Skyscraper

Taipei 101

The word skyscraper was originally a nickname for a tall mast on a sailing ship. Today the word is used exclusively to refer to a tall habitable building, usually higher than 152 metres (500 feet). Skyscrapers are also sometimes referred to as a highrise, generally the word highrise is used when referring to a skyscraper which is primarily used as residential building.

Until the 19th century, buildings of over six stories were rare. It was impractical to have people walk up so many flights of stairs. Also, water pressure could only provide running water to about 50 feet (15 m).

The development steel, reinforced concrete, elevators and water pumps have made possible the construction of extremely tall buildings, some of which are over 300 metres tall. The other development essential to practical skyscraper development was the invention of the elevator.

The skyscraper first emerged in the land strapped areas of New York City and Chicago toward the end of the 19th century. William Le Baron Jenney designed the first skyscraper in Chicago, The Home Insurance Building. The ten story structure was constructed in 1884-1885 and was destroyed in 1931 for the Field's building.

The weight bearing components of skyscrapers also differ substantially from other buildings. Buildings of about 4 stories are supported by their walls where skyscrapers are larger buildings that must be supported by a skeletal frame. The walls then hang off this frame like curtains. Special consideration must then be given for buildings that are over 40 stories tall because of the force wind puts on the structure.

Commerzbank Tower in Frankfurt is the tallest skyscraper in Europe, but the only building in Europe to rank in the world's top 50 tallest.

See world's tallest structures for a discussion of the tallest skyscrapers and other man-made structures, as defining the "world's tallest..." depends greatly on matters of definition.

Table of contents

1 Top 50 Skyscrapers by structural/architectural height
2 History of tallest skyscraper
3 Top 15 by pinnacle
4 Comparison of top modern skyscrapers
5 See Also:
6 External links

Top 50 Skyscrapers by structural/architectural height

Sears Tower

Adapted from [1], and ranks high rises by the highest architectural detail, and does not include the height of structual components that may look like a spire, but are not classified as such. This sort of ranking allows buildings that look smaller to be higher in rank if one buildings spire is a large antenna whereas on other is its a architectural detail. This results in such controversial rankings such as the Petronas Towers being ranked higher then the Sears Tower despite despite haveing a much lower highest point and occupiable floor. Also, the list does not include free-standing buildings that are not classified as high rises, such as the CN Tower, TV masts, bridges, or oil platforms. Updated to 2004 and destroyed buildings not included, notably the World Trade Center which would be in the top 10. (Note: Height is heighest architectural detail and may not be highest point on building)

Colspan="2" |Height

Rank Building City (m) (ft) Floors Built
1 Taipei 101 Taipei 509m 1,671ft 101 2004
2 Petronas Tower 1 Kuala Lumpur 452m 1,483ft 88 1998
3 Petronas Tower 2 Kuala Lumpur 452m 1,483ft 88 1998
4 Sears Tower Chicago 442m 1,450ft 108 1974
5 Jinao Tower Shanghai 421m 1,380ft 88 1998

6 Two International Finance Hong Kong 415m 1,362ft 88 2003
7 CITIC Plaza Guangzhou 391m 1,283ft 80 1997
8 Shun Hing Square Shenzhen 384m 1,260ft 69 1996
9 Empire State Building New York City 381m 1,250ft 102 1931
10 Central Plaza Hong Kong 374m 1,227ft 78 1992

11 Bank of China Tower Hong Kong 367m 1,205ft 72 1990
12 Emirates Office Tower Dubai 355m 1,163ft 54 2000
13 Tuntex Sky Tower Kaohsiung 348m 1,140ft 85 1997
14 Aon Center Chicago 346m 1,136ft 83 1973
15 The Center Hong Kong 346m 1,135ft 73 1998

16 John Hancock Center Chicago 344m 1,127ft 100 1969
17 Ryugyong Hotel Pyongyang 330m 1,083ft 105 1992
18 Burj Al Arab Dubai 321m 1,053ft 60 1999
19 Chrysler Building New York City 319m 1,046ft 77 1930
20 Bank of America Plaza Atlanta 312m 1,023ft 55 1992

