Hymenocalis, and incorporates patterning systems that are embodied in Islamic architecture. The tower is designed as three petals arranged around a central core. As the tower rises from the flat base, the petals setback in an upward-spiraling pattern.

Burj Dubais structure has employed the latest advances in wind engineering, structural engineering, structural systems, construction materials and construction methods. It will have a high performance exterior cladding system to withstand the harsh summer temperatures.

A mixed-use tower, Burj Dubai features 2 million sq ft of residential and over 220,000 sq ft of prime business space, in addition to the Armani Hotel Dubai, and Armani Residences Dubai, luxury hospitality ventures by Emaar in association with haute couture major Giorgio Armani S.p.A.

The tower offers recreational facilities and entertainment venues including four luxurious pools and a cigar club, a library, exclusive residents lounge, serviced residences, fitness facilities and an observatory deck on level 124, At The Top opening to impressive views of Dubai. The tower will also have a large Office Annexure.

Quick Facts:
Final Height: Unrevealed
No of floors: Unrevealed
Estimated population upon completion: 35,000
Developer: Emaar Properties PJSC
Architects and Engineers: Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
Designer: Adrian Smith
Main Contractor: South Koreas Samsung Corporation
Project and Construction Manager: Turner International
Built-up area: 5 million sq ft
No of lifts to be installed: 54

Construction Schedule:
Excavation started: January 2004
Piling started: March 2004
Superstructure started: March 2005
Level 50: June 2006
Level 100: January 2007
Level 110 (tallest structure in the Middle East and Europe): March 2007
Level 120: April 2007
Level 130: May 2007
Level 141 (worlds tallest building): July 2007
Level 150 (worlds tallest free-standing structure): September 2007
Level 160 (worlds tallest man-made structure): April 2008
Cladding competed: September 2009

Amazing view from the top of Burj Dubai Spire.

2009-11-15T16:01:00.000Z

Enjoy the amazing view from the top of Burj Dubai Spire.
See Video

World' tallest building Burj Dubai Facts and Figures

2009-11-13T05:57:00.000Z

Mechaical Systems

Chilled Water Cooling System
At the Peak cooling times, the tower will require approximately 10,000 tons of

cooling per hour, which is equivalent to the capacity provided by 10,000 tons(22.4

million lbs, or 10.2 million kg) of melting ice in one day.

Water Supply System

The Tower's water system will supply an average of about 946,000 liters (250,000

gallons) of water per day.

Electrical System

The tower's peak electricity demand is estimated at 36 MVA, equivalent to roughly

360,000 100-qatt light bulbs all operating at the same time
Condensate Collection System
Hot and humid outside air, combines with cooling requirements of the building, will

result in a significant amount of condensation of moisture from the air. This

condensed water will be collected and drained in a seperate piping system down to a

holding tank located i the basement car park. This water will be pumped into the

site irrigation system for use on the tower's landscape plantings. this system will

provide about 15 million gallons of supplemental water per year, equivalent to

nearly 20 olympic-sized swimming pools.

Observatory Elevators

Double deck cabs have a capacity for 21 persons on each deck and will have the

world's longest travel distance from lowest to highest stop. These elevators will be

worlds fastedt at 18 m/sec (40 mph)

Building Service/Fire Elevator

The building service/fireman's elevator will have a capacity of 5500 kg and will be

the world's tallest service elevator.

Spire Maintenance Elevator

The Burj Dubai will contain the world's highest elevator installation.

Controlled Evacuation

The Burj Dubai will be the first mega-high rise in which certain elevators will be

programmed to permit controlled evacuation for certain fire or security events

Structural Components

Safety Considerations

The Burj Dubai has been designed and engineered to maximize occupant comfort and

safety. Extensive wind tunnel testing enables the building to resist high wind loads

while minimizing vibration.

The tower's structural system is designed for seismic conditions (similar to a

Uniform Building Code zone 2A). Reinforced concrete slabs and corridor walls provide

an inherently high resistance to fires.

