The World's Tallest Buildings (12 Photos)

The Burj Dubai officially became the world's tallest building following its grand opening on January 4, 2010, taking the crown from Taipei 101 in Taiwan. Here is a look at ten of the world's most iconic supertall skyscrapers.







1. The Burj Khalifa, formerly known as the Burj Dubai, towers over Dubai, UAE. Soaring to a height of 828 meters across 160 floors, it holds the record for the highest occupied floor in the world and officially claimed the title of world's tallest structure, surpassing even the KVLY-TV mast in North Dakota. (Charles Crowell-Bloomberg)





2. The Shanghai World Financial Center—China's tallest building—stands amid a cluster of skyscrapers near the Huangpu River in Shanghai's Pudong district. Reaching 492 meters and 101 stories, it officially opened to the public on August 28, 2008. (Eugene Hoshiko-AP)



3. An architectural rendering released on June 28, 2006, shows the original design for New York's 541-meter skyscraper, initially known as the Freedom Tower. On March 26, 2009, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the building would be officially named One World Trade Center. Upon completion, it will become the tallest building in the US. (AP)



4. The Nanjing Greenland Financial Center, also known as Zifeng Tower, opened on December 19, 2009. Standing at 457 meters, it ranks as the seventh tallest building in the world. (Aly Song-Reuters)



5. Rising 452 meters over Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the Petronas Towers are the tallest twin towers in the world and rank fifth overall among the world's tallest buildings. (Kamran Adle-The Aga Khan Award for Architecture)



6. The International Finance Centre in Hong Kong stands at a height of 415 meters. (Ed Jones-AFP/Getty Images)



7. An artist's rendering depicts the proposed 609-meter Fordham Spire, designed for Chicago by architect Santiago Calatrava. If built, it would become the tallest building in the United States. (Getty Images)



8. The International Commerce Centre is a 483-meter skyscraper under construction in Hong Kong. Once completed, it will be the fourth tallest building in the world. (Bobby Yip-Reuters)



9. New York's iconic Empire State Building, as seen from Queens, illuminated in yellow and purple lights on June 4, 2002, to honor Queen Elizabeth II. The 102-story, 443-meter landmark is the tallest building in New York City and among the highest in the US. (Doug Kanter-AFP)



10. Chicago's 441-meter Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, remains the tallest building in the United States. It held the title of world's tallest building when completed in 1973. (Tannen Maury-Bloomberg News)



11. The 509-meter Taipei 101 shrouded in fog on January 4, 2010, the day the Burj Dubai opened and stripped Taipei 101 of its title as the world's tallest building. (Pichi Chuang-Reuters)