21 US Bank Tower Los Angeles 310m 1,018ft 73 1990
22 Menara Telekom Kuala Lumpur 310m 1,017ft 55 2001
23 Emirates Hotel Tower Dubai 309m 1,014ft 56 2000
24 AT&T Corporate Center Chicago 307m 1,007ft 60 1989
25 JPMorganChase Tower Houston 305m 1,002ft 75 1982

26 Baiyoke Tower II Bangkok 304m 997ft 85 1997
27 Two Prudential Plaza Chicago 303m 995ft 64 1990
28 Kingdom Centre Riyadh 302m 992ft 41 2002
29 First Canadian Place Toronto 298m 978ft 72 1976
30 Yokohama Landmark Tower Yokohama 296m 972ft 70 1993

31 Wells Fargo Plaza Houston 296m 972ft 71 1983
32 311 South Wacker Drive Chicago 293m 961ft 65 1990
33 SEG Plaza Shenzhen 292m 957ft 70 2000
34 American International New York City 290m 952ft 66 1932
35 Key Tower Cleveland 289m 947ft 57 1991

36 Plaza 66 Shanghai 288m 945ft 66 2001
37 One Liberty Place Philadelphia 288m 945ft 61 1987
38 Bank of America Tower Seattle 285m 937ft 76 1985
39 Tomorrow Square Shanghai 285m 934ft 55 2003
40 Cheung Kong Centre Hong Kong 283m 928ft 62 1999

41 The Trump Building New York City 283m 927ft 70 1930
42 Bank of America Plaza Dallas 281m 921ft 72 1985
43 OUB Centre Singapore 280m 919ft 63 1986
44 Republic Plaza Singapore 280m 919ft 66 1995
45 UOB Plaza One Singapore 280m 919ft 66 1992

46 Citigroup Center New York City 279m 915ft 59 1977
47 Hong Kong New World Tower Shanghai 278m 913ft 61 2002
48 Scotia Plaza Toronto 275m 902ft 68 1988
49 Williams Tower Houston 275m 901ft 64 1983
50 Wuhan World Trade Tower Wuhan 273m 896ft 58 1998

For a much longer listing go to List of skyscrapers

History of tallest skyscraper

		Colspan="2" \|Height (ft\\m)
Building	Built	Status	Roof	Pinnacle	Floors
Home Insurance Building	1885	Destroyed	180ft\\54.9m	-	12
World Building	1890	Destroyed	309ft\\94.2m	349\\106.4m	20
Manhattan Life Insurance Building	1894	Destroyed	348ft\\106.1m	-	18
Park Row Building	1899	Extant	391ft\\119.2m	-	30
Singer Building	1908	Destroyed	612ft\\186.6m	-	47

Met Life Tower	1909	Extant	700ft\\213.4m
50
Woolworth Building	1913	Extant	792ft\\241.4m
57
40 Wall Street	1930	Extant
927ft\\282.5m	71
Chrysler Building	1930	Extant	925ft\\281.9m	1046ft\\318.8m	77
Empire State Building	1931	Extant	1250\\381m	1472\\448.7m	102

1 World Trade Center	1972	Destroyed	1368ft\\417m	1368ft\\ 526.3m	110
Sears Tower	1974	Extant	1450\\442m	1730ft\\527.3m	108
Taipei 101	2004	Extant	1470ft\\448m	1667ft\\508m	101

Disputed Claims:

CN Tower (see also List of towers)
Petronas Towers (only held one height category)

Top 15 by pinnacle

Top 15 by the highest point on the building.

John Hancock Center in Chicago

(Taipei 101 not added yet)

	Height
Building	(m)	(ft)	City
Sears Tower	527.3m	1730ft	Chicago
1 World Trade Center (destroyed)	526.3m	1727ft	New York City
John Hancock Center	457.2m	1500ft	Chicago
Petronas Towers	452m	1483ft	Kuala Lumpur
Empire State Building	448.7m	1472ft	New York City

Jin Mao Tower	420.5m	1380ft	Shanghai
2 International Finance Centre	415.8m	1364ft	Hong Kong
2 World Trade Center (destroyed)	415.3m	1363ft	New York City
CITIC Plaza	391.1m	1283ft	Guangzhou
hun Hing Square	384m	1260ft	Shenzhen

Tuntex 85 Sky Tower	378m	1240ft	Kaohsiung
Central Plaza	374m	1227ft	Hong Kong
Bank of China Tower	367.4m	1205ft	Hong Kong
SEG Plaza	355.8m	1167ft	Shenzhen
First Canadian Place	355m	1165ft	Toronto

