2.3K 
The momentum experienced by cities around the world due to the growing number of urban dwellers is driving the need for bigger, taller buildings. Following the completion of 432 Park Avenue in New York City on December 23, 2015, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) has announced that there are now officially 100 completed supertall buildings in the world.
Supertall buildings are defined by a height of 300 metres or more. CTBUH explains that while it took the world more than 80 years to complete its first 50 supertalls — the first one being the Empire State Building, built in 1931 and standing at 381 metres — it took a mere five years to complete an additional 50. It is estimated that another 100 supertall skyscrapers will be completed within the next five years, with most of them built in the Middle East and Asia, including the Jeddah Tower, which will be the first kilometre-high building in the world upon completion in 2019.
Although Dubai has the most supertall buildings with 18 towers over 300 metres in height, New York City arrives in second position with seven such towers. At 425.5 metres high, 432 Park Avenue, designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects and SLCE Architects, is the tallest all-residential building in the world. It features a 1:15 slenderness ratio made possible by the development of the lateral resistance technology, which qualifies the tower for the 'Super Slim' category.
With supertall skyscrapers becoming ever more common, the megatall category appears to be the new frontier for the world’s tallest buildings. Only three 600+-metre towers have been completed so far, although their number is expected to at least double over the next few years. More information and renderings are available in the Database files and Forum threads dedicated to the tallest buildings under construction, listed below.
| Related Companies: | Gensler, Walters Group |
