Top 10 Tallest Buildings in the World
At one point, the world’s tallest buildings were Egypt’s Great Pyramids, standing at 481 ft, a record that they held for over 3,800 years. That title was eventually taken by England’s Lincoln Cathedral, and this title was then taken by a precession of other religious buildings.
With increasing land prices in prime real estate, people started building higher to decrease the footprint of buildings. Construction techniques and material also improved, meaning that they were able to build continually higher. In addition to providing a functional purpose, today’s skyscrapers also act as a symbol of national pride. Here’s a look at the world’s largest.
1. China Zun 1,732 ft
The China Zun Building in Beijing is currently the tallest building in the city, and the 10th tallest on the planet. It soars over the skyline at an impressive 1,732 ft, and is officially known as the CITIC Tower. The tower was completed in 2018, having overtaken the China World Trade Center Tower III as the tallest building in Beijing on August 18, 2016. The building gets its nickname from the Zun, which is a type of traditional Chinese drinking vessel that inspired the tower’s design. The tower accommodates a range of uses, including office space, a 300-room hotel, and luxury apartments.
2. Tianjin CTF Finance Centre - 1,739 ft
At 1,739 ft tall, the Tianjin CTF Finance Centre is the 2nd tallest building in Tianjin. It is also the world’s tallest building that has fewer than 100 floors. While it is not the tallest in the city, other buildings around this tower are nowhere near as tall, causing it to dominate the skyline.
As with other skyscrapers in China and other parts of the world, the Tianjin CTF Finance Centre has been built in a way that helps it withstand earthquakes. The building tapers at the top, and this helps to decrease its exposure to the wind and the sun.
3. Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre - 1,739 ft
At 1,739 ft, the Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre is the tallest building in Guangzhou. It is located in Guangzhou’s central business district and also boasts one of the world’s fastest elevators, reaching speeds of up to 45 mph; which is a very useful feature for a building that is so tall.
This tower is owned by Chow Tai Fook Enterprises, a Hong Kong-based company that has holdings in a number of sectors, including property. It is a mixed-use building, containing offices, a hotel, apartments, and a shopping mall. Beneath the tower are connections to the city’s public transport network.
4. One World Trade Center - 1,776 ft
The attacks on the original World Trade Center in New York on September 11, 2001, were events that helped change the world. The twin towers, as they were known, were completely destroyed in the attacks, along with some other buildings that were in the vicinity.
The decision was made to build a new tower on the site of the Six World Trade Center building, which was also destroyed in the attacks of 9/11. The new tower, which stands at 1,776 ft is taller than the original twin towers. The One World Trade Center is the tallest tower in the United States and the tallest in the Western hemisphere.
5. Lotte World Tower - 1,821 ft
The Lotte World Tower is located in South Korea’s capital city, Seoul, and stands at 1,821 ft. It is the tallest tower in the country. It is also the first building in South Korea to have more than 100 stories, and it was the second tallest building in the world at the time of its completion.
The tower has multiple uses and contains offices, a hotel, a parking lot, and luxury apartments. The tower also has an observation deck with a sky terrace and lounge. The design is similar to The Shard tower in London, which is the tallest tower in Britain and the 6th tallest in Europe.
6. Goldin Finance 117 - 1,959 ft
The Goldin Finance 117 tower, which has 117 stories, is located in Tianjin, China. The tower is not yet finished, with completion expected in 2020, and it will be the tallest tower in Tianjin. This also makes it the 5th tallest tower in the whole world. The Goldin Finance 117 is also the tallest tower in the world that has a flat roof.
The building was topped out in 2015, meaning it currently reaches its completion height of 1,959 ft despite the tower not yet being complete. The tower’s nickname is The Walking Stick; an object that the building was designed to imitate.
7. Ping An Finance Centre - 1,965 ft
At 1,965 ft, the Ping An Finance Centre is the tallest building in Shenzhen and the 2nd highest in China. At the time of its construction, the tower also boasted the world’s highest observation deck, located at 1,844 ft. The tower is owned by Ping An Insurance, a conglomerate that deals mostly in the finance sector and is the world’s largest insurer.
The building is home to Ping An Insurance’s headquarters. In addition, it contains other office space, retail space, a high-end shopping mall, and a conference center. Visitors can travel between the floors of the towers by using the double-decked elevators, of which there are 33.
8. Abraj Al-Bait - 1,972 ft
The Abraj Al-Bait, which translates as “Towers of the House,” is a hotel complex that is owned by the Saudi government. The complex consists of seven skyscrapers in total, and the Makkah Royal Clock Tower is the tallest of all. The Abraj Al-Bait also boasts the highest clock face in the world.
The Abraj Al-Bait is the most expensive building ever constructed, at a cost of $15 billion. It oversees Mecca, which is Islam’s holiest site. There was a lot of controversy surrounding the site on which the complex is built because the 18th-century Ajyad fortress was destroyed to make way for the new building.
9. Shanghai Tower - 2,073 ft
The Shanghai Tower is the tallest tower in Shanghai and the second tallest on the planet. It stands at 2,073 ft and has 128 stories, with a sightseeing deck on the 118th floor. It is also the tallest building in the world that has a twisted design and also holds the record of the world’s tallest hotel.
The record-breaking does not stop there either as the tower also boasts the record of being one of the three towers that saw three supertall skyscrapers built adjacent to each other for the first time. The tower also has the second-fastest elevators in the world, travelling at 46 mph.
10. Burj Khalifa - 2,717 ft
The Burj Khalifa, translates roughly as “Leader tower.” Standing at 2,717 ft, it is the tallest building in the world by some distance. As the only skyscraper in the vicinity, the Burj Khalifa dominates the skyline of Dubai. The tower has a stunning design, gradually tapering at the top.
In addition to being the world’s tallest tower, the Burj Khalifa is also the building with the most floors at 163. It also boasts the world’s highest nightclub, the world’s highest restaurant, and the world’s highest elevator installation. The tower serves a number of purposes, including office space and residential, and it houses the Armani hotel.
