List of tallest buildings and structures
While determining the world's tallest structure has generally been straightforward, the definition of the world's tallest building or the world's tallest tower is less clear. The disputes generally center around what should be counted as a building or a tower, and what is being measured. Consideration of national or regional pride often causes the adoption of criteria favouring one's own structure.
In terms of absolute height, the tallest structures are the dozens of radio and television broadcasting towers which measure over 2000 feet (600 meters) in height. There is, however, some debate about:
- whether structures under construction should be included in the list
- whether structures rising out of water should have their below-water height included.
For towers, there is debate over:
- whether guy-wire-supported structures should be counted
For buildings, there is debate over:
- whether communication towers with observation galleries should be considered habitable buildings.
- whether only habitable height is considered.
- whether roof-top antennas should be considered towards height of buildings; with particular interest in whether things that look like spires can be either classified as antennae or "architectural detail."
Tallest structures
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Currently, the tallest standing structure is the KVLY-TV mast near Fargo, North Dakota, at 2,063 ft. It is a transmission antenna, consisting of a bare metal structure supported by guy-wires. The Warsaw radio mast at Gąbin-Konstantynów near Warsaw, Poland at 2,120 ft was taller, but it collapsed on 8 August 1991.
The main reason these transmission antennas are not usually included with the world's tallest buildings is that they are not self-supporting. Another example of a structure that is not self-supporting is a moored balloon, a long rope tethered to the ground on one end and to a helium balloon on the other. If structures that are not self-supporting were counted, such balloons would be the tallest in the world. Guyed masts, however, are designed for permanent use and cannot be dismantled quickly. For example, in case of bad weather, a captive balloon can be released and moved to a different location, but a transmission antenna must be able to withstand the weather and remain standing. Therefore they are considered architectural structures, just like other non-inhabitable constructions.
The CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, stands at 1,815 ft, and has been the worlds' tallest freestanding structure for more than 30 years, since 1976 . The CN Tower's head-architect was Adam Vinter. To this day it has the world's highest public observation deck at 1,465 feet (447 meters).
The Petronius Platform stands 2,001 ft, leading some to claim it as the tallest freestanding structure in the world. However, as this oil and natural gas platform is partially supported by wires, critics argue that it is not freestanding, and the below-water height should not be counted, in the same manner as underground 'height' is not taken into account in buildings.
The Burj Dubai, which is scheduled for completion in late 2008, will break all previous records, in all categories, for any building or structure, ever. While the final height has not been released to the public, the developers state that the building will be at least 2313 ft. As of June 10, 2007, the Burj Dubai stands at 1588 ft with 134 floors.
The Taipei 101 is currently the world's tallest building at 1,667 feet as measured to its architectural height as well as roof height (1,470 feet) and highest occupied floor (1,441 feet). The Sears Tower has the highest absolute height of any building in the world at 1,730 feet and also has the world's highest bathrooms in any structure (The CN Tower and Taipei101 have higher floors but without bathrooms) on the 103rd floor at 1,353 feet, this record will be surpassed upon completion of the Burj Dubai.
The proposed World Expo Centre, expected to be the world's largest Mixed Use Convention Centre project at Istanbul, Turkey will feature the world's tallest free standing structure at 3,510 ft and the only Tower anywhere with four 'pods' of seven levels each housing revolving restaurants, discos, gift shops, and the world's highest Observation Deck, and International Business Club at the 2,690 ft Pod level with other Pod levels at 2,034 ft, 1,378 ft & 722 ft. Total project estimated to cost $7.5 Billion USD. The project is a development of The Wellington International Trust of Vaduz, Liechtenstein.
Tallest structure by category
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Tallest destroyed structures by category, not surpassed by existing structures
There are some destroyed architectural structures, which were taller than the tallest existing structure of their type.
