Dubai Skyscraper Tops CN Tower As World’s Largest Free-Standing Structure

For decades it was a worldwide first, the tallest structure on the face of the planet and the source of pride for Torontonians and Canadians.

But on Thursday, the CN Tower was allegedly surpassed in the skyscraping department, as the world’s tallest building, being constructed in Dubai, crept past it by a mere two metres.

At 555 metres, Burj Dubai is now two metres taller than the 553-metre CN Tower, Emaar Properties said in a release. To its credit, the new building is a architectural marvel, with 150 livable levels, the largest number of storeys for any building in the world.

And Burj Dubai already beat Taipei 101, which at 508 metres has held the tallest-building title since it opened in 2004.

“Burj Dubai is setting new world records in construction of super tall buildings, and the accomplishment of being the world’s tallest free-standing structure is another defining moment,” said Emaar chairman Mohamed Alabbar.

The project has been in the works since 2004 and involves a $20-billion, 200-hectare downtown development billed as the most prestigious square kilometre on earth.

And it could still get bigger. With construction not expected to be fully complete until 2009, the tower’s planned height remains a closely guarded secret.

But the company says when completed, Burj Dubai will the tallest structure in the world in all four of the criteria listed by the Chicago-based Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

Designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago, the tower is being built by Samsung Corp. of South Korea.

In addition to residential, commercial and retail components, Burj Dubai will also feature the world’s first Armani Hotel in the centre of the commercial capital of the United Arab Emirates.