A look at the world's tall skyscrapers
The world's tallest skyscrapers tower above cities around the world. Eight of the 10 tallest are scattered throughout the Middle East and Asia in cities including Dubai, Taipei and Hong Kong. Two are in the United States — the Willis Tower in Chicago and 1 World Trade Center in New York.
On Tuesday, an international panel of architects announced that the monument to those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks would become the tallest building in the United States, surpassing Chicago's skyscraper. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat ruled that the needle atop 1 World Trade Center can be counted when measuring the structure's height, also making it the third tallest building in the world when it is completed.
Ranking these tall buildings — and the rest of the world's tallest structures — is more mind-bending than one might think. Lists can vary depending, for example, on whether you count the broadcast antennas on top or whether you're judging them by highest usable floor.
Dubai's Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world at 2,717 feet (828 meters). With Tuesday's decision, the Willis Tower will be the 10th tallest after 1 World Trade Center opens, according to the council.
Here is a photo gallery of the some tallest buildings in the world, according to the Chicago-based council's classification of "architectural height." This includes spires, but not antennas, signs, flagpoles or other functional-technical equipment.
The 110-story, 1,450-foot Willis Tower rises above the Chicago skyline. According to the nonprofit Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, will be the tenth tallest completed building in the world, with a height measured at 1,451 feet, once New York's 1 World Trade Center, with a height of 1,776 feet, is completed. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)
Zifeng Tower will the ninth tallest completed building in the world, with a height measured at 1,476 feet, once New York's 1 World Trade Center, with a height of 1,776 feet, is completed. (AP Photo, File)
Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Petronas 1 and 2 Towers will be the seventh and eighth tallest completed buildings in the world, with a height measured at 1,483 feet, once New York's 1 World Trade Center, with a height of 1,776 feet, is completed. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin, File)
118-story International Commerce Centre as seen from the Victoria Peak in Hong Kong. International Commerce Centre will be the sixth tallest completed building in the world, with a height measured at 1,588 feet, once New York's 1 World Trade Center, with a height of 1,776 feet, is completed. (AP Photo/Vincent Yu, File)
Abraj Al-Bait Tower, also known as Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel, during the annual Hajj in the Saudi holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Abraj Al-Bait Tower is the second tallest completed building in the world with the height measured at 1,972 feet. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File)
Shanghai World Financial Center in Shanghai, the fifth tallest completed building in the world with the height measured at 1,614 feet, once New York's 1 World Trade Center, with a height of 1,776 feet, is completed. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
1 World Trade Center, center, overlooks the wedge-shaped pavilion entrance of the National September 11 Museum, lower right, and the square outlines of the memorial waterfalls in New York. According to the nonprofit Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat, 1 World Trade Center, once completed, will be the third tallest building in the world with a height of 1,776 feet. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Burj Khalifa is the tallest completed building in the world with the height measured at 2,717 feet. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreil, File)
Taipei 101 will be the fourth tallest completed building in the world, with a height measured at 1,667 feet, once New York's 1 World Trade Center, with a height of 1,776 feet, is completed. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying, File)
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