Tag: Skyscrapers

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A First Glance at the Observation Deck of One World Trade Center

April 2, 2013 at 4:38 PM | by | Comments (0)


Some renderings are all that exist of the Observatory levels right now

It's already being billed as "the most significant destination in the world," and yet it's still very much a hard-hat construction zone. We're talking about One World Trade Center, the 104-story skyscraper being built in the space once was home to the Twin Towers, and which isn't due to be completed until late 2014.

Plans for the 100-102nd floor Observatory levels were released on March 20, but the opening date won't arrive until 2015. It will sit a few stories lower than the Windows on the World visitor areas of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, which fell during the 9/11 attacks.

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Europe's Newest, Tallest Building Gets Totally High

July 6, 2012 at 12:22 PM | by | Comments (0)

It's official. Europe has a new tallest building—The Shard. If you've been to London anytime in the past few years, you'll have likely heard of this structure, a skyscraper measuring 1,016' and 82 floors (72 of them habitable), designed by the famed architect Renzo Piano. This week the iceberg-like building completed its exterior and can now focus on fitting out the no doubt luxurious interiors, considering that buying an apartment here starts from double-digit millions and they're being quite difficult about what companies earn the privilege of leasing office space.

Layer by layer, going up, The Shard is arranged like this: offices, restaurants/retail, Shangri-La hotel (with spa and pool), private residences, tourist viewing gallery.

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Freedom Tower Finally Towering Over World Trade Center Site

April 11, 2011 at 12:39 PM | by | Comments (0)


Freedom Tower (left, under construction), as seen from 5th floor of the W Downtown

It's 75 degrees outside right now in New York City, and though it's technically still spring, the summer tourist season is ramping up. As usual, visitors will be making the rounds of the Empire State Building, Macy's Herald Square, Central Park, Apple 5th Avenue and the World Trade Center site, but unlike in recent years, there's actually something to see now at Ground Zero.

That's right; Freedom Tower is making serious headway.

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The World's Highest Ice Rink Opens in Chicago

Where: 875 N. Michigan Ave., 94th floor [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60611
January 6, 2011 at 8:31 AM | by | Comments (0)

BYO Disney ice-skating outfit.

While most people were likely nursing a hangover on January 1, others hit Chicago's John Hancock Observatory for the debut of the world's highest ice-skating rink. Skating in the Sky, which sits on the 94th floor of the famous building, puts its ice more than 1,000 feet up in the air.

This isn't the Hancock's first time offering a rink. When the building first opened, there was an ice rink in the sunken plaza out front. Unfortunately, those Windy City winds picked up debris from nearby construction areas and threw them at the skaters, putting an end to that idea.

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Only a Few Hours Ago in Hong Kong, the Skyscrapers Were Going Crazy with Lasers

December 9, 2010 at 3:00 PM | by | Comments (0)

Hong Kong is a city of superlatives. Tallest...tastiest...techiest...this city knows what to do to attract the attention of the world. But what about the notoriously short attention spans of tourists? Hong Kong doesn't offer many free activities, unless you really love dawn tai chi in the park or long walks through malls, but they did devise the "Symphony of Lights" show in Victoria Harbour. Keeping to the superlatives, the Guinness Book of World Records named the skyscraping light performance "World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show," and it could also easily snatch the title of "World's Largest 20-Minute Gathering of Camera-toting Tourists."

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The World's Highest Ice Rink Coming to Chicago's John Hancock Center

September 7, 2010 at 5:33 PM | by | Comments (0)

Like it isn't bad enough that the coast of Lake MIchigan freezes over during the winter, Chicago's John Hancock Center has announced that they'll have an ice skating rink installed on the 94th floor. This news comes from TimeOutChicago, who doesn't neglect to point out that an ice rink more than 1,000 feet up makes it the world's highest ice skating rink.

Expect to rent ice skates and do some figure-eights as soon as January 2011. The rink will be the newest entry in a list of recent upgrades at the Hancock's Observatory: "Over the last couple years, the observatory has rolled out a cafe and full bar, augmented reality telescopes, and a sleek design." Perhaps to compete with the Sears Willis Tower's tourist-attracting glass ledges on their 103rd floor? We bet!

We love the response of our friend—who lives in the John Hancock Building—to the new ice skating rink plans: "WTF that is insane. What are we—Dubai?"

[Photo: Jaunted]

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Dubai's 124th Floor Burj Khalifa Observation Deck Reopens; Tickets Still $109

April 5, 2010 at 4:45 PM | by | Comments (0)

What a beautiful new building Dubai has; it's just too bad that ever since they officially opened the 200+ story (160 of them habitable) Burj Khalifa tower as the tallest building in the world, they've barely been able to use it. After the 124-floor observation deck opened at the beginning of January, it soon experienced electrical problems which trapped visitors in an elevator over 1,000 feet up. This prompted the closure of the only open-to-tourists part of the building until now; the Observation Deck reopened over this last weekend, and is again welcoming those who can resist vertigo enough to look out across the Emirates on a clear day. The Armani Hotel still isn't open, so you can't yet sleep inside of the tower either.

