Citizens of St. Petersburg are protesting a decision by city officials to permit the construction of what would be one of the world's tallest buildings. The skyscraper, to house energy company Gazprom, would be built overlooking the historic downtown founded by Peter the Great in 1703. The planned glass needle-like tower would rise to 1322 feet (403 meters). The AFP has the story.
In other tall building news, the Burj Dubai building in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (pictured), is scheduled to open sometime this year and, upon operation, it will be ranked as the world's tallest building, moving the Taipei 101 tower to second place.
Earlier this year, the Sears Tower (the fifth tallest building) was renamed the Willis Tower after the London-based insurance broker Willis Group Holdings, Ltd. Sears actually lost their naming rights in 2003.
And finally, also from Chicago, the recently completed Trump International Hotel & Tower is now ranked as the world's seventh tallest building.
Image: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images
Comments
Why not include the International Commerce Centre in Hong Kong? While not yet finished, it should be the tallest building until the Burj Dubai is completed. In either case I believe it will move to second place after that.