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* Burj Dubai launch sale business suites

Emaar officials tight-lipped on its fina1 height which can be changed even when construction is under way

Dubai Burj Dubai, the world's tallest man-made structure, will soon invite selected global corporations and leading business houses to purchase exclusive suites, to be located on floors 112 to 189.

These suites will host some of the most important corporate leaders, who will run businesses literally from the 'top of the world'.

These will be some of the world's most exclusive business suites ever built, Emaar officials said. The prices of the suites have not yet been revealed.

Though its height has so far been a well-kept secret .Burj Dubai will have at least 189 floors, according to presentation model at the Burj Dubai sales centre.

Robert Booth, Emaar Properties executive director, said on Monday, The construction has been planned in such a way, that we will be able to , change its height while the constructien is in progress." Transporting people vertically in an efficient and smooth way, while keeping the privacy of hotel guests, residents, corporate officials as well' as access to the public to the building's facility, has been a logistics . challenge for the planners.

Hotel guests, residents and office tenants will have separate entries to the elevators and access points to the tower.
However, 50 elevators will carry people to the 'Sky Lobby', located on the 112th floor - where visitors to the corporate suites will- gain access to special elevators. it will take. a visitor just under a minute to reach the 112th floor from the ground.

Emaar will soon invite selected global corporations to purchase corporate suites - an exclusive community of the world's top companies.

Samsung Corporation is construdung the building along with BeSix and Arabtec.

The structure is being constructed on an 80,O00 square foot, 6.7 metre thick rough slab, which holds together 192 50-metre deep piles.
From April 15, a floor will be added every three days. The project will be completed in 2008. Burj, Dubai will employ high performance exterior cladding system to withstand the extreme weather.

Primary materials include reflective glazing, aluminum and textured stainless steel spandrel panels and the Viertical stainless tubular, fins accentuating the height and the slenderness of the tower will be used.

The top of the building will sway about 1.5 metres each way, but the residents won't feel or notice it since there is no reference point.

Every 25 floors, Burj will have a 'refuge area' for emergencies., The building's mechanical, electrid1 and plumbing (MEP) tender has Dot yet been issued.

Emaar, officials hinted, they will invite MEP bids before the end of this year which will address a number of operational is sues.

Inspiration
, "The tower design created by celebrity architect Adrian Smith for Chicagobased Skidmore, Owing5 and Merrill (SOM) is inspired by the geometries of the desert flower and the !' patterning systems em" ployed in Islamic architecture.

"It combines' these historical and cultural influences with cutting edge technology to achieve, high performance building which will set a few standard for development ir the Middle East and become the model for the future of the city of Dubai,' Booth said.

When completed Bur Dubai will hold the record in all four categories as recognised by the New York-based global authority -Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat highest structure, roof, an tenna and.occupied floor.

(Source:Gulf News)