List of tallest buildings and structures in the
world
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(Redirected from World's tallest structures)
While determining the world's tallest structure has generally been straightforward, the definition of the world's tallest building or the world's tallest tower is less clear. The disputes generally centre on what should be counted as a building or a tower, and what is being measured.
In terms of absolute height, the tallest structure is currently the Burj Dubai, although it does not currently hold the official title of "Tallest Building in the World" until the building is officially opened. The current official holder of the "Tallest Building in the World" is held by Taipei 101. In addition, there are dozens of radio and television
broadcasting towers which measure over 600 metres (about 2,000 feet) in height. There is, however, some debate about:
whether structures under construction should be included in the
list
whether structures rising out of water should have their
below-water height included. For towers, there is debate over:
whether guy-wire-supported structures should be counted
For buildings, there is debate over:
whether communication towers with observation galleries should be considered habitable
buildings.
whether only habitable height is considered.
whether roof-top antennas should be considered towards height of buildings; with particular
interest in whether components that look like spires can be either classified as antennas or architectural detail.
The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, the organization that determines the title of the "World’s Tallest Building," recognizes a building only if at least fifty percent of its height is made up of floor plates containing habitable floor area.[1] Structures that do not meet this criterion, such as the CN Tower, are defined as "towers."
Burj Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates is currently the
world's tallest man-made structure. It was topped-out at 818 m (2,684 ft) on 17 January
2009.
Contents
1 Tallest structures
Tallest structures
The tallest man-made structure is Burj Dubai, a skyscraper under construction in Dubai that reached 818 m (2,684 ft) in height on 17 January 2009.[2] By 7 April 2008 it had been built higher than the KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota, USA, which is still the tallest completed structure at 628.8 m (2,063 ft).[3] In September it officially surpassed Poland's 646.38 m (2,121 ft) Warsaw radio mast, which stood from 1974 to 1991, to become the tallest structure ever built. Guyed lattice towers such as these masts had held the world height record since 1954.
The CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, standing at 553.3 m (1,815 ft), is the world's tallest completed freestanding structure on land. Opened in 1976, it was surpassed in height by the rising Burj Dubai on September 12, 2007.[4][5][6] It has the world's second highest public observation deck at 446.5 m (1,465 ft).
The Petronius Platform stands 610 m (2,001 ft) off the sea floor leading some, including Guinness World Records 2007, to claim it as the tallest freestanding structure in the world. However, it is debated whether underwater height should be discounted in the same manner as height
below grade is ignored on buildings. The Troll A platform is 472 m (1,549 ft), without any part of that height being supported by wires. The tension-leg type of oil platform has even greater below-water heights with several examples more than 1,000 metres (3,300 ft) deep. However, these platforms are not considered constant structures as the vast majority of their height is made up of the length of the tendons attaching the floating platforms to the sea floor.
Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan is currently the world's tallest inhabited building in only one of the four main categories that are commonly measured: at 509.2 m (1,671 ft) as measured to its architectural height (spire). Its roof height 449.2 m (1,474 ft) and highest occupied floor 439.2 m (1,441 ft) have recently been overtaken by the Shanghai World Financial Center (roof height 487 m (1,598 ft); highest occupied floor 474 m (1,555 ft)). The Sears Tower is highest in the final category: the greatest height to
1.2 Tallest destroyed structures by category, not surpassed by existing structures 1.3 Tallest building by function
2 Tallest buildings
2.1 History of record holders in each CTBUH category 3 World's tallest freestanding structure on land
3.1 History
3.2 World's highest observation deck 3.3 Timeline of guyed structures on land
4 Tallest structures, freestanding structures, and buildings 5 Under construction
6 Proposed 7 See also 8 References 9 External links
KVLY-TV mast, the height record holder from 1963–1974
top of antenna of any building in the world at 527.3 m (1,730 ft). On its completion, projected for late 2009, Burj Dubai will break the height record in all four categories for completed buildings by a wide margin. The Shanghai World Financial Center has the world's highest roof, highest occupied floor, and the world's highest public observation deck at 474.2 m (1,556 ft). It will retain the latter record after the completion of Burj Dubai, as Burj Dubai's observation deck will be at 442 m (1,450 ft).
