Every year, we always hear the news that there are always new super high-rise buildings that beat the old super high-rise buildings. Even though it’s equally super-sized, will we stop sometime? Is there a limit to how tall buildings can get?
Although there are no exact figures yet. But, according to one expert’s calculations, the tallest building we can build is a meter taller than Mount Everest. Even if it’s in its shape, it won’t be what we usually imagine it to be. Surely it’s because of the many challenges that we have to face, to establish these super high-rise buildings.
Here Comes The Challenges
Wind
One of those challenges is the wind. The pleasant breeze that we feel below, can feel very strong up there. Of course, this can be very bad. Therefore, like a tree, a super tall building can also swing when there is a strong wind. That is the reason why super tall buildings must be made with very strong foundations and also very strong core structures that can withstand strong winds.
Elevator
Another challenge is… Elevator. Because without elevators, it’s useless to build a super high-rise, because stairs are not an option in a 150-story building. Okay, so even though it sounds trivial, in fact until now, elevator cables can only lift weights within a maximum distance of 600 meters. More than that, the elevator cable will fall due to its weight. Therefore, for a super tall building, we have to switch elevators to be able to go up.
And then, of course, we can’t plot another super tall building, and we can make an even bigger version because that building is going to collapse by its weight. Therefore, we need a much lighter building material and a very solid structure for us to be able to build even higher.
The Cost
Then, even though all these challenges can be faced, another big challenge is… The cost. Establishing a super high-rise must be very expensive. For example, the tallest building when this article was made, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, cost 1.5 billion U.S. Dollars, and we can buy 5 million Lamborghini cars with that sum of money.
However, none of those challenges prevented our ambition to continue to build even higher. In a few years, the Kingdom Tower in Saudi Arabia will be the first building to have a height of 1 kilometer. Followed by other development projects, which our country will probably also soon build off. Not to mention, designs that are arguably crazy and unreasonable to build, but who knows, maybe one day, we’ll finally have enough technology to build them.
Up, up.. Away
Then, can we still build higher than that? Could be. Back again, is there a limit to how tall buildings can get if we build a space elevator. Although it sounds impossible, which is making an elevator that penetrates space, in studies, space elevators are very likely to be made with the technology of the future. And If it’s made, perhaps, this space elevator, it’s going to be the tallest object, ever made by us, as human beings. Wow! Unbelievable! Thank you.
