Cover:Serum Institute Burj Khalifa - Elevator World India

Burj Khalifa
Rises in Dubai
by M.J. Mohamed Iqbal, EW Correspondent
On January 4, a celebration atop
the dizzying height of the architectural
landmark towering over the
skyline of Dubai created history when
His Highness Sheikh Mohammad
Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the vice
president and prime minister of the
U.A.E. and ruler of Dubai, opened
what had been known as the Burj
Dubai on the anniversary of his ascension
day. In addition, Burj Dubai
was renamed Burj Khalifa by Sheikh
Mohamed, noting that great buildings
must possess great names. The
building was named after Khalifa
Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who is president
of the U.A.E. and ruler of Abu
Dhabi.
The Dubai government’s decision
to diversify from a trade-based, but
oil-reliant economy, into one that is
service- and tourism-oriented, converted
real estate and related developments
into blue chip investments
propelling a property boom. Construction
on a large scale turned Dubai
into one of the fastest-growing cities
in the world.
The Birth of an Idea
February 2003 was when the concept
for the Burj Khalifa was conceived.
Canadian Mark Amirault,
who is group senior director for
52
ELEVATOR WORLD India • 4th Quarter 2010 •
development at Emaar Properties,
along with fellow countryman Robert
Booth, now the executive director at
Emaar, and Mohamed Ai Alabbar,
Emaar’s founder and chairman, (who
is also a former chief of Dubai’s
Department of Economic Development)
held a late-night dinner meeting
in Dubai to plan what would
become the world’s tallest structure.
A decision was reached and with the
guidance of Sheikh Mohammed –
the idea of the Burj Khalifa and
its attendant development came
into being.
On September 21, 2004, a wide
range of heavy earth-moving equipment
was brought to the site and
construction work began. The building
sits on a concrete-and-steel
podium, with 192 pilings that go
about 150 feet into the earth. The
project is part of a AED73-billion
(US$20-billion) development project
located at the Business Bay district
near Old Town, known as Downtown
Burj Dubai. The 200-hectare development
was billed as the most prestigious
square kilometer of a real
estate, creating a harmonious blend
of the past and present. Old Town
has residential and retail facilities
and has become a major attraction
Design Inspiration
hymenocallis
Building outline
(top view)
Ground level
outline (top
view)
The architects of Burj Khalifa incorporated Islamic
traditional patterns and modern sophistication to design
a structure that will hopefully stand the test of
time. The end product is a visually stunning building
towering over the Dubai skyline. The hymenocallis
desert flower was the main source of inspiration. The
design not only reduces wind forces on the building,
but also allows each tenant to have an incredible view
of the surrounds.
From the top of the structure, the islamic design
influences can be seen, including the use of arches.