Image via Complex Original
Back at the end of the 19th century, the skyscraper was born in Chicago. Thanks to new engineering methods—particularly the idea of building steel cages that solved issues of "load bearing capacity"—architects could think to the skies. Designers want to go big, then bigger, then even taller. The race for the tallest building, once just an unspoken battle between Chicago and New York, hasn't stopped since.
The skyscraper may be an American invention, but the allure holds across the world. As economies develop, and new powers emerge, the skyscraper remains a global symbol of success. And, as fresh success is discovered, the desire to tower above all others remains. New "tallest buildings" arrive so quickly that you wouldn't be faulted for believing the John Hancock Building in the Windy City still holds the title.
Well, times have changed. We're here to get you up to speed…err, into the clouds.
The World's 25 Tallest Buildings
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Mercury City
Mercury City
Height: 1,112 feet (339 meters)
Location: Moscow, Russia
Architect: Mikhail Posokhin and Frank Williams
Mercury City, located in the city with the most high-rise buildings in Europe, is the tallest building on its continent. The list of ten tallest buildings in Europe include four other Russian skyscrapers, and Mercury City lands at number one this year. The skyscraper features a golden glass surface and although construction is complete, it is planned to officially open in 2013.
Tuntex Sky Tower
Tuntex Sky Tower
Height: 1,140 feet (347.5 meters)
Location: Lingya District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Architect: C.Y. Lee
The Tuntex Sky Tower is an 85-floor skyscraper with with two separate 39-floor sections. It's the tallest skyscraper in Kaohsiung, Taiwan and has a spectacular observation deck on the 75th floor.
Bank of China Tower
Bank of China Tower
Height: 1,205.4 feet (367.4 meters)
Location: Admiralty, Hong Kong, China
Architect: I.M. Pei & Partners, Sherman Kung & Associates Architects Ltd. Thomas Boada S.L.
The Bank of China Tower is the headquarters for the Bank of China (Hong Kong) Limited. It is the fourth tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong.
Central Plaza
Central Plaza
Height: 1,227 feet (373.9 meters)
Location: Wan Chai, Hong Kong, China
Architect: Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man Architects & Engineers (HK) Ltd.
The triangular 78-story building was completed in August 1995. It was the tallest building in Asia from 1992 to 1996.
Emirates Park Tower Hotel & Spa
Emirates Park Tower Hotel & Spa
Height: 1,234 feet (376 meters)
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Architect: Archgroup International
The twin-tower complex, Emirates Park Tower Hotel & Spa, cost 1.8 billion dirhams to build. It's a 1,608-room hotel run by Marriott International. It's the tallest hotel in Dubai.
Elite Residence
Elite Residence
Height: 1,247 feet (380.1 meters)
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Architect: Adnan Saffarini
The 91-floor Elite Residence has 695 apartments in addition to 15 floors of swimming pools, spas, reception areas, health clubs, a business center, and a gymnasium. It has a stunning view of one the man-made palm islands.
Empire State Building
Empire State Building
Height: 1,250 feet (381.0 meters)
Location: New York, NY
Architect: Shreve, Lamb and Harmon
The 102-story Empire State Building in NYC was the world's tallest building until 1931. The Art Deco structure is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
Shun Hing Square
Shun Hing Square
Height: 1,260 feet (384 meters)
Location: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Architect: K.Y. Cheung Design Associates
The Shun Hing Square building was famously built at the fast pace of 4 floors in 9 days. The main tower has offices, apartments, a car park, and a shopping arcade complex. The top floor has the Meridian View Centre, a popular observation deck.
CITIC Plaza
CITIC Plaza
Height: 1,280 feet (390.2 meters)
Location: Tianhe District, Guangzhou, China
Architect: Dennis Lau & Ng Chun Man Architects & Engineers Ltd.
The CITIC Plaza has 80 stories and 2 tall antenna-like spires on the top. It is the tallest concrete structure in the world and the eighth tallest building in China.
23 Marina
23 Marina
Height: 1,289 feet (392.8 meters)
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Architect: KEO International Consultants
23 Marina is a 90-floor residential skyscraper with 57 swimming pools and private elevators for each residence. There are 289 apartments total.
International Finance Centre
International Finance Centre
Height: 1,351.7 feet (412 meters)
Location: Central, Hong Kong, China
Architect: César Pelli & Association Architects / Rocco Design Architects
The International Finance Centre contains the IFC Mall and the 55-story Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. The second structure is the second tallest building in Hong Kong and the fourth-tallest building in the Greater China region.
Al Hamra Firdous Tower
Al Hamra Firdous Tower
Height: 1,354 feet (412.6 meters)
Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait
Architect: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
The Al Hamra Firdous Tower has over 70 floors of commercial and office space connecting to a five-story retail mall and eleven-story carpark. It also has a popular rooftop restaurant and spa.
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Princess Tower
Princess Tower
Height: 1,358 feet (414 meters)
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Architect: Adnan Saffarini Office
The residential skyscraper, Princess Tower, has 101 floors and was the world's tallest building. It has 763 units, 957 underground parking bays, and 8 retail outlets.
Jin Mao Tower
Jin Mao Tower
Height: 1,381 feet (421 meters)
Location: Shanghai, China
Architect: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
The Jin Mao Tower was the tallest building in China for 9 years, and still remains an icon, incorporating traditional Chinese design elements like the tiered pagoda. The building's lower 50 stories house offices, while the upper floors are occupied by the 5-star Grand Hyatt Hotel. The hotel's atrium, one of the world's tallest, stretches out for 25 floors. The Jin Mao Tower is engineered to withstand potentially hazardous natural occurrences such as earthquakes and typhoons.
