Growth spurt: A record-breaking 128 buildings of 200 meters or taller were completed in 2016

For the third year in a row, the number of buildings over 200 meters tall that were completed has increased and broken the previous year’s tally. In 2016, 128 buildings 200 meters tall or taller were completed, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH). The previous record, set in 2015, saw 114 completions of 200 meters or taller. Now, the overall number for buildings at or exceeding 200 meters sits at 1,168, a 441% increase from the 265 that existed in the year 2000.

Of the record-setting 200-meter-tall buildings that were completed in 2016, 18 of them became the tallest in their city, country, or region. Asia had the most 200-meter-tall completions with 107, or a whopping 84% of the 128-building total. 2016 was the fourth year in a row with at least 75% of the 200-meter-plus building completions occurring in Asia. A large portion of these completions were in China, which had the most by a country with a record 84, surpassing its previous high set in 2015 of 68. Among these completions was Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre, which, at 530 meters, stands as the tallest building in Guangzhou, the second-tallest building in China, and the fifth-tallest building in the world.

The Middle East had nine completions of at least 200 meters, matching its total from 2015, and North America had seven completions, a three-building increase from 2015’s four. The United States represented all seven of those North American completions after only completing two in 2015.

Despite the high number of buildings over 200 meters completed, only 10 supertalls (buildings of 300 meters or higher) were finished in 2016. This total was lower than anticipated and is at least in part due to the construction delays that arise when constructing buildings of such immense height. Still, the 10 supertalls completed in 2016 was behind only 2014’s 11 and 2015’s 14.

Looking ahead to 2017, CTBUH is predicting the completion of between 12 and 20 supertalls and between 125 and 150 200-meter-plus buildings overall. The tallest of these projected completions is Ping An Finance Center, which will stand 599 meters and become the second-tallest building in China and the fourth tallest in the world.

For the CTBUH’s full report, click here.