Burj Dubai Tower and some interesting info

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Burj Dubai Tower
Tallest Building Dubai's built

OK, you've probably heard of the Burj Dubai Tower hundreds of times, but to actually see it is to believe it. The Burj Khalifa skyscraper (that's the official name now!) reveals the power and vision of Dubai's Ruler. It is the tallest building, Dubai or the world has built.

My wife and I observed it's towering growth ever since it started life. During this period, we visited Dubai several times and on each occasion, we went to the site to observe the Tower.

After a certain point, we could not even see the top without binoculars. And finally, the day has come when this marvel, the skyscraper of all skyscrapers, has been officially opened.

Turner was chosen to manage construction of this tower in Dubai which is the tallest building in the world. Named Burj Dubai, the tower will combine residential and commercial space, including the first Giorgio Armani hotel, entertainment complexes and the world's largest shopping mall. Parks, water features and pedestrian-only streets are also incorporated into the project's design.

Architect: Adrian Smith.
Design company: Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM).
Construction: 2004 - 09.12.2009
Construction Company: Samsung E&C.
Cost: USD 8 billion.

Gross Floor Space: 314,000 m² (3,378,137.6 sqft).
Height: 705 m (2,313 ft)*.
Observation deck: Indoor and outdoor at the 124th floor.
Project size: 190 hectares including artificial lake and downtown Dubai.

Image of comparison between Burj Dubai and other skyscrapers

Here are some important highlights of the Burj Khalifa Skyscraper:

The tip of the spire can be seen by a person 95 kms (60 miles) away.

The building service fireman's elevator will have a capacity of 5,500 kg and will be the world's tallest service elevator.

Burj Dubai will contain the world's highest elevator installation.

Parts of the Tower reach upwards in a helicalshape with terraces, there are 26 in total.

The Burj Dubai's Observatory Elevators (double deck cabs) have a capacity for 21 persons on each deck and will have the world's longest travel distance from lowest to highest stop.

There are 66 double decker elevators moving at the speed of 18m/s (40mph), making them the worlds fastest.

The amount of rebar used for the tower is 31,400 metric tons - laid end to end this would extend over a quarter of the way around the world.

The curtain wall of the Burj Dubai Tower will be equivalent to 17 football (soccer) fields or 25 American football fields.

The Tower's peak electricity demand is estimated to roughly 360,000 100- watt light bulbs all operating at the same time.

There will be 200 meters of spectacular dancing fountains at the foot of the Burj Dubai Tower.

When completed, the Dubai Tower wil be the tallest building in the world in all 4 categories recognized by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which compiles and ranks the world's tallest buildings.

The Tower will house one of the first Armani Hotels.

At 110 levels and 380 meters high, Burj Dubai Tower shared the honour of having the largest number of floors in any building in the world alongside Sears Tower in Chicago.

Ten cranes and the world's fastest high-capacity construction hoists - with a speed of up to 2m / sec (120m / min) are used to move men and material.

Burj Dubai Tower will be the first mega-high rise in which certain elevators will be programmed to permit controlled evacuation for certain fire or security events.