Skyscrapers are modern structures that have become symbols of modern cities with huge heights compared to other buildings. These megastructures, which mostly exceed 150 meters and consist of numerous floors, are space-saving buildings designed to solve the crowd and settlement problem, especially in densely populated cities.
Skyscrapers, which contain complex functions, serve as a living center where people can access more than one service in the same space while adding dynamism to the cities where they are built with their modern designs. The construction of skyscrapers, which carries certain structural and aesthetic difficulties, requires detailed and advanced architectural and engineering work, as well as technological infrastructure. Built using strong materials such as steel, concrete, and glass, skyscrapers must be constructed with high safety measures against natural disasters like earthquakes and winds.
The 147-meter (481-foot) Pyramid of Giza, built in Egypt 4,500 years ago, is a monumental structure that can be considered the forerunner of the modern skyscraper. The Home Insurance Building in Chicago, completed in 1885, is one of the first of the modern skyscrapers. The advanced and innovative construction skills used in the construction of this ten story structure, such as the steel frame and curtain wall construction, provided stability to the building and demonstrated that high-rise buildings were possible. Designed in 1931 in the Art Deco style, the Empire State Building adorned the New York skyline as the world’s tallest skyscraper for 40 years with a height of 443.2 meters (1,454 feet).
The invention of the elevator, which facilitated vertical circulation, was a significant moment for skyscraper design, which developed in direct proportion to technological developments. With developing technology and construction methods, skyscrapers could be designed with more complex and high floors and became symbols of economic power and progress in modern cities. Although the construction of skyscrapers requires a large amount of resources and energy, it brings with it issues such as sustainability and social equality. Nevertheless, they continue to be built as a symbol of modern cities, pushing the limits of height every day.
Here are the 10 tallest skyscrapers in the world:
1. Burj Khalifa
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Height: 828 meters (2,717 feet)
Architect: Skidmore, Owings&Merrill
Year: 2010
Holding the title of being the tallest skyscraper in the world with a height of 828 meters, Burj Khalifa is a symbolic structure of Dubai that shows the development of modern architecture and engineering. Known for its enormous height, this skyscraper is also remarkable with its design, choice of materials used in its construction, and innovative solutions.
Inspired by Arab Culture, Burj Khalifa was designed with contemporary technological developments to withstand the extreme desert temperatures of the United Arab Emirates. It is a complex that includes many functions such as office, trade, residence, and hotel. Burj Khalifa has a Y-shaped plan, this plan type increases the structural strength of the skyscraper and makes the Dubai View visible on every floor.
Each wing of Burj Khalifa, which has its own reinforced concrete core and supporting columns, is supported by both the supporting system within itself and the hexagonal central core. Thanks to this construction technique, the structure has become resistant to bending forces. The construction materials used in the construction of Burj Khalifa, such as 200,000 cubic meters of concrete, 103,000 tons of steel and 4,000 tons of aluminum, are perfectly compatible with engineering techniques. The 6,600 glass panels used on the exterior give the skyscraper a modern look while also reducing the wind load of the structure.
Inspired by traditional Islamic architecture and the geometric shape of local desert flowers, the volumes of different heights that give the world’s tallest skyscraper its general shape rise around the core located at the center of the plan plane. The size of each floor of Burj Khalifa narrows as it goes up, while at the peak, the core in the center turns into a pointed tower cone. This design distributes wind loads efficiently and allows Burj Khalifa to rise steadily and become the world’s tallest skyscraper.
2. Merdeka 118
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Height: 679 meters (2227 feet)
Architect: Fender Katsalidis
Year: 2023
Merdeka 118, the tallest skyscraper in Southeast Asia and the second tallest in the world, is an awe-inspiring structure with a sharp spire that appears to be reaching upward. Overlooking the Merdeka Stadium, where Malaysia’s independence was declared, the tower symbolizes the unity of history and the contemporary due to its location. One of the most advanced examples of modern architecture with its 118-story design, Merdeka 118 includes commercial offices, luxury hotels, public spaces, a six-star Park Hyatt hotel with 230 guest rooms, a rooftop restaurant and a 360° observation deck on the north side of the building, accessible by a two-story exterior glass elevator. Spread over a four-story parking lot, almost 75% of Merdeka 118’s livable area consists of one million square feet of Class A office space spread over 83 floors, with a capacity to accommodate 16,000 employees.
