The competition to erect the world's tallest buildings and the engineering challenge of great height have been continuing themes over the century. What drives structures ever higher? Technology, economics, ego? While advances in technology made the world's tallest buildings possible, architects and engineers can design safe structures much taller than clients will build. Super tall skyscrapers are expensive propositions, and their balance sheets are carefully drawn. An owner or developer weighs the high cost of additional stories against the anticipated rents or other benefits -- including the publicity and prestige associated with premier height.

Why is the idea of the world's tallest buildings so captivating? Announcements of new projects grab headlines. Television documentaries on the topic multiply. Bragging rights become a point of urban and national rivalry, and standards for how to measure heights must be refereed by professional associations.

World's Tallest Buildings

The following link will take you to a site with more information on this subject. Skyscraper.org

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