As the Burj Khalifa is prepared for a spectacular opening on January 4, its builders will hark back to the difficult structural engineering challenges that they had to address and resolve to complete the super-tall project.
"This is a first-of-its-kind project in the world and we are excited and proud to be part of history. This is a project that people from all over the world will really appreciate," says George J. Efstathiou, Managing Partner of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), the project design and structural engineering contractor of Burj Dubai.
Designing the Burj was an evolving experience, adds Bill Baker, chief structural engineer of Burj Khalifa and partner in charge of structural and civil engineering for the Chicago and London offices of SOM.