Tallest structure by category
Due to the disagreements over how to measure height and classify structures, engineers have created various definitions for categories of buildings and other structures. One measure includes the absolute height of a building, another includes only spires and other permanent architectural features, but not antennas. The tradition of including the spire on top of a building and not including the antenna dates back to the rivalry between the Chrysler Building and 40 Wall Street. A modern-day example is that the antenna on top of the Sears tower are not considered part of its architectural height, while the spires on top of the Petronas towers are counted.
The CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario was the world's tallest freestanding structure on land
from 1975 until Burj Dubai surpassed it in 2007, rising 553.33 m (1,815 ft). It is currently the world's tallest
completed freestanding structure on land.
insulated against ground VLF transmitter Lualualei
United States Lualualei,
Hawaii 458.11 1,503 Twin towers Petronas Twin
Towers Malaysia
Kuala
Lumpur 452 1,482 Chimney GRES-2
Power Station Kazakhstan Ekibastusz 419.7 1,377 Radar Dimona
Radar Facility Israel Dimona 400 1,312 Guyed tubular steel mast Belmont transmitting station United Kingdom Donington on Bain 387.7 1,272 Lattice tower Kiev TV
Tower Ukraine Kiev 385 1,263
Partially guyed tower
Gerbrandy
Tower Netherlands IJsselstein 366.8 1,203 Electricity pylon Yangtze River Crossing, Jiangyin China Jiangyin 346.5 1,137
Bridge pillar Millau
Viaduct France Millau 342 1,122
Iron tower Tokyo Tower Japan Tokyo 333 1,092 Five-sided
building
JPMorgan
Chase Tower United States Houston 305 1,002 Dam Nurek Dam Tajikistan Nurek 300 984[7]
Concrete dam Grande
Dixence Dam Switzerland Val d'Hérens 285 935[8] Electricity pylon built of concrete Yangtze River Crossing, Nanjing China Nanjing 257 843 Clock tower NTT Docomo Yoyogi Building Japan Tokyo 240 790 Electricity pylon of HVDC-powerline Yangtze River Crossing, Wuhu China Wuhu 229 751 Minaret Hassan II
Mosque Morocco Casablanca 210 689 Wind turbine Fuhrländer Wind Turbine Laasow Germany Laasow, Brandenburg 205 673
Cooling tower
Niederaussem
Power Station Germany Niederaussem 200 656 Monument Gateway Arch United States St. Louis,
Missouri 192 630 90° twisted
building Turning Torso Sweden Malmö 190 623 Masonry
tower
Anaconda
Smelter Stack United States
Anaconda, Montana 178.3 585 Inclined structure, Stadium Le Stade
Olympique Canada Montreal 175 574 Obelisk San Jacinto
Monument United States
La Porte, Texas 173.7 570 Church building Chicago Temple Building
United States Chicago 173 568 Masonry
building
Mole
Antonelliana Italy Torino 167 548 Masonry
building
Philadelphia
City Hall United States Philadelphia 167 548 Ferris wheel Singapore
Flyer Singapore Singapore 165 541.3 Church tower Ulm Minster Germany Ulm 162 530 Industrial hall
Vehicle Assembly Building
United States Kennedy
Space Center 160 525 Memorial cross Santa Cruz del Valle de los Caídos Spain El Escorial 152.4 500
Roller coaster Kingda Ka United States Jackson, New
Jersey 138.98 456 Tomb
Great Pyramid of Giza
Egypt Giza, Cairo 138.8 455.2
Dome St Peter's
Basilica dome Vatican City
Vatican City, Rome 136.57 448.06 Air traffic control tower Suvarnabhumi Airport control tower Thailand Bangkok 132.2 433.7 Flagpole, free-standing Ashgabat
Flagpole Turkmenistan Ashgabat 133
436.4
[9]
Pentagon World Trade
Center United States Baltimore 123.5 405 Statue (including pedestal) Ushiku Daibutsu Bronze Buddha Statue Japan Ushiku 120 394
Storage silo Henninger
Turm Germany Frankfurt 120 394
Sculpture Spire of
Dublin Ireland Dublin 120 393
Light
advertisement
Bayer Cross
Leverkusen Germany Leverkusen 118 387 Wooden
structure
Gliwice Radio
Tower Poland Gliwice 118 387
Aerial tramway support tower Pillar of third section of Gletscherbahn Kaprun Austria Kaprun 113.6 373 Electricity pylon of powerline for single phase AC Bremen-Industriehafen Weser Powerline Crossing Germany Bremen 111 364 Lighthouse Yokohama
Marine Tower Japan Yokohama 106 324 Sphere Stockholm
Globe Arena Sweden Stockholm 85 279 Pre-modern
Chinese pagoda
Liaodi Pagoda China Ding County,
Hebei 84 275
Lantern
Tower Boston Stump
United Kingdom Boston, Lincolnshire 83.05 272 Statue (not including pedestal) The Mamayev
Monument Russia Volgograd 82 269 Brick
lighthouse
Torre della
Lanterna Italy Genoa 77 253
Brick minaret Qutub Minar India Delhi 72.5 237.8 Electricity pylon (concrete, prefabricated) Pylon 310 of powerline Innertkirchen-Littau-Mettlen Switzerland Littau 59.5 195
Tallest destroyed structures by category, not surpassed by existing structures
There are some destroyed architectural structures which were taller than the tallest existing structure of their type.
