List of Top 10 Tallest Buildings

This is the updated list of top 10 skyscrapers in the world but does not include those that are still undergoing construction.

1. Taipei 101

This engineering wonder was officially opened to the public on the 31st of December 2004.  This building is officially the world’s tallest building with its pinnacle reaching the height of 508 meters. The building contains 101 floors above ground and 5 floors underground. Its postmodern style combines Asian and international modern and traditional elements.

2. Shanghai World Financial Center

This superstructure was designed to be the tallest building expecting to surpass the spires of Petronas Towers once construction is completed. Because of suspension of construction, the Taiwan Taipei 101 surpassed its height and construction was already underway when it resumed construction in 2003.  With the foundations already done, the building could not be built more than its present height of 492 meters.

3. Petronas Towers

This 452-meter Malaysian edifice has been the tallest building for seven years until 2003 when TAIPEI 101 was finally inaugurated.  It is one of the most recognized and popular building worldwide due to its unique spires. The 88-floor towers are constructed largely of reinforced concrete, with a steel and glass facade designed to resemble motifs found in Islamic art, a reflection of Malaysia’s Muslim religion.

4. Sears Tower

This engineering masterpiece, with its soaring 442.30 meters height and 108-story skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois held the title of world’s tallest building from 1973 to 1996 when the Petronas Towers finally surpassed it. The Sears Tower remains the tallest building in the Americas and retains the world record when measuring from sidewalk level of the main entrance to the top of the antenna.

5. Jin Mao Tower

This is an 88-storey landmark supertall skyscraper in the Lujiazui area of the Pudong district of Shanghai, People’s Republic of China. This is currently the PRC’s tallest building and a strong proof of the preeminent position of the country as one of the major economic giant of today. It occupies the 5th spot with a height of 420.50 meters. It was built at an estimated cost of 530 million US dollars.

6. 2 International Finance Centre

With its height reaching 413.80 meters, this building is the tallest in Hongkong.  It is the exact height of the former World Trade Center. The 2 International Finance Centre complex is composite of four buildings and was completed in 2003. The highrise is designed to accommodate financial institutions and consists of two skyscrapers.

7. CITIC Plaza

The China International Trust and Investment Company (CITIC) Plaza is an 80-story skyscraper  built in Tianhe District, Guangzhou. With its height reaching 391.10 meters, this edifice was the tallest in Asia from 1997 to 1998.  Besides being the 7th tallest building, it is also the tallest reinforced concrete structure worldwide.

8. Shun Hing Square

With a height of 384 meters and 69 floor high, it is regarded as China’s tallest skyscraper made of steel. It was the erstwhile tallest building in Asia until it was surpassed by CITIC in 1997. The building was built at the fast pace of four floors in nine days. There is five story shopping arcade at the base and an observation level on the top floor, named the ‘Meridian View Centre’. It also consists of offices and apartments.

9. Empire State Building

Easily the most recognizable structure among those in the top 10 list. At the height of 381 meters, it is the world’s tallest building for the period 1931 to 1972. The Empire State Building is a 102 story  skyscraper in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It is the second tallest skyscraper in the Americas surpassed only by the Sears Tower.

10. Central Plaza

It is the second tallest superstructure in Hongkong with a soaring height of 374 meters. It was the tallest building in Asia from 1992 to 1996, until the Shun Hing Square was built. The building was designed to be in triangular shape because it could provide 20% more of the office area to enjoy the harbour view as compared with the square or rectangular shaped buildings.