An extraordinary union of design, engineering and art

The world’s tallest building opened January 4, with a spectacular pyrotechnics display watched by millions around the world and record crowds on the site in Downtown Dubai, UAE.

Burj Khalifa, renamed from Burj Dubai to honour the ruler of Abu Dhabi, was finally revealed as measuring 828 m making it the tallest building in the world. The interior design of Burj Dubai’s public areas has been done by the Chicago office of SOM, led by award-winning designer Nada Andric. It features glass, timber, stainless steel and polished dark stones, together with silver travertine flooring, Venetian stucco walls, handmade rugs and stone flooring.

More than 1,000 pieces of art adorn the interiors of Burj Khalifa, while the residential lobby features Jaume Plensa’s sculpture World Voices, composed of 196 bronze and brass alloy cymbals representing the 196 countries of the world. Visitors in the lobby will be able to hear a distinct timbre as the cymbals, plated with 18-carat gold, are struck by dripping water, intended to mimic the sound of water falling on leaves.

The exterior cladding consists of 142,000 sq m of reflective glazing and aluminium and textured stainless steel spandrel panels with vertical tubular fins. The cladding system is designed to withstand Dubai’s extreme summer temperatures. More than 26,000 glass panels were used in the exterior cladding of the building with 300-plus cladding specialists from China brought in for the job. The tower includes a record-breaking 330,000 cu m of concrete, 39,000 metric tonnes of steel rebar and 142,000 sq m of glass and it took 22 million man hours to build.

The Burj Khalifa overlooks the Dh800-million ($217-million) Dubai Fountain with a system by Wet Design, the California-based company responsible for the fountains at the Bellagio Hotel Lake in Las Vegas.

Illuminated by 6,600 lights and 50 coloured projectors, it is 275 m long and shoots water 150 m into the air, accompanied by a range of classical to contemporary Arabic and world music.