Tallest building by function
Monolithic obelisk Tuthmosis II Obelisk Italy San Giovanni in Laterano 36 118.1
Category Structure Country City Height (m)
Height
(ft) Remarks Guyed mast Warsaw Radio
Mast Poland Gąbin 646.38 2,121
completed in 1974, collapsed on August 8, 1991 Guyed tubular steel mast Shushi-Wan Omega Transmitter Japan Shushi-Wan 389 1,276 completed in 1973, dismantled in 1998 Structure for destructive scientific experiment Smoky Shot Tower United States Nevada Test Site 213 700
Guyed mast, which carried 44 kt yield nuclear bomb "Smoky" ( part of
operation Plumbbob) on top until its explosion on August 31st, 1957 Wooden structure Mühlacker Wood Radio Tower Germany Mühlacker 190 623 completed in 1934, destroyed on April 6, 1945, by the Germans to prevent usage by the Allies.
Masonry building
Mole
Antonelliana Italy Torino 167.5 549.5
spire destroyed by a tornado in 1953. Pre-Industrial Era building Lincoln Cathedral United Kingdom Lincoln 160 524 completed in 1311, spire blown off in 1549
Category Structure Country City
Architectural top
m ft
Mixed-Use* Burj Dubai** United Arab
Emirates Dubai 818 2,684
Office Taipei 101 Taiwan Taipei 509 1,671
Mixed-Use* (completed only)
John Hancock
Center United States Chicago 344 1,127
Hotel Rose Tower*** United Arab
* Mixed-Use is defined as having three of more RE uses (such as retail, office, hotel, etc.) that are physically and functionally integrated in a single property and are mutually supporting.[10]
** As Burj Dubai is still under construction and not yet inhabitable, it currently does not serve a specific function. Upon completion, it will serve as a mixed use building.
*** Although the Rose Tower is complete, it is not currently inhabited. Once the building's hotel opens (target date of April 2008 was not met), the tower will become the world's tallest building used
exclusively as a hotel.
Tallest buildings
Up until 1998 the tallest building status was essentially uncontested. Counting buildings as structures with floors throughout, and with antenna masts excluded, the Sears Tower in Chicago was considered the tallest. When the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were built, controversy arose because the spire extended nine metres higher than the roof of the Sears Tower. Excluding the spire, the Petronas Towers are not taller than the Sears Tower. At their convention in Chicago, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) reduced the Sears Tower from world's tallest and pronounced it not second tallest, but third, and pronounced Petronas as world's tallest. This action caused a considerable amount of
controversy, so CTBUH defined four categories in which the world's tallest building can be measured:
[11]
1. Height to the architectural top (including spires and pinnacles, but not antennas, masts or
flagpoles). This measurement is the most widely utilized and is used to define the rankings of the 100 Tallest Buildings in the World.