Fire Safety

A major factor in designing the tower was fire safety and speed of evacuation. When

doing calculations, designers assumed the tower contained 35,000 people - although

in reality the number is likely to be less than half this. Concrete surrounds all

stairs and there is a 5,500kg capacity elevator for firefighters and building

service work." People cannot be expected to walk down 160 floors, so there are

pressurized air-conditioned refuge areas approximately every 25 floors where they

could wait safely or rest on the way down" says' architect Eric Tomich. Emaar have

looked at different scenarios and the focus is on ensuring people can leave safely

and easily.

Concrete

230,000 m^3 = (300,000 cyds) which includes tower, podium and office annex; excludes

foundations. This is equivalent to:

- A solid cube of concrete 61 meters (200 ft) on a side

- A sidewalk 1,900 kilometers long (1,200 miles) (equivalent to the distance from

Dubai, U.A.E. to Dubai, Saudi Arabia)

- The weight of 100,000 elephants

Curtain wall

Approximate areas:
Glass: 83,600 sq.m (20.7 acres)
Metal: 27,900 sq.m (6.8 acres)
Total: 111,500 sq.m (27.5 acres)
Equivalent to 17 football (soccer) fields or 25 American football fields

Concrete Mixes

Many different concrete mixtures will be used in the Burj Dubai. Various admixtures

- chemical or physical additives - are put into the basic mix to produce different

types. Certain concrete types resist heat, hydration or cracking, while some mixes

flow better in pipes so it can be pumped easily throughout the building process.

Some concrete will be pumped up to 500 meters and it must retain its properties

while it is being transported.

Rebar

31,400 metric tons, which includes tower, podium and office annex; excludes foundations
Laid end to end this would extend over a quarter of the way around the world.

Facade Maintenance

Facade Fact

The tower's primary window washing and facade maintenance system consists of three

permanently-installed, track-mounted, telescopic building maintenance machines

located in internal "garage" positions on uppermost levels. The manned cleaning

cradle for each machine is capable of serving the entire facade from its garage

level downward to level 7. Each machine's jib arm, when fully extended, will have a

reach of over 36 meters with an overall length of about 45 meters. When collapsed

into its parking position, the arms will measure about 15 meters. Under normal

conditions, with all three units in operation, it will take three to four months to

clean the entire building once.

Tower Spire

There is a separate system for the tower spire consisting of two track-mounted,

telescopic lifting arm machines; several permanently fixed outrigger arms; and

internal and external ladder access systems.
Separate systems, including a mobile aerial work platform, will access the podium

levels and entry pavilions at the base of the tower

Burj Dubai skyscraper Articles and Interviews

2009-11-13T05:45:00.000Z

Interview with Assistant Director: Greg Sang

How many workers are on site now?
Currently 3,000 workers, this will increase to 5,000 at the peak of construction.

How many contracting companies are on site?
Over 30

How many cranes have been engaged?
At present there are 10 cranes on the Burj Dubai site.

Safety: Any casualty so far?
Emaar and its contractors follow a strict international standards guide.

What engineering method has been employed?
As for any tall building, wind forces dominate the structural design. Extensive wind tunnel testing, modeling the actual winds the Burj Dubai will experience during its lifetime, has been carried out. The preliminary design was fine tuned in response to the results of the wind tunnel tests.

Typically, what is the life of such a tall building?
Not typical for tall buildings, but the Burj Dubai has been designed to last for at least 100 years.

Can you comment on how life would be "on top of the world"? What sort of people will live in the world's tallest tower?

Burj Dubai offers an unparalleled lifestyle

It is 7-star luxury living

It is a concentration of the world's best living space, facilities and amenities

It offers a world class lifestyle at the heart of the most prestigious square kilometre on earth

It offers access to a unique way of life that cannot be experienced or replicated anywhere else in the world

How do you feel, to be associated with the world's tallest tower, while it is in the making or History Rising?
"It is an honour to be working on a record breaking project and global icon. I am proud to be a part of history in the making and being part of a team that is setting new benchmarks for architecture, pushing engineering and science to new limits and achieving what no other development has."

Interview with the chief engineer

What are the challenges of building such a structure?

logistics of moving men and materials within a confined footprint to extreme heights in high winds at certain times of the year

maintaining the verticality of the structure

monitoring the building movements and taking effective mitigation measures

construction of the building envelope

installation of the super high rise high speed elevators

How were these challenges addressed?
Extensive analysis, research and tests were carried out at every stage of the project.

