It's official: One World Trade Center to be tallest U.S. skyscraper
By Katia Hetter, CNN
updated 12:30 PM EST, Tue November 12, 2013
One World Trade Center in New York City (shown under construction in May) will be considered the tallest building in the United States when it is completed, beating out Chicago's Willis Tower, and likely the third-tallest in the world, according to an announcement Tuesday by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. One World Trade Center measures 1,776 feet compared to the Willis Tower's 1,451 feet. Click through the photos that follow to see the world's tallest completed buildings.
Completed in 2010 in Dubai, Burj Khalifa's architectural height is 2,717 feet (828 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,918 feet (584.5 meters). A building's architectural height may include spires, but not antennas, flag poles or signage, according to the Council on Tall Buildings criteria.
Completed in 2012 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel's architectural height is 1,972 feet (601 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,833 feet (558.7 meters).
Completed in 2004, Taipei 101 has an architectural height of 1,667 feet (508 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,437 feet (438 meters).
Completed in 2008, Shanghai World Financial Center has an architectural height of 1,614 feet (492 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,555 feet (474 meters).
Completed in 2010, International Commerce Centre in Hong Kong has an architectural height of 1,588 feet (484 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,538 feet (468.8 meters).
Completed in 1998, the twin Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur each have an architectural height of 1,483 feet (451.9 meters) and are each occupied to a height of 1,230 feet (375 meters). The two towers are tied for the sixth tallest skyscrapers in the world.
Completed in 2010, the Zifeng Tower in Nanjing has an architectural height of 1,476 feet (450 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,039 feet (316.6 meters).
Completed in 1974, Chicago's Willis Tower (formerly called Sears Tower) has an architectural height of 1,451 feet (442.1 meters) and is occupied by 1,354 feet (412.7 meters).
Completed in 2011, the KK100 in Shenzhen has an architectural height of 1,449 feet (441.8 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,401 feet (427.1 meters).
Completed in 2010, this tower in Guangzhou, China rises to an architectural height of 1439 feet (438.6 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1362 feet (415.1 meters).
Completed in 2009, this Trump tower rises to an architectural height of 1,389 feet (423.2 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,116 feet (340.1 meters).
Completed in 1999, this tower in Shanghai rises to an architectural height of 1,380 feet (420.5 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,143 feet (348.4 meters).
Completed in 2012, the Princess Tower in Dubai rises to an architectural height of 1,356 feet (413.4 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,171 feet (356.9 meters).
Completed in 2011, Al Hamra Tower (left) in Kuwait City is shown here under construction in 2009. It rises to an architectural height of 1,354 feet (412.6 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,218 feet (371.4 meters).
Completed in 2003, this building rises to an architectural height of 1,352 feet (412 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,271 feet (387.6 meters).
Completed in 2012, this Dubai skyscraper rises to an architectural height of 1,289 feet (392.8 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,029 feet (313.5 meters).
Completed in 1996, this tower in Guangzhou rises to an architectural height of 1,280 feet (390.2 meters) and is occupied to a height of 974 feet (296.9 meters).
Completed in 1996, this tower in Shenzhen rises to an architectural height of 1,260 feet (384 meters) and is occupied to a height of 978 feet (298 meters).
Completed in 1931, New York's iconic landmark rises to an architectural height of 1,250 feet (381 meters) and is occupied to a height of 1,224 feet (373.1 meters). The Empire State Building reigned as the world's tallest skyscraper for nearly 40 years.
One World Trade Center, New York City
1. Burj Khalifa, United Arab Emirates
2. Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel, Saudi Arabia
3. Taipei 101, Taiwan
4. Shanghai World Financial Center, China
5. International Commerce Centre, Hong Kong
6. (tie) Petronas Towers 1 and 2, Malaysia
8. Zifeng Tower, China
9. Willis Tower, USA
10. KK100, China
11. Guangzhou International Finance Center, China
12. Trump International Hotel & Tower, USA
13. Jin Mao Tower, China
14. Princess Tower, United Arab Emirates
15. Al Hamra Tower, Kuwait
16. Two International Finance Centre, Hong Kong
17. 23 Marina, United Arab Emirates
18. CITIC Plaza, China
19. Shun Hing Square, China
20. Empire State Building, New York City
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- One World Trade Center ruled to be taller than Willis Tower
- Council on Tall Buildings says 1WTC measures 1,776 feet
- When 1WTC is completed, it's expected to be world's third-tallest building
(CNN) -- One World Trade Center in New York City will be the United States' tallest building when completed, beating out Chicago's Willis Tower, according to an announcement Tuesday by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
The independent organization certifies the official height of skyscrapers and acknowledges record-setting buildings. By the council's criteria, a building's architectural height may include spires and other structural elements, but not antennas, signage or flagpoles, according to its website.
There was some controversy over whether the structure at the top of One World Trade Center was a spire or an antenna. The council's height committee met on November 8 in Chicago to rule on the building's stature.
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One World Trade Center's height to its architectural top is 1,776 feet (541.3 meters), according to the ruling. The Willis Tower's architectural height is 1,451 feet (442.1 meters).
Because One World Trade Center isn't yet finished and hasn't received its certificate of occupancy, it cannot be ranked as a "completed building," but "its height is no longer in dispute," the council said in a Tuesday press release.
"The design of One World Trade Center, as explained to us, reinforces its role as a symbol of resurgence on this important site," Antony Wood, the council's executive director, in a statement.
Upon completion, which is expected in early 2014, the New York skyscraper is expected to rank as the world's third-tallest building, after the Burj Khalifa in Dubai and the Makkah Royal Clock Tower in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
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