Future Tallest Building in the World – Tallest Planned Buildings

All throughout human history, humanity has strived to create bigger and better structures than the generations that preceded them. Buildings are no exception, and it seems every year there are taller skyscrapers under construction around the world. But, what are the tallest buildings under construction presently? Let us take a closer look at the current tallest planned buildings, and find out what will be the future tallest building in the world.

What Is the Future Tallest Building in the World?

Keeping up to date with the tallest buildings under construction is a tricky undertaking. Some of the tallest planned buildings are still in the design phase, and a few never make it past that point. Others get built and then abandoned during construction due to running out of funds or political reasons. Some make it to completion, only to be met with a poor public reception and low tenant occupation. There are no guarantees when it comes to building skyscrapers, yet, population growth and continuous urban development results in the need for structures that can house many people within a small footprint.

Central Park Skyline (New York, United States of America); Fletcher, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Therefore, every year we see many new skyscrapers under construction on city skylines across the world. In fact, most of the supertall skyscrapers we see today were created in the last 20 years – and it is a trend that does not seem to be slowing down any time soon. At the exponential rate at which the tallest planned buildings are being constructed, chances are that this list will already have changed by the time you read this article! So, without further ado, let us discover the future tallest building in the world. We will be listing them in ascending order of height, so stick around until the of the article to find out which is the tallest! Also, check our article where you can see the actual tallest buildings in the world.

Forma Toronto (Toronto, Canada) – 308 Meters

The Forma Toronto will be the tallest residential structure ever designed by Frank Gehry, the renowned architect. The structure will comprise two towers, the tallest of which exceeds the 300-meter threshold required to be considered a supertall skyscraper by eight meters. The towers will house the Ontario College of Art and Design’s extension campus as well as various luxury condominiums. The two towers will be characterized by their incorporation of two material schemes for the facade, creating a juxtaposed aesthetic. One of the schemes is reflective, smooth glass, while the other is a cladding made of stainless steel that seems to ripple due to the sculptural folds of the surface. 

To further highlight the contrasting visual effect, strips of glazing have been inserted between the blocks.

The Spiral (New York City, United States) – 314 Meters

As part of the Hudson Yards project, the building was initially going to be called the Hudson Spire when it was first conceptualized in 2014. It was then marketed as the Western Hemisphere’s tallest building. It will serve as the office for several high-profile companies, as well as the headquarters for Pfizer. The pharmaceutical company will take up 14 of the building’s floors. The building gets its name from the steeped terraces that spiral around the building, ensuring that every level of the building features a landscaped outdoor space accessible to everyone on that floor. The building offers office spaces with access to restaurants and conference rooms within the building.

The Spiral (New York City, United States); King of Hearts, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Waldorf Astoria Miami (Miami, United States) – 320 Meters

Comprising 100 floors, The Waldorf Astoria Miami will be the city’s very first supertall building. At around 320 meters in height, it will measure 20 meters more than the threshold that determines whether a structure is regarded as “supertall”. It has a rather unique architectural design that looks like square blocks that have haphazardly been stacked on top of each other without much concern for symmetry, defying the laws of gravity and affording each block a different view of the surroundings. The structure will house both private residences and a five-star hotel. The interiors will be designed by Bamo studio which is based in San Francisco. The upper cubes will house the amenities such as the restaurants, while a parking structure takes up the first 10 floors of the building. 

The Waldorf Astoria Miami will also feature a fitness center, spa, pool, and conference spaces.

A District Tower (Tokyo, Japan) – 330 Meters

A District Tower topped out at 330 meters in April 2022, making it the tallest building in Japan. Despite not yet being complete, it has reached its full height and is set to be done in 2023 at some point. It will house luxury residences, research and medical centers, schools, retail outlets, and large-scale office spaces. The building’s schools will include The British School in Tokyo and will be able to host 700 students within a campus that comprises 8 floors. The building will also feature earthquake resistance systems, as well as emergency elevator and generator systems. Construction on the building began in 2019, and when complete, it will be the most prominent feature of the city.

Azrieli Tower (Tel Aviv, Israel) – 340 Meters

The tower’s facade is made of spiraling glass that looks like a scroll that is unfurling. When complete, it is going to be Israel’s tallest building, beating the current record-holder, Azrieli Sarona Tower (238 meters). The tower forms part of a larger complex of buildings and malls known as Azrieli Center. The bottom part of the unfurling scroll will wrap around an existing retail complex at its base. By wrapping around this existing structure, it is believed that the four towers that comprise the center will be aesthetically unified. The center will also feature a platform for Jerusalem’s high-speed rail, bike lanes, and metro station. 

The architects for the project are no novices, having already built the western hemisphere’s tallest infinity pool and the world’s fourth-tallest skyscraper.

