The Burj Khalifa is part of an extraordinary 500 acre development called Downtown Dubai. The tower’s design is derived from patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture, and also takes inspiration from the harmonious structure of the Hymenocallis plant, which is native to the region.
This iconic project breaks many records while overcoming the greatest of challenges and technical difficulties, not least of which are the wind forces dominating the structural design of the tower, the logistics of moving men and materials at extreme heights, and construction of the building envelope.
Addressing the environmental and technical challenges
As with any construction in the Middle East, Dow Corning’s technical experts were confronted with testing and specifying products that are able to withstand the rigors of high temperature, ultra-violet light, seismic activity and inclement weather conditions including sandstorms and high winds. In addition, large areas of the curtain wall, which in total is equivalent in size to 17 soccer fields, are positioned at extreme height, which in turn, brings a new set of technical challenges.
Key Participants
Adrian Smith, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill — Architect
Far East Aluminum, Hong Kong Arabian Aluminum, UAE — Structural Glazing Fabricators
White Aluminum, UAE — Insulating Glass Fabricator
Samsung Engineering & Construction — Main Contractor
Emaar Properties — Developer
Solving the pressure build-up problem
A total of 103,000 square meters of glass was used in the cladding panels, which are incorporated into a total facade area of 132,190 square meters. These advanced cladding panels maximize resistance against heat transmission from the sun and save energy through the use of sophisticated engineering techniques, which include high performance reflective glazing.
The unitized panels were interlocking on site and up to two stories tall. Being positioned at such high elevations, the risk of pressure buildup within the insulating glass units was alleviated through the design specification and Dow Corning 3362 Silicone Insulating Glass Sealant, was used as the secondary perimeter seal. Silicone application was carried out by White Aluminum Enterprise, who is a member of Dow Corning® Quality Bond—an initiative which provides technical training and support, designed to achieve excellence in quality control, quality assurance and standards of workmanship.
Products
Dow Corning 993 Silicone Structural Glazing Sealant
Dow Corning 3362 Silicone Insulating Glass Sealant
Dow Corning 798 Clean and Coldroom Silicone Sealant
In addition, Dow Corning 993 Silicone Structural Glazing Sealant was specified to bring additional secondary support of the insulating glass units, which were mechanically attached to the frame as the primary support. And, for sealing the exclusive bathrooms within the prestigious apartments, Dow Corning 798 Cold and Cleanroom Silicone Sealant was specified.
Click here to view a short animated presentation about how Dow Corning products and support helped Burj Khalifa become a reality.
Or, to learn more about the Dow Corning products featured in this case study, as well as the many other proven materials for the construction industry, please visit us here. To speak to your nearest Dow Corning representative, visit dowcorning.com/ContactUs. +
Related Stories
| Jul 25, 2012
EwingCole adds healthcare director to D.C. office
Schultz brings over 25 years of proven experience in planning and designing healthcare, medical research, and government medical facilities.
| Jul 25, 2012
Contract awarded for Gaillard Municipal Auditorium renovations in Charleston, S.C.
Seeking LEED Silver certification, the project will begin in August and is slated for completion in December 2014.
| Jul 24, 2012
Boyer joins Thornton Tomasetti as vice president in New York office
Boyer will support Thornton Tomasetti’s Building Performance and Property Loss Consulting practices in the East U.S. region as well as nationally.
| Jul 24, 2012
Dragon Valley Retail at epicenter of Yongsan International Business District
Masterplanned by architect Daniel Libeskind, the Yongsan IBD encompasses ten city blocks and includes a collection of high-rise residences and commercial buildings.
| Jul 23, 2012
Venturi Scott Brown and Associates Becomes VSBA, LLC
After over fifty years as one of the world’s most renowned architects, Bob Venturi has retired from practice, while Denise Scott Brown continues to publish and present her work.
| Jul 23, 2012
Giants 300 Firm Index 2012
An alphabetical index of the Giants 300 AEC firms and their ranking in specific categories.
| Jul 23, 2012
Haynes Whaley announces leadership transition
Pronier has worked in the construction industry for the past 30 years.
| Jul 23, 2012
Missner Group completes construction of Chicago auto dealership
The Missner Group also incorporated numerous sustainable improvements to the property including the implementation of a vegetative roof, and the utilization of permeable pavers for the parking lot.
| Jul 20, 2012
2012 Giants 300 Special Report
Ranking the leading firms in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction.
| Jul 20, 2012
Data Centers Report: Demand ‘exploding’
BD+C's Giants 300 Top 25 AEC Firms in the Data Center sector.