| Category | Structure | Country | City | Height (m) | Height (ft) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supported structure | Warsaw Radio Mast |  Poland |
Gąbin | 646.38 | 2,121 | completed in 1974, collapsed on August 8th, 1991 |
| Wooden structure | Mühlacker Wood Radio Tower |  Germany |
Mühlacker | 190 | 623 | completed in 1934, demolished on April 6th, 1945 |
| Pre-Industrial Era building | Lincoln Cathedral |  United Kingdom |
Lincoln | 160 | 524 | completed in 1311, spire blown off in 1549 |
Tallest building by function
| Category | Structure | Country | City | Architectural top | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| m | ft | ||||
| Office | Taipei 101 |  Taiwan |
Taipei | 509 | 1,671 |
| Recreational | Stratosphere Tower |  United States |
Las Vegas, Nevada | 350 | 1,149 |
| Residential | Q1 |  Australia |
Surfers Paradise | 322.5 | 1,059 |
| Hotel | Burj al-Arab |  United Arab Emirates |
Dubai | 321 | 1,053 |
| Educational | Moscow State University |  Russia |
Moscow | 240 | 787 |
| Hospital | Guy's Hospital | United Kingdom |
London, England | 143 | 468 |
| Cinema | Cineworld, Renfrew Street | United Kingdom |
Glasgow, Scotland | 61.8 | 203 |
| Symbolic | Azadi Tower |  Iran |
Tehran | 50 | 148 |
Tallest buildings
Up until 1998 the tallest building status was essentially uncontested. Counting buildings as structures with floors throughout, and with antennas excluded, the Sears Tower in Chicago was considered the tallest. When the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were built, controversy arose since the spire extended nine meters higher than the roof of the Sears Tower. Excluding the spire, the Petronas Towers are not taller than the Sears Tower. At their convention in Chicago, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) reduced the Sears Tower from world's tallest and pronounced it not second tallest, but third, and pronounced Petronas as world's tallest. This action caused a considerable amount of controversy, so CTBUH defined four categories in which the world's tallest building can be measured:
- Height to the structural or architectural top (including spires and pinnacles, but not antennas, masts or flagpoles)
- Height to the highest occupied floor
- Height to the top of the roof
- Height to the top of antenna
The height is measured from the pavement level of the main entrance. At the time, the Sears Tower held first place in the second and third categories. Petronas held the first category, and the original World Trade Towers held the fourth. Within months, however, a new antenna was placed on the Sears Tower, giving it hold of the fourth category. On April 20, 2004, the Taipei 101 in Taipei, was completed. Its completion gave it the world record for the first three categories.
Today, Taipei 101 leads in the first category with 1,671 ft; in the second category with an occupied floor at 1,441 ft; and in the third category with 1,474 ft. The first category was formerly held by the Petronas Twin Towers with 1,483 ft, and before that by Sears Tower with 1,451 ft. The second and third categories were held by the Sears Tower, with 1,351 ft and 1,451 ft respectively.
The Sears Tower still leads in the fourth category with 1,729 ft, previously held by the World Trade Center until the extension of the Chicago tower's western broadcast antenna in 2000, over a year prior to the Trade Center's destruction in 2001. Its antenna included, 1 World Trade Center measured 1,727 ft. The World Trade Center became the world's tallest buildings to be demolished; indeed, its site entered the record books twice on September 11, 2001, in that category, replacing the Singer Building, which once stood a block from the WTC site.[citation needed]
The Ostankino Tower and the CN Tower are excluded from these categories because they are not "habitable buildings", which are defined as frame structures made with floors and walls throughout.
History of Record Holders in each CTBUH category
| Date (Event) | Architectural top | Highest occupied floor | Rooftop | Antenna |
| 2003 Taipei 101 completed | Taipei 101 | Taipei 101 | Taipei 101 | Sears Tower |
| 2000 Sears Tower antenna extension | Petronas Towers | Sears Tower | Sears Tower | Sears Tower |
| 1998 Petronas Towers completed | Petronas Towers | Sears Tower | Sears Tower | World Trade Center |
| 1996 CTBUH defines categories | Sears Tower | Sears Tower | Sears Tower | World Trade Center |
World's tallest freestanding structure on land
Freestanding structures include observation towers, monuments and other structures not generally considered to be "buildings", but excludes supported structures such as guyed masts and ocean drilling platforms. (See also history of tallest skyscrapers.)
The world's tallest freestanding structure on land is defined as the tallest self-supporting man-made structure that stands above ground. This definition is different from that of world's tallest building or world's tallest structure based on the percent of the structure that is occupied and whether or not it is self-supporting or supported by exterior cables. Likewise, this definition does not count structures that are built underground or on the seabed, such as the Petronius Platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Visit world's tallest structure by category for a list of various other definitions.
