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Structural Engineering
The design of Burj Khalifa Tower – the world’s
tallest structure
The objective in creating this building,
besides setting a record, is to embody
the highest aspirations of mankind.
Such a project goal, by necessity,
requires pushing current analysis, as
well as materials and construction
technologies, to literally new heights.
However, as building to such a height
had never been attempted before, it
was also necessary to ensure that all
technologies and methods utilised are
of sound development and practice.
Mr William F Baker, Partner,
Mr James J Pawlikowski, Associate
Director, and Mr Bradley S Young,
Associate, from Skidmore, Owings &
Merrill LLP (SOM), Chicago, Ilinois,
USA, explain how the designers sought
to use conventional systems, materials,
and construction methods, modified
and utilised in new capacities, to achieve
this lofty goal.
Introduction
The tower (Fig 1) opened to much fanfare
on 4 January 2010 and was re-christened
Burj Khalifa (it was previously known as
Burj Dubai). Rising to a height of 828 m
and with over 160 storeys, it is the world’s
tallest building and the tallest man-made
structure ever built.
The Burj Khalifa Tower is the
centrepiece of a US$ 20 billion
development located just outside of
downtown Dubai. The project consists
of the tower itself, as well as an adjacent
podium structure, a separate 12-storey
office annexe, a two-storey pool annexe,
and four levels of sub-grade parking
under the site. The 280,000 m 2 reinforced
concrete multi-use tower comprises
predominantly residential and office units,
and it also houses retail establishments
and a Giorgio Armani Hotel. Together,
the tower and podium structures have a
combined area of 465,000 m 2 .
From the outset, the intention was
to make Burj Khalifa the world’s tallest
building (Fig 2 presents the world’s 10
tallest buildings). The official arbiter on
heights is the Council on Tall Buildings and
Urban Habitat (CTBUH). The CTBUH
Fig 1: The Burj Khalifa Tower.
22 · THE SINGAPORE ENGINEER Jun 2010