$1.5 billion project opens in Dubai

After years of construction delays and a global economic downturn, the Burj Dubai skyscraper (now known as the Burj Khalifa) has officially opened its doors to the public. A monumental structure, the building stands at over 2,700 feet, far surpassing Poland’s Warsaw radio mast (no longer standing) as the tallest land structure ever built. Many aspects of the building are intriguing, aside from its towering presence over Dubai.

© Image By BurjDubaiSkyscraper.com Imre Solt-2010.

The architecture firm SOM approached the building with environmental impact at the top of the list. Energy efficiency and energy consumption are tackled with thermal insulation and high performance glazing, meaning windows where heat is not easily transferred from the harsh exterior environment to the interior spaces of the building. Another method of efficiency is achieved through high voltage supplies of energy to the building. This is in contrast to the common low voltage supply in contemporary design. High voltage allows for less energy lost when powering up the building.

Sustainable solutions are found throughout the building via “sky-sourced” ventilation, a condensate recovery system for the air-conditioning, and smart lighting (a sensor light system that turns on/off depending on whether a space is occupied/non-occupied.)

© Image By www.burjdubaiskyscraper.com

With all its advantages and well-planned environmental points, the building has yet to grasp the plentiful sunshine of the region using solar cell technology. Perhaps they will tie in to a solar farm, but that prospect is not yet known. Future projects for super skyscrapers in the region are on the books that will in fact utilize solar energy as their building’s energy source. All in all, Dubai has proven itself as a worthy player in the future of green building technology and design.