With many skyscrapers across the globe jostling for the title of the world’s tallest building, the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat released a report ranking the world’s highest observation decks.
The list contains 75 prominent buildings, including yet-to-be-completed towers.
Kingdom Tower, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, finished first in the rankings. The thousand-meter-tall (3,280 feet) tower is scheduled to be completed in 2018, and the observation deck will be 2,093 feet high. The deck will be 194 feet higher than No. 2 finisher Goldin Finance 117 in Tianjin, China.
Buildings in China round out the top five. Dubai’s Burj Khalifa was sixth, with a height of 1,824 feet. Chicago’s Willis Tower has the United States’ tallest observation deck, finishing 17th at 1,453 feet.
“Often adding an important source of revenue for the structures that have them, observation decks also change the way people view cities, and can potentially elevate their international reputation,” said the authors of the report.
The Eiffel Tower was the oldest structure on the list. Built in 1889, the observation deck at the Paris landmark is 905 feet off of the ground, which is tied for 51st highest in the world.
Related Stories
High-rise Construction | Feb 8, 2016
Bjarke Ingels unveils design for winding Manhattan high-rise
The Spiral will be a 65-story tower with a half-mile’s worth of green space wrapped around its exterior.
Game Changers | Feb 5, 2016
Asia’s modular miracle
A prefab construction company in China built a 57-story tower in 19 days. Here’s how they did it.
High-rise Construction | Feb 2, 2016
This tall tower will lower your heart rate
Matthias Olt, Associate Vice President at CallisonRTKL, discusses new ways to improve individual health and well-being through tower design.
High-rise Construction | Jan 25, 2016
BIG unveils new renderings for NYC towers at 76 Eleventh Avenue
The twisty, asymmetrical condo complexes will have office space instead of a hotel.
Mixed-Use | Jan 25, 2016
SOM unveils renderings of dual-tower Manhattan West development
The five million-sf project includes two office towers, a residential tower, retail space, and a new public square.
High-rise Construction | Jan 13, 2016
With the completion of NY’s 432 Park Avenue, there are now 100 ‘supertall’ skyscrapers in the world
That makes it an even 100. With the completion of 432 Park Avenue in New York City, the number of so-called “supertall” buildings (buildings standing at least 300 meters tall) in the world has reached the century mark, according to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.
High-rise Construction | Jan 12, 2016
Luxury high-rise is Zaha Hadid’s first foray into South America
The Casa Atlantica is planned for Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
High-rise Construction | Jan 12, 2016
Renzo Piano's curved glass tower planned for NY's Soho neighborhood
The 25-story tower is a residential building with 115 apartments and plenty of amenities.
High-rise Construction | Jan 11, 2016
World’s second-tallest building (for now) is completed in China
Shanghai Tower makes up a trio of supertall buildings in that city’s commercial district.
High-rise Construction | Jan 7, 2016
Zaha Hadid designs a tower of 'stacked vases' in Melbourne
The structure is supported by sets of curved columns that taper to four different base heights.
