Burj Khalifa, also known as Burj Dubai, is the tallest building in the world. It is a skyscraper located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dubai has developed into a global centre and it demonstrates power and influence through its appearance . Burj Khalifa is symbol of Middle East, and its growth through the years.
Burj Khalifa has been created to be the centre of a large-scale structure that would include 30 000 homes, 9 hotels such as The Address Downtown Dubai, 3 hectares of parkland at least 19 non commercial towers, the Dubai Mall and the 12 hectare man-made Burj Khalifa Lake.
That skyscraper represents human ingenuity and puts together all the knowledge that man has gathered through the centuries. It was built in intense conditions and only the best of the best were capable to build Burj Khalifa. It is masterpiece in the middle of Dubai. The tallest building in the world is 828 m (2,717 ft) high and the price was estimated close to 1,5 billion dollars. Excavation started in January 2004, and 1 325 days after, Burj Khalifa was completed.
Construction
For concrete foundation were used over 45 000 m3 of concrete, which consist of 192 piles buried 50 meters deep in the ground. Construction itself has 330 000 m3 of concrete and 39 000 tonnes of steel rebar. Construction of foundation lasted for 22 million working hours. Outside paneling started in May 2007 and continued until September 2009. At the beginning , the team were in the position to set about 20 to 30 panels per day and ultimately achieved as many as 175 panels per day.
In November in 2007, concrete were intended to elevate on a height of 601 metres. It was possible with 80 MPa pumps, which were pumping concrete from ground level. And another record was broken, the highest reinforced concrete core walls. Former record was 532 metres on the Rica del Garda Hydroelectric Power Plant in 1994. Total amount of steel used in construction is close to 31,400 tonnes.
Foundation
Geomechanical examining were provided 23 times in the 90 metres, 6 in the 60 metres and 1 in the 140 metres depth. Strengthened concrete pad is supported by 194 bored reinforced concrete piles. It was 43 metres long.
Exterior paneling
Exterior paneling is made up of reflective glazing, aluminum and stainless steel panels and tubular fins. It has 83 600 m2 of glass. Cleaning that glass lasts for about 4 months and it is accomplished with 3 telescopic cradles.
Structural system
Inspiration for design of ground plan came from desert flower named hymenocallis. The spiraling “Y” shaped plan was utilised to shape the structural core of Burj Khalifa. This design helps to decrease the wind forces on the tower, as well to keep the structure simple and foster constructability. The structural system can be defined as a “buttressed core”, and is composed of high performance concrete wall construction.
Mechanical, Electrical & Plumbing
The tower’s water system products an average of 946,000 litres (250,000 gallons) of water day-to-day. Dubai’s hot, humid climate put together with the building’s cooling specifications generates a significant amount of condensation. This water is accumulated and drained in an individual piping system to a holding container in the basement car park and it is used for vegetation around the building . The condensate collection system supplies about 15 million gallons of supplement water per year. The tower’s peak electrical demand is 36MW.
Fire Safety
Fire safety and speed of evacuation were prime elements in the design of Burj Khalifa. Concrete surrounds all stairwells and the building service and fireman’s elevator will have a capacity of 5,500 kg and will be the world’s tallest service elevator. Since people can’t reasonably be expected to walk down 160 floors, there are pressurized, air-conditioned refuge areas positioned approximately every 25 floors.
Elevators & Lifts
Burj Khalifa has 56 elevators for 42 persons and 8 escalators. The building has fireman’s elevator with capacity of 5,500 kg. Elevators are programmed to permit controlled evacuation for certain fire or security events. Traveling at 18 metres per second, they will have the world’s longest travel distance from lowest to highest stop.
Records
World’s tallest building ( 828 metres; 2717 ft)
World’s highest elevator installation, situated inside the cylindrical rod at the top of the building.
World’s fastest elevators at speed of 64 km/h (40 mph) or 18 m/s (59 ft/s).
World’s highest mosque (located on the 158th floor)
World’s highest swimming pool (76th floor)
World’s highest nightclub (144th floor)
World’s highest restaurant, Atmosphere, located on 122nd floor at the height of 442 m (1,450 ft).
Timeline
January 2004 Excavation started
February 2004 Piling started
March 2005 Superstructure started
July 2007 Level 141 reached – world’s tallest building
September 2007 Level 150 reached – world’s tallest free-standing structure
April 2008 Level 160 reached – world’s tallest man-made structure
January 2009 Completion of spire – Burj Khalifa tops out
September 2009 Exterior cladding competed
January 2010 Official launch ceremony