What are some of the technical difficulties in building the tallest tower?

Delivering concrete to such an extreme height whilst controlling its temperature and integrity. On Burj Dubai the pumping time to the very top will be 20-25 minutes, compared with the maximum norm of 5-7 minutes. However, Samsung have calculated how to control it by using a certain mix and chilling techniques.

In terms of construction of the Burj Dubai, what will happen?
The core was built first using a cantilever system to build out. The core will employ a self-climbing system, allowing the three luffing-jib tower cranes to attend to other picks. As for the spire, a jacking method (similar to the one used on Petronas towers) will be used.

What about safety?
We follow standard international safety regulations necessary for any construction site in addition to any local UAE requirements. In Dubai, the main contractor is required to establish a safety program in line with such requirements and also specifically address issues and implement systems for working on heights, perimeter protection, use of cranes, fire safety and emergency evacuation and so on.

Structural System
The structural system of the Burj Dubai utilizes high performance concrete as its primary material. The tower's lateral load resisting system provides resistance to wind and seismic forces. It is comprised of high-performance, reinforced concrete core walls linked to the exterior columns through a series of reinforced concrete shear wall panels at the mechanical levels.
The typical floor system consists of a reinforced concrete flat plate.
The building's foundation is a thick high performance reinforced concrete mat supported on piles. At the top of the tower, a spire (with occupied space inside) makes the building the tallest tower in the world. The lateral load resisting system of the upper steel structure consists of a structural steel mega-bracing system that is founded on the top of the reinforced concrete core wall.

Article - A Skyscraper in every sense

There has been much speculation with regards to the height of The Burj Dubai, all we haven't announced the official height. At Emaar we view the Tower as an inspiration for each one of us.

Samsung Corporation from South Korea is the main building contractor.

The estimated building cost is US$1billion. The whole Downtown Burj Dubai development will cost circa US$20billion and offer 30,000 homesand the world's largest shopping mall, The Dubai Mall

Many of the tower floors will be occupied by the 175 room Armani Hotel, the first to open. In addition there will be 144 luxury residential suites designed by Giorgio Armani and kitted out with his home furnishing line.

Floors 17 to 108 will have 800 private apartments.

Most of the higher floors will be offices and private suites.

An observatory 442 meters above ground on the 124th floor will be open to the public - the highest publicly accessible observation desk in the world.

There will be a Club on floors 144 to 146

The Tower will be built of glass, aluminum, concrete and steel
The external surface is made of unitized panels made of aluminum, glass and various brackets, they interlock on site and are up to two storeys tall. They improve the quality and speed up building work.

The tip of the spire will be visible 60 miles away.

The rods that reinforce the structure weight a total of 31,400 tonnes and laid end to end would stretch more than a quarter of the way around the world.

The water system will supply about 250,000 gallons per day.

The Tower's external surface is the size of 17 football fields.

The concrete used is equivalent to a solid cube of concrete 61 meters in size or a 1.5 meter wide pavement. 1,200 miles long. It weighs the same as 100,000 elephants

Peak electricity demand of the tower is the same as 360,000 100 watt light bulbs.

Article - Engineering the Structure of the World's Tallest Building

By William F. Baker, C.E., S.E., P.E., FASCE - Structural Engineering Partner (SOM)

The Burj Dubai structure represents the state-of-the-art in tall building design. Once completed, it will be not only the world's tallest building but the tallest man-made structure ever created. From the project's initial concept design through construction, the combination of several important technological innovations results in a building of unprecedented height. The following is a description of some of the innovative structural design methods which enable the creation of a superstructure that is both efficient and robust.

"Designing the Wind"

The primary concern in the engineering of tall buildings is the effect of the wind on the building's structure. The shape of the Burj Dubai is the result of deliberate cooperation between SOM's architects and engineers to vary the shape of the building along its height, thereby minimizing wind forces on the building. In effect, each uniquely-shaped section of the tower causes the wind to behave differently, preventing it from becoming organized and minimizing lateral movement of the structure.
The modular, Y-shaped structure, with setbacks along each of the three wings, was part of the original concept design entered in an invited design competition at the beginning of the project. From this starting point, the SOM team refined the tower's shape over several months of extensive wind tunnel tests. Through these tests, the team determined the harmonic frequency of wind gusts and eddies under various wind conditions. This information was used to set targets for the building's natural frequencies, thereby "tuning" it to minimize the effects of the wind.
Concurrent with the wind tunnel studies, the team performed a detailed climatic study which considered the unique meteorological conditions of the Dubai wind climate. These studies considered both frequently occurring and rare wind events to address occupant comfort and building strength. Together, the wind tunnel testing and climatic studies resulted in a highly engineered solution that is appropriate for the Dubai wind climate.

