The world's tallest tower, 'Burj Khalifa' is 828 metres
(2,716.5 ft) high
Dubai,
UAE; January 4, 2010: The world's tallest tower, developed by Emaar Properties,
was unveiled tonight to a crowd of thousands and the world in a crescendo of
fireworks, lasers and fountain displays.
The official height of the tower, unveiled as 'Burj Khalifa', was announced as
828 metres (2,716.5 ft).
A closely guarded secret, the official height of Burj Khalifa was flashed onto
a giant screen before an estimated crowd of more than 400,000, as lasers and
fireworks lit up the night sky.
Fireworks cascaded from the tower's spire to the base and lasers blazed out
from all levels leaving the crowds awestruck.
The height was disclosed in arithmetic progression, with the numbers being
flashed onto the screen, one after another. The tower's height breaks all
existing world records for tall buildings.
Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world according to the three main
criteria of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). The CTBUH
ranks the world’s tallest buildings based on ‘Height to Architectural Top,’
‘Height to Highest Occupied Floor’ and ‘Height to Tip.’
At 828 metres (2,716.5ft), Burj Khalifa is 320 metres taller than Taipei 101,
which at 508 metres (1,667 ft) had held the record for the world’s tallest
building measured to the architectural top since 2004, the year the project was
announced.
Burj Khalifa achieved the distinction of being the world's tallest structure –
surpassing the KVLY-TV mast (628.8 metres; 2,063 ft) in North Dakota, USA –
1,325 days after excavation work started in January 2004.
The tower also beats the 31-year-old record of CN Tower, which at 553.33 metres
(1,815.5 ft) had been the world’s tallest free-standing structure on land since
1976.
Burj Khalifa employs a record-breaking 330,000 cubic metres of concrete, 39,000
metric tonnes of steel rebar and 142,000 square metres of glass; and it took 22
million man hours to build.
Other world records for Burj Khalifa include the highest occupied floor in the
world, at over 550 metres (1,800 ft); the highest outdoor observation deck in
the world – At the Top on Level 124; and the tallest service elevator, which
travels to a height of 504 metres (1,654 ft).
Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, said that with the unveiling
of the final height of Burj Khalifa, the world now had a new reference point
for high-rise developments.
“Burj Khalifa is an example of collaboration on a global scale, and the
tremendous positive energy that can be generated when people from all over the
world come together to work towards a common goal. Thousands of professionals
and skilled workers from around the world worked on this once-in-a-lifetime
project.”
“More than 60 of the world’s leading consultants including South Korea’s
Samsung Corporation and New York-based Turner Construction International realised
the design for Burj Khalifa of Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
(SOM),” he said.
Burj Khalifa employed the latest advances in wind engineering, structural
engineering, structural systems, construction materials and methods. All design
considerations took into account the 12,000 people who will live and work in
the tower. The handover to residents of the various components of Burj Khalifa
will begin in February.
With a total built-up area of about 6 million sq ft, Burj Khalifa features
nearly 2 million sq ft of residential space and over 300,000 sq ft of prime
office space, in addition to the area occupied by the keenly awaited Armani
Hotel Dubai and the Armani Residences. The tower also features modern lifestyle
amenities including clubs, health and fitness facilities, gourmet restaurants
and the 124th floor observation deck, 'At the Top.'
Burj Khalifa is the focal point of the 500-acre ‘mega-project’ by Emaar
Properties, described as the new heart of Dubai.
BURJ DUBAI DETAILS
INAUGURATION PHOTOS
FIRE WORKS PHOTOS
Fireworks to mark Burj Dubai inauguration
The inauguration of Burj Dubai, the
world’s tallest building, developed by Emaar Properties, will feature a
spectacular display of sound, light, water and fireworks on the evening of Jan
4.
A
combination of dazzling fireworks, light beams, choreographed water displays,
and sound & music effects will describe the evolution of the world’s most
iconic new building in a breathtaking sensory journey.
In
all, 868 high-powered ‘stroboscope’ lights will be integrated into the facade
of Burj Dubai and the tower’s spire – and each stroboscope will be fired
individually to create a series of hypnotic lighting sequences.
The
entire display is controlled by a sophisticated arrangement of ultra high-tech
IT systems, which choreograph at least 50 different sequences of lighting,
fireworks, water and sound effects.
Event
experts from France, Britain and the United States
collaborated on the project, demonstrating the global spirit of teamwork which
defines Burj Dubai itself.
Powerful
strobe lights will be fixed near the pinnacle of the tower, and six ‘narrow
beam’ search lights will be positioned 700 metres up the tower.
The
entire inauguration show consists of a pre-show and three themed acts – From
the Desert Flower to Burj Dubai, Heart Beat, and From Dubai
& the UAE to the World - and a firework finale.
A
giant screen on Burj Park Island, as well as several television screens placed
across Downtown Burj Dubai including the Waterfront Promenade, will broadcast
the inauguration in real-time. Hundreds of international media, including Dubai
TV, will report live from the scene.
The
public can watch at the inauguration ceremony from the Waterfront Promenade
adjacent to The Dubai Mall.
The
inauguration performance begins with a short film which depicts the story of Dubai and
the evolution of Burj Dubai as the world’s tallest building. A precisely
choreographed sound, light, water and fireworks display then follows.
The
first act in the light & sound show, themed ‘From the Desert Flower to Burj
Dubai,’ is a co-ordinated water, light and firework display. Guests can watch
the unfolding of the desert lily, Hymenocallis, the design inspiration of Burj
Dubai. The segment ends with a rhythmic water and fireworks show.
The
second act, ‘Heart Beat,’ captures the construction of the tower in a dynamic
light show. An astonishing example of technological innovation, the display
recreates the effect of a beating heart and uses no fewer than 300 ‘space canon
projectors’ to generate a shadow-like image of the tower.
In
the third act, ‘From Dubai and the UAE to the World,’ sky tracers and space
canons envelop the tower in a strong halo of white light before reproducing the
sun beams of the Emaar corporate logo. These then expand in all directions as
the lighting rig on the tower’s spire activates.
In
its spectacular finale, the show will feature an impressive show of 10,000
firework effects on and from the tower, envisaged as the highest in the world.
The sparkling display will illuminate the entire Downtown Burj Dubai area.
Ahmad
Al Matrooshi, Managing Director, UAE, Emaar Properties, said that the
performance would be unprecedented and symbolic of Burj Dubai’s pioneering
status.
“Just
as Burj Dubai leaves an indelible impression on the mind’s eye, so the
performance dedicated to the tower’s inauguration on January 4 will be a memory
to cherish.”
Standing
at more than 800 metres (2,625 ft) high and with over 160 storeys, Burj Dubai
is the world’s tallest building developed by Emaar Properties. The tower
anchors the 500-acre Downtown Burj Dubai community, described as the new heart
of the city.
FROM THE TOP PHOTOS
Best Regards
Kamel Al Khiami
S. Reservoir Geologist
É 02-6043973 / 050-4190917
* kkhiami@xxxxxxx