The 7 Tallest Buildings in the World

Ever wondered what the biggest building in the world was? Well I am here to settle the debate and run you through some of the tallest buildings in the world and some of the previous holders of prestigious crown of ‘tallest building in the world'.

1. Willis Tower – formerly known as the sears tower, is located in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The skyscraper is 108 stories high which measures up at 442 metres (1,451 feet) and at the time of completion was the tallest building in the world, having taken the crown from the world trade centre in New York. The popular tower has a "Skydeck" which is open to the public and is located on the 103rd floor, where tourists can look over the sights of Illinois, including Lake Michigan.

1. Nanjing Greenland Financial Center – is a skyscraper which has only recently been completed and is situated in Nanjing, China. The 89 story building is 450 metres (1,480 ft) and features retail and office space in the lower section, as well as restaurants and a public observatory near the top. The skyscraper is a stunning sight which is recognizable for its structural glazing.

1. Petronas Towers – Is a twin tower Skyscraper with the Petronas tower 2 and is located in Kuala Lumpar, Malaysia. They once held the accolade for the tallest buildings in the world, between the years of 1998 and 2004. The buildings stand at 452 m (1,483 ft) and have a floor count of 88. The biggest features of the buildings are the spires at the top which are considered integral parts of the architectural design of the buildings; any changes would substantially alter the appearance.

1. International Commerce Centre – is a 118 floor, 484 m (1,588 ft) skyscraper located in West Kowloon, Hong Kong. The building is only a year old having been completed in 2010 and it is a part of the Union Square project built on top of Kowloon Station. The building did have to be scaled back from earlier plans 574 m (1,883 ft) tall with 102 floors, due to it not meeting building regulations.

1. Shanghai World Financial Center – This skyscraper is located in Shanghai, China, and towers over a variety of skyscrapers in its vicinity. The skyscraper is used for a variety of purposes, consisting of offices, conference rooms, observation decks and shopping malls on the ground floors. It is also home to The Park Hyatt Shanghai hotel, located between the 79th and the 93rd floors. This makes it the highest hotel in the world, surpassing the Grand Hyatt Shanghai on the 53rd to 87th floors of the neighboring Jin Mao Tower. The building is a prominent figure in Shanghai's Skyline and is recognizable for its height and structural glass frame.

1. Taipei 101 – Previous holder of the world's tallest building accolade was the Taipei 101 or as it was formerly known; the Taipei World Financial Center. It was recorded as the world's tallest building in 2004, but was overtaken by the current number one in 2010. The Skyscraper is located in Taiwan, Republic of China. The Taipei 101 changed its name to depict how many floors high it was and it also has 5 floors underground.

1. Burj Khalifa – Standing tall at an astonishing 828 metres (2,716.5 feet), the Burj Khalifia in Dubai is the clear winner when it comes to the world's tallest building, as it is just over 300 metres bigger than its closest rival. Excavation of the amazing structure started in January of 2004, and six years later in January of 2010 it was completed and officially launched. During the construction of the building, it managed to claim a whole host of other record breaking awards such as world's tallest free-standing structure, world's tallest man made structure, highest outdoor observation desk and elevator with the longest travel distance in the world.