"Buttressed Core" System

As a residential tower, the Burj Dubai requires floor plates with shallow lease spans that maximize the amount of exterior window area (and therefore natural light) in the living spaces. As a very tall tower, it requires a wide footprint to provide sufficient stability to resist high wind loads. The Y-shaped arrangement of reinforced concrete shear walls around a central hexagonal reinforced concrete core satisfies both of these requirements. The resulting "buttressed core" is an extremely efficient solution to the potentially conflicting structural requirements of a super tall residential tower.
Core walls in each wing are arranged in a 9-meter module that matches the setbacks of the tower. This allows the building to be shaped without transfers; the columns in the nose of each setback sit directly on the walls below. The result is an easily constructed system that is significantly less expensive to build than one requiring transfers.
The perimeter columns on the sides of each wing match the width of the adjacent shear walls, thus permitting them to be engaged by infill walls at each mechanical level. This engagement of the perimeter columns leads to high levels of structural efficiency in resisting loads as well as a high degree of redundancy.

High Performance Materials and Construction Methods
The specified material and the configuration of the structural elements utilize the high performance concrete and formwork systems readily available in Dubai. Very strong, high density concrete composed of Portland cement in combination with silica fume, fly ash, and ground granulated slag is available and results in a structure which is stiff, strong and highly constructible.

Foundations
The superstructure is supported by a large reinforced concrete mat, which is in turn supported by bored reinforced concrete piles. The design of these elements is based on extensive geotechnical and seismic investigations and analysis. The high density and low permeability of the concrete used for the foundations minimize the detrimental effects of high chlorides and sulphate content in the local ground water. The foundations are further protected by waterproofing and cathodic protection systems.
The expected effects of a seismic event on the tower are modest. As is the case with most tall buildings, the long vibration period of the Burj Dubai is quite different from the high frequency vibrations of an earthquake and therefore the structure will not generate large forces in a seismic event.

Extensive Peer Review Process
The Burj Dubai represents a groundbreaking design of an extremely important building. For this reason, the team implemented an extensive program of peer reviews. All major technical aspects of the project were examined by experts in tall building design to confirm the safety and effectiveness of the structural systems. This extensive program included three separate peer review programs on the project's geotechnical engineering, wind engineering/testing and structural engineering.

The Structure of the Burj Dubai
The Burj Dubai structure represents the state-of-the-art in super tall buildings. It capitalizes on the latest advances in wind engineering, structural engineering, structural systems, construction materials and construction methods to result in a structure that goes beyond anything that has been achieved before. The tallest structure ever built, it realizes the aspirations of mankind to reach to the sky.

Article - Designers Skidmore, Owings and Merrill

Design and engineering firm Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) is no stranger to the creation of skyscrapers, having produced America's tallest building, the Sears Tower in Chicago.

The company also created the 100 storey John Hancock Tower in Chicago and the Bank of America headquarters in San Francisco.

Since its foundation in 1936, the firm has completed more than 10,000 architecture, engineering, interior design and planning projects in over 50 countries.

More than 800 design awards have been given to the practice - more than any other American design firm.

The firm has offices in Chicago, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Los Angeles, London, Hong Kong and Shanghai. The Chicago office carried out most of the design work on the Burj Dubai.

Article - Designing for Strong Winds

An important consideration in design was reducing the effect of strong winds, soon after winning the contest to design the Tower, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill experts went into the wind tunnel and reshaped the structure many times. It is designed to withstand the worst storm that could be expected in Dubai in a 100 year period.

William Barker, SOM's partner in charge of structural engineering, explained "When the wind blows past something, it creates whirlwinds that make the building go from side to side. If those movements happen at the natural frequency of the tower, you can get very large forces. We try to break up the natural frequency".

