Last of 24,348 panels will be installed in next few weeks

The final cladding panel for the Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building, has been completed. Due to be installed in the next few weeks, the panel will be the last of the building’s 24,348 panels. The 6m-long glass, aluminium and steel panel will be installed at the bottom of Burj Dubai’s spire.

The main materials used in the building’s cladding are reflective glazing, aluminium mullions and textured steel spandrels with vertical stainless steel tubular fins. The cladding is designed to accentuate the Burj Dubai’s height, make it shimmer and look super-slender. Panels of more than 18 different strength specifications and over 200 sizes are being used in the project, all of them double-glazed and factory-sealed.

Arabian Aluminium Company, a member of Al Ghurair Construction Industries LLC, started work on the exterior cladding of Burj in April 2007. It will transport the final panel to the site ready for installation in the coming weeks.


Final cladding panel for the Burj Dubai

The main materials used in the cladding are reflective glazing, aluminium mullions and textured steel spandrels with vertical stainless steel tubular fins. The cladding is designed to accentuate the Burj Dubai’s height, make it shimmer and look super-slender. Panels of more than 18 different strength specifications and over 200 sizes are being used in the project, all of them double-glazed and factory-sealed.

The Burj Dubai will open three months late, in December instead of September, as was originally planned, according to local press reports.

The reason for the delay is unclear, but it is thought building work was suspended on the tower for several weeks earlier this year.

The Burj is thought to have topped out earlier this year at 818m. The tower, by developer Emaar, is part of the 73.4bn dirham ($19.98bn) Downtown Burj Dubai scheme.