Dubai: Amidst dancing fountains and fireworks, the world's tallest building was unveiled here on Monday night. Amidst tight security, the cream of Dubai was there to celebrate the event which many consider as a bold feat on the world stage despite the city state's shaky financial footing.
But the final height of the Burj Dubai -- Arabic for Dubai Tower -- is still a closely guarded secret. At more than 800 meters, it long ago vanquished its nearest rival, the Taipei 101 in Taiwan.
The Burj's record-seeking developers didn't stop there.
The building boasts the most stories and highest occupied floor of any building in the world, and ranks as the world's tallest structure, beating out a television mast in North Dakota. Its observation deck -- on floor 124 -- also sets a record.
"We weren't sure how high we could go," said Bill Baker, the building's structural engineer, who is in Dubai for the inauguration. "It was kind of an exploration. ... A learning experience."
Baker, of Chicago-based architecture and engineering firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, said early designs for the Burj had it edging out the world's previous record-holder, the Taipei 101, by about 10 metres. The Taiwan tower rises 508 metres.
The Burj's developer, Emaar Properties, kept pushing the design higher even after construction began, putting it about 300 metres taller than its nearest competitor, Baker said. He is keeping quiet about the exact height.
But the final height of the Burj Dubai -- Arabic for Dubai Tower -- is still a closely guarded secret. At more than 800 meters, it long ago vanquished its nearest rival, the Taipei 101 in Taiwan.
The Burj's record-seeking developers didn't stop there.
The building boasts the most stories and highest occupied floor of any building in the world, and ranks as the world's tallest structure, beating out a television mast in North Dakota. Its observation deck -- on floor 124 -- also sets a record.
"We weren't sure how high we could go," said Bill Baker, the building's structural engineer, who is in Dubai for the inauguration. "It was kind of an exploration. ... A learning experience."
Baker, of Chicago-based architecture and engineering firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, said early designs for the Burj had it edging out the world's previous record-holder, the Taipei 101, by about 10 metres. The Taiwan tower rises 508 metres.
The Burj's developer, Emaar Properties, kept pushing the design higher even after construction began, putting it about 300 metres taller than its nearest competitor, Baker said. He is keeping quiet about the exact height.
