Misc
The Global Rush to Build New Skyscrapers
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The Global Rush to Build New Skyscrapers
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As the creator of today’s visualization, Alberto Lucas López, points out, “the world’s tallest buildings have acted as barometers”.
Another way of putting it? Our biggest architectural accomplishments are highly visible symbols of what society values most, and those values have changed over time. Today, the paramount belief system in many parts of the world is in capitalism, and there is no more potent marker of the economic might than fantastically tall commercial skyscrapers.
Today’s visualization is an effective way to take in the mind-bending scale of the newest generation of megatall buildings. It’s headlined by Jeddah Tower, a skyscraper currently under construction in Saudi Arabia that will smash the one kilometer mark when it’s completed in 2019.
Cities are Growing Up
In general, only very large cities have the resources to build and support extremely tall buildings.
With the explosion of urbanization around the world and developing economies asserting themselves in high profile ways, the stage is set for a global skyscraper boom.
In the last two years, 39 skyscrapers taller than 300m have been constructed, with five of the them eclipsing the height of the Empire State Building.
Global skyscraper construction has increased a whopping 402% since 2000.
High-rise Hot Spots
China
Nearly every sizeable Chinese city has skyscrapers under construction, and the numbers are staggering. Since 2012, China has added 38 skyscrapers over 300m (~1,000 ft) in height, and there are another 16 skyscrapers on the way in 2018.
In particular, the Pearl River Delta megaregion, which is anchored by Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou, has seen an astonishing commercial construction boom. Today, 20 of the 100 tallest buildings on earth are located in just this one urban megaregion of China.
China’s Top 10 Tallest Buildings
Building Name | City | Height (m) | Completed | Use |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shanghai Tower | Shanghai | 632 | 2015 | hotel / office |
Ping An Finance Center | Shenzhen | 599.1 | 2017 | office |
Guangzhou CTF Finance Centre | Guangzhou | 530 | 2016 | hotel / res / office |
Shanghai World Financial Center | Shanghai | 492 | 2008 | hotel / office |
International Commerce Centre | Hong Kong | 484 | 2010 | hotel / office |
Zifeng Tower | Nanjing | 450 | 2010 | hotel / office |
KK100 | Shenzhen | 441.8 | 2011 | hotel / office |
Guangzhou International Finance Center | Guangzhou | 438.6 | 2010 | hotel / office |
Jin Mao Tower | Shanghai | 420.5 | 1999 | hotel / office |
Two International Finance Centre | Hong Kong | 412 | 2003 | office |
In total, 46 of the world’s 100 tallest skyscrapers are now located in China, and that number is sure to increase in coming years.
United Arab Emirates
Construction has been relentless in UAE for decades, and much of that development has been vertically-oriented. Today, Dubai is home to nearly 1,000 high-rise buildings, and there are 13 projects currently under construction that will hit or exceed the 300m mark.
UAE’s Top 10 Tallest Buildings
Building Name | City | Height (m) | Completed | Use |
---|---|---|---|---|
Burj Khalifa | Dubai | 828 | 2010 | hotel / res / office |
Marina 101 | Dubai | 425 | 2017 | residential / hotel |
Princess Tower | Dubai | 413.4 | 2012 | residential |
23 Marina | Dubai | 392.4 | 2012 | residential |
Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid | Abu Dhabi | 381.2 | 2014 | residential |
Elite Residence | Dubai | 380.5 | 2012 | residential |
The Address Boulevard | Dubai | 370 | 2017 | res / hotel / retail |
Almas Tower | Dubai | 360 | 2008 | office |
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Tower 1 | Dubai | 355.4 | 2012 | hotel |
JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai Tower 2 | Dubai | 355.4 | 2013 | hotel |
Russia
While the skylines of many European cities are conspicuously low-rise, an exception to that rule is in Moscow’s International Business Centre, where four 300m+ towers have been completed since 2012.
