With construction resuming on the world’s tallest skyscraper in Saudi Arabia, we take a look at ten record-breaking towers that have redefined architectural limits. From the tallest residential building to the world’s longest cantilever, these skyscrapers stand as engineering marvels.
According to the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH), the number of skyscrapers exceeding 200 meters has steadily increased. Over the past 11 years, more than 100 buildings of this height have been completed worldwide.
Below are ten record-setting skyscrapers from the USA, China, Japan, Brazil, and beyond.
1. Central Park Tower – Tallest Residential Skyscraper (2020)
📍 New York City, USA | 472 meters (1,550 feet)
Designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill, Central Park Tower surpasses Rafael Viñoly’s 432 Park Avenue as the world’s tallest residential building. Located along Billionaire’s Row, it houses luxury condominiums, a hotel, and retail spaces.
2. 2 Murray Road – Most Expensive Skyscraper Plot (2024)
📍 Hong Kong | 36 storeys
Zaha Hadid Architects designed this futuristic skyscraper on what is reportedly the world’s most expensive land plot, valued at HK$23.3 billion (£2.3 billion). Inspired by the Bauhinia flower, the tower connects to Hong Kong’s raised pedestrian network.
3. The Link – Longest Cantilever (2024)
📍 Dubai, UAE | 67.5 meters long
Designed by Japanese firm Nikken Sekkei, this engineering marvel features a record-breaking cantilever that extends between two towers in the One Za’abeel development, surpassing Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands observation deck.
4. Winthrop Center – Largest Passive House Office (2024)
📍 Boston, USA | 210 meters (691 feet)
Handel Architects designed the world’s largest Passive House-certified office building, spanning 167,000 square meters. With 21 office floors meeting strict sustainability standards, it also includes residential and retail spaces.
5. Ascent – Tallest Timber Skyscraper (2022)
📍 Milwaukee, USA | 25 storeys
Korb + Associates Architects created this eco-friendly skyscraper, which holds the record for the tallest mass-timber building. Its design incorporates cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glulam while using concrete for its base and core.
6. 111 West 57th Street – Skinniest Skyscraper (2022)
📍 New York City, USA | 435 meters (1,428 feet)
Nicknamed the “Steinway Tower,” this residential skyscraper by SHoP Architects holds the record for the world’s slimmest skyscraper with a height-to-width ratio of 24:1, far exceeding the slenderness threshold of 1:10.
7. Mori JP Tower – Tallest Skyscraper in Japan (2024)
📍 Tokyo, Japan | 330 meters (1,083 feet)
Designed by Pelli Clarke & Partners, Mori JP Tower is Japan’s first supertall skyscraper. It forms part of the Azabudai Hills district, which also features a green-focused development by Heatherwick Studio.
8. Leeza Soho – Tallest Atrium (2019)
📍 Beijing, China | 45 storeys
Zaha Hadid Architects designed this striking tower with the world’s tallest atrium. Spanning the entire height of the building, the glass atrium visually connects two halves of the skyscraper while accommodating an underground subway station.
9. Yachthouse – Tallest Skyscraper in Brazil (2024)
📍 Balneário Camboriú, Brazil | 294 meters (964 feet)
Designed by Italian studio Pininfarina, this twin-tower structure is Brazil’s tallest building and the second tallest in South America. Although just shy of the 300-meter mark, it dominates the skyline of its coastal city.
10. Burj Khalifa – Tallest Building in the World (2010)
📍 Dubai, UAE | 828 meters (2,717 feet)
Designed by Adrian Smith while at SOM, the Burj Khalifa remains the tallest building globally. Its completion cemented Dubai’s status as a global architectural leader and set the benchmark for future skyscrapers.
These groundbreaking skyscrapers continue to push the limits of innovation, setting new records in architecture and engineering. Which of these fascinates you the most? Let us know in the comments!