2. Highest Occupied Floor 3. Height to Top of Roof 4. Height to Tip
Residential Q1 Australia Gold Coast,
Queensland 322.5 1,059 Hotel (in use only) Burj Al Arab United Arab
Emirates Dubai 321 1,053
Educational Moscow State
University Russia Moscow 240 787
Hospital Guy's Hospital United Kingdom London 143 468
Library Shanghai Library China Shanghai 106 348
Comparison of top skyscrapers with measurements to top of antenna along to the oldest modern one,
The height is measured from the pavement level of the main entrance. At the time, the Sears Tower held first place in the second and third categories.
Petronas held the first category, and the original World Trade Towers held the fourth. Within
months, however, a new antenna mast was placed on the Sears Tower, giving it hold of the fourth
category. On April 20, 2004, the Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan, was completed. Its completion gave it the world record for the first three categories. On July 21, 2007 it was announced that Burj Dubai had surpassed Taipei 101 in height, reaching 512 m (1,680 ft) tall. Burj Dubai was topped-out in early 2009 but is not yet completed.
Today, Taipei 101 leads in the first category with 509 m (1,671 ft), but has been surpassed in the second two categories by the Shanghai World Financial Center whose roof height is 492 m (1,614 ft) and whose highest occupied floor is at 474 m (1,555 ft). Before either of these buildings were completed, the first category was held by the Petronas Twin Towers with 452 m (1,483 ft), and before that by Sears Tower with 442 m (1,451 ft). The second and third categories were held by the Sears Tower, with 412 m (1,351 ft) and 442 m (1,451 ft) respectively.
The Sears Tower still leads in the fourth category with 527 m (1,729 ft), previously held by the World Trade Center until the extension of the Chicago tower's western broadcast antenna in 2000, over a year prior to the Trade Center's destruction in 2001. Its antenna mast included, 1 World Trade Center
measured 526 m (1,727 ft). The World Trade Center became the world's tallest buildings to be destroyed or demolished; indeed, its site entered the record books twice on September 11, 2001, in that category, replacing the Singer Building, which once stood a block from the WTC site.
Structures such as the CN Tower, the Ostankino Tower and the Oriental Pearl Tower are excluded from these categories because they are not "habitable buildings", which are defined as frame structures made with floors and walls throughout.
History of record holders in each CTBUH category
Current skyscrapers compared with notable under construction skyscrapers
Date (Event) Architectural top
Highest occupied
floor Rooftop Antenna
2008: Shanghai World Financial Center completed
Taipei 101 Shanghai World Financial Center
Shanghai World
Financial Center Sears Tower 2003: Taipei 101
completed Taipei 101 Taipei 101 Taipei 101 Sears Tower 2000: Sears Tower
antenna extension Petronas Towers Sears Tower Sears Tower Sears Tower 1998: Petronas Towers
completed Petronas Towers Sears Tower Sears Tower
World Trade Center
World's tallest freestanding structure on land
Freestanding structures include observation towers, monuments and other structures not generally considered to be "Habitable buildings", but excludes supported structures such as guyed masts and
1996: CTBUH defines
categories Sears Tower Sears Tower Sears Tower
World Trade Center
ocean drilling platforms. (See also history of tallest skyscrapers.)
The world's tallest freestanding structure on land is defined as the tallest self-supporting man-made structure that stands above ground. This definition is different from that of world's tallest building or world's tallest structure based on the percent of the structure that is occupied and whether or not it is self-supporting or supported by exterior cables. Likewise, this definition does not count structures that are built underground or on the seabed, such as the Petronius Platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Visit world's tallest structure by category for a list of various other definitions.
As of 12 May 2008, the tallest freestanding structure on land is the still under construction Burj Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The building, which now stands at 636 m (2,090 ft), surpassed the height of the previous record holder, the 553.3 m (1,815 ft) CN Tower in Toronto, Ontario, on September 12, 2007. It is scheduled to be completed in 2009, and was topped out at 818 m (2,684 ft) in January 2009.
[2]
History
The following is a list of structures that have held the title as the tallest freestanding structure on land.