Because the Tower has many different surfaces the wind gets confused so the forces it exerts on the building are reduced. As a result, people inside the tower will not be able to detect any side to side movement.

The Burj Dubai development will single handedly shift Dubai's centre of gravity and become home to more than 100 nationalities and feature some of the world's finest residential, leisure, dining and entertainment options.

Some comments on the safety and security aspect on site, as well as post-handover maintenance.

Given the prominence of the tower, both locally and internationally, it is our intention that the tower be a showpiece, not just when it is completed, but also during its construction. That said, the highest safety standards are in place and are effectively being implemented. We are following the standard international safety regulations necessary for any construction site.

In Dubai, the main contractor is required to establish a safety program in line with such requirements and also specifically address issues and implement systems for working on heights, perimeter protection, use of cranes, working in elevator hoist-ways and service shafts, fire safety and emergency evacuation. We also have an on-site paramedic staffed first aid facilities office.

7 Beautiful Burj Dubai Wallpapers

2009-11-12T15:06:00.000Z

Click on Each Wallpapers for larger Version

Burj Dubai upclose. Tallest building in the World!

2009-11-12T09:50:00.000Z

Tallest builing in the world the "Burj Dubai" filmed from the foot. It will measure around 818 meters. It will count 160 floors and have the worlds fastest elevators (40m/ph). They will be dubble decks elevators, meaning two floors each with a 21 persons capacity. In case of a fire, people will not be evactuated. They will be led into "save rooms". (Fire proof rooms). Dubai has also plans on building a 1200 meter Building!

See Video

Burj Dubai observation deck

2009-11-11T15:08:00.000Z

An observation deck on level 124 of Burj Dubai, scheduled to open January 4, 2010, will provide visitors a bird's eye view of Dubai and an interactive and educational experience, said developer Emaar.

The facility, which is slated to be one of the world's highest public observation decks, will be accessible through a high-speed lift ride lasting one minute and also involves an interactive journey through the history and evolution of Dubai and Burj Dubai.

Thomas Dempsey, General Manager, Burj Dubai, said: "The entire journey – starting from the welcome lobby at The Dubai Mall through a 65-metre travelator, to the vertical travel in a double-deck elevator to finally watching the world below from the 124th storey – educational, inspirational, compelling and thoroughly fulfilling.

"The 'at the top' experience will be the high point for anyone visiting Dubai once we open doors later this year."

While a typical 'at the top' journey can be completed in approximately 45 minutes, visitors can also view several interactive features charting the evolution of modern Dubai and how Burj Dubai alters the city skyline, he said.

Abdulla Lahej, Executive Director, Dubai Project Management, Emaar Properties, said: "Burj Dubai is a once-in-a-lifetime project. With the 'at the top' experience, we are celebrating Burj Dubai's iconic status and providing the world an opportunity to partake in this celebration."

A 10-part journey, 'At the top' will start at The Dubai Mall, where visitors can buy tickets at a welcome area with LED displays and a largescale model of Burj Dubai detailing its various components. The travelator will transport them from the mall into Burj Dubai. The travelator journey is titled "Dubai now and then" – an audio-visual tour through time, from the earliest days of Dubai to the present – and will pause at a viewing point called the 'Burj Dubai Skylight' where visitors will get a close-up view of the full structure through a skylight.

'From the vision to reality' is the next leg of the journey that leads visitors to the elevators. Along this area will be showcased the making of Burj Dubai while visitors wait for the elevator ride to level 124.

Travelling at a speed of 10 metres per second, the elevator journey to the level 124 will take approximately 60 seconds and the observation deck will be covered with floor-to-ceiling glass providing 360-degree views. There will also be an open-air deck and telescopes.

Guests can linger as long as they like and walk around the perimeter before making the return journey.

On the way back there will be a series of models and interactive kiosks and a souvenir shop.

Burj Dubai is more than 800 metres high and has over 160 storeys, the most floors in any building anywhere in the world.

Burj Dubai TV Commercial

Burj Dubai the lightning strikes 2

2009-11-11T14:58:00.000Z

Burj Dubai lightning strike video 1

Construction of Burj dubai Photo jan 2005 to nov 2009

2009-11-11T14:50:00.000Z

Burj dubai constuaction to jan 2005 nov 2009 it top out This the final video for today .