To get access to the observation deck, you have two options: reserve online for timed tickets (you get one hour at the top) for 100 AED ($27) per person or walk up to tower during open hours for immediate entry at a cost of 400 AED ($109) per person.

And even though you're paying quite a bit for your 124-floor visit, it's too bad you don't get to experience the world's highest mosque, found on the 158th floor, closer to Allah!

Related Stories:
· Observatory at Burj Khalifa, world's tallest tower, reopens after being closed for two months [Chicago Tribune]
· Dubai's Armani Hotel at the Burj Khalifa Will Try to Open April 21 [HotelChatter]
· Dubai Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: HDWallpapers]

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Dubai's Trouble Deepens: Burj Khalifa Closes and QE2 Ship Up For Sale

February 9, 2010 at 11:30 AM | by | Comments (0)

Remember a couple years ago when all the cool news was coming out of Dubai, like they had all the money in the world and were using to build the adult playland of the future? Well, Dubai is still turning out all the news, but it's just that the headlines have gone sour, and this week has brought another rush of bad news for the showy Emirate.

First, the newly opened 124-floor Observation Deck in the Burj Khalifa building has closed. The reason they're giving for the closure is that they've had far too many electrical problems, and with people paying $27 in advance or $109 on the spot for the privilege to simply look out their windows, they can't afford to have any hiccups. Really—they can't afford it. Maybe they also can't afford to keep the lights on right now too?

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What to Expect at the World's Highest Observation Deck in Dubai's Burj Khalifa

Where: 1 Emaar Blvd., Dubai, United Arab Emirates
January 27, 2010 at 8:40 AM | by | Comments (0)

The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, opened its observation deck this month in Dubai and we did some digging to see what the experience is supposed to be like. Perched on the 124th floor, the observation deck is supposed to give an airplane-like view of the area.

To get to "At the Top," the observation deck's, you have to enter through The Dubai Mall’s lower-ground level. Before you pop your ears on the elevator up, brush up on your knowledge of Dubai and the building with multimedia displays like "Dubai Then and Now," "From Earth to the Sky" and "From Vision to Reality." You'll also see a big illuminated model of the Burj Khalifa, formerly called the Burj Dubai, where you can learn about the skyscraper.

A video of the view, after the jump.

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The Burj Dubai's 124th Floor Observation Deck Opens Today

January 4, 2010 at 11:14 AM | by | Comments (4)

See that ridiculously tall building pictured above? That, my friends, is the Burj Dubai, a 200+ story building just completed in the United Arab Emirates that is celebrating its official birthday today. How old is it, you ask? Well, it's 0 years old really, since today is only its official opening to the public, although not all 160 accessible stories are ready for occupancy.

The only piece seeing public footsteps today is the 124-floor observation deck—because Dubai is in a tourism and property slump and knows that any way of digging extra cash from the pockets of locals and visitors is a great thing. Actual tenants won't begin moving into the Burj until February, when the owners of the Armani residences move in, to be followed by the guests of the world's first Armani Hotel in March.

And even when everyone is settled in and the workers in the business floors are typing away at their tasks, the Burj won't be full; occupancy rates may only reach 75% this year thanks to Dubai's slump, and many of the condo buyers are purchasing simply for investment. So for those of you anxious to take the elevator to the 124-floor, you'll just be visiting a husk of hope.

Related Stories:
· Dubai Opens Tallest Tower, partially leased in slump [BizWeek]
· The Impossibly High Burj Dubai Will Have 124-Floor Observation Deck [Jaunted]
· Dubai Travel [Jaunted]

[Photo: jasab]

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We Lived On The Edge And Visited Willis Tower's New Ledge

Where: 233 S. Wacker Dr., 103rd Floor [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60606
November 5, 2009 at 9:04 AM | by | Comments (0)

The Willis Tower installed "The Ledge," these new glass boxes that jut out 4.3 feet from the skyscraper to give you that standing-on-the-edge feeling in the pit of your stomach, on the west side of the building's Skydeck on the 103rd floor.

With a name like that, you'd think it was an amusement park ride. Adding to the amusement park novelty are shirts, mugs and other paraphernalia for sale that boast "Dare to Stand Out" and professional photographers on hand to take a souvenir snapshot of you in the floating box that will be printed and framed by the time you leave the building.

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Five Ways To Experience Chicago's Trump International Hotel & Tower

October 5, 2009 at 5:38 PM | by | Comments (0)

In January 2010, Chicago's Trump International Hotel & Tower will celebrate the one-year anniversary of its completion. We're talking the whole thing here—including the towering antenna which was placed on January 2, 2009, even though the restaurant and hotel had been open previously.

So how do you celebrate one of the country's newest, hottest skyscrapers? Well, you should swing by the Donald's towering siren and have a drink of course, or better yet—sleep with her. The Trump Tower is part hotel, part condo, and part upscale hotspot, and there are five specific ways to get all up in her without feeling like you're trespassing on Trump's property.

Five Ways To Experience Trump International Hotel and Tower in Chicago:

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