DUBAI | Burj Khalifah (Burj Dubai) | 828 M / 2,716.5 FT - Pinnacle | 162 FLOORS

[buildup]

donybrx, City Center 1 was a proposal with Comcast in mind. The current Comcast Center has taken its place. Two residential towers are proposed where City Center 1 was supposed to go. Yes it is similar to Burj Dubai in form and I would love to see it built one day in Philly. But right now it's a dead proposal.

[Matty]

Any updates?

With this building's construction schedule steel should be rising by now. Why have there been no updates??

[GeorgeLV]

Matty, reinforced concrete actually. But, yeah, some newer construction pics would be nice.

[Matty]

Ok, so we should see steel rising out of the top of concrete exterior walls...

[GO_UAE]

Burj Dubai reaches defining moment as world's tallest building begins to rise


Burj Dubai, Emaar Properties' iconic building symbolizing modernity and engineering prowess, has reached a defining moment in its history as the world's tallest tower rises, making the surrounding district the most prestigious square kilometre in the world.

The important second stage of this world-class project follows the completion of complex foundation work on the tower slated for completion in 2008. Emaar had earlier announced that South Korea based-Samsung Corporation has won a global bid for US$900 million (AED 3.285 billion) for the construction of the tower.

Speaking to the media during a hard-hat tour of the Burj Dubai construction site, Emaar Properties Executive Director Robert Booth informed that the foundation work, completed in record 12 months at a cost of US$15 million, (AED 54 million) involved some critical measures taken to ensure that the tallest man-made structure sits on a strong steel and concrete podium.

The tower's 192 piles have been constructed to depths of more than 50 metres and are bound together by a 3.7 metre thick concrete raft across 8,000 square metres, encompassing the tower's entire footprint.

Nearly 18,000 cubic metres (cbm) of cement concrete was poured for the tower piles while 15,000 cbm of concrete was used for the podium piles. The raft, in addition, comprise of 12,300 cbm of concrete, bringing the total concrete poured into the foundation to over 45,000 cbm weighing more than 110,000 tonnes.

'We now embark on the exciting part of the development where the world can witness our promise of 'History Rising' coming to fruition,' said Booth. 'The tower is composed of three elements arranged around a central core. As the tower rises from the foundation raft, setbacks occur at each element in an upward-spiraling pattern, decreasing the mass of the tower as it reaches towards the sky.

'The tower design created by celebrity architect Adrian Smith for Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) is inspired from the geometrics of the desert flower and the patterning systems employed in Islamic architecture. It combines these historical and cultural influences with cutting-edge technology to achieve a high performance building which will set the new standard for development in the Middle East and become the model for the future of the city of Dubai.

The high performance exterior cladding system will be employed to withstand the extreme temperatures during the summer months in Dubai. Primary materials include reflective glazing, aluminum and textured stainless steel spandrel panels and the vertical stainless tubular fins accentuating the height and the slenderness of the tower.

When completed Burj Dubai will hold the record in all four categories as recognized by the New York-based global authority - Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat - highest structure, roof, antenna and occupied floor.

Commenting on the value that the world-class Burj Dubai tower will bring to the city of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, Booth explained: 'Burj Dubai is a symbol of human endeavour and success that makes Dubai one of the finest cities in the world that believes in excellence and a desirable quality of life.'

Explaining the scale of the project, Booth further said: 'The Tower is the central core of the magnificent US$20 billion (AED 73 billion) Burj Dubai district and the new emerging Downtown Dubai. More than 500 international consultants around the globe are currently finalising the design. At its construction peak, a workforce of more than 20,000 construction workers will be on site to create 45 million square feet of liveable space to accommodate 30,000 homes, making the Burj Dubai site the biggest single construction site in the world.

The district comprises The Dubai Mall, the world's largest shopping and entertainment complex; The Residences, an exclusive upscale series of high-rise apartment towers; The Old Town, a low-rise traditional residences community that is inspired by the stylist antiquity of Arabian architecture; The Boulevard, a 3.5 km stretch that binds the entire district and gives it an international ambience, besides man-made lakes and landscaped parks.

'As an urban planner and developer, I admire the ability of cities to create unique urban environments with a combination of cultures, building types and architectural styles unique to the world. Indeed skyscrapers have historically represented our quest for bettering our urban centres and have created some of the world's most desirable and admired places. Burj Dubai will do the same for the city of Dubai,' Booth concluded.

[Lecom]

Too bad TTChicago wasn't this building.