Russia’s Top 10 Tallest Buildings
Building Name | City | Height (m) | Completed | Use |
---|---|---|---|---|
Vostok Tower | Moscow | 373.8 | 2016 | residential / office |
OKO - Residential Tower | Moscow | 353.6 | 2015 | residential / hotel |
Mercury City Tower | Moscow | 338.8 | 2013 | residential / office |
Stalnaya Vershina | Moscow | 308.9 | 2015 | res / hotel / office |
Capital City Moscow Tower | Moscow | 301.8 | 2010 | residential |
Naberezhnaya Tower Block C | Moscow | 268.4 | 2007 | office |
Triumph Palace | Moscow | 264.1 | 2005 | residential / hotel |
Capital City St. Petersburg Tower | Moscow | 257.2 | 2010 | office |
Evolution Tower | Yekaterinburg | 246 | 2015 | residential |
Zapad Tower | Moscow | 242.5 | 2008 | residential / office |
What about the United States?
In the early 20th century, the United States was the undisputed champion of skyscraper construction, but that has tapered off dramatically. In fact, only six commercial towers over 300m have been constructed in the last 20 years.
The exception may be the city that started it all: New York. There are currently 30 skyscrapers under construction in NYC, fueled in part by a red-hot luxury real estate market.
America’s Top 10 Tallest Buildings (Under Construction)
Building Name | City | Height (m) | Target Date | Use |
---|---|---|---|---|
Central Park Tower | New York City | 472.4 | 2020 | res / hotel / retail |
111 West 57th Street | New York City | 435.3 | 2019 | residential |
One Vanderbilt | New York City | 427 | 2021 | office |
30 Hudson Yards | New York City | 386.6 | 2019 | office |
Vista Tower | Chicago | 362.9 | 2020 | residential / hotel |
Comcast Technology Center | Philadelphia | 341.7 | 2018 | office / hotel |
3 World Trade Center | New York City | 328.9 | 2018 | residential / hotel |
Salesforce Tower | San Francisco | 326.1 | 2018 | office |
9 DeKalb Avenue | New York City | 324.9 | 2020 | office |
53 West 53rd | New York City | 320 | 2019 | res / office / retail |
Philadelphia and San Francisco will soon have new additions to their skylines as Comcast and Saleforce complete their flagship construction projects. If current construction numbers are any indication, America’s love affair with the skyscraper may be reignited in urban centers across the country.
Misc
Charted: Car Brand Loyalty in 2024
This ranking of car brand loyalty shows what percentage of owners would buy from the same brand for their next vehicle.
Car Brand Loyalty in 2024
This was originally posted on our Voronoi app. Download the app for free on iOS or Android and discover incredible data-driven charts from a variety of trusted sources.
This graphic visualizes the best and worst car brands in terms of brand loyalty. This is measured by the % of current owners who would buy from the same brand for their next vehicle.
Data comes from Consumer Reports’ owner satisfaction survey, which includes responses from owners of more than 330,000 vehicles.
Car Brands With the Most Loyal Customers
Rivian takes the top spot in this ranking, with 86% of owners saying they would buy from the brand again. The EV startup has carved an interesting niche for itself with its outdoor adventure-focused models, and despite several recalls, appears to have won the hearts of its early customers.
Company | % who would buy again |
---|---|
🇺🇸 Rivian | 86 |
🇩🇪 Mini | 77 |
🇩🇪 BMW | 76 |
🇩🇪 Porsche | 76 |
🇺🇸 Tesla | 74 |
🇰🇷 Genesis | 73 |
🇯🇵 Lexus | 73 |
🇯🇵 Subaru | 70 |
It’s interesting to note that Tesla held the #1 spot in last year’s ranking.
Car Brands With the Least Loyal Customers
At the other end of the spectrum we have brands with the least loyal customers, suggesting that owners are less satisfied with their purchase.
Company | % who would buy again |
---|---|
🇺🇸 Cadillac | 61 |
🇺🇸 Chrysler | 60 |
🇩🇪 Mercedes-Benz | 59 |
🇩🇪 Audi | 59 |
🇺🇸 Jeep | 58 |
🇯🇵 Nissan | 55 |
🇩🇪 Volkswagen | 51 |
🇯🇵 Infiniti | 43 |
At the bottom of this table is Nissan’s luxury marque, Infiniti, with only 43% of owners saying they would revisit the brand for their next car.
Infiniti dealerships are aware of this alarming trend, and have attributed it to the brand’s aging lineup. In a recent interview, Steve Lapin, Chairman of the Infiniti National Dealer Advisory Board, said: “Product is king. Infiniti doesn’t have the right products right now to compete in the marketplace.”
Interested in learning more about the automotive industry? Check out this graphic, which ranks the world’s top 10 exporters of automotive products.
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