flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

20 tallest towers that were never completed

20 tallest towers that were never completed

Remember the Chicago Spire? What about Russia Tower? These are two of the tallest building projects that were started, but never completed, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.


By CTBUH | November 29, 2014
Construction work started on the Santiago Calatrava-designed Chicago Spire in 20
Construction work started on the Santiago Calatrava-designed Chicago Spire in 2007, but was halted a year later due to the econo

In the world of tall building construction, projects can stall for any number of reasons—financial, political, cultural—and for long periods of time. 

The CTBUH Research team, in the latest installment of Tall Buildings in Numbers, has undertaken to find the top 20 tallest never-completed buildings, and the 15 longest construction periods from 1985 to the present, listing the stop and start dates, and last known status of these 35 projects.

We learned a lot along the way, turning up some interesting findings on familiar names and long-forgotten projects alike, including:
• Now over 28 years since it started construction, Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongang holds the record for longest construction period by over seven years.
• There are 50 buildings 150 meters or taller currently on hold (i.e., construction had started and stopped, but is planned to resume) around the world.
• The Palace of Soviets in Moscow was actually started in 1937, but construction was halted during frame construction with the coming of World War II. It would have been topped with a statue of Joseph Stalin, making it the world’s tallest structure
• Now over 28 years since it started construction, Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongang holds the record for longest construction period by over seven years.

 

 
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE Source: CTBUH

 

 
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE Source: CTBUH

 

Read the full CTBUH report.

Related Stories

| Jun 13, 2017

Accelerate Live! talk: Incubating innovation through R&D and product development, Jonatan Schumacher, Thornton Tomasetti

Thornton Tomasetti’s Jonatan Schumacher presents the firm’s business model for developing, incubating, and delivering cutting-edge tools and solutions for the firm, and the greater AEC market.

| Jun 13, 2017

Accelerate Live! talk: The future of computational design, Ben Juckes, Yazdani Studio of CannonDesign

Yazdani’s Ben Juckes discusses the firm’s tech-centric culture, where scripting has become an every-project occurrence and each designer regularly works with computational tools as part of their basic toolset.

Industry Research | Jun 13, 2017

Gender, racial, and ethnic diversity increases among emerging professionals

For the first time since NCARB began collecting demographics data, gender equity improved along every career stage.

Architects | Jun 7, 2017

Build your very own version of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Guggenheim Museum with this new LEGO set

744 LEGO bricks are used to recreate the famous Wright design, including the 1992 addition.

Multifamily Housing | Jun 7, 2017

Multifamily visionary: The life and work of architect David Baker

For 35 years, architect David Baker has been a spirited voice for affordable housing, in San Francisco and beyond.

Architects | Jun 5, 2017

NCARB launches second alternative path to architect certification

Architects without a professional degree in architecture can now earn NCARB certification through an alternate path.

Architects | Jun 2, 2017

NELSON joins forces with Cope Linder and KA

More growth ahead, as NELSON expects to double its workforce and revenue this year.

Office Buildings | Jun 2, 2017

Strong brew: Heineken HQ spurs innovation through interaction [slideshow]

The open plan concept features a Heineken bar and multiple social zones.

| Jun 2, 2017

Accelerate Live! talk: How maker culture is transforming Sasaki’s design practice

Sasaki’s Pablo Savid-Buteler and Brad Prestbo talk about how the firm’s maker initiatives are changing the way Sasaki goes to market, and how they are helping the firm win new business.

| May 30, 2017

Accelerate Live! talk: The ROI of innovation culture, Russ Sykes, SmithGroupJJR

Russ Sykes discusses SmithGroupJJR’s ongoing journey to create a firm culture that ignites innovation and propels change across all levels of the organization.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Museums

The Tampa Museum of Art will soon undergo a $110 million expansion

In Tampa, Fla., the Tampa Museum of Art will soon undergo a 77,904-sf Centennial Expansion project. The museum plans to reach its $110 million fundraising goal by late 2024 or early 2025 and then break ground. Designed by Weiss/Manfredi, and with construction manager The Beck Group, the expansion will redefine the museum’s surrounding site.



Reconstruction & Renovation

Movement to protect historic buildings raises sharp criticism

While the movement to preserve historic buildings has widespread support, it also has some sharp critics with well-funded opposition groups springing up in recent years. Some opponents are linked to the Stand Together Foundation, founded and bankrolled by the Koch family’s conservative philanthropic organization, according to a column in Governing magazine.


halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021