vortices are never allowed to build up because at each
new tier the wind encounters a different building shape.
This structural system enables the building to support
itself laterally and keeps it from twisting.
At the top, the central core emerges and is sculpted
to form a finishing spire. The design architect, Adrian
Smith, felt that the uppermost section of the building did
not culminate elegantly with the rest of the structure, so
he sought and received approval to increase it to the
current height. It has been explicitly stated that this
change did not include any
added floors, which is fitting
with Smith’s attempts to
make the crown more
slender. The spire of Burj
Khalifa is composed of
more than 4,000 tonnes
(4,400 ST; 3,900 LT) of
structural steel. The central
pinnacle pipe weighing 350
tonnes (390 ST; 340 LT) was
constructed from inside
the building and jacked to
its full height of over 200
m (660 ft) using a strand
jack system. The spire also
houses communications
equipment.
Placeholders
7
21008_BI.indd 7 23/12/2010 12:47 PM
To Next Page
Loading...
