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A brief insight into the construction and history of the Burj Khalifa
picture of Alla Rome
The Burj Khalifa start of construction:2004
When planning began, the Burj Khalifa was set to be approximately 560 meters (1,837 feet) high. Nevertheless, as new buildings in other parts of the world were planned that exceeded this height, a new height of 828 meters was set. However, this created a number of problems. Even before work began in 2004, it was clear to everyone that the biggest problem would be an 828-meter building in the desert in the sand. The problem was that even under the sand layer there is no solid ground that can hold the weight and thus prevent the building from sinking. For those who are hoping that they have found solid ground, I have to disappoint them. The building does not have a solid foundation in the ground but is based on the principle of a natural setting. Just as big as the underground problem was the wind and sand currents that regularly hit the desert and the building should not be greatly shaken.
Brief facts: The Burj Khalifa
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Height: 828 meters/2,717 feet, which currently makes it the tallest building on earth.
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Completion of the construction work in 2010 aswell as the opening on January 4, 2010
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Tallest Freestanding Structure in the World
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Highest Number of Stories in the World (163+2 basement levels)
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Highest Occupied Floor in the World at 584 meters (1,918 feet)
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Weight approximately 500,000 tons
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The Burj Khalifa has 57 elevators and 8 escalators with double-deck elevators that move at 10 meters per second
The Sand
The lead architect Adrian Smith came up with a very special idea for the foundation of the Burj Khalifa. Since a construction firmly in the ground was not possible, he decided on a Y-shaped base plate that would lie on the sand and distribute the weight evenly. Numerous experiments and tests were carried out and tests were carried out, the decision was made to use a Y-shaped base plate that would now be able to withstand the weight of the 828-meter tower and distribute it evenly so that it would not sink in. Even if this seems unrealistic, there have been no major noticeable settlements in the 14 years that the building has stood in the sand. To protect the building from tipping over, 192 concrete pillars with a length of 50 meters (164 feet) and a width of 1.5 meters (4.92 feet) were built through the floor at the bottom, which extend deep into the sand. Even though 50 meters (164 feet) seems little compared to the 828-meter height, the friction of the pillars in the sand is sufficient to protect the building extremely well against all kinds of storms.
The Wind
In the desert, fairly strong sandstorms can occur that could seriously endanger such a construction. To solve this problem, a number of methods and construction methods are used to protect the building from severe weather in the future. At the core of the Burj Khalifa is the core design, which has a supported core to reduce the wind load on the entire building from all sides and thus minimize fluctuations. In the core of the building, which extends from the bottom to the top floor, are the elevators and corridors that reach the facilities in the building. The core is surrounded by the . In the core of the building, which extends from the bottom to the top floor, the elevators and corridors that reach the facilities in the building are located. The core is supported by the Y-shape of the building and thus gives it support from all sides. In addition, there is the outer facade of the building, which has stepped setbacks that gradually through the facade. At such heights, strong eddy currents can develop on the building, which can reach up to 190 km/h. With the help of the stepped setbacks, it was possible to reduce this force. The Y structure and materials of the building are designed to distribute wind loads evenly throughout the tower.This distribution means that the building can absorb and distribute wind forces over a larger area, rather than concentrating the pressure at one point.
The stepped setbacks
picture of Yash Savla
The Burj Khalifa finish of construction
The total construction costs of the Burj Khalifa were just 1.5 billion dollars, despite the hurdles that the building and architects had to overcome. Compared to other buildings such as the Shangai Tower, which had construction costs of 2.2 billion, or the Lotte World Tower, which cost 3.6 billion, or the One World Trade Center, which cost almost 3.9 billion, the building was constructed relatively cost-effectively.
When the building opened at the beginning of 2010, it broke several world records that still stand today.
Here are a few examples:
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Height: 828 meters/2,717 feet, which currently makes it the tallest building on earth.
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Highest Outdoor Observation Deck in the World at 555 meters (1,821 feet).
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Tallest Freestanding Structure in the World
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Highest Number of Stories in the World (163+2 basement levels)
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Highest Occupied Floor in the World at 584 meters (1,918 feet)
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World’s Longest Travel Distance for Elevators
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World’s Fastest Elevators at 10 meters per second (36 km/h or 22 mph)
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Highest Restaurant in the World "AT.Mosphere" restaurant is situated on the 122nd floor at 442 meters (1,450 feet)
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Tallest Light Show
The light show
