The Five Tallest Glass Skyscrapers, and Their Views

Whether it is from a lookout point on the side of the road or a scenic vista from the top of the mountain, everyone can appreciate a good view.

And while nature provides many great opportunities for admiring such scenery, some of the best views are actually from man-made structures. In particular, the world’s tallest glass skyscrapers provide an unparalleled chance to see the surrounding city and landscape from an unobstructed bird’s eye view.

The Five Tallest Glass Skyscrapers

Today’s infographic from Abbey Glass shows us the five tallest glass skyscrapers in the world, as well as the views from the top of these structures.

Four of the five tallest glass skyscrapers are located in Asia, which is not surprising considering that 76.4% of all skyscrapers completed in 2015 were on the Asian continent. It’s also worth noting that all of the skyscrapers on this list are relatively new, with the oldest being built in 2008 – for a more visual representation of this trend, see our post documenting how the world’s tallest buildings have changed over time.

1. Burj Khalifa (Dubai, UAE)

The Burj Khalifa, completed in 2010 in 1,325 days, is an engineering feat. At 828m (2,717 ft) tall, the view from the world’s tallest building makes other “skyscrapers” in the city look microscopic. Despite having 18 built-in maintenance units for cleaning the windows of the Burj Khalifa, it still takes three to four full months to wipe down the exterior of this monstrosity.

2. Shanghai Tower (Shanghai, China)

The Shanghai Tower, the tallest skyscraper completed in 2015, stands at 632m (2,073 ft). It’s the world’s second-tallest building, and has been designed as a spiral that twists an average of 1% per floor.

3. One World Trade Center (New York, USA)

The tallest building in the Western Hemisphere is located on the site of the two original World Trade Center towers. Its height in feet (1,776 ft) corresponds with the year the United States achieved independence.

4. Shanghai World Financial Center (Shanghai, China)

The Shanghai World Financial Center, completed in 2008, is the oldest building on this list. At 492m (1,614 ft) in height, it has been engineered to withstand a magnitude eight earthquake, lightning strikes, or the typhoon-force winds often encountered in the city.

5. International Commerce Center (Hong Kong, China)

The tallest building in Hong Kong is also the fifth-tallest glass skyscraper in the world. At 484m (1,587 ft), it is also home to the world’s highest swimming pool.