(See also Timeline of three tallest structures in the world until Empire State Building).
tallest historical structures record
from
record to Name and Location Constructed Height (m) Height (ft) Notes c. 2600 BC c. 2570 BC Red Pyramid of Sneferu, Egypt c. 2600 BC 105 345 c. 2570 BC c. AD 1311 Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt c. 2570 BC 146 481 By AD 1439, the Great Pyramid had eroded to a height of approximately 139 m (455 ft). 1311 1549 Lincoln Cathedral in England 1092–1311 160 525
The central spire was destroyed in a storm in 1549. While the reputed height of 525 ft (160 m) is doubted by A.F. Kendrick,
[12] other sources [which?]
agree on this height. St. Olaf's
Church in
The spire burnt down after a lightning strike in 1625
1549 1625
Tallinn,
Estonia 1438–1519 159 522
and was rebuilt several times. The current height is 123 m. 1625 1647 St. Mary's Church in Stralsund, Germany 1384–1478 151 495
The spire burnt down after a lightning strike in 1647. The current height is 104 m. 1647 1874 Strasbourg Cathedral in France 1439 142 469 1874 1876 St. Nikolai in Hamburg, Germany 1846–1874 147 483 1876 1880 Cathédrale Notre Dame in Rouen, France 1202–1876 151 495 1880 1884 Cologne Cathedral in Germany 1248–1880 157 515 1884 1889 Washington Monument in Washington D.C., United States 1884 169 555 1889 1930 Eiffel Tower in Paris, France 1889 300 986
First structure to exceed 300 metres in height. The addition of a
telecommunications tower in the 1950s brought the overall height to 324 m. 1930 1931 Chrysler Building in New York, United States 1928–1930 319 1,046 1931 1967 Empire State Building in New York, United States 1930–1931 381 1,250
First building with 100+ stories. The addition of a pinnacle and antennas later increased its overall height to 1,472 ft/448.7 m. 1967 1975 Ostankino Tower in Moscow, Russia 1963–1967 537 1,762
Remains the tallest in Europe. Fire in 2000 led to extensive renovation. CN Tower in Remains the tallest in the
Notable mentions include the Pharos (lighthouse) of Alexandria, built in the third century BC, and estimated between 115 to 135 m (383–440 ft). It was the world's tallest non-pyramidal building for many centuries. Another notable mention includes the
Jetavanaramaya stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, which was built in the third century, and was similarly tall at 122 m (400 ft). These were both the world's tallest or second tallest
non-pyramidal buildings for over a thousand years.
The tallest secular building between the collapse of the Pharos and the erection of the Washington Monument may have been the Torre del Mangia in Siena, which is 102 m tall, and was constructed in the first half of the fourteenth century, and the 97
m tall Torre degli Asinelli in Bologna, also Italy, built between 1109 and 1119.
World's highest observation deck
Timeline of development of world's highest observation deck since inauguration of Eiffel Tower. 1975 2007 Toronto, Canada 1973–1976 553 1,815 Americas 2007 present Burj Dubai in Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2004–2009 818 2,684
Current holder of world's tallest freestanding structure. Topped out at 818 m (2,684 ft).
Diagram of the Principal High Buildings of the Old World, 1884.
Held record Name and Location Constructed Height of highest observation deck (m) Height of highest observation deck (ft) Notes From To 1889 1931 Eiffel Tower, Paris, France 1889 275 902 Two further observation decks 57 and 115 metres above ground. 1931 1973 Empire State Building, New York City, USA 1931 369[13] 1211 A second observation deck is located on the 86th floor at 320 metres above ground. 1973 1976 World Trade Center, New York City, USA 1973 420 1378 Destroyed during the September 11, 2001 attacks 1976 2008 CN Tower, Toronto,
1976 446.5 1398 observation decks Two further 342 and 346
Higher observation decks have existed on mountain peaks or cliffs, rather than on tall structures. For example, the Royal Gorge Bridge in Cañon City, Colorado, USA, was constructed in 1929 spanning the Royal Gorge at a height of 321 m (1095 ft.) above the Arkansas River.
Timeline of guyed structures on land
As most of the tallest structures are guyed masts and the absolute height record of architectural
structures on land is since 1954 kept by them, here is a timeline of world's tallest guyed masts, since the beginning of radio technology.
As many large guyed masts were destroyed at the end of World War II, the dates for the years between 1945 and 1950 may be incorrect. If Wusung Radio Tower survived World War II, it was the tallest guyed structure shortly after World War II.
