The Burj Khalifa is part of an extraordinary 500 acre development called Downtown Dubai. The tower’s design is derived from patterning systems embodied in Islamic architecture, and also takes inspiration from the harmonious structure of the Hymenocallis plant, which is native to the region.
This iconic project breaks many records while overcoming the greatest of challenges and technical difficulties, not least of which are the wind forces dominating the structural design of the tower, the logistics of moving men and materials at extreme heights, and construction of the building envelope.
Addressing the environmental and technical challenges
As with any construction in the Middle East, Dow Corning’s technical experts were confronted with testing and specifying products that are able to withstand the rigors of high temperature, ultra-violet light, seismic activity and inclement weather conditions including sandstorms and high winds. In addition, large areas of the curtain wall, which in total is equivalent in size to 17 soccer fields, are positioned at extreme height, which in turn, brings a new set of technical challenges.
Key Participants
Adrian Smith, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill — Architect
Far East Aluminum, Hong Kong Arabian Aluminum, UAE — Structural Glazing Fabricators
White Aluminum, UAE — Insulating Glass Fabricator
Samsung Engineering & Construction — Main Contractor
Emaar Properties — Developer
Solving the pressure build-up problem
A total of 103,000 square meters of glass was used in the cladding panels, which are incorporated into a total facade area of 132,190 square meters. These advanced cladding panels maximize resistance against heat transmission from the sun and save energy through the use of sophisticated engineering techniques, which include high performance reflective glazing.
The unitized panels were interlocking on site and up to two stories tall. Being positioned at such high elevations, the risk of pressure buildup within the insulating glass units was alleviated through the design specification and Dow Corning 3362 Silicone Insulating Glass Sealant, was used as the secondary perimeter seal. Silicone application was carried out by White Aluminum Enterprise, who is a member of Dow Corning® Quality Bond—an initiative which provides technical training and support, designed to achieve excellence in quality control, quality assurance and standards of workmanship.
Products
Dow Corning 993 Silicone Structural Glazing Sealant
Dow Corning 3362 Silicone Insulating Glass Sealant
Dow Corning 798 Clean and Coldroom Silicone Sealant
In addition, Dow Corning 993 Silicone Structural Glazing Sealant was specified to bring additional secondary support of the insulating glass units, which were mechanically attached to the frame as the primary support. And, for sealing the exclusive bathrooms within the prestigious apartments, Dow Corning 798 Cold and Cleanroom Silicone Sealant was specified.
Click here to view a short animated presentation about how Dow Corning products and support helped Burj Khalifa become a reality.
Or, to learn more about the Dow Corning products featured in this case study, as well as the many other proven materials for the construction industry, please visit us here. To speak to your nearest Dow Corning representative, visit dowcorning.com/ContactUs. +
Related Stories
| May 25, 2011
Low Impact Development: Managing Stormwater Runoff
Earn 1.0 AIA/CES HSW/SD learning units by studying this article and successfully passing the online exam.
| May 25, 2011
Register today for BD+C’s June 8th webinar on restoration and reconstruction projects
Based on new and award-winning building projects, this webinar presents our “expert faculty” to examine the key issues affecting project owners, designers and contractors in case studies ranging from gut renovations and adaptive reuses to restorations and retrofits.
| May 25, 2011
Hotel offers water beds on a grand scale
A semi-submerged resort hotel is the newest project from Giancarlo Zema, a Rome-based architect known for his organic maritime designs. The hotel spans one kilometer and has both land and sea portions.
| May 25, 2011
Smithsonian building $45 million green lab
Thanks to a $45 million federal appropriation to the Smithsonian Institution, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Md., has broken ground on what is expected to be one of the most energy-efficient laboratories in the country. The 69,000-sf lab is targeting LEED Gold and is expected to use 37% less energy and emit 37% less carbon dioxide than a similar building.
| May 25, 2011
World’s tallest building now available in smaller size
Emaar Properties teamed up with LEGO to create a miniature version of the Burj Khalifa as part of the LEGO Architecture series. Currently, the LEGO Burj Khalifa is available only in Dubai, but come June 1, 2011, it will be available worldwide.