Burj Dubai's High-altitude Cranes Dismantled As Opening Date Nears

2009-11-11T14:43:00.000Z

Burj Dubai, the world's tallest building, is nearing completion, following the dismantling of the last high-altitude crane used in its construction.

In preparation for its Jan 4, 2010, opening, the Burj Dubai construction team is now concentrating on the interiors and landscaping.

They completed the tower's external cladding recently, according to a statement from Emaar Properties which is developing the mixed-use tower at the centre of the Downtown Burj Dubai mega project.

Three huge tower cranes were used in moving construction materials up to Level 156 of Burj Dubai.

In all, the cranes lifted over 63,300 tonnes of steel reinforcement, and were operational for a total of 45,000 man-hours.

A team of 35 skilled technicians manned the cranes, a critical component of the 11,000-strong workforce devoted to the construction of the skyscraper.

Emaar said the operators of the cranes worked at dizzying heights of more than 700 metres, almost double the height of the Empire State Building.

Via

World's highest skyscraper Burj Dubai to Open on January 4, 2010

2009-11-08T09:34:00.000Z

The Burj Dubai will be opened on January 4, 2010, coinciding with the accession to power of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The 160-plus storey structure is considered the world’s tallest building.

Mohammad Ali Al Abbar, Chairman of Emaar real estate company said the company decided to launch the tower on this date as a gesture of gratitude towards Shaikh Mohammad, who is considered the builder of modern Dubai.

Burj Dubai became the tallest building in the world in just 1,276 days, with the help of more than 5,000 consultants and skilled construction workers.

Work on the Burj Dubai started in January 2004. The tower reached 100 levels in January 2007. A month later, it surpassed the Sears Tower in Chicago as the building with the most floors in the world.

Burj Dubai is now the world’s tallest building and tallest man-made structure, having surpassed the height of the KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota, USA.

The Burj Dubai houses residences and commercial spaces, apart from Giorgio Armani’s The Armani Hotel & Residences.

It also anchors Downtown Burj Dubai, a Dh73 billion mixed-use mega project, already a bustling community described as the new “heart of the city”.

The Burj Dubai will Open in January of 2010

2009-11-06T13:55:00.000Z

The Burj Dubai will be the tallest structure ever. It opens in January of 2010

Burj Dubai Tower - World's Tallest Building

2009-10-26T13:31:00.000Z

Burj Dubai lights testing , 19 October 2009

2009-10-26T13:27:00.000Z

The list of records Burj Dubai will break

2009-10-26T13:24:00.000Z

Downtown Burj Dubai pan in High Definition

2009-10-26T13:23:00.000Z

Burj Dubai October 2009

2009-10-19T15:59:00.001+01:00

Meet Mr.Sang, Burj Dubai

2009-10-19T15:49:00.001+01:00

Burj Dubai Crane Removal

2009-10-19T15:46:00.000+01:00

Burj Dubai Raport - Good Morning America

2009-09-24T12:52:00.000+01:00

World's best skylines 2009

2009-09-24T12:51:00.000+01:00

This video shows the top 20 skylines in the world.

On the top of Burj Dubai's spire

2009-09-24T12:48:00.000+01:00

Enjoy the amazing view from the top of Burj Dubai Spire.

Burj Dubai , Downtown, August 2009

2009-09-07T13:25:00.000+01:00

Flying Over World's Tallest Tower Burj Dubai

2009-07-31T12:39:00.001+01:00

Take Off Virgin Atlantic - Dubai' 2009

Burj Dubai Skyscraper

2009-07-02T12:35:00.001+01:00

Burj Dubai Skyscraper

Burj Dubai Skyscraper Part 2

Burj Dubai Crane Removal Clip

2009-07-02T12:27:00.000+01:00

Burj Dubai from the pool area at The Address Hotel

2009-06-24T15:33:00.000+01:00

Burj Dubai - June 2009 Update

2009-06-22T09:18:00.000+01:00

Construction update video of the month June of 2009.

The Burj Dubai is topped out with a height of 818 metres (not yet official, but 99% sure it's this heigth).

The Burj Dubai is set to officialy open on 09/09/2009.

