Burj Khalifa

The latest advanced technologies in wind engineering, structural engineering, structural systems, construction materials and methods were applied in order to build the tower. The materials were subjected to wind tunnel tests at hurricane speed (200 km/h) to make sure they would withstand all conditions. Flexible tubes and joints were used to enable some sway. The two most important challenges to achieve this project within the required target were the logistic organization of the vertical transport (materials, workers and waste evacuation) to achieve a construction cycle up to two floors per week and the pumping up of the concrete to the highest level possible (a world record of 585 m). In order to cope with the problem of placing concrete in high temperature conditions (up to more than 45°C), special concrete mixtures were developed and poured mainly during the night.

The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world according to the three main criteria of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH): 'Height to Architectural Top', 'Height to Highest Occupied Floor' (at 550 m) and 'Height to Tip'. Other world records for the Burj Khalifa include the highest residential floor (550m), the highest outdoor observation deck in the world, at the Top on Level 124 and the tallest service elevator, which travels to a height of 504 m. At the peak of the construction works in 2009, more than 12,000 workers and staff were on site every day. Six Construct was the first contractor to pump up concrete to a height of 585 m.