Burj Khalifa Guide: 5 Architectural Characteristics of the Burj Khalifa

The Burj Khalifa, also known as the Dubai Burj Khalifa and the Khalifa Tower, is the world's tallest building, with a height of 2,722 feet. Located in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), this high-rise building stands next to the Dubai Mall in downtown Dubai. The Burj Khalifa is a structural engineering feat, holding several world records including the tallest freestanding structure and the tallest man-made structure.

The Burj Khalifa’s planning and construction spanned a period of seven years.

• Proposal: The initial designs for the Burj Khalifa were proposed in 2003 by Emaar Properties, a real estate firm based in Dubai. The plans were inspired by the Empire State Building in New York City.
• Construction: With Adrian Smith serving as chief architect and William F. Baker serving as chief structural engineer, the project began construction in 2004. Samsung C&T acted as the contractor on the project, having previously constructed the Petronas Towers (the tallest skyscrapers in Malaysia) and Taipei 101 in Taiwan.
• Financial setbacks: After the construction process was threatened by setbacks during the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, the president of the UAE and Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khalifa, stepped in to fund the completion of the building. In his honor, the name of the building was changed from Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa.
• Inauguration: Burj Khalifa was inaugurated on January 4, 2010. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) declared Burj Khalifa the world’s tallest building later that year.

Adrian Smith, the chief architect on Burj Khalifa, was born in Chicago in 1944. He graduated from the University of Illinois in 1969 and began working for an architecture firm called Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Smith began designing Burj Khalifa while still working at SOM. After retiring from SOM, Smith started his own firm called Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture. Smith’s firm has since begun working on the Jeddah Tower, another skyscraper in the Middle East that could become the world’s tallest tower upon completion.

Consider some of the notable characteristics of the Burj Khalifa.

1. 1. Design: The design of the Burj Khalifa building is a Y-shaped structural system that replicates a desert flower called hymenocallis. The building’s exterior cladding, or curtain wall, is a combination of textured stainless steel, glass panels, and aluminum.
2. 2. Spire: The central core of the tower rises to the top of the building with a spire. The spire exists for height and communication purposes.
3. 3. Floors: Complete with 163 floors, the Burj Khalifa has the highest occupied floor of any building on its 154th level.
4. 4. Elevator: Burj Khalifa’s elevator holds the record for the longest travel distance of any elevator.
5. 5. Park and lake: A park and lake surround the ground level of the building. The lake includes the Dubai Fountain Show. On New Year’s Eve, spectators enjoy a fireworks display set off from the skyscraper itself as well as around the lake.

Burj Khalifa is a mixed-use skyscraper that serves several functions.

1. 1. Hotel: A hotel gives tourists and locals the opportunity to experience the landmark building through an overnight stay.
2. 2. Residences: Residences offer apartment-style living options within the Burj Khalifa.
3. 3. Office space: The Burj Khalifa includes 37 floors dedicated to office space for various businesses.
4. 4. Leisure and retail: Burj Khalifa includes multiple swimming pools, a health and fitness club, a spa, a library, and several shops.
5. 5. Restaurants and lounges: There are a variety of restaurants and lounges located throughout the skyscraper.
6. 6. Observation decks: Complete with observation decks on three different floors, Burj Khalifa claims one of the world’s highest outdoor observation decks on its 124th floor as well as an indoor observation deck on its 148th floor.

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