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Burj Dubai is already the world's tallest building and tallest free-standing structure, and at 160 storeys, is taller than Taipei 101 (508 metres; 1667 ft) in Taiwan and CN Tower (553.33 metres; 1815.5 ft) in Toronto, Canada. Burj Dubai is billed to meet all four criteria listed by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), which classifies the world's tallest structures. CTBUH measures the height of buildings to the structural top, the highest occupied floor, the top of the roof and the tip of the spire, pinnacle, antenna, mast or flag pole.
The KVLY-TV mast in Blanchard, North Dakota, is a television transmitting mast, which was completed in 1963. Burj Dubai also towers over KXJB-TV, which at 628 metres (2,060 ft) was the second tallest artificial structure in the world, and the KXTV/KOVR Tower, a guyed communication tower in Walnut Grove, California, that rises to 624.5 metres (2,049 ft).
Mr Mohamed Ali Alabbar, Chairman of Emaar Properties, said:
"Emaar's Burj Dubai has accomplished another milestone in its development, placing the city of Dubai and Burj Dubai once again in the global spotlight. With over 160 storeys now, the most number of liveable floors in any building in the world, Burj Dubai is already pushing the frontiers in architecture, construction and engineering excellence."
He added: "The significance of Burj Dubai surpassing the height of the KVLY-TV mast is that it demonstrates the pioneering achievement of mankind in creating urban environments that defy conventions. With over 5,000 professionals and skilled workers from around the world working on site, Burj Dubai's new feat is another celebration of teamwork."
When completed, Burj Dubai will have used 330,000 cubic meters of concrete, 39,000 metric tons of steel rebar and 142,000 sq m of glass.
Emaar is partnering with South Korean construction major Samsung Corporation and New York-based Project Manager Turner Construction in constructing Burj Dubai, which was designed by Adrian Smith and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill of Chicago.
Burj Dubai, the centerpiece of Emaar's flagship mega-project, the Dhs73bn ($20bn) Downtown Burj Dubai, will feature residences, commercial space and retail space and hospitality elements including the world's first Armani Hotel and Armani Residences.
Downtown Burj Dubai is regarded as the new centre of Dubai and already has a thriving community of residents. Homes have been handed over to the owners in The Residences and The Old Town. Three hospitality projects - Al Manzil, Qamardeen and The Palace, The Old Town - have opened apart from Souk Al Bahar, a shopping mall inspired by Arabesque architectural elements. The Dubai Mall, one of the world's largest shopping and entertainment destinations, is in close proximity to Burj Dubai and will open later this year.
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Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News Editor
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