PROJECT STORY
The challenge
How do you build a tower in a desert environment that will surpass all known tall buildings and free-standing structures in the world?
Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai
Answering a tall order in the Emirates
The solution
By pooling our in-house knowledge and expertise across our global offices and working closely with the client, we were able to turn a seemingly impossible vision into reality.
The impact
Standing almost 830m tall with more than 160 stories, Burj Khalifa has broken many world records while Downtown Dubai continues to serve as a symbol of Dubai's evolving role in the global scene.
828m
in height
160
story structure
36km/h
elevator speed
The challenge
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, had a vision. He wanted to transform Dubai into a world-class destination by building a modern city with everything life has to offer, and at the center of it all: Burj Khalifa — the world’s tallest building. More than the prestige and world record-breaking feats, he wanted this vision to translate into a source of inspiration and aim for new, literal, heights — a symbol of the Emirate’s emerging role in the global scene. The task at that time, however, was unimaginable — a design and engineering enigma.
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The solution
Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill Architects, Burj Khalifa stands 828m tall. Its height alone was already a source of many structural engineering complexities. Combined with the fact that about 35,000 workers and residents would be accommodated across a great number of residential, commercial and office spaces inside the tower once completed, safety and structural integrity quickly became a priority.
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The impact
Burj Khalifa holds many world records from being recognized as the tallest building and free-standing structure in the world to having the most number of floors and one of the world’s tallest service elevators. It’s incredible to be part of a project that breaks world records, but it feels much better to see the project we helped build standing proud and tall in the middle of a desert environment, serving as a reminder of the global collaboration that was needed to bring it to life, and the great projects that can be accomplished even if they seem impossible at first.
