CHANGING THE SKYSCRAPER RACE

As the world's tallest buildings reach toward the 3000 ft. mark and beyond, the pursuit of height might give way to practicality. From Dubai to Taipei and Chicago to Boston, the engineers of budding superstructures get plenty of attention for the tale of the tape. But as some of the field's leaders tell PM, they are also beginning to install new technology that will increase safety in skyscrapers currently on the rise. It's not all about civic virtue, either. "In order to be economical in designing buildings at these extreme heights, you have to look at the constructability, controlling the wind forces and the structural efficiency," says William Baker, the lead engineer for the Burj Dubai tower (pictured above) at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP. Those demands have already translated into new construction designs and next-gen materials that, however unheralded, will help keep future megatowers safe during construction, everyday use and disaster.