New Burj Dubai Lake Fountain HD-Video

2009-06-12T07:16:00.000+01:00

Amazing new video from the Burj Dubai Lake Fountain in High Definition, taken in June 2009. The show starts from 6pm onwards roughly every 30 minutes, later in the evening more often. Each show is different and lasts for 3 to 5 minutes. Makes sure you're not too close as you might get a little wet otherwise ;-)

Burj Dubai June 4 2009

2009-06-08T15:48:00.000+01:00

Burj Dubai June 2009 in HD

2009-06-08T15:47:00.000+01:00

The Burj Dubai construction is in full swing, only a few months to go until the opening on 09-09-09.

Burj Dubai from 2005 to May 2009 - constuction development

2009-05-12T10:28:00.000+01:00

Burj Dubai Fountain in HD

2009-05-12T10:27:00.000+01:00

Burj Dubai May 4 2009

2009-05-05T11:26:00.000+01:00

Burj Dubai -Supertall building!

2009-04-29T14:36:00.000+01:00

Amazing, almost at completion, at a soaring 2680 feet, or 818 meters, the Burj Dubai is the tallest building, let alone human structure ever built! Sorry about the camera shake, but I did not have my tripod and I was zoomed in all the way...

Burj Dubai & surrounding - April 2009

2009-04-23T10:27:00.000+01:00

Burj Dubai April 2009 Update

2009-04-21T12:13:00.000+01:00

The Dubai Fountain from above

2009-04-15T07:35:00.000+01:00

View of Dubai Fountain from Burj Residences

World Largest Musical Fountain - Downtown Burj Dubai

2009-04-06T14:36:00.000+01:00

Situated between the most beautiful hotel THE ADDRESS, DUBAI MALL world's largest mall, BURJ TOWER the world's tallest building.

Dubai Fountain - Burj Dubai Lake, Dubai, UAE

World Largest Musical Fountain!!

The burj gets to it's final height

2009-04-03T10:52:00.000+01:00

World's Tallest Skyscrapers: 2014

2009-04-01T07:58:00.000+01:00

World's Tallest Building - the Burj Dubai on Discovery channel

2009-03-31T11:19:00.000+01:00

In this video from the Discovery channel, Matt Rogers takes a look inside the unfinished building including a view from the 137th floor.

180 degree transition view of Burj Dubai

2009-03-23T14:19:00.000Z

Close up view of world's tallest building

2009-03-23T14:18:00.001Z

Burj Dubai Lake Fountain

2009-03-23T14:17:00.001Z

Burj dubai tower satellite pic

2009-03-11T14:41:00.000Z

Burj Dubai Wallpapers - Tower in dubai Wallpapers

2009-03-10T10:28:00.000Z

Click on each wallpapers to enlarge

Burj Dubai - March 2009 Update

2009-03-10T05:44:00.001Z

Burj Dubai Lake Fountain videos

2009-03-10T05:41:00.000Z

Burj Dubai in January 2009 - 818m

2009-01-05T11:43:00.000Z

Burj Dubai lightning strike video

2009-01-05T11:40:00.000Z

Update

Burj dubai skyscraper lightning strike Pictures

Burj Dubai Tower November 2008 update

2008-11-19T13:58:00.000Z

The Burj Dubai is 3 kilometers from the shore.

Burj Dubai October 2008

2008-10-14T13:56:00.000+01:00

Burj Dubai (Dubai Tower) - An animation video done by SAMSUNG

2008-09-25T11:10:00.000+01:00

It's the best video I've ever seen about Burj Dubai project.

Burj Dubai TV Commercial

2008-09-25T11:06:00.001+01:00

World's Tallest Building on Discovery

2008-09-04T07:33:00.000+01:00

Burj dubai august 2008

2008-08-23T14:54:00.000+01:00

The Burj Dubai tower, the tallest skyscraper in the world, is about to be completed. To celebrate it, David Hobcote has taken a series of amazing high resolution pictures from the air which give an exact impression of the breathtaking, massive scale of this building.

Construction is expected to be completed in August, 2009.

Burj Dubai Latest Pictures

2008-08-23T14:52:00.000+01:00

View of Burj Al Arab Hotel and the Palm Jumeirah from 700 meters.