This skyscraper, which has a diamond-shaped plan, has a faceted façade made of triangular glass surfaces, designed by Fender Katsalidis, inspired by patterns found in Malaysian arts and crafts. Providing an aesthetic appearance, these glass panels also optimize daylight and contribute to the building’s internal temperature control. Symbolizing Malaysia’s struggle for independence, Merdeka 118’s silhouette and 160-meter-tall spire resemble the outstretched hand gesture made by the first Prime Minister Tunku at Merdeka Stadium when he raised his hands to the sky 7 times and declared independence.
Constructed using advanced construction techniques, the skyscraper is firmly anchored on the ground ,and its core structure is reinforced with steel and reinforced concrete. Thanks to the excellent pumpability properties of HPC, developed by ARUP for the tower core and mega column elements, Merdeka 118 has reached the desired height and become the 2nd tallest skyscraper in the world. Additionally, the tower has a high modulus of elasticity to better resist lateral wind loads, high slump flow for excellent workability, high strength, and minimal heat of hydration.
3. Shanghai Tower
Location: Shanghai, China
Height: 632 meters (2073 feet)
Architect: Gensler
Year: 2015
Shanghai Tower is the tallest skyscraper in China and the third tallest in the world. One of the most advanced examples of modern skyscraper design, this tower is remarkable for its spiral form, double-layered facade, and sustainable design features. The 127-story tower houses A-grade office spaces, entertainment venues, retail areas, a conference center, a luxury hotel, and cultural facilities, all designed with innovative engineering solutions and eco-friendly systems.
The skeleton of this skyscraper, which uses 831 bored piles of C50 concrete class up to 50 meters in length, consists of three sections: four corner columns in the interior, radial trusses, and two-story high box arch trusses and eight large columns on the outermost. This frame system is reduced on the upper floors and placed at certain intervals with eight units. In the construction of Shanghai Tower, 25% less structural steel was used compared to a similar skyscraper, saving both material and reducing the load of the tower. The twisted facade of the tower, consisting of a double-walled cylindrical set, reduces wind loads by 24%.
Shanghai Tower, which was called “the world’s greenest super skyscraper structure” by a Gensler spokesperson in 2013, has a LEED Platinum certificate and is equipped with renewable energy systems. The 200 wind turbines at the top of the building generate approximately 10% of its electricity, while natural ventilation systems and solar-optimized glass panels help reduce overall energy consumption.
For those fascinated by the structural and design complexities of skyscrapers, PAACADEMY offers courses that dive into advanced design tools and techniques. Whether it’s parametric facades, computational workflows, or AI-driven optimizations, these resources help designers push boundaries in architecture’s vertical evolution.
4. Makkah Royal Clock Tower
Location: Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Height: 601 meters (1972 feet)
Architect: SL Rasch Architecture
Year: 2012
Makkah Royal Clock Tower, which draws attention with its gigantic dimensions in Saudi Arabia, is the 4th tallest skyscraper in the world. Built-in the Postmodernist Neoclassical style, the skyscraper has the world’s largest clock face with a diameter of 43 meters at its top. The 6-ton, 23-meter-high, and 21-meter-wide crescent at the top of the tower is prominent against the sky and can be seen from the squares below. The crescent, a monocoque structure supported by a structural shell, houses a four-story, column-free living space that includes a prayer room, resting areas, a kitchen, a bathroom, and several service floors.
The clock tower is located next to the Kaaba, which is considered sacred to the Islamic World and shows the prayer times with the giant clock on top. Makkah Royal Clock Tower, which has a total of 120 floors, including three floors underground, contains numerous hotel rooms, a five-story shopping mall, the Islamic Museum and prayer rooms crowned with a golden crescent. The area behind the tower’s clock structure is a four-story area containing the cosmology center and exhibition rooms depicting the development of the clock tower. The spire called “ The Jewel” on the Clock is an eight-story area that houses a small exhibition, scientific center, and lunar observatory. There are four minarets consisting of columns crowned with domes at each corner of the tower, which have speakers that recite the call to prayer up to a seven-kilometer radius.
The Makkah Royal Clock Tower, a concrete structure supported by a steel frame extending to the top of the structure, has a load-bearing base consisting of four V-shaped support columns. The facade of the skyscraper, where traditional Islamic architecture is emphasized by using Islamic motifs and Arabic calligraphy, is covered with gold leaf. In order not to be affected by the daily temperature differences of up to 70 degrees Celsius caused by the desert climate, specially made glass mosaic tiles that reflect UV rays were used on the façade.