Canada metres above
ground. 2008 present Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai, China 2008 474 1555 Other observation decks are 423 and 439 metres above
ground.
Held
record Name and Location Constructed Height (m)
Height
(ft) Notes From To
1913 1920
Central mast of Eilvese transmitter, Eilvese, Germany
1913 250 820
Mast was divided in 145 m by an insulator,
demolished in 1931 1920 1923
Central masts of Nauen Transmitter Station, Nauen, Germany 1920 260 853 2 masts, demolished in 1946 1923 1933 Masts of Ruiselede transmitter, Ruiselede, Belgium 1923 287 942 8 masts, destroyed in 1940 1933 1939 Lakihegy Tower, Lakihegy, Hungary 1933 314 1,031 Blaw-Knox Tower, insulated against ground, destroyed in 1945, afterwards rebuilt 1939 1945 Deutschlandsender Herzberg/Elster, Herzberg (Elster), Germany 1939 335 1,099 Insulated against ground, dismantled in 1945
Blaw-Knox Tower Liblice,
Demolished on October 17, 1972 by
Tallest structures, freestanding structures, and buildings
1945 1946
Liblice, Czech Republic
1936 280.4 920 explosives. Replaced in 1976 by 2 355 masts. 1946 1948 Lakihegy Tower, Lakihegy, Hungary 1946 314 1,031 Blaw-Knox Tower, Insulated against ground, rebuilt after
destruction in 1945 1948 1949 WIVB-TV Tower, Colden,
New York, USA 1948 321.9 1,056
1949 1950 Longwave transmitter
Raszyn, Raszyn, Poland 1949 335 1,099
Insulated against ground 1950 1954
Forestport Tower, Forestport, New York, USA
1950 371.25 1,218 Insulated against ground
1954 1959
Griffin Television Tower Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
1954 480.5 1,576
1956 1959
KOBR-TV Tower, Caprock, New Mexico, USA
1956 490.7 1,610 Collapsed in 1960
1959 1960 WGME TV Tower,
Raymond, Maine, USA 1959 495 1,624 1960 1962 KFVS TV Mast, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, USA 1960 511.1 1,677 1962 1963 WTVM/WRBL-TV & WVRK-FM Tower, Cusseta, Georgia, USA
1962 533 1,749 Located in Cusseta, Georgia 1963 1963 WIMZ-FM-Tower, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA 1963 534.01 1,752 1963 1974 KVLY-TV mast,
Blanchard, North Dakota, USA
1963 628.8 2,063
1974 1991 Warsaw Radio Mast,
Gąbin, Poland 1974 646.4 2,121
Mast radiator insulated against ground, collapsed in 1991 1991
KVLY-TV mast,
Blanchard, North Dakota, USA
1963 628.8 2,063
The list categories are:
The structures (supported) list uses pinnacle height and includes architectural structures of any
type that might use some external support constructions like cables and are fully built in air. Only the three tallest are listed, as more than fifty US TV masts have stated heights of 600-610m (1969-2000 ft).
The structures (media supported) list uses pinnacle height and includes architectural structures
of any type that are not totally built in the air but are using support from other, denser media like salt water. All structures greater than 500 m (1,640 ft) are listed.
The freestanding structures list uses pinnacle height and includes structures over 400 m
(1,312 ft) that do not use guy-wires or other external supports. This means truly free standing on its own or, in similar sense, non-supported structures.
The building list uses architectural height (excluding antennas) and includes only buildings,
defined as consisting of habitable floors. Both of these follow CTBUH guidelines. All supertall buildings (300 m and higher) are listed.
Notes:
Seven buildings appear on the freestanding structures category list with different heights than of
another category. This is due to the different measurement specifications of those lists.
Only current heights and where reasonable target heights are listed. Historical heights of structures
that e.g. did collapse are excluded.