Since 1976, the tallest freestanding structure on land has been the CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, with a height of 553.3 meters (1,815 ft). The Burj Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates will take both this title and that of world's tallest building upon its planned completion in 2008, if it reaches its planned height of over 800 meters (2,625 ft).
History
The following is a list of structures that have held the title as the tallest freestanding structure on land.
| Held record | Name and Location | Constructed | Height (m) | Height (ft) | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | |||||
| c. 2600 BC | c. 2570 BC | Red Pyramid of Sneferu, Egypt | c. 2600 BC | 105 | 345 | |
| c. 2570 BC | c. AD 1300 | Great Pyramid of Giza, Egypt | c. 2570 BC | 146 | 481 | By AD 1439, the Great Pyramid had eroded to a height of approximately 139 m (455 ft). |
| c. 1300 | 1549 | Lincoln Cathedral, England | 1092–1311 | 160 (?) | 525 (?) | The central spire was destroyed in a storm in 1549. While the reputed height of 525 ft is doubted by A.F. Kendrick,[1] other sources agree on this height. |
| 1549 | 1625 | St. Olav's Church, Tallinn, Estonia | 1438–1519 | 159 (?) | 522 (?) | The spire burnt down after a lightning strike in 1625 and was rebuilt several times. The current height is 123 m |
| 1625 | 1874 | Strasbourg Cathedral, France (then Germany) | 1439 | 143 | 469 | Still standing |
| 1874 | 1876 | St. Nikolai, Hamburg, Germany | 1846–1874 | 147 | 483 | Designed by George Gilbert Scott |
| 1876 | 1880 | Cathédrale Notre Dame, Rouen, France | 1202–1876 | 151 | 495 | |
| 1880 | 1884 | Cologne Cathedral, Germany | 1248–1880 | 157 | 515 | |
| 1884 | 1889 | Washington Monument, United States | 1884 | 169 | 555 | |
| 1889 | 1930 | Eiffel Tower, Paris, France | 1889 | 300 | 986 | The addition of a telecommunications tower in the 1950s brought the overall height to 324 m. |
| 1930 | 1931 | Chrysler Building, New York, United States | 1928–1930 | 319 | 1,046 | The Chrysler Building is still the tallest brick building in the world. |
| 1931 | 1967 | Empire State Building, New York, United States | 1930–1931 | 381 | 1,250 | |
| 1967 | 1975 | Ostankino Tower, Moscow, Russia | 1963–1967 | 537 | 1,762 | Remains the tallest in Europe |
| 1975 | Present | CN Tower, Toronto, Canada | 1973–1976 | 553 | 1,815 | The CN Tower also features the highest public observation deck in the world. |
As since 1954 the tallest structures on land are guyed masts, their development is shown after 1954 in the following table
Timeline of guyed structures on land
As most of the tallest structures are guyed masts and the absolute height record of architectural structures on land is kept by them, here is a timeline of world's tallest guyed masts, since the beginning of radio technology. As many large guyed masts were destroyed at the end of World War II, the dates for the years between 1945 and 1950 may be incorrect. If the 365.25 meter ( 1200 ft) tall central tower of NSS Annapolis was already built before 1945, it was the tallest guyed structure between 1945 and 1950.
