Topic: Toronto's CN Tower trumped by Dubai skyscraper

[shake]

By 2 metres.

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2007/09/13/4493321-cp.html

TORONTO (CP) - The world's tallest building being constructed in Dubai has surpassed the height of the CN Tower, the world's tallest free-standing structure, its developers said Thursday.

At 555 metres, Burj Dubai is now two metres taller than the 553-metre CN Tower, Emaar Properties said in a release.

It also has scaled 150 livable levels, the largest number of storeys for any building in the world.

Burj Dubai had already beaten Taipei 101, which at 508 metres has been holding the tallest-building title since it opened in 2004.

"Burj Dubai is setting new world records in construction of super tall buildings, and the accomplishment of being the world's tallest free-standing structure is another defining moment," said Emaar chairman Mohamed Alabbar.

The project was launched in 2004 as part of a $20-billion, 200-hectare downtown development billed as the most prestigious square kilometre on earth.

The tower's planned height is a closely guarded secret.

But the company says when completed in 2009, Burj Dubai will the tallest structure in the world in all four of the criteria listed by the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago, the tower is being built by Samsung Corp. of South Korea.

In addition to residential, commercial and retail components, Burj Dubai will also feature the world's first Armani Hotel.

Dubai is the commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates.

[Chantal]

Though it wont beat any records until it's inhabited. I mean, it has to be a working building in order to beat out any other structures/sky scrapers/what not.

[Ole Dirty]

Those.... KAAAAAAWWWWWWWWKSUUCKERS!!!!!

[Tiggy Puddin]

It's not as pretty as the CN Tower.

I spent a week in Dubai a few years ago - it's a very strange place, I don't really see the attraction. Lots of prestigious-looking skyscrapers downtown, but beyond that is just a huge expanse of yellow sand. A steady 40 degrees day and night, and booze is bloody expensive.

Mind you, the sea was so hot it was like getting into a giant hot tub! Lovely.

[shake]

You were in Dubai Tiggy?  Cool you have done a lot of travelling, that is something I need to do more.  It's a big world out there I need to see more of the damn thing.

[Saucy Bastard]

and booze is bloody expensive.

I'm surprised that you can even get booze in an Arab country. Is it just prohibited for Muslims? Or do ya have to buy it like weed , from some greasy guy in an ally?

[Refuckulator]

Living on the 150th floor would be so awesome!!
Good article shake. Maybe the engineers in TO should figure out a reason why they need to add 3 metres onto one of their radio antennas

[Shit machine gun]

I don't think the Dubai tower is done.  It reads like they're still building it higher.

[Refuckulator]

I don't think the Dubai tower is done.  It reads like they're still building it higher.

Yeah... I'm kind of scared to see how monsterous this thing actually turns out in a couple years when its done.
Wouldn't it be fucked to look out the window and have a conversation with the sun. Trippy.

[Tiggy Puddin]

I'm surprised that you can even get booze in an Arab country. Is it just prohibited for Muslims? Or do ya have to buy it like weed , from some greasy guy in an ally?

You can buy alcohol at the hotel bars.  It was so expensive we didn't buy dinner - just lined up a load of Happy Hour drinks and ate free bar snacks all night. "Oooh, peanuts for supper again!"

I don't know about drink, but locals aren't allowed to wear traditional Arab costume in bars (you know, the long robes and head-dress like Lawrence of Arabia wore). I remember one guy was asked to leave the bar as he was wearing it, he wasn't even allowed to have a coffee and a water pipe! He was very cross.

My friend has just moved to Oman, she is very worried about the weed situation. Being able to buy it, that is. 

[Fishyneil]

I don't think the Dubai tower is done.  It reads like they're still building it higher.

It stands at 688 metres as of Jan. 09/08. Here's the official website. Wish I hadn't looked at some of the pictures Made my legs feel all weird.

http://www.burjdubai.com/

Fishy

[RBeck878]

Comes as no suprise to me. Life will always be one great big competition.

Someone said in here to lazy to quote that its not nicer than the Cn. once that's complete it will be 100 % nicer.. the cn tower looks like a thin  cinder block with a doughnut on the top lol.

[Optional]

I notice on the CN Tower website they call themselves

"The world's tallest freestanding structure on land"

I wonder if that means Dubai doesn't count as land... or maybe there is something taller floating on the ocean?!