The First Building to exceed 1 km in height

Intro

As of 2024, the tallest structure in the world is the Burj Khalifa, standing at an impressive height of 828 meters (2,717 feet). While I haven't personally seen the Burj Khalifa, I imagine that if I were to witness it in person, the awe-inspiring height would be overwhelming. Since the completion of the Burj Khalifa in 2010, no building has surpassed its height.

Jeddah Tower

However, there are current efforts to challenge and even surpass this height, with buildings reaching up to 1,000 meters. One such structure is the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, which I will introduce to you today.

Jeddah Tower under construction

Started in 2013, the Jeddah Tower unfortunately seems to require more time for completion. This is due to various factors, including the arrest of the building owner on corruption charges in 2017 and the suspension of construction in January 2018 due to unclear business conditions. As of 2019, the completion rate is 71%, and construction is still ongoing. Nevertheless, if completed, the Jeddah Tower is expected to surpass the height of 1,000 meters, making it the world's first structure to exceed this milestone and potentially surpassing Burj Khalifa's records for the tallest and most-floored building.

The world's tallest skyscrapers

Conclusion

In 1956, the architect Frank Lloyd Wright planned a supertall building with a height of 1 mile (1,600 m). Many critics argued that supertall buildings must bear the tremendous weight of the structure, and the building itself needs to support its own weight, overcoming the effects of wind at great heights. At that time, the height considered impossible is becoming achievable through the efforts of engineers and advancements in technology. After 1 km, what's the next goal? With engineers continually seeking better solutions and sharing knowledge, it might be just a matter of time.

Reference

Jeddah Tower: The tallest tower of the world

About the MOTIVATOR

Jegeon Ryu

Project Manager & Content Creator MOTIVE

Hello, I am Jegeon Ryu, a Project Manager responsible for developing MOTIVE for engineers dedicated to creating a safer and better world. During my two years of military service, I learned that creating a safer world is achievable through the sharing of technology and motivating each other. My goal is to contribute to the happiness of the world by creating a global platform that facilitates mutual knowledge sharing and growth.

 

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