| Held record | Name and Location | Constructed | Height (m) | Height (ft) | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| From | To | |||||
| 1913 | 1923 | Central mast of Eilvese transmitter, Eilvese, Germany | 1913 | 250 | 820 | Mast was divided in 145 meters by an insulator, demolished in 1931 |
| 1920 | 1923 | Central masts of Nauen Transmitting Station, Nauen, Germany | 1920 | 260 | 853 | 2 masts, demolished in 1946 |
| 1923 | 1933 | Masts of Ruiselede transmitter, Ruiselede, Belgium | 1923 | 287 | 942 | 8 masts, destroyed in 1940 |
| 1933 | 1939 | Lakihegy Tower, Lakihegy, Hungary | 1933 | 314 | 1031 | Blaw-Knox Tower, insulated against ground, destroyed in 1945, afterwards rebuilt |
| 1939 | 1945 | Deutschlandsender Herzberg/Elster, Herzberg (Elster), Germany | 1939 | 335 | 1099 | insulated against ground, dismantled in 1945 |
| 1945 | 1948 | Blaw-Knox Tower Liblice, Liblice, Czech | 1936 | 280.4 | 920 | Demolished on October 17th, 1972 by explosives. Replaced in 1976 by 2 355 masts. |
| 1948 | 1949 | WIVB-TV Tower, Colden, New York, USA | 1948 | 321.9 | 1056 | |
| 1949 | 1950 | Longwave transmitter Raszyn, Raszyn, Poland | 1949 | 335 | 1099 | insulated against ground |
| 1950 | 1954 | Forestport Tower, Forestport, New York, USA | 1950 | 371.25 | 1218 | insulated against ground |
| 1954 | 1959 | Griffin Television Tower Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA | 1954 | 480.5 | 1576 | |
| 1956 | 1959 | KOBR-TV Tower, Caprock, New Mexico, USA | 1956 | 490.7 | 1610 | Collapsed in 1960 |
| 1959 | 1960 | WGME TV Tower, Raymond, Maine, USA | 1959 | 495 | 1624 | |
| 1960 | 1961 | KFVS TV Mast, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA | 1960 | 511.1 | 1677 | |
| 1961 | 1963 | KTAL TV Tower, Vivian, Louisiana, USA | 1961 | 534.3 | 1753 | |
| 1963 | 1974 | KVLY-TV mast, Fargo, North Dakota, USA | 1963 | 628.8 | 2063 | |
| 1974 | 1991 | Warsaw Radio Mast, Gąbin, Poland | 1974 | 646.4 | 2121 | mast radiator insulated against gound, collapsed in 1991 |
| 1991 | KVLY-TV mast, Fargo, North Dakota, USA | 1963 | 628.8 | 2063 | ||
Notable mentions include the Pharos (lighthouse) of Alexandria, built in the third century BC, and estimated between 115 to 135 meters (383–440 ft). It was the world's tallest non-pyramidal building for many centuries. Another notable mention includes the Jetavanaramaya stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, which was built in the third century, and was similarly tall at 122 meters (400 ft). These were both the world's tallest or second tallest non-pyramidal buildings for over a thousand years.
The tallest secular building between the collapse of the Pharos and the erection of the Washington Monument may have been the Torre del Mangia in Siena, which is 102 m tall, and was constructed in the first half of the fourteenth century, and the 97 m tall Torre degli Asinelli in Bologna, also Italy, built between 1109 and 1119.
Currently-standing tallest skyscrapers listed by height to the architectural top
See also: List of tallest buildings in the world
Note that this list, except the comparison section, is limited to a certain type of structure, and a certain very specific type of height measurement. Most of the tallest structures in the world are guyed broadcasting towers. The structures on this list are not sorted by the absolute highest point on the building.
Source
Proposed record-breaking structures
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- There are some plans for a 609.6 meter high free-standing TV tower at Bayonne, New Jersey.
- The 492 m (1,614 ft; roof height) Shanghai World Financial Center in Shanghai, People's Republic of China has proposed completion in 2008, but has been delayed by evaluation of soil stability. A competing on-going project for the world's tallest is the 474 m (1,555 ft) Union Square Phase 7 in Hong Kong, also scheduled for completion in 2009. This would make either building the tallest under categories 2 and 3 by the CTBUH.
- The Freedom Tower of the new World Trade Center in New York City will reach 1,776 ft (541.3 meters) to its spire and about 1,368 ft (417 m) to its roof. This would make it the tallest building under categories 1 and 4 by the CTBUH, if no other record-breakers have been built by its completion date (currently at 2012).[citation needed]
- Jakarta Tower (Menara Jakarta) in Jakarta, Indonesia is a 558 m (1,830.71 ft) skyscraper currently under construction in Jakarta, Indonesia. Tower is expected to be completed in 2009. It is located in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.
- Port Tower Complex Karachi Port Trust is taking on a Rs. 20 billion project, the Port Tower Complex, is said to be 593 meters (1,947ft) high.[3] It should be finished within six years. It will comprise a hotel, a shopping center, and an Expo center. Integrating into Karachi’s skyline, the main feature of the venture shall be a revolving restaurant, a viewing gallery offering a panoramic view of the coastline and the city. The Tower is planned to be located at the Clifton shoreline. When completed it will be the tallest building in Pakistan and the 2nd tallest building in the world, first being Burj Dubai.