View of downtown Dubai from 650 meters.

Burj Dubai June 2008 update

2008-06-30T11:35:00.000+01:00

Details of Burj Dubai as of May 20, 2008

2008-06-13T10:46:00.000+01:00

The construction workers at the Burj Dubai site have set two steel beams of level 10 of the spire works. As of now the Burj Dubai is at level 170 650 meters or 2132 feet in height and the tallest man made structure of all time. Here is the latest Burj Dubai diagram that shows the two new steel beams in place.

Click the iMage to enlarge

Burj Dubai - May Update

2008-05-27T11:34:00.000+01:00

Burj dubai update May 2008

2008-05-27T11:11:00.000+01:00

Click on the photographs for BIG photos

The "main" entrance

This is where the boutique, office, lobby, meeting, ballrooms, restaurants, loading docks, mep/pool are located.

Photo was taken from Dubai Marina Resort

Burj Dubai Skyscraper Building Video

2008-02-18T10:01:00.000Z

Aerial View of Burj Dubai

Burj Dubai January 2008 Photos

2008-02-04T13:39:00.000Z

Click the Photos for large photos

Burj Dubai Tower Construction Pictures - November 2007

2007-11-16T06:02:00.000Z

Click the Photos to Enlarge

Burj Dubai Tower Construction Pictures

2007-09-30T15:12:00.000+01:00

Burj Dubai - World's Tallest Building in Progress

Click each pictures for larger picture

Burj Dubai Becomes World’s Tallest Building today 21st July 2007

2007-07-22T04:49:00.000+01:00

Burj Dubai has officially become the world’s tallest building after passing the Taipei 101 at 1,680 feet. What once was a small trading town, Dubai is now the center of the universe for new and exotic construction.

Burj Dubai, a tower rising in the booming Gulf emirate, has become the tallest building in the world at 512.1 metres (1,680 feet), surpassing Taiwan’s Taipei 101 which is 508 metres (1,667 feet) tall, developers Emaar said Saturday.

Burj Dubai, or Dubai Tower, now has 141 storeys, more than any other building in the world, Emaar Properties said in a statement.

The skyscraper, scheduled for completion in 2008, is one of a string of grandiose projects taking shape in Dubai, which is part of the United Arab Emirates.

via Yahoo! News

Burj Dubai World's Tallest Building to be

2007-04-09T17:32:00.000+01:00

Burj Dubai - 3D image(3000x1703)

Click image to enlarge

Burj Duabi Comparison with other skyscrapers

2007-04-09T17:11:00.000+01:00

Click The Photos to Largere View

burj Dubai Growing Every Day

2007-04-01T16:59:00.000+01:00

Click Photos to enlarge

Burj Dubai - Tallest Building in the World

2007-03-28T07:48:00.000+01:00

Courtesy:Wikipedia

click the Photos to Enalrge

The Burj Dubai is a supertall skyscraper currently under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The lead architect is Adrian Smith formerly of the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill and now partner in the firm Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. Its final height is officially being kept a secret due to competition; however, figures released by a contractor on the project have suggested a height of around 808 metres (2651 feet).

Based on this height, the total number of habitable floors is expected to be around 162. However, on the project's official website, an interior graphic of an elevator panel shows floor numbers up to 195. A more recent article by building subcontractor Persian Gulf Extrusions states a final height "over 940 metres" or at least 3084 feet,but this has not yet been confirmed by Emaar.

This new figure is 24 metres higher than the final height rumoured on burjdubaiskyscraper.com. Another source, from dubaimegaprojects.com reported an estimated final height of 1011 metres and a floor count of 216 floors.

Architect - Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
Developer - EMAAR Properties
Contractor - Samsung Constructions / BESIX / Arabtec
Construction - Steel Re-enforced Concrete / Steel Spire
Rendering - UV Solar Glass / Aluminium / Stainless Steel
Volume - 517,240 sq/m est
Floors - 216 est
Height - 1011m est
Completion due - June 2009

Video Case Study: The Burj Dubai

3D images of Burj Dubai (5669x3219 - image size)

2007-03-27T07:26:00.000+01:00

click the photo to enlarge

Burj Dubai Photogallery

2007-02-07T17:14:00.000Z