The 5 tallest glass skyscrapers in the world

Every year, developers around the world are designing innovative skyscrapers that keep getting taller. With many cities battling to take the top spots with their increasingly sophisticated designs and engineering capabilities, the rise of the supertall skyscraper is ever on the up. But what towers can be crowned the tallest in the world?

We take a look at the top 5 tallest skyscrapers here.

Burj Khalifa

Opened in 2010, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the world’s tallest structure, standing at an enormous 828m. This impressive feat of engineering took over 1,325 days to complete, with 380 top engineers and technicians on-site to oversee the design and build of the supertall tower.

Designed to withstand Dubai’s extreme temperatures, the Burj Khalifa is a shining figure on the city skyline with an exterior cladding composed of 26,000 reflective glass panels - a practical and formidable design.

Shanghai Tower

Shanghai Tower is the second tallest skyscraper in the world and the tallest building in China at an impressive 632m. The building is composed of a unique design featuring spiralling glass facades that twist 1% of every floor. This remarkable design not only allows the Shanghai tower to stand out as a unique feat of architecture and engineering but also enables the building to withstand typhoon-force winds often encountered in Shanghai.

One World Trade Centre

At 541.3m, the One World Trade Centre stands in New York City’s skyline as the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. The symbolic tower, also known as the Freedom Tower, holds a special place in many people’s hearts, built on the same complex where the original World Trade Towers once stood. At exactly 1776 feet high, the building was designed to reflect the same year the United States gained its independence and features a powerful beam of light projected from the building’s spire every night. Any holiday to New York should include a visit.

Shanghai World Financial Centre

The Shanghai World Financial Centre, standing at 492m tall, cuts an impressive shape in the skyline of the country’s financial hub. The tower can be spotted by its distinctive architecture, featuring a trapezoid aperture at the building’s peak - culminating in what has been hailed by many as the most beautifully designed supertall skyscraper in the world.

International Commerce Centre

Located in Hong Kong, the International Commerce Centre stands at 484m and is fully on display on the city’s shorefront, casting a stunning sight in the skyline alongside its counterpart skyscraper, the 2 IFC which stands at a slightly shorter 412m. The ICC boast an impressive level of energy efficiency for a building of its size, with considerable investments made over the years to ensure the entire building’s energy performance is continually improved.

Infographic original source: abbeyglass.co.uk