by George Marron

Created on: May 18, 2008

It was not long ago when a list of the tallest buildings in the world was led by American structures. As a matter of fact, in 1989, the United States had the top five spots on that particular list. Currently, America only has one building in those spots. It has been a remarkable trend that foreign nations have coveted taller buildings to add prestige to the city it resides in and its country. This inclination is not likely to fade any time soon.

The tallest completed building in the world is the Taipei 101 in Taipei, Taiwan. At a remarkable one thousand six hundred and seventy and one-half feet tall, it gets this recognition on account of an antenna atop of its roof. Designed by C. Y. Lee & Partners, it was completed in 2004. It has one hundred and one floors. In 2006, Newsweek magazine named it one of the seven new wonders of the world.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia has the second and third tallest buildings on the globe. The two buildings are called Petronas Tower 1 and Petronas Tower 2 or simply the Petronas Twin Towers. Both of them are measured at one thousand four hundred and eighty three feet tall a piece. Similarly, eighty eight floors occupy the two buildings as well. It was completed in 1998 and the designer was Cesar Pelli.

We finally get to an American building at number three. The Sears Tower has long been a staple when thinking about the tallest buildings in the world. The chief architect was Bruce Graham and it was completed in 1974. Comprising one hundred and ten floors, the Sears Tower proudly stands at a height of one thousand four hundred and fifty feet tall.

The Jin Mao Building is currently number four. Since 1999, the Jin Mao has been the tallest edifice in Shanghai, China. With its eighty eight floors and one thousand three hundred and eighty one feet in height, this structure was actually designed by an American firm named Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill.

Number five is the Two International Finance Centre in Hong Kong. Designer Cesar Pelli makes his second appearance on this prominent list. As with his tallest building, the Petronas Twin Towers, this one in Hong Kong also consists of eighty eight floors. However, it is much shorter at a height of one thousand three hundred and sixty two feet tall.

If you were looking for the grand daddy of all tall buildings, then the famous Empire State Building in New York City enters the list at number nine. It was completed in 1931. With its one thousand two hundred and fifty feet in height and one hundred and two floors, the Empire State Building is synonymous with New York City. The designing firm of Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon had started a phenomenon that lingers on today. Tall buildings are majestic structures that people marvel in amazement. With this lure, the list of the tallest buildings in the world will continue to change.

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