Comparison of top modern skyscrapers

(to scale)

External links

http://www.skyscrapers.com
http://www.skyscrapercity.com
http://www.skyscraperpage.com
http://www.brazilskyscrapers.hpg.com.br
http://www.skyscraper.org
http://www.geocities.com/birmingham_highrise/
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/article/0,12543,420169-1,00.html

		Colspan="2" \|Height
Rank	Building	City	(m)	(ft)	Floors	Built
1	Taipei 101	Taipei	509m	1,671ft	101	2004
2	Petronas Tower 1	Kuala Lumpur	452m	1,483ft	88	1998
3	Petronas Tower 2	Kuala Lumpur	452m	1,483ft	88	1998
4	Sears Tower	Chicago	442m	1,450ft	108	1974
5	Jinao Tower	Shanghai	421m	1,380ft	88	1998

6	Two International Finance	Hong Kong	415m	1,362ft	88	2003
7	CITIC Plaza	Guangzhou	391m	1,283ft	80	1997
8	Shun Hing Square	Shenzhen	384m	1,260ft	69	1996
9	Empire State Building	New York City	381m	1,250ft	102	1931
10	Central Plaza	Hong Kong	374m	1,227ft	78	1992

11	Bank of China Tower	Hong Kong	367m	1,205ft	72	1990
12	Emirates Office Tower	Dubai	355m	1,163ft	54	2000
13	Tuntex Sky Tower	Kaohsiung	348m	1,140ft	85	1997
14	Aon Center	Chicago	346m	1,136ft	83	1973
15	The Center	Hong Kong	346m	1,135ft	73	1998

16	John Hancock Center	Chicago	344m	1,127ft	100	1969
17	Ryugyong Hotel	Pyongyang	330m	1,083ft	105	1992
18	Burj Al Arab	Dubai	321m	1,053ft	60	1999
19	Chrysler Building	New York City	319m	1,046ft	77	1930
20	Bank of America Plaza	Atlanta	312m	1,023ft	55	1992

21	US Bank Tower	Los Angeles	310m	1,018ft	73	1990
22	Menara Telekom	Kuala Lumpur	310m	1,017ft	55	2001
23	Emirates Hotel Tower	Dubai	309m	1,014ft	56	2000
24	AT&T Corporate Center	Chicago	307m	1,007ft	60	1989
25	JPMorganChase Tower	Houston	305m	1,002ft	75	1982

26	Baiyoke Tower II	Bangkok	304m	997ft	85	1997
27	Two Prudential Plaza	Chicago	303m	995ft	64	1990
28	Kingdom Centre	Riyadh	302m	992ft	41	2002
29	First Canadian Place	Toronto	298m	978ft	72	1976
30	Yokohama Landmark Tower	Yokohama	296m	972ft	70	1993

31	Wells Fargo Plaza	Houston	296m	972ft	71	1983
32	311 South Wacker Drive	Chicago	293m	961ft	65	1990
33	SEG Plaza	Shenzhen	292m	957ft	70	2000
34	American International	New York City	290m	952ft	66	1932
35	Key Tower	Cleveland	289m	947ft	57	1991

36	Plaza 66	Shanghai	288m	945ft	66	2001
37	One Liberty Place	Philadelphia	288m	945ft	61	1987
38	Bank of America Tower	Seattle	285m	937ft	76	1985
39	Tomorrow Square	Shanghai	285m	934ft	55	2003
40	Cheung Kong Centre	Hong Kong	283m	928ft	62	1999

41	The Trump Building	New York City	283m	927ft	70	1930
42	Bank of America Plaza	Dallas	281m	921ft	72	1985
43	OUB Centre	Singapore	280m	919ft	63	1986
44	Republic Plaza	Singapore	280m	919ft	66	1995
45	UOB Plaza One	Singapore	280m	919ft	66	1992

46	Citigroup Center	New York City	279m	915ft	59	1977
47	Hong Kong New World Tower	Shanghai	278m	913ft	61	2002
48	Scotia Plaza	Toronto	275m	902ft	68	1988
49	Williams Tower	Houston	275m	901ft	64	1983
50	Wuhan World Trade Tower	Wuhan	273m	896ft	58	1998