This monster will hit 200 floors.
Yea it would be pretty cool, topping the previous tallest by twice as many floors.

If you ask me though, the tower looks more like Wright's Mile High design. Hell, this one's nearly a kilometer high, that pretty much does it.

[Beyond 1000]

Yes LeCom you got it right. It does look like "The Illinois" in a way.

Some are skeptical that BD will reach over 800m but now that it is going up, stay tuned and watch these guys go for a long standing record. I'll go out on a limb and say this building will hit somewhere in the mid 800m range...say 830m to 870m tall, spire included of course. We may be surprised and see this thing even go for that 950m height limit they bragged the foundation could hold, but that has to be announced before I can really believe it.

Lotta fun here.

[nezzybaby]

I think itll be 805m, so it would be exactly half a mile high.

adventurous couples could try to join the half mile high club in an elevator

[coth]

i don't think it will be taller 705m (except of spire increasing. it is possible). number of floors could be higher. but just because of decreasing of floor-to-floor height.
with roof about 640m 160 floors is about 4m per floor. for residentials 3.35 is much enough. so 600/3.35 is about 190 floors. but of course 3.35 is much enough and floor height could be slower. 3.1 for example. then 640/3.1 is abour 207 floors...

[dazzler]

photo from gulfnews (http://www.gulfnews.com)

http://www.gulfnews.com/images/2005/03/29_bus_burj1.jpg

[nezzybaby]

coth dont over complicate it, we dont know how many floors there will be, how high they will be or how much of a spire there will be, if theres 200 floors at 4m then it will break 800m with the spire.

but it may be bigger it may be smaller, we're finally gonna start finding out as we see it rise

[coth]

nezzybaby,
according to tender documentation (or so) it is 705 meters tall

[Beyond 1000]

Who knows Coth, maybe it will reach 705m to the roof. I kind of feel that BD will probably reach between 650m to 680m to the roof and may have a very extended spire as you mentioned. They can easily reach 830m with a huge spire. I know, I know that such a huge spire may be a bit of a cheat but it does count in these records so they (Emaar) will go for the WTB anyway they can.

IF, and that is a big IF, they go to mid 800m range, then I don't see a 200m spire on top. I see at least a 700m roofline to start. This is where any arguments should stop and the FUN should begin.

It is under construction and soon we will know what's in store. Regardless how the floor height ratio falls, I feel they will go for the 200 floors. Afterall that is also a bragging figure.

Here is an off the wall senario. IF they go for 950m, then I don't see anything less than 750m to 775m roofline. Just a bit of fantasy to make this thread a bit more fun.

Lotta fun, lotta fun :cool:

[deejer8]

photo from gulfnews (http://www.gulfnews.com)

http://www.gulfnews.com/images/2005/03/29_bus_burj1.jpg
:laugh: impressive footprint!:yes:

[Kiyardo]

And it will begin to rise starting April 15th

Man, I tell ya, As an American, I used to want to visit Europe to look at all the grand architecture, but now I want to got Dubai. And if I could, I'd love to hire GO_UAE as a tour guide.

What a great country the United Arab Emirates is!!!

[GO_UAE]

I charge 10$ an hour for Europeans , and 50$ for my US friends :)

seriously i wouldnt mind.

[JACKinBeantown]

The funny thing is, only rich Americans with oil investments like the Bush family can afford your $50 rate.

[nezzybaby]

ill take the £5 tour, need a holiday right now. just gotta raise the remaining £3-400 for the flight and accomodation

[nezzybaby]

ok latest releases on ssc dont just suggest but insist that this is over 189 floors, they are selling offices on the 189th floor currently, therefore anyone who thinks this is gonna be sub 700 must be wrong!

[Beyond 1000]

They are selling offices at 189th floor because this building will be over 200 floors. Remember, a building was just approved outside of Dehli, India at 710m in height. This will push BD well over 800m. When final announcments of BDs height are published by those building it, it will surprise many here as to how high they are going to go.

[nezzybaby]

^exactly, so why does coth insist that its 705m, theyve never realeased a height, yet an early estimate has got stuck in the mind of a lot of our forumers

[Razqal]

i think a 200 floor building is crazy. would anyone like to live or work that high up in the sky? i'm surprised it said most apartments are sold out. people are certainly brave.

deejer8 likes tom of finland? ;)

[Smiley Person]

^exactly, so why does coth insist that its 705m, theyve never realeased a height, yet an early estimate has got stuck in the mind of a lot of our forumers

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics.. even if you win your still a retard"

:hilarious :hilarious :hilarious

[nezzybaby]

^do you ever find it very difficult to work out what people are on about when they only speak in smileys

:):(:)

and as for living that high in the sky, i cant think of anywhere id want to live more, can you imagine going into work everyday and knowing you are higher than everyone else, having a better view than everyone, itd fill you with power i want it

[Razqal]

if there's a fire or plane crash or power outage i bet you'd forget about your desire for power and wish you were just closer to the ground.

