The philosophy of “going where no man has gone before” has been daring architects and engineers to build skyscrapers; continuously updating the tallest building in the world’s stature. Humans have been building taller and greater since the beginning of humanity as means to expressing and branding their culture. Moreover, speaking problem-solving-wise, tall buildings are a practical solution for the urbanization and overpopulation crises. This incentive, supported with engineering and technology research, made it quite easier to build taller buildings.
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What was the tallest building in the world in 2020?
Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia was predicted to be the tallest in 2020. However, due to construction delays, the progress has been very little since 2018 with no end in sight. Once completed, Jeddah Tower will be the tallest building in the world and the heart of Jeddah Economic City. Here is a list of the Top 30 Tallest Buildings in The World in 2021- Part 2, an updated version of the previous list “Piercing the Sky – What is the Tallest Building in the World?”
16. Changsha IFS Tower T1, At 1483 Feet
- Location: Changsha, China
- Completion Year: 2018
- Architect: Wong Tung & Partners
- Floors: 94
- Material: Composite
- Function: Hotel and office
© Wong Tung & Partners Limited
Changsha IFS Tower T1 is a part of a twin tower development that was primarily built to attract financial institutions based in Hunan Province. Moreover, it is designed to connect significant meeting points and transit lines.
17. Petronas Twin Tower 1, At 1483 Feet
- Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Completion Year: 1998
- Architect: Cesar Pelli & Associates
- Floors: 88
- Material: Composite
- Function: Office
© Tansri Muliani
18. Petronas Twin Tower 2, At 1483 Feet
- Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Completion Year: 1998
- Architect: Cesar Pelli & Associates
- Floors: 88
- Material: Composite
- Function: Office
The Petronas Twin Towers are the architectural resemble of both the rapid economic and commercial growth in Malaysia and the roots of the Islamic culture. Although the remarkable bridge is not a structural element, it facilitates circulation and a part of the towers’ fire evacuation strategy.
19. Suzhou IFS, At 1476 Feet
- Location: Suzhou, China
- Completion Year: 2019
- Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
- Floors: 95
- Material: Composite
- Function: Hotel, office, and serviced apartments
© Suzhou Gao Long Property Development Co., Ltd.
Suzhou IFS tower’s symbolic form and high-performance function helped it be a landmark in Suzhou’s skyline. Its form is inspired by the fish, which symbolizes growth and points out the role of the water in the city’s development.
20. Zifeng Tower, At 1476 Feet
- Location: Nanjing, China
- Completion Year: 2010
- Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
- Floors: 66
- Material: Composite
- Function: Hotel and office
© SOM
Zifeng tower comprises several buildings, each for a distinct function. One of the unique features of this skyscraper development is its landscaped open spaces and the sunken garden, which were designed to mitigate the heat. Another innovation is the scaled geometry of the façade caused by the modules changing in the curtain wall system.
21. The Exchange 106, At 1462 Feet
- Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Completion Year: 2019
- Architect: Mulia Group
- Floors: 95
- Material: Composite
- Function: Office
© MULIA PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT SDN BHD
The Exchange 106 breaking through the skyline of Kuala Lumpur is expressing the city’s ambitions and hopes for the future. The tower itself is outstanding, but its site was carefully chosen so the road leading to the tower would be mesmerizing – preparing the visitor for the experience.
22. Wuhan Center Tower, At 1454 Feet
- Location: Wuhan, China
- Completion Year: 2019
- Architect: East China Architectural Design & Research Institute
- Floors: 88
- Material: Composite
- Function: Hotel, residential, and office
© ECADI
Located by the Mengze Lake, Wuhan Center Tower’s form is inspired by the form of a sailing vessel. It is divided into five vertical sections, enabling seamless transition across all functions.
23. Willis Tower, At 1451 Feet
- Location: Chicago, US
- Completion Year: 1974
- Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
- Floors: 108
- Material: Steel
- Function: Office
© CTBUH Antony Wood
Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) was the tallest building in the world from 1974 till nearly 1999. The innovative and first-of-its-kind tube structure for this building has been an icon and a case study for mitigating structural loads and solving design problems.
24. KK100, At 1449 Feet
- Location: Shenzhen, China
- Completion Year: 2011
- Architect: TFP Farrells
- Floors: 98
- Material: Composite
- Function: Hotel and office
© Marshall Gerometta
The KK100 Tower is located in a significant site to be sustainable development in the ear of rapid growth. The compact nature of skyscrapers and the mixed-use zoning will help reduce urban sprawl and reliance on transportation.
25. Guangzhou International Finance Center, At 1439 Feet
- Location: Guangzhou, China
- Completion Year: 2010
- Architect: WilkinsonEyre
- Floors: 103
- Material: Composite
- Function: Hotel and office
© Christian Richters
Guangzhou International Finance Center is designed to be the financial landmark for the city’s rapid commercial growth. It is located on the new town’s main axis to facilitate access, while its triangular form achieves the required internal space transition.
26. One Vanderbilt, At 1401 Feet
- Location: New York City, US
- Completion Year: 2020
- Architect: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates
- Floors: 59
- Material: Composite
- Function: Office
© Lester Ali
One Vanderbilt is designed to create a new and healthy environment to accommodate the future workplace. The column-free plans, changing ceiling height, and floor-to-ceiling windows enter an abundance of natural light and clean ventilation.
27. 423 Park Avenue, At 1397 Feet
- Location: New York City, US
- Completion Year: 2015
- Architect: Rafael Viñoly Architects
- Floors: 85
- Material: Concrete
- Function: Residential
© Marshall Gerometta
423 Park Avenue stands tall and slim in Manhattan’s skyline. Simplicity and visual stability are the main features of this tower, with narrow floor plans to minimize land use due to the increasing urban growth of Manhattan.
28. Marina 101, At 1394 Feet
- Location: Dubai, UAE
- Completion Year: 2017
- Architect: Emaar Properties
- Floors: 101
- Material: Concrete
- Function: Residential and hotel
© TAV Construction
The design of Marina 101 inspired elements from the art-deco movement, integrating tall, sleek lines with horizontal changing lines over the vertical modules of the structure.
29. Trump International Hotel & Tower, At 1389 Feet
- Location: Chicago, US
- Completion Year: 2009
- Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
- Floors: 98
- Material: Concrete
- Function: Residential and hotel
© Marshall Gerometta CTBUH
The Trump International Hotel & Tower connects seamlessly with its surroundings on the ground and skylines. The 12-meters high landscaped promenade that carves the base of the tower connects pedestrians with the Chicago River.
30. Jin Mao Tower, At 1380 Feet
- Location: Shanghai, China
- Completion Year: 1999
- Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP
- Floors: 88
- Material: Composite
- Function: Hotel and Office
© Tansri Muliani
The integrated and innovative systems of the Jin Mao Tower enabled it to be an energy-efficient building. Through using energy metrics and performance measurements, the tower received a LEED-EB: OM (Existing Buildings: Operation + Management).