Rank Name and location Year
completed Architectural top[14] Floors
Structures (supported) 1 KVLY-TV mast, Blanchard, North Dakota,
United States 1963 629 m (2,064 ft) –
2 KXJB-TV mast, Galesburg, North Dakota,
United States 1998 628 m (2,060 ft) –
3 KXTV/KOVR Tower, Walnut Grove,
California, United States 2000 625 m (2,051 ft) – Structures (media supported)
1 Petronius Platform, Gulf of Mexico 2000 610 m (2,001 ft) – 2 Baldpate Platform, Gulf of Mexico 1998 580 m (1,902.9 ft) – 3 Bullwinkle Platform, Gulf of Mexico 1989 529 m (1,736 ft) –
Freestanding structures 1 Burj Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
(under construction) 2009 818 m (2,684 ft) 160
2 CN Tower, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 1976 553 m (1,814 ft) – 3 Ostankino Tower, Moscow, Russia 1967 540 m (1,772 ft) – 4 Sears Tower, Chicago, United States 1974 527 m (1,729 ft) 108 5 Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan 2003 509 m (1,670 ft) 101
6 Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai,
People's Republic of China 2008 492 m (1,614 ft) 101 7 Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai, People's
Republic of China 1996 468 m (1,535 ft) –
8 John Hancock Center, Chicago, United States 1969 457 m (1,500 ft) 100 9= Petronas Tower I, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1998 452 m (1,483 ft) 88 9= Petronas Tower II, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1998 452 m (1,483 ft) 88 11 Nanjing Greenland Financial Center, Nanjing,
People's Republic of China 2009 450 m (1,476 ft) 89 12 Empire State Building, New York City,
United States 1931 449 (1,472 ft) 102
13 Milad Tower, Tehran, Iran 2007 435 m (1,427 ft) – 14 Kuala Lumpur Tower, Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia 1995 421 m (1,381 ft) –
15 Jin Mao Building, Shanghai, People's
Republic of China 1998 421 m (1,381 ft) 88
16 Chimney of GRES-2 Power Station,
Ekibastuz, Kazakhstan 1987 420 m (1,378 ft) – 17 Two International Finance Centre, Hong
Kong 2003 415 m (1,362 ft) 88
18 Tianjin Radio and Television Tower, Tianjin,
People’s Republic of China 1991 415 m (1,362 ft) – 19 Central TV Tower, Beijing, People’s
Republic of China 1992 405 m (1,329 ft) –
Buildings
1 Taipei 101, Taipei, Taiwan 2003 509 m (1,670 ft) 101 2 Shanghai World Financial Center, Shanghai,
People's Republic of China 2008 492 m (1,614 ft) 101 3= Petronas Tower I, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1998 452 m (1,483 ft) 88 3= Petronas Tower II, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1998 452 m (1,483 ft) 88 5 Nanjing Greenland Financial Center, Nanjing,
People's Republic of China 2009 450 m (1,476 ft) 89 6 Sears Tower, Chicago, United States 1974 442 m (1,450 ft) 108 7 Jin Mao Building, Shanghai, People's
Republic of China 1998 421 m (1,381 ft) 88
8 Two International Finance Centre, Hong
Kong 2003 415 m (1,362 ft) 88
9 CITIC Plaza, Guangzhou, People's Republic
of China 1997 391 m (1,283 ft) 80
Republic of China
11 Empire State Building, New York, United
States 1931 381 m (1,250 ft) 102
12 Central Plaza, Hong Kong 1992 374 m (1,227 ft) 78 13 Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong 1990 367 m (1,204 ft) 70 14 Bank of America Tower, New York, United
States 2008 366 m (1,201 ft) 54
15 Almas Tower, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2008 360 m (1,181 ft) 74 16 Emirates Office Tower, Dubai, United Arab
Emirates 2000 355 m (1,165 ft) 54
17 Tuntex Sky Tower, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 1997 348 m (1,142 ft) 85 18 Aon Center, Chicago, United States 1973 346 m (1,135 ft) 83
19 The Center, Hong Kong 1998 346 m (1,135 ft) 73
20 John Hancock Center, Chicago, United States 1969 344 m (1,129 ft) 100 21= Rose Tower, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 2007 333 m (1,093 ft) 72 21= Shimao International Plaza, Shanghai,
People's Republic of China 2006 333 m (1,093 ft) 60 23 Minsheng Bank Building, Wuhan, People's
Republic of China 2007 331 m (1,086 ft) 68
24= Ryugyong Hotel, Pyongyang, North Korea
(topped out) 1992 330 m (1,083 ft) 105
24= China World Trade Center Tower 3, Beijing,
