Skyscrapers

[Eli]

Exciting times.

We had Taipei 101 breaking the 500m limit in 2003 and that seemed like a lot. It seemed like the race will continue slowly. Taipei 101 is a mere 60m taller than the Empire State Building, which was finished in 1931.

But then Dubai felt that it must have the biggest dick.

Burj Dubai, already more that half built and scheduled for completion in 2009 will be at least 700m talls, most likely at 807m (60% taller than Taipei 101) and maybe even reach ~950m.

(Burj Dubai, Petronas Towers, Taipei 101, Sears Tower)

Even crazier. Dubai is probably going to build a second building. Al Burj. The current rumors talk about 1200m. 50% higher than Burj Dubai, and almost three times higher than the WTC towers.

Will the USA, or the rich East Asian cities take up the challenge? Will we see a race between kilometer high towers in the next decade? Discuss.

 

[Masquerouge]

BTW what happened to these kilometer-high towers in the Australian desert that were to be used to generate electricity through wind?

 

[stormbind]

Meh, have to seen what is built in London?

It seems we are only interested in things we can fit into a photograph.

 

[Princeps]

Exciting times.

No it isn't. Its sickening.

 

[Asher]

It's awesome. Toronto and Calgary are getting awesome skyscrapers too. Booming times.

We need more!

 

[The Yankee]

Not likely to happen in New York anytime soon, excluding the Freedom Tower. We've got nice 1920s skyscrapers. With character!

 

[Godwynn]

No it isn't. Its sickening.

Skyscrapers?

 

[Eli]

Not likely to happen in New York anytime soon, excluding the Freedom Tower. We've got nice 1920s skyscrapers. With character!

The Freedom Tower is going to be 550m tall, with a roof height of 420m. New York should be ashamed of itself. Being so far away from some middle of the desert Asian upstart.

 

[The Yankee]

The Freedom Tower is going to be 550m tall, with a roof height of 420m. New York should be ashamed of itself. Being so far away from some middle of the desert Asian upstart.

I know...all this water and all these landmarks. Okay, pack it up guys! Got to ship this city back to seller and start fresh!

 

[warpus]

The Freedom Tower is going to be 550m tall, with a roof height of 420m. New York should be ashamed of itself. Being so far away from some middle of the desert Asian upstart.

I don't think the height of the Freedom Tower is what New Yorkians should be ashamed of; the name of the tower is just

 

[The Yankee]

I don't think the height of the Freedom Tower is what New Yorkians should be ashamed of; the name of the tower is just

I'm not even sold on the design of it, yet. I don't know, maybe by 2012 or 2013, whenever it's supposed to finally be done, I'll think differently. One benefit is that we're getting a brand new train station to include the World Trade Center and Fulton Street stations.

 

[Atlas14]

I personally dislike skyscrapers and the whole "big city" image. It really is nothing to brag about.

 

[Mirc]

This tower is incredible:

On an unrelated note, my city is finally going to get skyscrapers!! It's the only city in Europe this big (6th biggest in the EU) without ANY skyscraper.

 

[Godwynn]

Beware the strong winds.

 

[The Yankee]

Strong winds are factored in. If you're paying attention when you're up at the 102nd floor of the Empire State, you could feel it sway a bit when a gust of wind comes.

 

[amadeus]

Talk about a perfect target for terrorists.

 

[Masquerouge]

Talk about a perfect target for terrorists.

If we can't build skyscrapers then the terrorists have won.

/sarcasm... or is it?

 

[Whomp]

It looks like the Burj is adopting the cigarette pack approach the engineer and architect of Sears Tower did.

Chicago's next potential tall building is not proposed to be that tall. The Burj will be about 15% taller (2300 ft.) than the oversized birthday candle 115 story Santiago Calatrava "Fordham Spire" (2000 ft). It will be quite an engineering and architectural marvel if it gets done (The twisting shape means no wind sway. The building would move 2 degrees with each floor and 270 degrees from top to bottom and cantilevered for unobstructed views).

I see Trump Tower going up fast and it looks like he's been forced to abide by Chicago's great architectural style and melds very well with the significant buildings surrounding it.

 

[The Yankee]

What is with these twisting designs? I think the Freedom Tower had some kind of design like that until people complained and it was scaled back.

I'm not sure how that or that Chicago building, will blend into the environment, as far as style and aesthetics are concerned.

March of progress?

 

[Phlegmak]

Talk about a perfect target for terrorists.

That's exactly what I was thinking. It's just totally foolish to build such enormous buildings these days.