- The 610 m 2000 ft Chicago Spire (formerly Fordham Spire) would surpass the Sears Tower as the tallest tower in Chicago as well as North America, and would be the tallest all-residential building in the world. The building would have 150 floors as well as a top floor height of 2000 ft.[4] The project was given new life when Garrett Kelleher, executive chairman of Shelbourne Development Ltd & the Shelbourne Group acquired the land in July 2006 with plans to fully fund the development of the project. The building is planned to break ground sometime in early 2007 with completion expected in late 2010.
- Sumida Tower (613.5m) has been proposed in Sumida, Tokyo, Japan. It is planned to be finished by 2011.[5]
- Proposed Incheon Tower would become the tallest building in Korea at 640m.
- The proposed Center of India Tower in Katangi, India would be a 677 m (2,222 ft) skyscraper with 224 floors. It has been planned to be built in 2008. Upon completion, the building will have the largest gross floor area in the world; approx. 30 million sq. feet.[6]
- Noida Tower (750m) is being built in small metro city of Delhi's NCR. It will be the second tallest building in the world when completed in 2013 (depending on the final height of Burj Dubai).
- Burj Dubai in Dubai, UAE is a 808 m (2,651 ft) skyscraper currently under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Designed to be completed around 2009, this would put it at the number one spot in all four of CTBUH's categories, as well as make it the tallest manmade structure of any kind in history.
- The proposed Mubarak al-Kabir Tower in Madinat al-Hareer (City Of Silk), (Kuwait) is going to be 1,001 m (3,284 ft) in height.
- Proposed "Murjan Tower"[7] in Manama on the tiny Island of Bahrain is going to be 1,022 meters (3,353 ft) in height. The Murjan Tower is being designed by Danish firm Henning Larsens Tegnestue A/S and comprises 200 floors. If built, it will become world's tallest building, surpassing the proposed Mubarak Tower in nearby Kuwait City.
- Al Burj in Dubai, UAE is expected to be 1200m.
- Crown Las Vegas is expected to be 575m.
- Russia Tower is expected to be 612m.
- A tower has been proposed for London and if it is approved it will be 1500.00 meters tall, which would make it the tallest building in the world, as it would be nearly three times the current Taipei Tower. It will contain 41000 flats with 500 floors.[8]
Never built record-breaking structures
- During the Russian October Revolution of 1917, Vladimir Tatlin had designed a structure named The Monument to the Third International to become the international center of the Komintern. Better known as the Tatlin Tower, the structure would have risen 400 meters into the air. For the time, it would have been by far the tallest building in the world. The Russian Civil War stopped the project from continuing, due to lack of resources and time. Later, the Stalinist doctrine of "Socialism in One Country" and the abolishment of the Komintern made the plan for an international center to communism of no use to the Stalinist bureaucracy of the USSR.
- The Miglin-Beitler Skyneedle in Chicago was to be 610m[9] in 1988.
- The Illinois was to be a mile high, or 1731m, and to be constructed in Chicago.
- Construction was scheduled to begin in 2006 on the now canceled Strait of Messina Bridge. The bridge would have become the largest suspension bridge as well as the tallest. The proposed height of the two towers at 382.6 meters, is taller than the current record holder, the Millau Viaduct in France (341 meters).[citation needed]
- Eaton's / John Maryon Tower was planned to be a 503m tall building in Toronto in 1971.
- 7 South Dearborn in Chicago was planned in 1999 to be 2000 feet.
References
- ^ http://gwydir.demon.co.uk/PG/BellsLincoln/BellsLincoln.htm
- ^ Height for inhabited buildings with floors; does not include TV towers and antennas.
- ^ http://www.kpt.gov.pk/Projects/Proj.html
- ^ http://chicagobusiness.com/cgi-bin/news.pl?id=23109
- ^ http://www.skyscrapernews.com/news.php?ref=602
- ^ http://architecture.about.com/library/bltall.htm
- ^ http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=murjantower1-manama-bahrain
- ^ http://www.skyscrapernews.com/buildings.php?id=5170
- ^ http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=103012
External links
- Collection of many record holders on Skyscraperpage