A&M Grad and The Tallest Building in the World

One of the most famous structures labeled under the "contemporary architecture" category is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It widely known due to the fact that it is currently the world's largest building standing at 828 meters. Before we breakdown the building, a brief clarification of contemporary architecture is in order. Contemporary architecture is in its separate category because the construction and function has some unique new guidelines. These guidelines include; green architecture, reusing materials, computer aided design, need as a driving force, and contemporary chic.

Texas A&M grad Adrian Smith worked with SMO during the project that was officially opened on January 4, 2010. Some key points of interest include that the Burj Khalifa includes residential portions, office space, a hotel, many restaurants, roughly twice the height of the Empire State Building, took 22-millions man labor hours, and cost $1.5 billion dollars. Many other interesting facts can be found here. 

What is quite notable about the Burj Khalifa is that it is a building that functions at net-zero. This meaning that energy in equals the energy out, or self-/sustaining. And with this mindset, comes the buildings and organizations statement. When John Jacob Raskob and Lamb and Harmon erected the Empire State Building they were in a "a race for the sky." By accomplishing there task their statement was quite simply, America the Great. However, with Burj Khalifa and being self-sustaining, their statement was for a more eco-friendly environmental aware world. When the world was fresh into the going green movement, having the world's tallest building signified the movement and made it known that it is accomplishable.