While 2013 didn't see the completion of a mega tower like Burj Khalifa, it was a near-record-setting year in terms of the number of super-tall skyscrapers completed.
Led by the 82-story, 1,166-foot JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Tower 2, a total of 73 buildings of 200 meters or greater height were built in 2013. It was the second-busiest year ever, behind only 2011, when 81 super-tall projects opened, according to a report by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH).
Last year also saw the completion of nine 300-meter-plus towers. In fact, nearly half (47%) the world's 77 300-meter-plus skyscrapers were completed during the past four years.
The top 10 skyscrapers completed in 2013 are:
1. JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Tower 2, Dubai, UAE (82 stories, 355 meters, 1,166 feet)
2. Mercury City Tower, Moscow, Russia (75, 339, 1,112)
3. Modern Media Center, Changzhou, China (57, 332, 1,089)
4. Al Yaqoub Tower, Dubai, UAE (69, 328, 1,076)
5. The Landmark, Abu Dhabi, UAE (72, 324, 1,063)
5. Deji Plaza, Nanjing, China (62, 324, 1,063)
7. Cayan Tower, Dubai, UAE (73, 307, 1,008)
8. East Pacific Center Tower A, Shenzhen, China (85, 306, 1,004)
8. The Shard, London, UK (73, 306, 1,004)
10. Dongguan TBA Tower Dongguan, China (68, 289, 948)
See the full list
Tall buildings 200 meters or taller completed each year from 1960 to 2014 © CTBUH (click image to enlarge)
Other milestones from 2013, according to the CTBUH report:
• Across the globe, the sum of heights of all 200-meter-plus buildings completed globally in 2013 was 17,662 meters – also the second-ranked in history, behind the 2011 record of 21,642 meters.
• Of the 73 buildings completed in 2013, 12 – or 16 percent – entered the list of 100 Tallest Buildings in the World.
• For the sixth year running, China had the most 200-meter-plus completions of any nation, at 37 – located across 22 cities.
• Three of the five tallest buildings completed are in the United Arab Emirates, for the second year in a row.
• The city of Goyang, Korea, has debuted on the world skyscraper stage with eight 200-meter-plus buildings completing in 2013.
• Europe has two of the 10 tallest buildings completed in a given year for the first time since 1953.
• Panama added two buildings over 200 meters, bringing the small Central American nation’s count up to 19. It had none as recently as 2008.
• Of the 73 buildings over 200 meters completed in 2013, only one, 1717 Broadway in New York, was in the U.S.
For the full report, visit: http://www.ctbuh.org/TallBuildings/HeightStatistics/AnnualBuildingReview/Trendsof2013/tabid/6105/language/en-US/Default.aspx
The tallest building completed each year since the year 2000. © CTBUH (click image to enlarge)
© CTBUH (click image to enlarge)
© CTBUH (click image to enlarge)
Related Stories
| Nov 12, 2014
Refocusing the shifted line
A recent trend in the practice of architecture that I’ve been noticing is the blurring of responsibility between design and construction coordination. I’m not sure why this trend began, but the subject is worth exploring, writes FXFOWLE's Mark Nusbaum.
| Nov 12, 2014
Designs by three finalists for new Beethoven concert hall unveiled
David Chipperfield and Valentiny are among the finalists for a new concert hall being built to commemorate Beethoven’s 250th birthday in his hometown of Bonn, Germany.
| Nov 12, 2014
Forbes: Houston is America's #1 construction hotspot
A new list of America's 20 biggest boomtowns shows Houston on top, with New York City close behind, followed by Dallas, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles.
| Nov 11, 2014
Must see: Artist pairs up Hollywood icons with famous modern architecture
In his latest series, Federico Babina illustrated 17 iconic Hollywood personalities, from Marilyn Monroe to Michael Caine, interacting with famous 20th century homes.
| Nov 11, 2014
Renzo Piano's third building at London Bridge Quarter approved, will be built adjacent to the Shard
Renzo Piano Building Workshop has been granted planning approval for its residential building at London Bridge Quarter—a 26-story apartment tower dubbed Feilden House.
| Nov 10, 2014
5 guiding principles for solving airflow issues in open-plenum office spaces
Although architecturally appealing, exposed ceilings can create unwanted drafts and airflow problems if not engineered correctly. McGuire Engineers' Bill Stangeland offers tips for avoiding airflow issues on these projects.
| Nov 10, 2014
Clemson, Parsons architecture education programs honored for innovation, long-term impact
The architecture programs at Parsons The New School for Design and Clemson University have been selected as 2014 NCARB Award recipients for developing innovative curricula that merge practice and education.
| Nov 10, 2014
Herzog & De Meuron unveils plan for National Library of Israel
The library’s new home will be a completely new building in Jerusalem, and will combine the functions of a central research center, a venue for indoor and outdoor cultural and educational activities, and a place for digital experience.
| Nov 10, 2014
Hotel construction pipeline hits five-year high
The hotel construction pipeline hit a five-year high in the third quarter, clocking in at 3,516 projects and 443,936 rooms, Lodging Econometrics reports.
| Nov 7, 2014
Arts college uses creative financing to build 493-bed student housing
Many states have cut back funding for higher education in recent years, and securing money for new housing has been tougher than ever for many colleges and universities. A recent residence hall project in Boston involving three colleges provides an inspiring example of how necessity can spawn invention in financing strategies.