Azrieli Tower (Tel Aviv, Israel); Maor X, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

STH BNK By Beulah (Southbank, Australia) – 356 Meters

STH BNK By Beulah is not just the firm’s most ambitious endeavor; it is also one of the most aspirational projects ever attempted in Australia. The Victorian State Government formally issued the green light to this $2 billion project, which is slated to become the tallest skyscraper in Australia and revitalize the region for both present and future generations, after unanimous support from the Future Melbourne Committee. This completely transformational project will serve a variety of roles, ranging from residences to retail outlets and commercial spaces, all with the objective of enriching Melbourne’s civic life through comprehensive programs of cultural innovation. The structure will feature a twisting design incorporating two towers with a facade of green terraces on the sides of the towers directly facing each other. At the top of the structure will be botanic gardens that will be open to the public.

Nanjing Greenland Jinmao International Financial Center (Nanjing, China) – 499 Meters

In October 2021, the Chinese government issued a new height restriction on all buildings that are yet to be constructed. With the restriction limit set at 500 meters, the designers of Nanjing Greenland Jinmao International Financial Center decided to build the structure to a height of 499.8 meters. A prominent feature of the building’s architecture – the structural arches – is said to play multiple functions. Not only do they contribute to the overall structural efficiency of the building, but they also evoke the curving gateways of the ancient city walls of Nanjing. 

The restriction was put in place due to the environmental impact and energy consumption of supertall structures.

Merdeka 118 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) – 680 Meters

The site of this supertall structure was once a grassy piece of land on Petaling Hill known as Merdeka park where families would come and spend the day, surrounded by various outdoor arenas and sporting facilities. It was then turned into an outdoor car park, but will soon be home to the second-tallest skyscraper in the world! Although it is still under construction, it was topped out in 2022, thus becoming the tallest structure in all of Southeast Asia. Merdeka 118 will comprise five floors of hotel residences, 12 floors of hotel rooms, 83 floors of offices, and another 100 floors of rentable spaces.

Merdeka 118 (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) under Construction; Shesmax, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

It also features two observation decks – one in the spire and one in the building – and its observatory floor is ranked the highest in Southeast Asia. The variation in designs of the building’s glass facades is meant to symbolize Malaysia’s diversity. The construction of the building led to public criticism over the expenditure of funds that they feel could have been put to better use improving the city’s healthcare and education facilities.

Jeddah Tower (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia) – 1,000 meters

Touted as the king of all skyscrapers under construction, some wonder if perhaps the emperor wears no clothes. Construction first began 10 years ago in 2013, and as of yet, no one seems to have any idea when it will be complete. Construction had been progressing steadily until 2018 when it came to a grinding halt to due labor disputes.

Since then, there has been little to no further work carried out at the site, leading many to question if this attempt will end up being nothing but a very expensive mistake.

Jeddah Tower (Jeddah, Saudi Arabia); Ammar shaker, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

However, if they do manage to pull it off, we will be witness to one of humanity’s greatest architectural achievements. There is certainly nothing in the design that can prevent it from being built as it was designed by Adrian Smith, the same person who was the architect for another record-breaking supertall structure, the Burj Khalifa. However, if the lack of activity on the site (revealed by updated satellite images) is anything to go by, we could still be waiting a while for its completion.

That completes our list of the tallest buildings under construction today. Incredibly, the future tallest building in the world is just over double the height of the other tallest planned buildings. Whether it will ever be completed is left to be seen, as based on satellite images, there has been no further progress at the site for the last three years. However, we wouldn’t be surprised if another structure comes along to take its place very soon. When it comes to human architecture, it often seems that the sky is the limit!

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is the Future Tallest Building in the World?

At the moment, the record for the tallest building is held by the Burj Khalifa at a height of 830 meters. The Jeddah Tower, on the other hand, is set to rise up to more than 1,000 meters! It will take a long time to accomplish such a feat, though, and work already began in 2013. However, in 2018, things slowed down due to labor disputes. As of yet, there has been no further progress on the site.

What Stops Designers from Building Very Tall Buildings?

Architects need to work within certain limitations due to a multitude of factors. The taller the structure, the bigger its footprint, and there is not always enough ground space available to create the needed foundations. Additionally, the larger the building, the greater the energy resources required, which has a negative impact on the environment.

Justin van Huyssteen( Novelist, Academic and Educator )

Justin van Huyssteen is a freelance writer, novelist, and academic originally from Cape Town, South Africa. At present, he has a bachelor’s degree in English and literary theory and an honor’s degree in literary theory. He is currently working towards his master’s degree in literary theory with a focus on animal studies, critical theory, and semiotics within literature. As a novelist and freelancer, he often writes under the pen name L.C. Lupus.

Justin’s preferred literary movements include modern and postmodern literature with literary fiction and genre fiction like sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, and horror being of particular interest. His academia extends to his interest in prose and narratology. He enjoys analyzing a variety of mediums through a literary lens, such as graphic novels, film, and video games.

Justin is working for artincontext.org as an author and content writer since 2022. He is responsible for all blog posts about architecture, literature and poetry.

Learn more about Justin van Huyssteen and the Art in Context Team.