#1: Connections with the Burj Khalifa

http://www.gkpass.com/zb_users/upload/2013/5/2013050862057021.jpg

This is a picture that was taken in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.. It captures the Burj Khalifa and the surrounding buildings in downtown Dubai. Burj Khalifa is the tallest man-made structure in the world (2,722 ft tall). I find the organization of the architecture, design, and infrastructure inspiring, as well as the actual construction of the building mind-boggling. The engineering that went into building this structure is insane, and a new structural system even had to be developed to support the weight of the building. It was both fascinating and motivating to watch a building of this magnitude be constructed in front of my own eyes, and has always put me in awe as to how something as tall as the Burj Khalifa could be constructed. It motivates me to eventually become an engineer that can make such an impact on the world, since that has been my goal in life for as long as I can remember.

Not only do I have a strong connection with the engineering of the building, but also with the idea of the building itself. This building has now become an iconic landmark of Dubai, the city where I was born and raised. Over the years, I have witnessed the transformation and development of the city that no one knew about 10 years ago. The city used to be not much of a city at all, with only a few luxury buildings located in a vast desert. Now, almost everyone knows what Dubai is as a result of its innovative tourist attractions and beautiful architecture. What inspires me most is how the development of this city has increased awareness of the city that is home to me.