By Elizabeth Broomhall www.constructionweekonline.com
The world’s tallest building, the 828m Burj Khalifa, just missed out on a prize of EUR 50,000 (US$70,500) for environmental innovation in the heart of a major global city.
The International Highrise Award, handed out every two years by the German city of Frankfurt and DekaBank, saw Dubai’s most iconic structure shortlisted alongside the Aqua Tower in Chicago, Shanghai’s World Financial Center and the Gakuen Cocoon Tower in Tokyo.
Winner of the award was Bangkok’s 230-metre, 370-apartment tower The Met, completed in 2009 and designed by Singapore architects WOHA in association with Bangkok-based Tandem Architects.
It was cited for “sustainable living conditions in this tropical region without recourse to air conditioning,” according to a statement.
The Burj Khalifa, designed by awarding architects Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), was however, given “a special commendation for technical innovation” by the judges, presided by 2008 winners Spencer de Grey of London-based architects Foster + Partners.