People's Republic of China 2008 330 m (1,083 ft) 74 26 Q1 Tower, Gold Coast City, Australia 2005 323 m (1,060 ft) 78 27 Burj Al Arab, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 1999 321 m (1,053 ft) 60 28= Chrysler Building, New York, United States 1930 319 m (1,047 ft) 77 28= Nina Tower I, Hong Kong 2007 319 m (1,047 ft) 80 28= New York Times Building, New York,
United States 2007 319 m (1,047 ft) 52
31 Bank of America Plaza, Atlanta, United
States 1992 312 m (1,024 ft) 55
32 U.S. Bank Tower, Los Angeles, United States 1989 310 m (1,017 ft) 73 33 Menara Telekom, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2001 310 m (1,017 ft) 55 34 Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, Dubai,
United Arab Emirates 2000 309 m (1,014 ft) 56
35 One Island East, Hong Kong 2008 308 m (1,010 ft) 70 36 AT&T Corporate Center, Chicago, United
States 1989 307 m (1,007 ft) 60
Source: Emporis
Under construction
Numerous supertall skyscrapers are in various stages of proposal, planning, or construction. Each of the following are under construction and, depending on the order of completion, could become the world's tallest building or structure in at least one category:
Burj Dubai , under construction in Dubai, UAE, is topped-out at 818 m (2,684 ft) with 160 floors.
It is currently taller than the CN Tower, the tallest completed freestanding structure. It became the tallest manmade structure of any kind in history when it passed the Warsaw radio mast in
September 2008. Construction began in September 2004 and completion is expected in September 2009.
The Pentominium, under construction in Dubai, is expected to be 618 m (2,028 ft) tall and have
120 floors. If completed, it will be the tallest all-residential building in the world. Construction began in 2007 and completion is expected in 2011.
The Russia Tower, under construction in Moscow's International Business Centre, is expected to
be 612.2 m (2,009 ft) tall and have 118 floors. If completed, it will surpass the below mentioned Federation Tower East as the tallest building in Europe. Construction began in September 2007 and completion is expected in 2012.
Incheon Tower is a 151-floor, 610 metres (2,000 ft) tower in Incheon, South Korea. It is estimated
to be completed in 2012.
The Guangzhou TV & Sightseeing Tower, under construction in Guangzhou, China, is expected
to be 610.0 m (2,001 ft) tall. If completed, it will be tallest concrete tower. Construction began in November 2005 and completion is expected in 2009.
The Chicago Spire (formerly Fordham Spire), under construction in Chicago, is expected to be
609.6 m (2,000 ft) and have 150 floors. If completed, it would surpass the CN Tower as the tallest freestanding building in North America[15], and would be the second tallest all-residential
building in the world (behind the aforementionned Pentominium). Construction began in June 2007 and completion is expected in early 2012.[16]
The Jakarta Tower (Menara Jakarta) is currently on-hold in Jakarta, Indonesia. It is expected to be
558 m (1,831 ft) tall up to the antenna, thus may be tallest concrete tower. It is expected to be completed in 2011.
The Federation Tower East, under construction in Moscow's International Business Centre, is
37 United Arab Emirates 2008 306 m (1,004 ft) 63
38 JPMorgan Chase Tower, Houston, United
States 1982 305 m (1,001 ft) 75
39 Baiyoke Tower II, Bangkok, Thailand 1997 304 m (997 ft) 85 40 Two Prudential Plaza, Chicago, United States 1990 303 m (994 ft) 64
expected to be 506 m (1,660 ft) tall (to the tip of the spire) and have 93 floors. If completed, it will surpass the aforementionned Mercury City Tower as the tallest building in Europe. Construction began in 2003 and completion is expected in 2009.
The Tokyo Sky Tree under construction in Tokyo's Sumida district, is expected to be 610.6m
(2,003 ft) tall. It will be a broadcasting tower to replace the old Tokyo Tower. Construction began in 2008 and completion is expected in 2011, with public access in the spring of 2012.
Proposed
Many proposed structures have never been built, as yet, and many will probably never be built. See proposed tall buildings and structures for structures that have or are being proposed.