Burj Dubai" redirects here.
It is not to be confused with Bur Dubai, a district of Dubai.
Burj Khalifa
برج خليفة
Viewed across The Dubai Fountain
Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap
Former names Burj Dubai
Record height
Tallest in the world since 2009[I]
Preceded by Taipei 101
Surpassed by Jeddah Tower (expected)
General information
Status Completed
Type Mixed-use
Architectural Neo-futurism
style
Location Dubai
Address 1 Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard
Country United Arab Emirates
25°11′49.7″N 55°16′26.8″ECoordinates:
Coordinates
25°11′49.7″N 55°16′26.8″E
Named for Sheikh Khalifa
Construction 6 January 2004
started
Topped-out 17 January 2009
Completed 1 October 2009
Opened 4 January 2010
Cost US$1.5 billion
Owner Emaar Properties
Height
Architectural 828 m (2,717 ft)
Tip 829.8 m (2,722 ft)
Top floor 585.4 m (1,921 ft)
Observatory 555.7 m (1,823 ft)
Technical details
Structural Reinforced concrete, steel, and aluminium
system
Floor count 154 + 9 maintenance
Floor area 309,473 m2 (3,331,100 sq ft)
Lifts/elevators 57
Design and construction
Architect Adrian Smith
Architecture Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
firm
Structural Bill Baker
engineer
Main Samsung C&T
contractor
Other information
Parking 2 subterranean levels
Website
www.burjkhalifa.ae
References
[1]
The Burj Khalifa (/ˈbɜːrdʒ kəˈliːfə/; Arabic: برج خليفة, Arabic pronunciation: [bʊrd͡ʒ xaˈliːfa], Khalifa
Tower), known as the Burj Dubai prior to its inauguration in 2010, is a skyscraper
in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With a total height of 829.8 m (2,722 ft, just over half a mile) and
a roof height (excluding antenna, but including a 244 m spire [2]) of 828 m (2,717 ft), the Burj
Khalifa has been the tallest structure and building in the world since its topping out in 2009,
supplanting Taipei 101, the previous holder of that status.[3][4]
Construction of the Burj Khalifa began in 2004, with the exterior completed five years later in
2009. The primary structure is reinforced concrete and some of the structural steel for the
building originated from the Palace of the Republic in East Berlin, the former East
German parliament.[5] The building was opened in 2010 as part of a new development
called Downtown Dubai. It is designed to be the centrepiece of large-scale, mixed-use
development. The decision to construct the building is based on the government's decision to
diversify from an oil-based economy, and for Dubai to gain international recognition. The building
was originally named Burj Dubai but was renamed in honour of the ruler of Abu Dhabi and
president of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan;[6] Abu Dhabi and the UAE
government lent Dubai money to pay its debts. The building broke numerous height records,
including its designation as the tallest building in the world.
Burj Khalifa was designed by Adrian Smith, of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, whose firm designed
the Willis Tower and One World Trade Center. Hyder Consulting was chosen to be the
supervising engineer with NORR Group Consultants International Limited chosen to supervise
the architecture of the project. The design is derived from the Islamic architecture of the region,
such as in the Great Mosque of Samarra. The Y-shaped tripartite floor geometry is designed to
optimize residential and hotel space. A buttressed central core and wings are used to support the
height of the building. Although this design was derived from Tower Palace III, the Burj Khalifa's
central core houses all vertical transportation with the exception of egress stairs within each of
the wings.[7] The structure also features a cladding system which is designed to withstand Dubai's
hot summer temperatures. It contains a total of 57 elevators and 8 escalators.
At a certain point in the architectural and engineering process, the original Emaar developers
experienced financial problems, and required more money and economic funding. Sheikh
Khalifa, the ruler of the United Arab Emirates, granted monetary aid and funding, hence the
changing of the name to "Burj Khalifa". The concept of profitability derived from building high
density developments and malls around the landmark has proven successful. Its surrounding
malls, hotels and condominiums in Downtown Dubai have generated the most revenue from the
project as a whole, while the Burj Khalifa itself made little or no profit. [8][9]
Critical reception to Burj Khalifa has been generally positive, and the building has received many
awards. However, there were numerous complaints concerning migrant workers from South
Asia who were the primary building labour force. These centered on low wages and the practice
of confiscating passports until duties were complete. [10] Frequent suicides committed by expatriate
employees who worked at the structure were reported in 2011. [11]
Contents
1Development
2Conception
o 2.1Records
o 2.2History of height increases
3Architecture and design
o 3.1Plumbing systems
o 3.2Air conditioning
o 3.3Window cleaning
4Features
o 4.1The Dubai Fountain
o 4.2Observation deck
o 4.3Burj Khalifa park
o 4.4Floor plans
o 4.5Ramadan observance
5Construction and structure
o 5.1Milestones
o 5.2Real estate values
o 5.3Official launch ceremony
6Incidents
o 6.1Fatalities
o 6.2Labour controversy
7Other uses
o 7.1BASE jumping
o 7.2Climbing
8Awards
9See also
10References
11External links
