A look at the world’s tall skyscrapers
FILE - This combination made from file photos shows Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, in Chicago on March 12, 2008, left, and 1 World Trade Center in New York on Sept. 5, 2013. The new World Trade Center tower in New York knocked Chicago's Willis Tower off its pedestal as the nation's tallest building when an international panel of architects announced Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013, that the needle atop the skyscraper can be counted when measuring the structure's height. (AP Photos/File)
FILE - In this May 10, 2013 file photo, the silver spire topping 1 World Trade Center is fully installed on the building's roof, bringing the structure to its full, symbolic height of 1,776 feet in New York. The new World Trade Center tower in New York knocked Chicago's Willis Tower off its pedestal as the nation's tallest building when an international panel of architects announced Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013 that the needle atop the skyscraper can be counted when measuring the structure's height. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
FILE - In this Nov. 8, 2013 file photo, the beacon and spire of 1 World Trade Center are lit up, as seen from The Heights neighborhood of Jersey City, N.J. The new World Trade Center tower in New York knocked Chicago's Willis Tower off its pedestal as the nation's tallest building when an international panel of architects announced Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013 that the needle atop the skyscraper can be counted when measuring the structure's height. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)
CHICAGO >> The world’s tallest skyscrapers tower above cities around the world. Eight of the 10 tallest are scattered throughout the Middle East and Asia in cities including Dubai, Taipei and Hong Kong. Two are in the United States — the Willis Tower in Chicago and One World Trade Center in New York.
Today, an international panel of architects announced that the monument to those killed in the Sept. 11 attacks would become the tallest building in the United States, surpassing Chicago’s skyscraper. The Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat ruled that the needle atop One World Trade Center can be counted when measuring the structure’s height, also making it the third tallest building in the world when it is completed.
Ranking these tall buildings — and the rest of the world’s tallest structures — is more mind-bending than one might think. Lists can vary depending, for example, on whether you count the broadcast antennas on top or whether you’re judging them by highest usable floor.
Here is a photo gallery of the 10 tallest buildings in the world, according to the Chicago-based council’s classification of “architectural height.” This includes spires, but not antennas, signs, flagpoles or other functional-technical equipment.
Dubai’s Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world at 2,717 feet. With today’s decision, the Willis Tower will be the 10th tallest after One World Trade Center opens, according to the council.
