Burj Dubai

Burj Dubai (Arabic: برج دبي‎ "Dubai Tower") is a supertall skyscraper currently under construction in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. When it is completed in late 2008, it is predicted to be the tallest man-made structure in the world. Scheduled for occupancy in September 2009, the building is part of a 2 km² (0.8 sq mi) development called 'Downtown Dubai' and is located at the "First Interchange" (aka "Defence Roundabout") along Sheikh Zayed Road at Doha Street.

The tower's architect is Adrian Smith[3] who worked with Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) until 2006.[4] SOM is the architecture and engineering firm in charge of the project.[3] The primary builder is Samsung Engineering & Construction, along with Besix and Arabtec.[5] Third party peer review has been performed by CBM Engineers.

The total budget for the Burj Dubai project is about $4.1 billion US and for the entire new 'Downtown Dubai', $20 billion US.

Current height and timeline of events

As of 5 February 2008, Burj Dubai has reached a height of 604.9 m (1,985 ft), with 159 completed floors.[6]

Burj Dubai's last two milestones will be to surpass the 628.8 m (2,063 ft) height of the KVLY-TV Mast in North Dakota, United States to become the world's tallest structure and to pass the Warsaw radio mast in Gąbin, Poland (646.4 m (2,121 ft) until it collapsed in 1991) to become the world's tallest structure of any type ever built.

September 21, 2004
Emaar contractors begin construction of Burj Dubai.
February 2007
Burj Dubai surpasses the Sears Tower as the building with the most floors.
May 13, 2007
Burj Dubai sets record for vertical concrete pumping on any building at 452 m (1,483 ft), surpassing the 449.2 m (1,474 ft) to which concrete was pumped during the construction of Taipei 101.[7]
July 21, 2007
Burj Dubai becomes the tallest building on Earth surpassing Taipei 101 which stands at a height of 509.2 m (1,671 ft).[6] The previous day, the head of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), Antony Wood, had confirmed that it "surpassed the height of Taipei 101 structurally (concrete)." [8] However, he also added "We will not classify it as a building until it is complete, clad and at least partially open for business to avoid things like the Ryungyong [sic] project. Taipei 101 is thus officially the world's tallest until that happens."
August 12, 2007
Burj Dubai surpassed the height of the Sears' Tower antenna which stands at a height of 527.3 m (1,730 ft).
September 3, 2007
Burj Dubai becomes the second-tallest freestanding structure, surpassing the 540 m (1,772 ft) Ostankino Tower in Moscow.
September 12, 2007
At 555.3 m (1,822 ft), Burj Dubai becomes the world's tallest freestanding structure, surpassing the CN Tower in Toronto.[9]
December 10, 2007
The steel construction of the Burj Dubai begins. No more structural concrete is used.[citation needed]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burj_Dubai