Bringing Burj Khalifa to life required a combination of visionary ideals and solid science.
In the process, the project amassed an awe-inspiring number of facts, figures, and statistics.
World Records
At over 828 metres (2,716.5 feet) and more than 160 stories, Burj Khalifa holds the following records:
- Tallest skyscraper to top of spire: 828 m (2,716.5 ft)
- Tallest structure ever built: 828 m (2,716.5 ft)
- Tallest extant structure: 828 m (2,716.5 ft)
- Tallest free-standing structure in the world: 828 m (2,716.5 ft)
- Highest number of stories in the world (160 stories)
- Highest number of floors in the world (206 floors plus 2 levels of basement parking)
- Highest elevator installation in the world, 504 m (1,654 ft)
- Elevator with the longest travel distance in the world
- Fastest elevator in the world at speed of 64 km/h (40 mph) or 18 m/s (59 ft/s)
- Highest Mosque in the world (located on the 158th floor)
- Highest outdoor observation deck in the world (124th floor)
- Highest swimming pool in the world (76th floor)
- Highest nightclub in the world (144th floor)
- Highest vertical concrete pumping (for a building): 606 m (1,988 ft)
- Highest vertical concrete pumping (for any construction): 606 m (1,988 ft)
- Highest installation of an aluminum & glass facade in the world, height of 512 m (1,680 ft)
- The first tallest structure in history to include residential space (1000+ residences)
- The world's tallest performing fountain at the foot of the tower 275 m (902 ft)
Tallest of the Supertall
Not only is Burj Khalifa the world’s tallest building, it has also broken two other impressive records: tallest structure, previously held by the KVLY-TV mast in Blanchard, North Dakota, and tallest free-standing structure, previously held by Toronto’s CN Tower. The Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has established 3 criteria to determine what makes a tall building tall. Burj Khalifa wins by far in all three categories.Height to architectural top
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the architectural top of the building. This includes spires, but does not include antennae, signage, flagpoles or other functional-technical equipment. This measurement is the most widely used and is used to define the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat rankings of the Tallest Buildings in the World.
Highest occupied floor
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest continually occupied floor within the building. Maintenance areas are not included.
Height to tip
Height is measured from the level of the lowest, significant, open-air, pedestrian entrance to the highest point of the building, irrespective of material or function of the highest element. This includes antennae, flagpoles, signage and other functional-technical equipment.
