Who designed Burj Khalifa, and how does its structure work?

Updated 9 October 2026

The short answer

Skidmore, Owings and Merrill designed Burj Khalifa, with Adrian Smith as chief architect and Bill Baker as structural engineer. The 828 meter tower has a Y-shaped plan around a six-sided core, so each wing braces the others. SOM says the shape draws on a regional desert flower and Islamic patterns. Checked 9 October 2026.

Key facts

Design architect: Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (Adrian Smith)
Structural engineer: SOM (Bill Baker)
Plan shape: Y-shaped, three wings around a six-sided core (SOM)
Structure: Concrete for most of the height with a steel top (CTBUH: "steel over concrete"); the exact level is not confirmed
Wind testing: About two years of wind tunnel tests at RWDI, Ontario, Canada (BNP Media, 2010)
Gross building area: 454,249 m2 (SOM)

What inspired the shape of Burj Khalifa?

SOM, the architects, say the design draws on the geometry of a regional desert flower and on patterns found in Islamic architecture. Wikipedia names the flower as Hymenocallis, but we found that name only in secondary sources, not from SOM or Emaar.

Why is the plan shaped like a Y?

SOM says the Y-shaped plan reduces wind forces and makes the tower easier to build. The three wings surround a six-sided central core, and each wing supports the other two. SOM calls this a buttressed core. As the tower rises, the wings step back in a spiral, so the shape changes as you go up. Sources give different counts for the number of setbacks, so we do not state one.

How does Burj Khalifa handle the wind?

The tower was tested in wind tunnels at RWDI in Ontario, Canada, for about two years, from six wind directions, according to BNP Media (August 2010). The design was rotated 120 degrees to face the noses of the wings into the wind. Gulf News reports that a damper was planned as a backup but did not seem to be needed.

What is the outside of the tower made of?

SOM describes a high-performance curtain wall that cuts heat gain in summer. BNP Media adds low-emission, anti-glare glass and stainless steel mullions. About 26,000 glass panels cover the tower (Guinness World Records). Published figures for the total glass area disagree, so we leave the area out.

Common questions

Who was the architect of Burj Khalifa?

Adrian Smith, then at Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM), was the chief architect. Bill Baker of SOM was the chief structural engineer.

Why is Burj Khalifa Y-shaped?

SOM says the Y-shaped plan reduces wind forces and makes the tower easier to build. The three wings brace a six-sided central core.

Sources

Ask

Ask a question about the tower

One message is enough. We reply by WhatsApp, phone or email, and there is no pressure to book anything.

Prefer WhatsApp?Message us on WhatsApp