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January 7, 2010

Soaring Heights

Thursday Thirteen

We’ve come a long way from the humble cave. These days buildings soar to heady heights, with different countries competing to have the tallest building. Here is a list of some of the world’s largest buildings. Source: Architecture @ About.com

Thirteen of the Tallest Buildings in the World

1. Burj, Dubai (just opened) 828m
2. Taipei 101 Tower, Taiwan 509m
3. Shanghai World Financial Center, China 492m
4. Petronas Towers, Malaysia 452m
5. Willis Tower, Chicago 442m
6. Jin Mao Building, China 421m
7. Two International Finance Center, Hong Kong 414m
8. CITIC Plaza, China 391m
9. Shun Hing Square, China 384m
10. Empire State Building, New York 381m
11. Central Plaza, Hong Kong 374m
12. Bank of China Tower, Hong Kong 369m
13. Bank of America Tower, New York 366m

I’ve included only completed buildings on my list, and of course, the list is changing all the time. There are many buildings currently under construction or proposed that will bump this list. I’ve seen the Empire State building and visited Hong Kong and Dubai, but I don’t think I’ve set foot in any of these. I have a good head for heights and wouldn’t have a problem whizzing to the top and checking out the view.

Have you visited any of these buildings? How are you with heights?

31 Comments

  1. Christina Phillips

    I haven’t been up any of these buildings, but we did visit the QI building at the Gold Coast a couple of years ago. That was spectacular!

  2. Hazel

    Whoa! there are 3 in Hongkong and that’s where I’m headed in a couple of months. I’ve been up in Petronas but never had a picture taken. I read yesterday they are changing Burj Dubai to Burj Khalifa. I prefer Burj Dubai – the country is more recognizable :)

  3. Hootin' Anni

    How sad is this? I only knew two of the buildings….both the USA ones. Dang, am I living under a rock, or what?

    My 13 is all about “If you’re from Colorado you’d know….” HERE Scroll down just below my pencil sketching to find the list.

    Happy day to you.

  4. Stephanie Adkins

    Great list. I’d love to visit some of these. Happy Thursday! :mrgreen:

  5. Adelle Laudan

    I read an article yesterday about the Burj. It’s quite the building, swimming pools, shopping, live entertainment, gourmet food. It seems to have a little of everything.
    Happy T13!

  6. Ella Drake

    Ah, glad you posted this. I actually talk about this a great deal with my boys. They always ask about the tallest buildings & I’d never gotten around to looking it up.
    Thanks!

  7. Brenda ND

    What a creative post! I’ve not been to many of these heights, but maybe I will visit sometime.

  8. Jennifer Leeland

    I remember when the Petronus building in Malaysia was considered such a HUGE FEAT and now we’ve surpassed that.
    Wow. Great list.

  9. Elise Logan

    I think the Burj was one of the properties that was implicated in the financial meltdown in Dubai.

    Fun list.

  10. Jaime

    Haven’t visited any of them. And yes, I’m terrified of heights! :eek:

  11. mariposa

    Awesome list! I noticed that most of the buildings are from Hong Kong and China. :eek:

    Happy T13!

    Mariposa’s T13!

  12. Ms Snarky

    i’ve been to nyc but haven’t been in either building.

    happy tt!

  13. Julia Smith

    I’ve been up the CN Tower – 553.3 metres – in Toronto. An exciting ride to the top in a glass elevator. Yessiree! I’m good with the height as long as I’m in an enclosed space. No bungee jumping off the top of it for me.

  14. Maria Zannini

    I’ve been to the Empire State Building–just to say I have. *g*

    But the Willis Tower will always be the Sears Tower to me.

    I guess Mr. Willis wanted to make sure everyone knew he bought it.

  15. A. Catherine Noon

    I work right next to the Willis Tower! Woot! Though, those of us here in Chicago still call it the Sears Tower.

    On the other hand, I heard the owner quoted as saying, I bought it, I get to name it. Even if the quote is apocryphal, I can’t fault that reasoning!! Willis Tower it is!

    Happy TT!

  16. Inez Kelley

    I will admit that I chickened out when I was in NYC and did not go to the top of the World Trade Center or the Empire State Building. I regret that so much now.

  17. mary

    I’ve never visited any of those biuldings and even if I was there I wouldn’t go to the top of them. I don’t like heights. We have the Stratosphere Twoer here in Vegas and there are actual rides at the top of it that you can go on. It’s insane! You won’t catch me on any of them. Nope.

  18. Shelley Munro

    I’ve seen pictures of the Burj Dubai on the news. It looks incredible. The skyline of Dubai is amazing anyway. I like the building that looks like a yacht. I didn’t realize they wanted to change the name.

  19. Shelley Munro

    Anni, don’t feel too bad. I hadn’t heard of most of them. It’s not as if some of them have memorable names.

  20. Shelley Munro

    Jennifer – The people who design these buildings are so clever. I think I’ll stick to writing books.

  21. Babette James

    I’ve been to the Empire State Building. I am not good with heights, at all. I did bravely peek over the railing, only to see a building on fire below. :eek:

  22. Debbie Cairo

    I’ve been to the Willis tower (will always be Sears to me) and the Handcock Center since I’m a Chicagoan. Don’t mind heights, its elevators I can’t stand. Just a stupid factoid … was watching Rachel Maddow and she noted that Dubai built a needle that is now taller then what was the tallest man made structure in the world, a radio tower outside of Fargo. You think maybe the little Country is trying to compensate for something? :)

  23. JK Coi

    I haven’t been to any of these. But I have climbed the CN Tower in Toronto :)

  24. Sherry S.

    I haven’t visited any of these buildings and I

  25. Sherry S.

    oops I hit the submit button by accident. To finish what I was saying I HATE heights I prefer my feet on the ground.

  26. Cari Quinn

    I’ve never been to any of these, but I’ve been 80 floors up in the Empire State Building. Fastest elevator ever. It was like being sucked up into space, LOL

  27. Rebecca Booth

    I agree with Sherry S. I am afraid of heights and haven’t visited any of the buildings.

  28. Linda Henderson

    I’ve not seen any of these and I hate heights. What I want to know is, why would you build a tall building in a country that has earthquakes ?