Top 10 facts about the Burj Khalifa

Top 10 facts about the Burj Khalifa

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Top 10 facts about the Burj Khalifa

If you enjoy touring record-breaking monument buildings then you’ve got to visit the Burj Khalifa. Located in Dubai, the Burj Khalifa has set the benchmark for mixed-use buildings around the world. Reaching 829.8 meters, the building incorporates corporate offices, retail spaces, residences fashioned by Armani and sky lobbies, in addition to an Armani Hotel. The building is popular with tourists, who can utilize several facilities embedded within the impressive building, spanning 5.67 million square ft. Let’s take a look at the top 10 facts about the Burj Khalifa; its surroundings and the construction work which officially ran from January 2004 to January 2010 and now house up to 35,000 individuals.

1. The Burj Khalifa is twice as tall as the Empire State Building

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Standing approximately 2716.5 feet tall, the Burj Khalifa snatched the title of “world’s tallest building” from Taipei’s Taipei 101, which held the record from 2004 to 2010 with a height of 1667 feet. While several other massive structures have been built since then, none has managed to top the Dubai landmark. Taipei 101, meanwhile, now ranks as the 10th tallest building in the world.

2. It took 6 years to build the Burj Khalifa

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Building the Burj Khalifa was a massive endeavor that, at its peak, required the assistance of approximately 12,000 workers per day. Which helps explain how the ambitious structure was completed in a rather short amount of time: excavation work on the building began in January 2004 and construction on the building’s exterior was completed in October 2009. It officially opened to the public on January 4, 2010.

3. The spire is a controversial element of the Burj Khalifa

Though the Burj Khalifa’s spire is one of its most defining features (and has a practical use: housing the building’s communications equipment), in architectural circles, it’s somewhat controversial—as are spires in general.

In 2013, the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat issued a report on what they deemed “vanity spires,” claiming that these uninhabited spaces are simply used to make a building stand that much taller. According to the report, 60 per cent of the world’s tallest buildings wouldn’t be so tall at all without their spires. The Burj Khalifa particularly would lose 700 feet of its height.

4. The Burj Khalifa houses a massive art collection

Any building as large as the Burj Khalifa is bound to have a lot of walls space to fill. Altogether, the building’s art collection is enormous: There are more than 1000 pieces from some of the world’s best-known artists (with a focus on Middle Eastern artists) hanging within the property—many of them specifically commissioned for the building.

5. The Burj Khalifa holds many world records

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Yes, it’s the world’s tallest building, but the Burj Khalifa holds many other world records, too. According to CNN, these additional superlatives include the world’s tallest freestanding structure, the highest number of stories, and the highest occupied floor.

6. It takes 3 months to clean all the building windows

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If you are someone who enjoys clean spaces then you will appreciate the work going into keeping this building clean. For instance, cleaning the windows of Burj Khalifa is not a job for those who have a fear of heights. It’s also a time-consuming task that is destined to go on repeat. The exterior of the building is covered with 26,000 glass panels. The glass panels are individually made to save energy and minimize heat transformation. On average, it takes 3 months to clean all the windows, and then the workers need to start over again from scratch.

7. The Burj Khalifa is home to the tallest elevator in the world

It makes sense that the world’s tallest building would need to keep its visitors moving, and quickly. While it doesn’t hold the record for the fastest elevator, it reportedly ranks third (moving at a speed of 22 mph). It takes just one minute to get from the first floor to the observation deck on the 124th floor.

The building counts 57 elevators within the building, eight escalators and over 15,000 doors. All these structures have been built with safety in mind. In the case of an emergency, refuge spaces have been inbuilt into the building’s designs with one constructed in every 25 floors.

8. You can admire the Burj Khalifa’s architecture from miles away

The Burj Khalifa was designed to resemble a flower. Adrian Smith, the architect behind the Burj Khalifa, designed the building to resemble the Spider Lily, a regional desert flower. One of the most recognizable architectural features of the Burj Khalifa is the “telescopic” spire that tops it, which is made from more than 4000 tons of steel. On a clear day, that spire can be seen from up to 60 miles away. Also, the exterior of the building is covered with 26,000 glass panels. The glass panels are individually made to save energy and minimize heat transformation.

9. 1.5 billion USD is the estimated cost of building Burj Khalifa

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Most buildings and things are known for being exclusive and luxurious in Dubai, and this iconic tower also came with a hefty price tag. The estimated cost of building Burj Khalifa is 1.5 billion USD.

However, it turned out to be a great investment for the owner Emaar Properties. Only in 2017, they made a profit of $1.8 billion.

10. The Burj Khalifa may not be the world’s tallest building for much longer

While the Burj Khalifa has enjoyed a nearly 10-year run as the world’s tallest building, it’s about to get some competition—from yet another Dubai construction project. In 2013, construction began on the Jeddah Tower, which will tower over the Burj Khalifa by an estimated 236 feet … if it ever opens.

Originally, the project was set to be completed by 2020 but has been plagued by a series of construction setbacks and other issues that have slowed development. At the moment, it’s expected to be completed in 2023, giving the Burj Khalifa a few more years to wear the “world’s tallest” crown.

Now you know the top 10 facts about the Burj Khalifa. I hope you enjoyed reading this article.