User:Mcmurphey/Burj Khalifa as structural art

Introduction
In addition to the scientific, social, and symbolic implications of a structure, matters of efficiency, economics, and elegance are crucial in characterizing it; these criteria determine what the structure accomplishes, how it does so, and where, if at all, it belongs in the long list of structural art. In a world where “bigger is better,” where advances in nearly all aspects of life are driven by competition, where size emanates power and potential, what better place to begin than with the crown jewel of modern structural design and construction, the Burj Khalifa. Originally named the Burj Dubai, the official title was changed after inauguration to commemorate the vital subsidy of the current president of the United Arab Emirates. With an unprecedented total height of 829.84 meters, the 160 floor behemoth 1 was immediately regarded as an international icon of human capability; however, can it be defined as structural art? Although it may be more of a symbol than an efficient or economic use of building space, the Burj Khalifa is surely a work of structural art; it will serve as an important benchmark in the fields of architecture and structural engineering for decades to come.

Social
Even with the economic and deadline related headaches, the Burj Khalifa has strong social implications. The tower was designed as the centerpiece of the three hectare “Downtown Dubai” and was originally intended to be exclusively residential; the UAE government decided to try and shift the country’s economy basis from oil to service and tourism. At US$1.5 billion and part of a $20 billion overhaul, this task did not come lightly, but it did come to an American structural engineer working for an American firm. Bill Baker of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill is the well known designer of Trump Tower in Chicago, and more recently the new One World Trade Center in New York City. The construction took 22 million man-hours, most of who came from South Asia; a number of reports surfaced regarding poor work conditions and insufficient wages after the airing of a BBC investigation and a Human Rights Watch report. In addition to any previous negative public opinions of the construction, multiple delays occurred during its final year; most resulted from upgrades applied to the apartments and luxury suites in order to ensure aesthetic and functional superiority. Much of this space is still unused, and the floor plan breakdown lends a skeptical eye as to how much of the structure’s importance actually lies inside the walls. On a positive note, the incredible height has attracted world record breaking feats such as BASE jumping and free solo climbing. Many of its social benefits arise from the structure’s symbolic nature, but the social intentions were apparent from inception.

Scientific
Designing the tallest freestanding structure in the world required exceptional ingenuity and innovation. Although from the outside the Burj Khalifa appears to be a bundled tube structure much like Khan’s design of the Willis Tower, it is more evocative of Frank Lloyd Wright’s imaginative design of The Mile High Illinois; the building relies on its buttressed core, consisting of a hexagonal core supported by three subsequent ‘Y’ shape buttresses. Setbacks occur at each of the buttressed elements in a spiraling pattern, gradually decreasing the tower’s cross section, resulting in 27 terraces. Not only does this design support the building laterally and keep it from twisting, but the Y-shaped layout maximizes outward views and inward natural lighting. The patterned upward spirals are reminiscent of traditional Islamic architecture, as described by the towers architect Adrian Smith, and even the common areas and rooms flow gracefully, reflective of cursive Arabic writing. There may be multiple sky lobby swimming pools, thousands of fine art pieces, Venetian stucco walls and Brazilian Santos Rosewood lining the rooms, but the outer structural design of the Burj is a visible tribute to the pioneering nature of 21st century engineering, and the incredible potential for future projects.

Symbolic
The Burj Khalifa serves as a literal towering achievement of human desire to pursue a frontier. The pursuit of power and an international recognition of excellence have pushed the frontier of construction higher than ever before. For this reason alone, the Burj Khalifa can be considered not just structural art, but a monument to the incessant and inexorable growth and progress of all mankind. The tallest building of the already stunningly modern Dubai Skyline by over 300 meters, the Khalifa is an inescapable centerpiece of the new direction of the UAE. Although Hyder Consulting served as supervising engineer and ambassador to UAE authorities, the design job landed in the hands of Baker, who was quite familiar with rebuilding, or in this case creating, a national and international symbol. The collaboration of multiple nations also stands out as a positive shift from previous chauvinisms towards a more cooperative future between formerly conflicting regions.

Conclusion
The Burj Khalifa is an awe-inspiring edifice of unparalleled dimensions; it must be considered structural art regardless of social or economic obstacles. Within the 24,348 reflective glazing windows, the interior is lavishly and expensively ornamented, often to a fault resulting in delayed openings. The societal renovation undergone in Dubai costs a projected US$20 billion, scarcely a small sum; however, it is potentially a small price to pay to relieve the region’s dependence on oil exports which should result in mitigated tensions between competing nations. It will serve to inspire a new generation of scientists and engineers to push the apparent boundaries, extend the limits of modern technology, and accomplish feats never before conceived. A work of art, a beacon of structural excellence, the Burj Khalifa is a residential, commercial, and technical monument to the mounting aptitude of mankind.