The World's New Tallest Building May Not Be the World's Tallest Building

To determine how tall the tallest building is, spires and occupied space must be considered.

1 minute read

December 23, 2003, 8:00 AM PST

The the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat is the authority on what building is the tallest. The New Freedom Tower, despite its advertising of being the world's tallest, may not actually be considered such. The occupied space stops at 1,150 ft., the building superstructure itself at 1,500 ft, and the spire at 1,776 ft. "In other words, about one-third of the Freedom Tower will be more of a structural framework than a habitable building." John Lumea of the Phoenix Project, said, "The world's tallest building moniker is a shibboleth of feel-good boosterism perpetrated by rebuilding officials who have nothing else to offer the public but a P.R. campaign."

Thanks to Adam Weiss

FULL STORY: The Tallest Building in the World: It's a Boast That Invites an Argument

Saturday, December 20, 2003 in The New York Times

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