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What is the tallest building in the world?

As of 1996 the tallest building in the world is made up of the twin Petronas towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, both of which measure 1,483 feet high. The competition for tallest building began in 1930 when the seventy-five story Chrysler Building (William Van Alen, architect) went up in New York City, breaking the previous record of twenty stories. By 1931 the 102-story Empire State Building (architects Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon) surpassed the Chrysler Building and held on to the title for over forty years. The World Trade Center in New York City broke the record in 1972, but was quickly surpassed two years later by the Sears Tower of Chicago, which held the title until 1996. The Petronas Towers in Malaysia are just thirty-three feet taller than the Sears Tower.

Further Information: Empire State Building. [Online] Available

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