[nezzybaby]

how does it make a ddifference if im 50 floors in the air or 200?

given a choice id always go higher

[VivaLFuego]

i think a 200 floor building is crazy. would anyone like to live or work that high up in the sky? i'm surprised it said most apartments are sold out. people are certainly brave.

deejer8 likes tom of finland? ;)

For some reason I get the feeling that people buying in Burj Dubai probably have several other homes as well, and are buying a place at the Burj as a status thing...They'll be there maybe a few weeks a year, and if theyre feeling uncomfortable with the height, it'll be easy enough to stay out. I could be totally wrong, but this is what I'd guess intuitively. You know, wealthy Arab and European businessmen, American celebrities, etc.

The funny thing is, only rich Americans with oil investments like the Bush family can afford your $50 rate.
Relevant!

They are selling offices at 189th floor because this building will be over 200 floors. Remember, a building was just approved outside of Dehli, India at 710m in height. This will push BD well over 800m. When final announcments of BDs height are published by those building it, it will surprise many here as to how high they are going to go.
Can you direct me to more info on this project in India? thanks.

[R@ptor]

Burj Dubai begins to rise
Posted: Sunday, April 17, 2005
Dubai

Burj Dubai, Emaar Properties' iconic building, started its ascent yesterday (April 16) following the pouring for the sheer walls of the core which will hold the superstructure of the world's tallest tower.

''This is a very significant moment in the construction of Burj Dubai,'' said Issam Galadari, executive director, International Projects, Emaar. "Over the next couple of years, Burj Dubai will rise one floor every week and people driving along Sheikh Zayed road will be able to witness its progress," he said.

Present on the occasion were Emaar Properties' executives Greg Sang, senior manager, projects; Mark Amirault, senior director, International Development; and Fred Durie, senior director, projects.

[Fabb]

The impossible dream comes true...

[lakegz]

a mini update guys
http://www.dailystar.com.lb/admin/storage/articles/200552191770.bussreg.JPG

[Lecom]

That's no mini update, that's ONE FLOOR OF BURJ DUBAI rising!!!

[Jonovision]

YAY!!!! A bottle of champaign is in order.

[lakegz]

I think one floor out of 1,390,002 is mini.

[CTroyMathis]

This is going to be a

L O N G

thread.

Good, though. Because it's going to be intriguing as hell watching this thing rise over time.

[lakegz]

According to smussw ive been had, that photo is of the Dubai mall rising, sorry guys.

[Stephenapolis]

Well it does say "The Dubai Mall" on the crane. ;)

[Stratosphere 2020]

The concrete foundations look awfully small for a building of this height. :???:


I agree..I am also surprized about that fact. Also the depth of the ground. You would think that such tall structure would require a deeper foundation.

[Lecom]

Damn, false alarm

[UrbanSoldier]

The foundation is over 100 feet deep. It's massive.

[-GR2NY-]

Any date on when the thing will be topped out? Do they build quick there, so maybe by the end of our summer ???

[R@ptor]

Any date on when the thing will be topped out? Do they build quick there, so maybe by the end of our summer ???

Completion is scheduled for 2008, so I guess it will be topped out in late 2007/early 2008.

[Lecom]

By the end of our summer would mean 120 to 200 floors in four months. No way.

[dazzler]

2nd May , photo by Alt-Tab
(Burj Dubai is on center)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v651/AltTabDXB/BurjDubaiMay2005-6.jpg

[lakegz]

^Now THATS a city!!

[SJPhillyBoy]

:eek:
This thread will have about 200,000+ views before this MASSIVE building is complete.

[giovanni sasso]

sorry to be a big dummy, but could someone circle in red the actual construction of burj dubai itself? i believe you that it's there, i just don't see it.

EDIT: i hope the photographer doesn't take offense -- i never see the objects in those 3D paintings at the mall either.

[R@ptor]

sorry to be a big dummy, but could someone circle in red the actual construction of burj dubai itself? i believe you that it's there, i just don't see it.


