The Empire State Building was constructed in just 410 days during the Depression — and only 5 workers died, half what the equivalent project would have killed today. From Chicago's 1885 Home Insurance Building (the first true skyscraper at 10 stories) to Dubai's 828-meter Burj Khalifa, the race for the sky has driven a century and a half of engineering breakthroughs, daring design, and civic pride.
Each round presents 10 randomized questions from a pool of 50, with four multiple-choice options and instant feedback after every answer. Your final score comes with a performance tier and shareable results.
You'll explore Burj Khalifa and the supertall era, NYC art deco classics like the Empire State and Chrysler Buildings, the famous Petronas-Sears spire dispute, Taipei 101's 660-ton tuned mass damper, and Fazlur Khan's tubular structural systems that made modern supertalls possible.
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai is the world's tallest building at 828 meters (2,717 ft) with 163 floors. It opened on January 4, 2010, and was designed by Adrian Smith of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM).
Burj Khalifa officially opened on January 4, 2010, after roughly six years of construction. It surpassed Taipei 101 to become the world's tallest building and remains in the top spot today.
The Empire State Building stands 381 meters (1,250 ft) to its roof and 443 meters (1,454 ft) to the tip of its antenna. It held the title of world's tallest building for 40 years, from 1931 to 1971.
Last updated: May 2026