Burj Khalifa gets top honours at Cityscape

Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world has been named the winner of the mixed use project award in the prestigious Cityscape Awards in the Middle East and North Africa.

The awards are held in conjunction with Cityscape Abu Dhabi which runs until 21 April 2010 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and provide a valuable insight into current and future projects in the region.

Burj Khalifa is part of the two-square kilometre flagship development by Emaar called Downtown Dubai and, on completion, was named in honour of President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Burj Khalifa, Dubai’s new urban masterpiece and the world’s tallest man-made structure at 828 metres, is surrounded by hotels, the region’s biggest shopping mall, a world of entertainment options, as well as commercial and residential developments that make up Downtown Dubai.

In their comments on Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai, the panel of international and regional judges said: “True to the notion of iconic, this development encompasses everything good in a mixed use development - a pleasant commercial working environment, a range of excellent hospitality venues, world class shopping and a beautiful residential integration.”

Chris Speller, Group Director of Cityscape, added: “Burj Khalifa and Downtown Dubai have given the world of real estate a new point of reference for modern living and are clear and worthy winners of this prestigious award.”

The Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs were associate sponsor for the Cityscape Awards for Real Estate in the Middle East and North Africa with headline sponsors Boomerang Automated Parking and Self Storage, Gaggenau, Signature Kitchen and Jotun Paints.

Headline sponsor of Cityscape Abu Dhabi 2010 is Mubadala Real Estate and Hospitality. Platinum sponsors are Al Qudra Real Estate, Al Maabar and Aldar Properties. Associate sponsor is the Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs.

Burj Khalifa sets energy landmark

World's tallest tower will use solar power to heat residents' water.

The Burj Khalifa will use solar power to meet the bulk of the water heating requirements of its residents.

Solar panels can heat 140,000 litres of water per day, and this will be distributed to homes and commercial establishments in the world's tallest building. The solar-powered water system will produce energy savings equivalent to 3,200 kilowatts per day and 690MWh of energy per year.

"The thermal energy initiative at the Burj Khalifa highlights Emaar's commitment to partner the government's sustainable development goals," said Ahmad Al Matrooshi, Managing Director of the developer. "Energy efficient measures, especially through the use of renewable sources, are not an option but an imperative for sustainable growth.

"By leveraging solar power, the Burj is setting an example as well as creating a reference mark on how urban developments can effectively integrate energy-friendly initiatives," he said.

The system has been installed and will be operated by Sole UAE Solar Systems, whose spokesman John Owen said: "The Burj Khalifa presented us with a remarkable opportunity to use solar energy to meet the water heating needs of residents in the tower.

"The significant benefits include cost savings on energy uses – not only for the tower but the government utility provider too – as well as reduced pollution levels, leading to a healthier environment," he said.

The panels serve as solar energy collectors as against photovoltaic electricity generation technology. The 378 collector panels, each measuring 2.7 sq m, are located on the roof of the Burj's Offices annexe and can heat 140,000 litres of water in seven hours.

Among other sustainable energy and water use measures, the condensate from all the air-conditioning equipment in Burj Khalifa will be reclaimed to cool the potable water supplied by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. The condensate will then be collected in an on-site irrigation tank and used for the tower's landscaping. When operational, this system will provide 15 million gallons of supplemental water per year.

To ensure energy efficiency, fresh air handling units have been fitted with thermal wheels and, wherever possible, economy modes. There is extensive use of variable-speed drives on the air-handling and water-circulating equipment to boost energy efficiency further. The air-conditioning and water systems incorporate energy saving control systems to reduce consumption.

The Burj also features several measures to reduce water consumption including water flow restrictors.

And the tower's cladding has been manufactured to a high standard with a high shading co-efficient and a low U-value to reduce the transfer of external heat gains. Other energy efficiency measures include automated solar shading at the entrance pavilions.

Content courtesy: - www.business24-7.ae

Dubai Renames Record Skyscraper

Dubai's ruler surprised onlookers Monday by renaming the world's tallest skyscraper after his counterpart in Abu Dhabi at a lavish opening ceremony in the sheikdom.

The world's tallest tower, 'Burj Khalifa' is 828 metres (2,716.5 ft) high

The world's tallest tower, developed by Emaar Properties, was unveiled tonight to a crowd of thousands and the world in a crescendo of fireworks, lasers and fountain displays.

The official height of the tower, unveiled as 'Burj Khalifa', was announced as 828 metres (2,716.5 ft).

A closely guarded secret, the official height of Burj Khalifa was flashed onto a giant screen before an estimated crowd of more than 400,000, as lasers and fireworks lit up the night sky.

Fireworks cascaded from the tower's spire to the base and lasers blazed out from all levels leaving the crowds awestruck.

The height was disclosed in arithmetic progression, with the numbers being flashed onto the screen, one after another. The tower's height breaks all existing world records for tall buildings.

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). The CTBUH ranks the world’s tallest buildings based on ‘Height to Architectural Top,’ ‘Height to Highest Occupied Floor’ and ‘Height to Tip.’

At 828 metres (2,716.5ft), Burj Khalifa is 320 metres taller than Taipei 101, which at 508 metres (1,667 ft) had held the record for the world’s tallest building measured to the architectural top since 2004, the year the project was announced.

Burj Khalifa achieved the distinction of being the world's tallest structure – surpassing the KVLY-TV mast (628.8 metres; 2,063 ft) in North Dakota, USA – 1,325 days after excavation work started in January 2004.

The tower also beats the 31-year-old record of CN Tower, which at 553.33 metres (1,815.5 ft) had been the world’s tallest free-standing structure on land since 1976.

Burj Khalifa employs a record-breaking 330,000 cubic metres of concrete, 39,000 metric tonnes of steel rebar and 142,000 square metres of glass; and it took 22 million man hours to build.

Other world records for Burj Khalifa include the highest occupied floor in the world, at over 550 metres (1,800 ft); 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 metres (1,654 ft).

Mr. Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, said that with the unveiling of the final height of Burj Khalifa, the world now had a new reference point for high-rise developments.

“Burj Khalifa is an example of collaboration on a global scale, and the tremendous positive energy that can be generated when people from all over the world come together to work towards a common goal. Thousands of professionals and skilled workers from around the world worked on this once-in-a-lifetime project.”

“More than 60 of the world’s leading consultants including South Korea’s Samsung Corporation and New York-based Turner Construction International realised the design for Burj Khalifa of Chicago-based Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM),” he said.

Burj Khalifa employed the latest advances in wind engineering, structural engineering, structural systems, construction materials and methods. All design considerations took into account the 12,000 people who will live and work in the tower. The handover to residents of the various components of Burj Khalifa will begin in February.

With a total built-up area of about 6 million sq ft, Burj Khalifa features nearly 2 million sq ft of residential space and over 300,000 sq ft of prime office space, in addition to the area occupied by the keenly awaited Armani Hotel Dubai and the Armani Residences. The tower also features modern lifestyle amenities including clubs, health and fitness facilities, gourmet restaurants and the 124th floor observation deck, 'At the Top.'

Burj Khalifa is the focal point of the 500-acre ‘mega-project’ by Emaar Properties, described as the new heart of Dubai.