In November of last year, the list of tallest buildings in the world changed again, when the Shanghai Tower was completed. Soaring at 632 metres, the mixed-use tower is now the second-tallest in the world, just under 200 metres shy of the behemoth, Burj Khalifa, in Dubai.
“Megatall” buildings are on the rise all around the world. There are projects that will top 500 metres currently being constructed all over China, as well as in Malaysia, the United States, and other countries.
The most unbelievable development is the Jeddah Tower in Saudi Arabia, a mixed-use skyscraper that will be the first over 1 kilometre in height. When it’s finished in 2020, it will dwarf the Burj Khalifa by 180 metres.
Back in Canada, our towers hardly make the list. The CN Tower was the tallest freestanding structure in the world from 1976 to 2010, when the Burj Khalifa and China’s Canton Tower were both completed, pushing it down to third. But technically, the tower doesn’t count when discussing the world’s tallest buildings; towers aren’t considered buildings, (apparently).
That leaves First Canadian Place (the BMO building) in downtown Toronto as the country’s tallest building. At 298 metres, it is only 105th-tallest in the world, falling year after year as more grandiose towers are completed. There are also new projects in the works at Yonge and Bloor and King Street West that would both take the top spot, but would still fall (literally) short from making the global list.
Below are the tallest buildings in major cities across the country. Let us know your thoughts on skyscrapers in the comments, and tell us if you think we need a megatall building or if we’re good as we are.
Toronto | First Canadian Place
Calgary | The Bow
Montreal | IBM-Marathon Tower
Vancouver | Living Shangri-la
Mississauga | Absolute World
Ottawa | Terrasses de la Chaudière
Winnipeg | 201 Portage
Halifax | Fenwick Tower
St. John’s | Confederation Building
Flickr: Brandon
