As we near the end of 2016, let’s take a look at some of the most impressive skyscrapers built over the course of the year. This year gave us four out of the top ten tallest skyscrapers in the world, as well as five of the top twenty. There was a one hundred percent increase in skyscrapers over 500 meters tall, as there now stand eight such structures. There was also a fifty percent increase in skyscrapers over 600 meters tall, as there now stand three such structures. As only two buildings are set for a 2017 completion that stand over 500 meters and none that will stand over 600 meters, 2016 is definitely looking to be a more exciting year for skyscraper enthusiasts. No need to worry though, as 2018 will bring several more 500+ meter skyscrapers into the mix. So as 2016 comes to a close, here are five of the most impressive skyscrapers that opened in this past year.
Shanghai Tower
See our blog post about Shanghai Tower here. Shanghai Tower is 632 meters tall or 2,073 feet and has 128 stories. It has a total floor area of 380,000 meters squared or 4,090,000 square feet. The next tallest building is the Abraj Al-Bait Clock Tower in Mecca standing at 601 meters or 1,971 feet tall. Every single day about 16,000 people can be accommodated by Shanghai Tower. It is the second tallest building in the world and while it was set to be opened in 2014 and then 2015, it opened this past year, picking up three Guinness World Records along the way.
Ping An Finance Centre
Located in the central business district of Shenzhen in Futian (China), this skyscraper stands at 600 meters tall. It contains office, hotel, and retail spaces, and features a conference center and high-end shopping mall. It is 115 storeys and cost $678 million. It is the world’s tallest office building and the fourth tallest skyscraper in the world.
Lotte World Tower
This supertall skyscraper is located in Seoul, South Korea. It stands at 555 meters (1,821 feet) and have 129 floors (123 aboveground, 6 below ground). It was in the planning stages for 13 years and started construction in 2011. It contains retail outlets, offices, residences, public access floors with an observation deck, and a luxury hotel. While not officially open to the public, Lotte World Tower is set to officially open in April, after the final inspection by authorities. It is the tallest building in South Korea and fifth tallest in the world. The tower observatory is set to open in February.
Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre
Formerly the CTF Guangzhou, Chow Tai Fook Centre, or Guangzhou East Tower, this skyscraper, now the CTF Finance Centre, is the second of two Guangzhou Twin Towers. It is located in Guangzhou, China and tops out at 530 meters or 1,740 feet. Its 116 storeys (111 above ground, 5 below ground) contain offices, residential suites, a hotel, meeting rooms, a ballroom, a shopping mall and retail space, as well as an observation deck. It opened in October of 2016.
Wuhan Center
This 438 meter (1,437 foot) skyscraper is located in Wuhan, China. Construction began in 2009 and it now stands as the tallest building in Central China. It is the first building in Wuhan to exceed 400 meters (1,312 feet). It has 88 floors which will contain residential space, office space, and a hotel. The opening for this skyscraper was pushed off until 2017.
As 2016 comes to a close, skyscrapers are still a major trend around the world. It does not look like it will be changing much, come 2017. Keep a lookout for our upcoming post about the tallest skyscrapers to be completed in 2017. Have you visited any of these newly completed pieces of architecture? What do you think? Sound off in the comments below.