5. Ping An Finance Center
Location: Shenzhen, China
Height: 599 meters (1965 feet)
Architect: KPF
Year: 2017
Built as the financial center of Ping An Insurance Company, Ping An Finance Center is the world’s 5th tallest skyscraper. The tallest structure in Shenzhen, the heart of finance and commerce, the 115-story Ping An Finance Center has more than 100 office floors, retail and conference space, and a large podium. The tower’s glass and stone podium houses a public entrance for meetings, shopping, and dining, as well as a sunlit atrium, while five-story retail stores are terraced away from the tower, creating a large amphitheater-like space. The tower, which carries 15,500 employees and 9,000 daily passengers to an observation deck, is connected to neighboring commercial and residential properties via the Line 1 Gou Wu Gong Yuan metro station.
The Ping An Finance Center is anchored by eight stone mega columns with diagonal supports, providing stability at ground level. Rising 600 meters, chevron-shaped columns combine at the height of the skyscraper, transmitting the tension of the earth to a single point in the sky. Built to withstand high winds and seismic activity, Ping An Finance Center has a special column system that provides high flexibility, allowing the building to flex during earthquakes and preventing it from collapsing. Designed to withstand local weather conditions, the skyscraper’s iconic façade and aerodynamic structure reduce wind loads by 40%, while stainless steel scaffolding creates a protective net against lightning strikes. The skyscraper’s exterior is made of stainless steel and glass panels, which increases weather resistance and gives the tower a bright and modern appearance.
6. Lotte World Tower
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Height: 555 meters (1819 feet)
Architect: KPF
Year: 2017
Lotte World Tower, reaching unprecedented heights in Korea, ranks 6th on the list of the world’s tallest 10 skyscrapers. The tallest structure in South Korea, this 123-story skyscraper is a modern engineering marvel that affects the skyline of Seoul and offers a multi-purpose use. Standing out from the city’s rocky, mountainous topography with its elegant and tapering form, Lotte World Tower houses retail outlets forming a shopping mall on floors 1-6, office spaces up to floor 60, a 7-star luxury hotel on floors 86-119, and public access floors with observation desks on the last floor, floor 123.
Built to withstand high wind speeds and seismic activity, the tower’s steel and reinforced concrete core enhances its structural stability. The skyscraper, which has a softly curved outer shell, is covered with pale glass panels inspired by traditional Korean ceramics, fine metalwork, porcelain, and Islamic calligraphy. The glass panels and metal frames have given the building a modern and elegant appearance, and the transparent facade design has provided a spacious environment in the interior spaces by using daylight to the maximum.
Ultra-high strength concrete was used in the construction of Lotte World Tower. The primary lateral load and gravity systems of the tower consist of eight mega columns, concrete core walls, and a series of supports and arch beams located on the mechanical, shelter, sky lobby, and hotel facilities floors. The arch beams transfer the diagrid ‘lantern’ structure to the column configuration of the hotel floors and the columns of the hotel floors to the mega columns on the office and office floors. The skyscraper, where the connections between the floors are reinforced with steel cores and reinforced concrete plates, uses the Tuned Mass Damper (TMD) system to reduce the oscillations caused by wind and seismic waves.
Lotte World Tower, built with environmental responsibility awareness, is LEED Gold Certified. It has sustainable design strategies with systems such as photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, external shading devices and water harvesting.
7. One World Trade Center
Location: New York, USA
Height: 541 meters (1776 feet)
Architect: Skidmore, Owings&Merrill
Year: 2014
The tallest building in the United States, One World Trade Center, is an iconic structure built in New York to replace the Twin Towers that were destroyed on September 11, 2001. The 104-story tower rises from a cubic base, with its edges beveled back to create a faceted form consisting of eight elongated isosceles triangles. The tower begins as a square at the base and becomes an octagon as it rises, finishing with a glass spire at the top. One World Trade Center has a crystalline form that captures an ever-changing image of refracted light, creating a kaleidoscope-like appearance as viewers move around the tower, depending on the weather and the position of the sun.
Glass canopies, 60 feet high, surrounded by metal portals, line the four sides of the tower, providing access to the observatory lobby at the hall level, transportation systems, and commercial office spaces in different parts of the building. This skyscraper, which includes units such as restaurants, shopping areas, and office floors, has a three-story observatory at its peak with a railing marking the height of the original Twin Towers.
