Burj Khalifa facts reveal how the Burj Khalifa was built, and how it became the tallest man-made structure in the world. The tower stands at 828 meters (2,717 feet) tall, making it more than twice as tall as the previous record holder, Taipei 101 in Taiwan (which held the record from 2004 until 2007). It took 4 years to build and cost $1.5 billion; that works out to around $3 million per each of its 160 floors!
1) Construction Time
Construction of what is now called Burj Khalifa began in 2004. The tower was designed by American architect Adrian Smith, who drew inspiration from Islamic architecture and designs. Construction began in December 2004, with foundation works and piles underway before breaking ground on construction of what would become a tower with more than 160 floors at 2,717 feet (828 m) high.
2) Cost & Funding
The construction of Burj Khalifa cost $1.5 billion and was funded through a variety of sources, including Islamic bonds and private equity from investors in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the UAE.
3) Elevators, Escalators, Dumbwaiters
Burj Khalifa in Dubai has 163 passenger and car elevators, and more than 30 escalators. In addition to these, there are also 5 service elevators as well as 2 cargo elevators. The building also has 5 high-speed sky lobbies at different heights which have connections to both express and local elevators. The building has 16 entrances, 8 of which are located on the ground level while the remaining 8 are elevated.
4) Floor Plan & Suites
Standing at an impressive 2,722 feet (829 meters), Burj Khalifa is a mega tall skyscraper located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. If you stood it on its end, it would be taller than either of New York’s World Trade Center towers when they were standing. The building took five years to build and opened to public tenants in January 2010.
5) Materials Used
The design architects of Burj Khalifa Dubai UAE are Adrian Smith, Cesar Pelli & Associates. The structural engineers were Bollinger + Grohmann and Ateliers Jean Nouvel & Partners. RK Architecture (Dubai). Cost: $1.5 billion ($200 per square foot) to build in 2008 dollars. Construction began on January 4, 2004, and was completed on July 16, 2009.
6) Architecture Design
The tallest building in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is known as the Burj Khalifa. Constructed from 2004 to 2010, Burj Khalifa rises 828 m (2,717 ft) and contains 160 stories. The building is used as a mixed-use complex containing luxury hotels and apartments, as well as offices and conference rooms. As of 2014, it was listed by Guinness World Records as being both the world's tallest tower block and the world's tallest man-made structure of any kind.
7) Height
The Burj Khalifa is 828 meters (2,717 feet) tall. It has 160 floors and 57 elevators. The building took approximately six years to construct for $1.5 billion (U.S.). More than 6,500 workers were involved in its construction with over 20,000 man-hours going into each one of its 163 stories. As many as 5,500 different types of glasses were used in constructing it!
8) Towers & Risers
At 2,722 feet, Burj Khalifa is an astonishing 2.6 times taller than New York’s Empire State Building (1,250 feet). It has 160 floors and its facade contains enough concrete to pave a 30-foot road around Earth’s equator nearly four times over. Construction took approximately six years and 21 million man-hours to complete.
9) Water Usage
The site required more than 17.8 million gallons of water per day to construct, making it one of Dubai’s biggest water consumers. Construction on the project began in 2004, and despite being completed in 2010, workers are still on-site working to give each element of Burj Khalifa a high-quality finish. The building has enough concrete to build a highway from Dubai to Abu Dhabi – almost 70 miles (110 km) long – or fill more than 500 Olympic swimming pools!
10) No. of Floors in the Building
160; Floors in Building: 163. The 160 floors are counted from ground to tip, including a one-eternity observation deck on level 124, as well as maintenance and service facilities. There is a large spire at level 163 which brings the total height of the structure to 2,717 feet (828 meters). This measurement is given by structural engineers and excludes antennae protruding from the top of the building, although these were included in official measurements for several years. On completion, Burj Khalifa was listed in Guinness World Records as being 829.8 meters tall with its spire but has since been surpassed by One World Trade Center which stands at 1,776 feet (541 m) with its Freedom Tower mast added.
The Building Has Helipads on Each Floor: Yes! On each floor, there is a helipad that can be used for emergency evacuations or transporting supplies up to higher floors.
