Burj Dubai, Winning The Race To The Top Of The World

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
- Pablo Picasso (1881 – 1973)

Burj Dubai is the 8^th wonder – the tallest man-made steel framework slated to finish by the end of 2008. Burj Dubai, the glitzy tall building is scheduled for occupancy in September, 2009.

The edifice is a rich man’s paradise, with lavish ambiance and breath taking arrangements to sweep you off your feet. Standing tall at Doha street, along Sheikh Zayed Road, the building lets you have a rendezvous with the extravagant and rocking glamour world! Celebrated designer, Adrian Smith, first conceived the layout of the building. Samsung Engineering and Construction is the main constructor of the building and Skidmore Owings and Merrill LLP are the spearheads behind the structural, architectural and mechanical engineering.

So far, there has been no official announcement regarding the actual height of the building. However, a contractor involved in the project has revealed a height of around 818 meters. Based on the height, it is expected that the building will have around 160 floors. The tower of the building will reach in helical shape with terraces (almost 26), casting its glance on the entire city.

The architectural splendor will leave you breathless. Right from the maintenance system, structural components and facade maintenance – everything is impeccable and awe-inspiring. The enigmatic building will render you many interesting facts, which you have never heard or seen before.

The elevators will have the longest journey from bottom to top, at world’s fastest speed of 18m/sec, that is 40 mph. The tower hosts the world’s highest elevator installation. The curtain walls of the building will be equivalent to the stretch of 17 football (soccer) fields. The building is going to be the first mega high rise, in which the elevators will be programmed to permit controlled evacuation in case of fire events.

The dancing fountains will look enchanting at the foot of this massive structure. Moreover, the water system of the building will supply an average of about 25000 gallons of water per day!

The building houses the most extravagant water-cooling system. The tower will require at least 10,000 tons of cooling per hour, which is equivalent to 10,000 tons of melting ice per day. More surprising is the tower’s electricity demand, which is estimated at 36 mVA, that is 360,000, 100 watts light bulbs.

To fight the nature’s odds, the tower is designed for seismic conditions. The walls and the slabs are built in a way to provide high resistance to fire. The building has all the arrangements to take care of the safety and security of those in the building and also in close proximity to the building. People can rush to the pressurized air-conditioned refuge areas, located at every 25 the floor. At times of emergency, this will be a boon for the victims.

Dubai Marina, UAE

photo by Stacey Murphy

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