One World Trade Center has a hybrid structure consisting of a high-strength concrete core surrounded by a steel perimeter moment frame, paired with massive concrete shear walls to provide rigidity and structural redundancy. The tower’s tapered, aerodynamic form reduces the amount of structural steel needed while also reducing exposure to wind loads. One World Trade Center is a LEED CS Gold-certified building with design strategies such as water and energy efficiency that aim to maximize efficiency and minimize waste and pollution.
8. Guangzhou CTF Finance Center
Location: Guangzhou, China
Height: 530 meters (1739 feet)
Architect: KPF
Year: 2016
The tallest building in Guangzhou, the leading city in economic power in Southern China, Chow Thai Fook (CTF) Finance Center, is the 8th tallest skyscraper in the world with a height of 530 meters. The 111-story Guangzhou CTF Finance Center, which is connected to public transportation via basement-level connections and to adjacent buildings via pedestrian bridges, contains offices, a hotel, a shopping mall, residential buildings, and an observation deck. The shopping mall is located on the lower floors of the skyscraper, while the hotel operated by Rosewood Hotel is located between the 95th and 111th floors. The building, 24 floors of which are reserved for business centers, houses residences in sections rising up to 355 meters, while the top floor has an observation deck where Guangzhou’s view can be viewed. Some of the 95 elevators in the building are the fastest in the world, reaching speeds of 20 meters per second.
Designed as a crystal form rising into the sky, the Center has a terracotta facade. The center, which has an aerodynamic structure that minimizes wind load thanks to lightweight and durable materials, has special glass panels used on its facade, while adding aesthetics to the structure and preventing overheating in interior spaces by balancing sunlight. Guangzhou CTF Finance Center, a skyscraper where modern engineering techniques are expertly applied, has a LEED Gold certificate for energy efficiency. Terracotta used on the facade is a self-cleaning and corrosion-resistant material. The ceramic-coated piers of the facade protect the view from floor to ceiling and provide shading to the outside, providing natural ventilation in Guangzhou’s tropical climate.
9. Tianjin CTF Finance Center
Location: Tianjin, China
Height: 530 meters (1739 feet)
Architect: Skidmore, Owings&Merrill
Year: 2019
Located in the Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area (TEDA) in Tianjin, China, the Tianjin CTF Finance Center is one of the world’s tallest skyscrapers, with its streamlined and fluid lines. Located on the axis of the government center and the local transportation station, the 97-story skyscraper houses Class A offices, 300 luxury serviced apartments, and a five-star 350-room Rosewood hotel. The tower, with its square plan and rounded corner geometry, is designed to maximize the efficiency of the office, hotel, and residential buildings. The layout is carefully arranged to suit the needs of each function: larger lease spans for office floors and shorter spans for apartments and hotel rooms to maximize panoramic views.
Stacking the floor slabs, significantly narrowing the surface area exposed to wind, sun, and humidity, the gently curving glass facade of the Tianjin CTF Finance Center conceals eight inclined columns that lie behind the primary curves of the elevation and increase the rigidity of the structure in response to seismic concerns. Multiple wind vents strategically placed throughout the structure match the aerodynamic shape of the tower, significantly minimizing wind forces. In addition to diagonal zones at the base, which allow for increased rigidity to meet China’s dual-system code requirements, the vertical zones within the skyscraper create highly ductile regions to dissipate seismic energy and reduce earthquake forces. The amount of steel used in the Tianjin CTF Finance Center has been significantly reduced. This saves material, further reducing seismic forces due to the reduced mass and eliminating the need for a damping system.
10. CITIC Tower
Location: Beijing, China
Height: 528 meters (1731 feet)
Architect: KPF
Year: 2018
The tallest skyscraper in Beijing, CITIC Tower, also known as China Zun, is one of China’s iconic structures. Inspired by the ‘Zun,’ a ritual vessel that emerged in Bronze Age China, the skyscraper has an elegant and fluid form that expands upwards. The building’s square plan with rounded corners transitions vertically from a 78-meter-wide base to a 54-meter-wide waist and then expands again to a 69-meter-wide top. Located in China’s largest seismic zone, CITIC Tower’s wider base than its top, along with measures such as a flexible exterior design and core wall, makes the structure earthquake-resistant.
The skyscraper’s lobby’s grooved, outward-sloping, upward-sloping canopy provides a dramatic backdrop to the pedestrian experience. The interior canopy features custom-made aluminum ribs that follow the slope and blend in with the tower’s façade. Featuring a curved façade that expands upwards, clad in high-performance glass panels and metal frames, the CITIC Tower offers both an aesthetic and functional design.
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