100 super-tall skyscrapers in all

With the completion of 432 Park Avenue in Manhattan, New York, the world officially has 100 ‘super-tall’ skyscrapers. The number of super-tall buildings being constructed in the recent years has increased at an astounding rate, indicating the tremendous growth of the tall building industry globally.

The total number of super-tall buildings has doubled from 50 to 100 in just five years. While majority of new super-tall skyscrapers have come up in Asia and the Middle East, New York has remained a favourite for super-tall construction in the Americas. With this  recent completion, New York now has the second highest number of super-tall skyscrapers in the world after Dubai.

The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) officially confirmed 432 Park Avenue’s completion date as December 23, 2015, as this was when the first owners closed on their residences and the building met CTBUH’s final criterion for completion — that the building be at least partially occupied.

At 425.5 metres, it is the tallest all-residential building and the 14th tallest overall. It is remarkable not just for its extreme height, but also for its slenderness. The tower typifies the ‘super-slim’ typology that has been made possible by advances in lateral resistance technology.

Super-tall construction is poised to remain strong in the coming years.  According to CTBUH data, there are well over 100 super-tall skyscrapers topped out or under construction that are scheduled to be completed in the next five to six years. With super-tall skyscrapers becoming common, many look to the ‘mega-tall’ (600 metres and above) as the new frontier.