Metal Roofing Solutions and the Beauty of Metal
Metal Roofing Solutions stands in awe of the steel inspired architectural feats that the world has recently witnessed. As our company prides itself on the metal materials we use in our roofing systems, we cannot help but approve of the design and structural execution of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest skyscraper in the world.
This building is a testament to the beauty of metal, marrying the sleek and stable form of steel with the elegant, sweeping structural design rising out of the desert ground.
World Record Setting
Burj Khalifa, located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and designed by Adrian Smith, of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, stands at a total height of 830 meters (2722 feet). This building garnered the title of tallest building in the world when it finished construction in 2008 and has received many awards and broken numerous world records since.
As a means to gain international recognition, the building was commissioned by the government and funded by the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the United Arab Emirates, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Overall Dubai borrowed 80 billion dollars to fund this groundbreaking project. In its completion, the Burj Khalifa has broken 14 world records, including the tallest existing structure, the world’s highest elevator installation, the world’s highest restaurant and nightclub, and the world’s highest installation of an aluminum and glass facade to name just a few.
Material Used
As the tower rises from the ground, there are 27 structural setbacks in the wall forming a spiral pattern meant to minimize the wind vibration. This design keeps the structure stable while allowing the top of the tower to sway a total of 1.5 meters (almost 5 feet) across.
The spire alone is composed of over 4000 tonnes of structural steel. Spanning 244 metres the conical structure on top of the main building is considered vanity height, as it is mostly unusable. The primary structure is reinforced with concrete; 330 000 cubic meters of concrete and 55 000 tonnes of steel rebar were used in the construction process. The cladding system, or outside covering of the structure, is made up of over 26 000 reflective glass panels, and aluminum and textured stainless steel spandrel panels, consisting of 1.5 million square feet of material. These panels provide solar and thermal protection to guard against the intense sun and extreme desert temperatures. Overall the total construction of this daring architectural feat took approx 22 million man hours to create.
As a company that understands the beauty of metal and the practical uses it produces, Metal Roofing Solutions is astounded by the design and construction of this exquisite masterpiece. Much of the steel material and panelling used in the Burj Khalifa mirrors the uses in our own roofing installation, so this design lays close to our heart.
To learn more about what Metal Roofing Solutions is about and how we use our metal materials to produce our own architectural masterpieces, continue to peruse our website at your leisure!
