7 Very Tall Buildings

At 2,722 feet, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is currently the world’s tallest building.

The 1,770-foot Taipei 101 Building in Taipei, Taiwan was the tallest skyscraper in the world until the Burj Khalifa in Dubai surpassed it in 2010. Taipei 101 is also the tallest building on Earth to hold LEED Platinum green building status. Photo Credit: WikiCommons

At 1,483 feet, the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumper, Malaysia, took the “tallest” title from the Sears Tower in 1998, but was surpassed by Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan in 2004. Photo Credit: WikiCommons

At 1,451 feet, the former Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) in Chicago held the record of tallest building in the world for 25 years, until 1998. Photo Credit: Alan Brunettin

Scheduled for completion in 2014, One World Trade Center (shown under construction here) will be the tallest building in the U.S., at a symbolic 1,776 feet. Photo Credit: David Jones/WikiCommons

Scheduled to begin construction in 2013, the Kingdom Tower in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, is expected to be more than 3,200 feet when it is completed – more than twice the height of the Willis Tower in Chicago. Photo Credit: WikiCommons

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Very Tall Buildings

Very Tall Buildings

For 25 years, the 108-story Sears Tower (now Willis Tower) in Chicago, Illinois, held the title of world’s tallest building. But this reign ended in 1998, when the César Pelli-designed Petronas Twin Towers opened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Since then, the “very tall tower” trend has accelerated around the world with several buildings surpassing both of these towers in height. First it was Taipei 101 in Taiwan; today, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai (designed by U.S. firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill) holds the title at 2,722 feet.

With many “very tall” projects proposed around the world (including one getting underway in Saudi Arabia that is twice the height of the Willis Tower), it would appear that, for now, America will not be holding the record for tallest building again anytime soon.

Meanwhile, when it is completed, the new World Trade Center in New York will be the tallest building in the U.S., at a symbolic 1,776 feet.

Learn more

Burj Khalifa – Official Site

Taipei – Official Site

Petronas Twin Towers – Official Site

Willis Tower – Official Site

World Trade Center – Official Site