In May, the Dubai Chronicle reported that China is planning to challenge Dubai’s Burj Khalifa’s status as world’s tallest building. The Asian country is preparing to build a skyscraper which is even taller than Burj Khalifa’s 2,716 feet. The building, called Sky City, was initially planned for completion by the end of the year. However, the date is now pushed forward, slowing down the mega project.
Only a couple of months ago, China’s Sky City project was said to be ready by end of 2013. The developers behind the ambitious project were confident in their prognosis even though the construction works on the tower had not even begun. According to them, the 2,739-feet Sky City would take only half a year to complete due to its unique construction process.
But despite the forecasts, Sky City’s completion is now delayed to April 2014. There is no specific information on why the project is taking so long, given that it is enjoying the great support of the Chinese government.
In addition, this is not the first time in which Sky City’s opening is being delayed. Originally, the project was supposed to be ready at the beginning of 2013. However, the construction work started last week.
The cost of the record-aiming building has also been changed. In May, Sky City was expected to consume only $625 million. Now, its construction is estimated at over $855 million.
China has an impressive experience in constructing record-breaking towers. In fact, nearly half of the world’s tallest skyscrapers are located there. Nevertheless, Sky City is one quite ambitious project. The building will have 208 floors and will take a space of 1.05 million square meters. It will consist of shopping malls, cinemas, apartments, schools, theatres and even a vertical farm that will produce food for its residents.
Without a doubt, this is a mega structure that, once completed, may throw a shadow over Burk Khalifa. However, a mega structure demands mega efforts and encounters mega challenges, as we see now.