Here you go..

http://www.jochenhertweck.com/pics/burjdubaimay.jpg

[Stephenapolis]

Wow! That site is huge!!!!

[Lecom]

Towers in the desert look damn awesome. Burj Dubai will really be like a desert flower.

[H-man]

of couse that site is huge half the city is U/C

[giovanni sasso]

thanks raptor.

leeeeeeeeeeeeeeecom, you gotta update your avatar theft homie, putin is played.

[Lecom]

Will do when I get home. Putin is still the man though.

[JACKinBeantown]

Putin is the man? That's like saying Bush is the man. Pretty much all our world leaders suck right now.

Anyway, not to start something political. Glad to see this building rising. It will be fun and scary to see it get reeeeaaallly tall.

[nezzybaby]

^all our world leaders allways willl be disliked, its human nature, weve not had a primeminister people liked in my country since winston churchill, and that was only because he ended years of bloody war.

the last liked president in america was JFK, and he was only like because he was assasinated before his sorded secret life came out.

[High Pointer]

< political rant >

^I completely agree. Elected officials (and dictators, for that matter) are not liked, never were liked, and never will be liked. It's my opinion that you have to take several steps down the ladder of morality to get far enough in politics to be elected to such offices.

I can speak for most Americans in that the presidential candidate who whom I voted was not somebody I liked, respected, or much agreed with--he was simply the lesser of two evils.

< /political rant >

[dazzler]

by dubaiflo at SSC

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/dubaiflo/100_1759.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/dubaiflo/100_1755.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/dubaiflo/100_1760.jpg

[R@ptor]

Now, that's what I call a massive core :eek:

[Chad]

My future home is rising!!...:D

[High Pointer]

I...can't believe it...it's really happening...this baby's actually...going to be built! Whoot!

[Indica]

Where the grey walls in the front top out, is where they are at with the concrete right now. The yellow walls on top are there as they are pouring the upper floors in the core.

I think that the lobby/first floor is going to have a very high ceiling. maybe 30 ft +!!
In fact the top of the cured/grey concrete walls in the front on the core is all the ground floor possibly?

How long do you guys think the legs are on this? I was estimating 100-120ft, but now that the pic is more clear, it seems maybe even bigger than that! The core has to be at least 150 ft across as well (going down the middle of the hex shape it appears to have). Look at how small the construction workers in blue are on the left leg there! try to put yourself in their shoes, seeing what they are seeing. There is going to be PLENTY of room on each of these legs on the residential floors, which makes sense. the upper floors, where most of the setbacks seem to be is obviously where it shrinks a lot. But.. how high is the building going to go before the 1st setbacks? I would think that it may make it up to almost the 112th floor skylobby before it starts to setback. The obs deck may be another obvious setback within the structure, because they chose the 124th floor (why???).

[Grumpy]

I can wait to be there to see this all live in december !!!

[-GR2NY-]

^ ^ Webcams? Streaming by any chance?

I want a damn robot with cameras on it, full audio and video. I can drive it around and take pictures and such. When the floors are getting laid I can scoot it onto the elevator and such. Thats what I want.

Are they gonna have that?

[GO_UAE]

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/dubaiflo/Picture009.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/dubaiflo/Picture010.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/dubaiflo/Picture008.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/dubaiflo/Picture007.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/dubaiflo/Picture006.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/dubaiflo/Picture004.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/dubaiflo/Picture003.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/dubaiflo/Picture002.jpg

[Stephenapolis]

thanks for the update pics! Being such a slender tower it should rise pretty quickly.

[glidescube]

How do the Builders cope when it gets to be 135F degrees?

[Lecom]

Falling off that thing would already kill you.

[GO_UAE]

How do the Builders cope when it gets to be 135F degrees?

God only knows , but someone has to do the job. :dunno:

[Matty]

How do the Builders cope when it gets to be 135F degrees?

I'd imagine they'd die...

[Lecom]

I don't think that at such temperatures thay have to worry too much about concrete cooling off too soon : P

[RLS_rls]

Haha I just saw the Simpsons and it was the one where they have biblical dreams. Bart's crew kept on getting whipped by Wiggum.


Anyway back on topic. How fast will this tower be going up?

[buildup]

If concrete stay too warm it will loose it's strength. That is probably one of their concerns. But I'm sure it will be carefully controlled.

[Eigenwelt]

How do the Builders cope when it gets to be 135F degrees?

God only knows , but someone has to do the job. :dunno:

Thats why they import all the south-east asian laborers. They really don't care if they do die.

