Skyscrapers – Impressive Engineering Achievements

The skylines of cities like New York, Hong Kong, and Dubai display some of the most amazing engineering accomplishments, and the sight of so many tall buildings in one city is often an unforgettable experience. There are many classifications of skyscrapers, and today the name itself is used for buildings whose height is at least 100-150 meters. The first is considered to be the ten-story building “Home Insurance Building” in Chicago, built in the late 19th century, which used steel with a fireproof metal structure, and its height today is not uncommon.
The first skyscrapers were not yet made of steel, so the height had to be compensated by the thickness of the walls on the lower floors. Later, steel and concrete were used, and in the 60’s of the 20th century a new revolutionary construction method began. At that time, the main elements that provide the load-bearing capacity of tall buildings were moved inside the building, along with stairs and elevators, and the other columns were moved to the outer walls. The most important role of this innovation in the construction industry was to reduce the sway of multi-story buildings during wind gusts and the negative effects of earthquakes and other ground vibrations. Today, virtually all skyscrapers around the world are built this way.
By far the most skyscrapers are in China, and among the 10 largest cities there are even 6 from this large Central Asian country.

Chicago, United States of America, 130 Skyscrapers

After the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, authorities rebuilt the devastated city. Today, Chicago is the third largest city in the United States, with a population of 2,7 million. It is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois, home to famous galleries, parks, excellent museums, a lively nightlife and various family attractions, as well as some of the tallest buildings in the United States.
Chicago is known as the birthplace of skyscrapers and plays a prominent role in the development of high-rise buildings. The city is known for its architectural achievements and the large number of famous Chicago buildings. There are 130 skyscrapers in this city, the tallest of which is Willis Tower with 110 floors and a height of 442 m. The first building with a height of more than 150 m was the Chicago Temple from 1924.

Tokyo, Japan, 160 Skyscrapers

Tokyo is a metropolis composed of 26 cities, 6 towns, and 8 villages that have grown into a single city over the centuries. It is also known as Tokyo Metropolitan Prefecture, with a population of about 14 million and over 20 million people travel to work from the surrounding areas every day. This city is known for its temples, historical sites, shrines, art, but also for its glittering skyscrapers.
As the capital and most populous prefecture of Japan, the architecture of this city is a mixture of traditional and ultra-modern.
The first tall building with 156 m height is Kasumigaseki built in 1968. The tallest building in this prefecture is Tokyo SkyTree with a height of 634 m. This skyscraper is not only the tallest in Japan and the world, but also the second tallest free-standing structure in the world. The observation deck on the top floor of this building offers a beautiful view of the city.
There are 160 skyscrapers in Tokyo. The newest complex is the Toronamon-Azabudai District, which will house Japan’s tallest tower at 330 m. It covers eight hectares and includes two other smaller towers and a landscaped arcade. The tower is scheduled for completion in 2023.

Shanghai, China, 166 Skyscrapers

With the construction of skyscrapers in the 1920s and 1930s, the city of Shanghai became one of the cities in the world that experienced its first construction boom. Due to the cultural and historical facts as well as the colonial past, it is unique compared to other cities in China. Shanghai is the most populous city in China and has the third largest population in the world with 26,3 million people.
It boasts an attractive blend of history and modernity. It is one of the cities with the most skyscrapers and a global center for technology, manufacturing, finance, research and transportation.
There are 166 skyscrapers in Shanghai. The first building with a height of over 150 m is the Jin Jiang Hotel, built in 1988. With a height of an incredible 632 m, Shanghai Tower is currently the tallest skyscraper in China and the second tallest in the world, just behind the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. This mixed-use project has a very interesting exterior design. It features a 120 degree twist from bottom to top to mitigate the effects of wind on the structure itself. The rounded facade and spiral shape of the building symbolize the dynamic development of modern China. As the third building that now forms the trio of skyscrapers in Shanghai, along with the Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone buildings, Shanghai Tower could also become a prototype for the construction of new skyscrapers. The building’s rounded facade and spiral shape symbolize the dynamic development of modern China.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 215 Skyscrapers

With 3,3 million inhabitants, Dubai is the most populous emirate and one of the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates that base their economic development on tourism. Impressive skyscrapers, innovative construction projects of great architecture, many sunny days with attractive cultural content are the reason for numerous tourist trips throughout the year.
The history of skyscrapers in Dubai began with the construction of the Dubai World Trade Center in 1979, the city’s first skyscraper with a height of 184 m and 38 floors. Today there are 215 skyscrapers in this city, and many of them are famous worldwide. Burj al Arab Hotel was built in 1999 and is 321 meters high with 60 floors. Its structure resembles a sail and is one of the most luxurious in the world. The famous skyscraper Burj Khalifa was completed after 5 years of construction and opened in January 2010. At 828 m, it is the tallest building ever built by man.

