Sky-High Wonders: 20 Tallest Buildings Worldwide
Quick, name a super tall building. Chances are the Eiffel Tower is one of the first that came to mind. But in terms of skyscrapers, the Eiffel Tower is far from the top of the highest buildings list in 2024.
How many of these super tall buildings in the world can you name?
1: Jeddah Tower
Formerly known as Kingdom Tower, Jeddah Tower is technically still under construction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The 2020 pandemic delayed its completion, but once built, it will hold the record for the tallest tower in the world at 3,280 feet tall.
2: Burj Khalifa
Currently, the tallest building in the world is Burj Khalifa in Dubai. Completed in 2010, it stands 2,716 feet tall and also holds the title for the tallest observation deck. Visitors to the tower can view the surrounding city landscape from 1,821 feet in the air.
3: Shanghai Tower
Shanghai Tower in China stands 2,073 feet tall. It opened to the public in 2015 and has been hosting visitors on its observation deck, 1,843 feet in the air since 2016.
4: One World Trade Center
One World Trade Center, or One WTC, is 1,792 feet tall when measured from its peak. Built on the site of the original World Trade Center in Manhattan, New York, One WTC opened to the public in November of 2014, over thirteen years after the September 9/11 attacks.
5: Ostankino Tower
Located in Moscow, Russia, Ostankino Tower is 1,772 feet tall and holds the title of the tallest freestanding structure in Europe. It was also the first free-standing structure to surpass five meters (1,640 feet).
6: Taipei 101
Formerly known as the Taipei World Financial Center, Taipei 101 stands 1,667 feet tall and was the world’s tallest tower when it opened in 2004. Beyond its extreme height, Taipei 101 attracts attention for its mass damper, viewable from the interior observation deck. The damper, which counteracts sway, can reduce the building’s movement by up to 40%.
7: CN Tower
CN Tower in Ontario, Canada, stands 1,815 feet tall. It was built in 1976 and has 147 floors, far more than many of the taller towers on this list.
8: Willis Tower
Originally the Sears Tower, Willis Tower stretches to 1,451 feet. If you count its tall tip, its height increases to an impressive 1,729 feet. Located in the Loop District of Chicago, it held the title of the world’s tallest building for nearly 25 years.
9: Petronas Towers
The Petronas Towers or Petronas Twin Towers are an interlocked pair of towers, standing 1,483 feet tall. Located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the towers have held the title of the tallest twin towers in the world since 1996.
10: Marina 101
Marina 101 is a 1,217-foot-tall tower located in Dubai. Measured from its tip, the height stretches to 1,394 feet. Built in 2017, it’s the second-tallest building in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
11: Princess Tower
A tower that would test the climbing skills of even the most skilled, handsome prince, the Princess Tower in Dubai stands 1,356 feet tall. It’s a residential-only tower that includes a high-wind warning system. This system alerts upper-story residents to high-wind conditions before they open their balcony doors.
12: John Hancock
Located in the Magnificent Mile District of Chicago, Illinois, John Hancock Tower stands 1,128 feet tall. If you include its antenna masts, the tower’s height stretches to 1,500 feet.
13: Bank of China
The Bank of China Tower is in Central Hong Kong. At 1,205 feet, the tower houses the Bank of China headquarters. It also featured prominently in 2021’s Godzilla vs. Kong.
14: Empire State Building
With its iconic Art Deco style, New York City’s Empire State Building is hard to miss. Built in 1931, the Empire State Building stands 1,454 feet tall when measured from its tip.
15: The Center
The Center Tower is 1,135 feet tall and is one of the tallest skyscrapers in Hong Kong. Due to Hong Kong’s ties to the British Empire, you’ll often find this building called “The Centre.”
16: Chrysler Building
Located in East Side Manhattan, New York City, the Chrysler Building is 1,046 feet tall. It opened in 1930 and features a terraced crown of seven radiating arches, still adored by many architects today.
17: Q1 Tower
Queensland, Australia, is home to Q1 Tower, a 1,058-foot-tall structure that sits along the Gold Coast. It is currently the tallest building in the Land Down Under.
18: The Index
At a height of 1,070 feet, The Index Tower in Dubai is open to both office and residential use. To help cool the harsh desert heat, The Index features a unique heat-absorbing core and sunshade system.
19: Cayan Tower
Cayan Tower in Dubai stands 1,008 feet tall and features a 90-degree twist. Each of the 75 floors twists 1.2 degrees around a cylindrical elevator shaft at the building’s core.
20: Citic Plaza
Measured from base to tip, Citic Plaza is 1,280 feet tall, making it the third tallest building in Guangzhou, China. However, if you don’t include its twin antennas, Citic Plaza comes in at 974 feet, making it slightly shorter than the Eiffel Tower.
How Tall Is The Eiffel Tower?
The Eiffel Tower is 984 feet tall. If you include its tip, it tops out at 1,083 feet. It was the first building in the world to exceed three hundred meters (984 feet) and held the title of the world’s tallest building for 42 years after its construction in 1889.
Our Fascination With Towers
The world’s tallest buildings act as a symbol of what our societies value. In today’s world, that’s often business and trade. As Joseph Campbell said in The Power of Myth, “You can tell what’s informing society by what its tallest building is.”
Race To Build the Tallest Tower
As urbanization increases throughout the world, the race to build the tallest tower is on. Skyscraper buildings have risen in the last few decades. For example, China added an impressive 84 skyscrapers in 2016 alone.
Skyscraper Hot Spots
Most of the newest skyscrapers are centered in specific areas of the world. While the US was the skyscraper hot spot in the 20th century, the latest skyscrapers appear mostly in China and the United Arab Emirates.
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