:(

[smussuw]

How do the Builders cope when it gets to be 135F degrees?

God only knows , but someone has to do the job. :dunno:

Thats why they import all the south-east asian laborers. They really don't care if they do die.

:(

I see, so u are saying that me as an emarati local dont care if they do die because they are all south-east asian laborers right?

[Lecom]

How do the Builders cope when it gets to be 135F degrees?

God only knows , but someone has to do the job. :dunno:

Thats why they import all the south-east asian laborers. They really don't care if they do die.

:(
We're not talking about the United States here (Vietnam anyone?)

[RLS_rls]

^No but he has a good point. The only construction workers I've seen in that area are mostly from India and surrounding locals. Someone brought that up a few months ago in some thread, I forgot which one though.

[smussuw]

This is just stupid. The UAE doesnt have a single national construction worker so how would u expect them to work there if we didnt have any? That is why we import the labour from india.

[Matty]

I don't understand why a nation would not have it's own workers...

Not that I'm saying anything else, just why no workers?

[Lecom]

Well if that's the way it works it means it's more profitable for the UAE like that and Indian workers benefit too.

[smussuw]

The UAE's population is more than 4 million now. Only 800 thousands are national. Most of those are upper middle class, many of them are high class and some middle and lower class. I mean if schools and health care are free, I dont see a single reason for them to work there. So why would u expect them to work as construction worker if there are other and better alternatives.

There used to be elders who are now in their 60s and 70s who used to work as cleaner in some school. Those used to work as pearl divers in the old time. Because working in those areas didnt require anything special and because it was really rewarding comparing to pearl diving they choose to work as cleanco. Now u wouldnt find a single emarati working lower jobs like maids, drivers, construction or any similar jobs.

[-GR2NY-]

On the other hand, if you were doign construction in this city, you'd have a lifetime of work ahead of you at this rate huh?

[Raraavis]

.

[Matty]

In some ways I agree with you, but this is really not the place.

[smussuw]

It seems that u people dont understand do u?

[Raraavis]

.

[slide_rule]

What you really have in the UAE and most of the Persian Gulf states is a slave class of foreign workers. Every one asks how can you afford to build these buildings and this is the dirty little secret that allows it. It is a lot like Apartheid South Africa. I dream of the day when the "guest workers" in these Persian Gulf states rise up and seize power.


sure, you could also apply that logic to the legions of latino lettuce pickers and gardeners in california.

[Raraavis]

.

[deejer8]

In some ways I agree with you, but this is really not the place.

Well said, Matty... Anyone have any more insight on the CONSTRUCTION of this megatall building? :nuts:

[Raraavis]

I have a question back on topic. Do you think the redesigned Freedom Tower in NY will try to beat Burj Dubai in height?

[deejer8]

^I doubt FT will be redesigned to be much taller. Especially anywhere near the proposed height of the BD! As awesome as that might be, they are MUCH to afraid to make the FT such an icon...:(

[Raraavis]

I agree the FT is unlikely to go above 600 meters including antenna.

[nezzybaby]

lots of new construction pics on SSC, looks like its up to around the 3rd or 4th floor by now

[R@ptor]

Here's a fantastic animated gif by Dazz from SSC which shows the construction progress from 14th May to 4th June:

http://www.tp.spt.fi/~jukarkil/uae/burj_dubai_anim3.gif

[NYguy]

That's nice.

[colemonkee]

That is very nice. This is exciting to watch. All this talk has been fun, but it's nothing compared to seeing it actually grow. Thank you, Dazz!

[JACKinBeantown]

Hey Raptor / dubaiflo / AltinD ...
Those photos are great and I'm excited to watch the video as it continues. One suggestion: if you have Photoshop then before you add the photos to the video, run "Auto Levels" over them. It will brighten up the image and take away that dull haze that digital photos often have. Thanks for the updates and good luck with the video. It will be very cool.

edit... I guess this message should be directed to Dazz. If someone knows him/her please pass it on. Thanks.

[towerguy3]

what will be the height of the tower? 2600 ft?

[lakegz]

whats the latest dubai boys?

[smussuw]

You can check at ssc

[STR]

what will be the height of the tower? 2600 ft?

A Dutch subcontractor has said the tower is currently projected to be 728.6 meters, or 2,390ft. However, the top of the tower can be raised as high as 750m (2,460ft) with no problems. Any higher and there will be "difficulties" with the cranes.

[JACKinBeantown]

At the height what's another 70 feet?