New York, United States of America, 297 Skyscrapers

New York has been given many different names over time, but its most famous nickname is the “Big Apple”. This city is home of fashion, entertainment, technology, research, education, politics, tourism, arts, and sports with a population of more than 8 million. In the late 19th and early 20th century, the city started building skyscrapers, which are mainly located in Midtown and Downtown Manhattan. There are 297 skyscrapers in New York, of which One World Trade Center is the tallest at 541 meters.

The first building with a height of more than 150 m was the Metropolitan Life Tower, built in 1909, and the Empire State Building, with a height of 381 m, was the tallest building in the world from 1931 to 1970. The Chrysler Building is a special symbol of New York, 319 m high, located on the east side of Manhattan and is the tallest building in the world made of brick with a steel base. The rivalry between the architectural teams of the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings was long-standing, as each team wanted their building to be the tallest in the world. The architect of the Chrysler Building kept the tower a top secret until the very end, which was only revealed after the building was completed, making it the tallest building, but only for 11 months. After many revisions and changes in architectural plans, the Empire State Building won the race and became the tallest building in the world until 1970 when it was surpassed by the World Trade Center.

Central Park Tower, the tallest residential building in the world, reached its full height of 470 meters in 2019. Construction of the “world’s thinnest skyscraper,” Steinway Tower, was completed late last year. It is an impressive architectural achievement, rising 435 meters in Manhattan overlooking Central Park, and the building is only about 18 meters wide.

Hong Kong, China, 482 Skyscrapers

Hong Kong is a former British colony. The British Empire took it over in the 19th century and returned it to China in 1997. It is one of the most densely populated areas in the world, with more than 7,4 million inhabitants in an area of 1,104 square meters. Due to the limited availability of land for new buildings, the city relies on concentrated high-rise buildings and towers to serve its large population and growing economy. A major building boom began in the 1980s, and today the city boasts 9,000 tall buildings and 482 skyscrapers.
The first building to exceed 150 m in height is Jardine House, built in 1973. The tallest building in Hong Kong is the International Trade Center, with 108 floors and a height of 484 m.

And Skyscrapers in Belgrade?

Although in some countries of the world the growth of skylines is very present, the construction of high-rise buildings in Belgrade was forbidden for some time, because in 2010 the study on high-rise buildings was adopted. This stopped all projects that would involve the construction of very tall buildings. This study ceased to be valid in 2014, and since then construction sites have been opened in Belgrade in many parts of the city.
One of the first skyscrapers in Belgrade is “Beograđanka” or Belgrade Palace. Its construction was completed in 1974 and the building is one of the most significant architectural achievements in Serbia. The Belgrade building with 23 floors and an impressive height of 101 m is the first “smart building” built in our capital and was once the tallest building in Serbia.
The Genex Tower is known as the western gate of the city. It was built in 1977 and is a symbol of the capital’s cultural progress. With a height of 135 m and 36 floors, at the time of its construction it was the tallest building on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. It consists of two towers, with taller being residential and shorter used to be office space, which are connected by a bridge at the top. An example of the same building can be seen in Kuala Lumpur.
One of Belgrade’s skyscrapers was built in 1964 in one of the city’s most beautiful locations at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers – the Usce Business Center with 25 floors and a height of 115 m. The Ušće building used to be the Palace of Socio-Political Organizations, which housed the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Union of Communists of Yugoslavia, which is why many Belgraders still call it the CK building.

View from Kalemegdan, CK/Usce Tower I

Skyline AFI Tower

The three skyscrapers mentioned have long lost the race for the tallest building in our capital, as this title is currently held by the Belgrade Tower with a height of 168 m. The second tallest building in Belgrade is the West 65 with 150 m, and the third is the Skyline with 130 m height.
Height is not the only impressive detail about these modern buildings. Ušće2, Kula Beograd, Skyline AFI Tower, West 65 Tower are projects that with their design and architecture represent innovative architectural solutions in Serbia. The purpose of these buildings is multifunctional with a variety of contents – from residential and commercial spaces, restaurants, SPA centers, indoor swimming pools, luxury stores and hotel accommodation. Belgrade will continue to develop and it remains to be seen what kind of futuristic objects will rise in the capital.