How tall can we go

[BertiWooster]

I remember someone asking the question ( on the radio/television - i think ) - '' is there a limit as to the height to which a skyscraper can be built ?

The answer was given in the form of a question , which was - '' what's the limit of your budget ''

Is that really the case ?

[wildwood]

Probably.

In reality, the highest level possible will never be reached. The building cost will dictate the maximum height. The highest one being built now is going to be over 1km high. The immense structural integrity required to support that one must surely already borders on the edge of economical viability.
Going much higher will push the cost per level up beyond commercially acceptable and the 'we have the highest one' pride can only go so far.

[fo3nix]

There's no physical limitation, only limitations of our current technology.

For example, concrete (even steel reinforced) can hold a lot of weight. But above a certain height, the forces on the concrete at the bottom of a tower will become immense.

This is just a technological limitation though. Other materials will be able to hold greater loads.

But as wildwood says, it's all going to cost a lot of money, which is why there is a sort of pseudo limitation.

[R1Geezer]

I saw a documentary about 10 years ago that said the technology and materials exist (then) to build a mile high. The limiing factor is cost rather than ability.

[steveb]

I could be wrong here but dont we have the technical capability to build a "space elevator" at the moment? with the top being in a geostationary orbit? we're just prevented from doing so by financial constraits

[north star]

My understanding was the height was restricted by the number of lifts you would need to adequately service all the floors. Too tall, and too much of the buildings physical volume was required in 'lifts', hence less revenue /m height.

[BertiWooster]

Would anyone be happy to work in a building ( at the top , or near the top ) that is over 1 km high ?

I get dizzy looking out of my upstairs bedroom window .

[mollykins]

You can't make a building made out of pure ice more than two storeys high.


Sorry that was random but i learnt it months ago and so far there hasn't been a suitable time to mention it and i can't post it as a question because i know why; (kind of)

the weight of the above storeys is enough to melt to bottom ice. (i think) Or the pressure squashes it down.

please correct me if i'm wrong.