Burj Dubai
Burj Dubai, at 818 meters (2,684 ft) and located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is unofficially the tallest building in the world. Once it is complete in September 2009 it will take the official title away from the current record holder the Taipei 101. The Burj Dubai overtook the Taipei 101 in July 2007 and also became the world's tallest self-supporting structure, bypassing the CN Tower in September 2007. The design for the Burj Dubai was by the Chicago architectural firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and the developer for the project was by one of the most prominent property developers in Dubai, Emaar Properties.
Adrian Smith, chief architect and designer for the project wanted the Burj Dubai to fit into its natural surroundings and culture. He took inspiration for the design from a desert flower native to the area, the Hymenocallis and also drew upon Islamic architecture and the onion-shaped domes of the mosques and other buildings. The structure of the Burj Dubai has a y-shape that is made up of a buttressed core that has three wings extending out of the core. The wings add additional structural support and the core anchors and also helps with wind resistance. The building's exterior is clad with stainless steel textured panels and aluminum reflective gazing. Interior design for the Burj Dubai is being done by the Italian designer Giorgio Armani and the building will also have the world's first Armani Hotel.
The Burj Dubai consists of the Armani Hotel on the bottom 39 floors, 800 residential apartments on the 43rd through 108th floors, and a 78th floor swimming pool. At the top of the building are office spaces and corporate suites. The building also features a cigar club, library, fitness facility, four pools and an observatory deck. The world's fastest elevators, traveling at a speed of over 40 miles per hour, will also be located at the Burj Dubai.
The construction project is being led by the South Korean firm of Samsung Engineering and Construction and also includes over 30 other contracting companies. There have been as many as 5,000 workers on the construction site at a given time. Construction on the building began in 2004 and has been built at an incredible pace. There have been labor disruptions protesting the low pay and poor working conditions. Much of Dubai's workforce is made of up of immigrants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China and the Philippines.
The Burj Dubai is located in the center of downtown Dubai. The Downtown Dubai development project features residential towers, luxury hotels, and the world's largest mall (Dubai Mall) in addition to the Burj Dubai. The Downtown Dubai development is an important piece of the Dubai government's efforts to further move the emirate away from its reliance on oil revenues and diversify its economy centered on business and financial services as well as tourism. Dubai laying claim to the tallest building in the world brings international recognition, tourism and investment funds into Dubai and has helped the city and emirate become a regional business hub and major tourist destination.