Skyscraper Day is celebrated each year on September 3. The date has been chosen as it also marks the birth anniversary of legendary architect Louis H Sullivan. The ace architect was also known as the “father of skyscrapers” and is believed to have designed the first skyscraper, which is the Home Insurance Building in Chicago. The building had 10 storeys and was constructed in 1885. Even though this may seem like no big feat today, but back in the day, it indeed was a massive event.
In today’s time, the world’s tallest building or skyscraper is the Burj Khalifa in the United Arab Emirates’ Dubai. The building is over 828 meters taller than Dubai city. The luxurious skyscraper unsurprisingly cost heavily. The price of construction of the building touched 1.5 billion USD. It took approximately six years to complete the building. The construction process of the Burj Khalifa began on September 21, 2004, and the inauguration took place on January 4, 2010. In today’s date, the iconic building is home to private residences, offices, restaurants, a famous viewpoint, and hotels.
National Skyscraper Day 2020: Images, tallest buildings and more:
1. The Burj Khalifa in Dubai (828 metre)
Peaking at the height of 2717 feet, Burj Khalifa stands as the tallest building in the world. Originally, the skyscraper was named Burj Dubai. However, the developers went broke mid-project and were assisted by the ruler of Abu Dhabi, which resulted in the change in name to honour the king. The building contains office space, retail space, residential quarters, and Armani Hotel. The 163-storeyed Burj Khalifa was inaugurated in 2012.
2. Shanghai Tower in Shanghai, China (632 metre)
Located in Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai, the tower is the second-tallest, with its top 2073 feet above the ground and consisting of 126 floors. It is also one of the most sustainably advanced tall buildings in the world. The entire building is divided into nine different zones, with each zone assigned to leisure, retail, and office use.
3. Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea (498 metre)
Located in Seoul, South Korea, the Lotte World Tower is the fifth-highest, with a height of 1821 feet divided among 123 floors. The building hones exciting spaces within such as Korea’s best urban aquarium, classical music hall, and Asia’s largest multiplex, along with several retail and office spaces.
4. The Empire State Building in New York (443 metre)
The world’s most magnificent Art Deco skyscraper, it’s a living piece of New York history and an instantly recognizable symbol of city culture today. Standing at 102 stories and 1,454 feet at its pinnacle, the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world for nearly 40 years after its completion.
5. Dongguan International Trade Center in Dongguan, China (427 metre)
Dongguan International Trade Center is a supertall skyscraper under construction in Dongguan, Guangdong, China. It has a height of 427 metres (1,401 ft). Construction began in 2014 and will be completed in 2021. It is a mixed-use development in the heart of the city of Dongguan, one of China’s largest manufacturers of foreign goods, which is now aiming to establish itself as a showcase for products designed by home-grown talent.
6. Makkah Royal Clock Tower
Neighbours with the world’s largest mosque, the Great Mosque of Mecca — the Makkah Royal Clock Tower — stands as the third-tallest building in the world. The tower is built in a complex of seven skyscrapers, owned by the Abraj Al-Bait government. The 120-storeyed tower also has a Fairmont Hotel to accommodate millions of pilgrims visiting Mecca every year. Along with the third-tallest, the tower is also the world’s most expensive building, with a construction cost of $15 Billion.