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Trump International Hotel and Tower
Trump International Hotel and Tower
Height: 1,389 feet (423 meters)
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Architect: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
The Trump International Hotel and Tower is a residential condominium and hotel located in the tallest concrete building in the United States. The tower is built with concrete instead of steel to reduce swaying, considering its location in the Windy City, and to maximize window space. The tower was the tallest building to be built in North America since the Willis Tower, and although originally the building was originally proposed to become the world's next tallest building, plans were scaled down after the September 11 attacks.
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Guangzhou International Finance Center
Guangzhou International Finance Center
Height: 1,435 feet (438 meters)
Location: Guangzhou, China
Architect: Wilkinson Eyre Architects
The Guangzhou International Finance Center (GZIFC) is the site of the Guangzhou Four Seasons Hotel and many offices. The hotel features two lobbies, one on the ground floor and a sky lobby on the 70th floor. The tallest of its chain, the hotel includes a spa, indoor pool, gym, beauty salon, and restaurants of various cuisines. Other facilities in the GZIFC are serviced residential apartments and a department store.
KingKey 100
KingKey 100
Height: 1,449 feet (442 meters)
Location: Shenzhen, China
Architect: Terry Farrell & Partners
The KingKey 100, previously known as the KingKey Finance Tower, is located in the city's financial area and is the site of 6-star St. Regis Hotel. The building includes offices and luxury retail space, in addition to other entertainment areas such as the city's first IMAX theater. The top floors are to accommodate a sky garden and a number of fine dining restaurants.
Willis Tower
Willis Tower
Height: 1,451 feet (442 meters)
Location: Chicago, IL, U.S.A.
Architect: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
The Willis Tower, previously called (and still commonly known as) the Sears Tower, was the world's tallest building for 25 years prior to the completion of the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur. The building includes extensive retail space, a broadcast platform, a conference center, a fitness facility, and corporate offices. The tower's famous Ledge, made of glass boxes, extends 4 feet from the skyscraper's side and allows for visitors to view Chicago through a transparent floor from the 103rd floor.
Zifeng Tower
Zifeng Tower
Height: 1,476 feet (450 meters)
Location: Nanjing, China
Architect: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
The Zifeng Tower includes a 6-star Intercontinental Hotel, restaurants, extensive office space, an observatory, and a shopping center. The building's shape was inspired by Nanjing's triangular form, while the observation tower provides an all around view of the surrounding city. Unfortunately, an impressive view from this tall building may not be available thanks to China's infamous smog.
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Petronas Towers
Petronas Towers
Height: 1,483 feet (452 meters)
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Architect: Cesar Pelli & Associates
The Petronas Towers' design was inspired by Malaysia's former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad's hopes for the nation to join the global stage. Petronas is Malaysia's national petroleum corporation, and the towers were built and funded by the company itself. In 1998, the towers were named the tallest in the world. The two towers are connected by the Skybridge, the world's highest 2-story bridge, while the base level accommodates a concert hall, shopping center, and public plazas.
International Commerce Centre
International Commerce Centre
Height: 1,588 feet (484 meters)
Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong
Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
The International Commerce Centre, also known as the ICC Tower, hosts office spaces, shopping areas, an observation deck, and a 7-star Ritz Carlton hotel—the highest elevated hotel in the world. It is built on top of Kowloon station, which has access to the Airport Express line to Hong Kong International Airport. Located on the shoreline, the ICC Tower faces Two International Finance Centre, the second tallest building in Hong Kong, at the opposite side of Victoria Harbour.
Shanghai World Financial Center
Shanghai World Financial Center
Height: 1,614 feet (492 meters)
Location: Shanghai, China
Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
The Shanghai World Financial Center, funded by more than 36 international companies, is a glass and metal structure with a trapezoidal hole at the top. The opening was added to ease wind load on the building. The building features the second highest elevated hotel in the world near the top, which has the 6-star Park Hyatt Shanghai.
Taipei 101
Taipei 101
Height: 1,671 feet (509 meters)
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Architect: C.Y. Lee & Partners
Taipei 101 is the second tallest building in the world, with one of the highest outdoor observation decks. It also features an indoor observation deck and double-deck elevators that are the fastest elevators in the world. The tower's design and layout elements are Feng Shui-approved and based around the number "8," considered to be lucky in China. Previously known as the Taipei World Financial Center, the tower rents out some of its floor to the Taipei Stock Exchange and includes the Taipei 101 Mall.
Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel
Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel
Height: 1,972 feet (601 meters)
Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Architect: Dar al-Handasah Shair & Partners
The Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel is located directly across the main gate of the Holy Mosque in Mecca and is considered the holiest site in Islam. It is part of the Abraj Al Bait Complex, comprised of a large-scale convention center, prayer hall, 6 residential towers, parking floors, and 2 heliports. The 7-star hotel is owned and operated by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, while its clock tower announces daily prayers to the Muslim world.
Burj Khalifa
Burj Khalifa
Height: 2,717 feet (828 meters)
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Architect: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM)
Meet the world's tallest building, according to the Council on Tall Buildings. Burj Khalifa has a metal facade that's reflective of the sky during the day and illuminated by various other lighting at night. The 208-floor building includes the world's first Armani Hotel by designer Giorgio Armani, luxury residences and offices, and the world's highest observation deck, "At the Top."