Concrete has always been a useful material, but as architecture and architectural design have evolved, it has increasingly become the material of choice for a variety of structures and uses.

From the traditional strength of concrete dams to the acoustical performance of concrete concert halls, we take a look at some of the biggest, best and most innovative concrete buildings in the world.

1. Burj Khalifa, Dubai.

Widely accepted as the tallest man-made structure in the world, at 2,717 feet (828 m) tall, it spans more than 160 stories.

It has set several records: world's tallest occupied structure, world's longest elevator, world's highest occupied floor, and more.

In total, he used some 370,000 cubic meters of concrete, of which 45,000 were used for the foundation alone. The building took five years to complete and opened in January 2010.

2. Causeway Bridge, Louisiana in USA

Completed in 1956, the bridge spans Lake Pontchartrain and actually consists of two bridges spanning the lake. The longer of the two spans nearly 24 miles, making it the longest overwater bridge in the world.

The bridges are supported by more than 9,000 concrete piles, even though it is only 16 feet above the water level. It's also known as one of the most intimidating bridges because once you've driven 8 miles, you can't see land in any direction.

3. Greater Dixons, Switzerland.

Grand Dixence is one of the largest concrete structures in the world and is undoubtedly the highest dam in the world at 285 meters high and uses 6 million cubic meters of concrete.
As a gravity dam, the material has been carefully selected to withstand over 400 billion cubic meters of water pressure with just the strength and weight of concrete.

But that is not the only purpose. It also powers 4 power plants with the hydroelectric power it produces. In fact, it produces so much energy that it can power up to 400,000 homes.

4. Konzerthaus Blaibach, Germany.

The building does not look like any other concrete room, as it is a simple concrete block half buried in the ground. The entrance is a concrete staircase under the inclined block that leads to the underground reception area with bar and then to the concert hall.

The building's architect, Petel Haimerl, chose concrete for the construction because it provides the best acoustics for the performance. The hard, smooth concrete surface leaves little room for sound cancellation, and carefully chosen shapes create creases in the walls and ceiling for optimal sound.

5. Pantheon in Rome, Italy.

Built almost 2,000 years ago and still in use, it is the largest unreinforced concrete dome in the world. Built with over 4,500 metric tons of concrete and remains one of the best-preserved ancient Roman structures in the world.

6. Hoover Dam, US Arizona-Nevada border

One of the world's most famous and long-lasting concrete structures, the 6.6-million-ton Hoover Dam has become a tourist attraction since it was built between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression.

Located 35 miles from Las Vegas on the Nevada-Arizona border, visitors can walk from state to state via a 1,900-foot bridge. The Hoover Dam is named after the 31st President of the United States, Herbert Hoover, who helped settle disputes over water allocation in neighboring countries.

Located 725 feet above the Colorado River, the Hoover Dam generates about 4 billion kilowatts of electricity a year, making it one of the largest producers of hydroelectric power in the country.

7. The King Fahd Causeway, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain

The 17-mile causeway connecting Saudi Arabia and Bahrain opened in 1986. The structures cross the western Gulf of Bahrain, a part of the Persian Gulf, and carry around 45,000 vehicles per day and more than 60,000 on weekends.

Construction lasted four years, more than 500 prestressed concrete piles were placed, and a total of about 350,000 square meters of concrete was used.

Concrete is one of the most versatile building materials and, as demonstrated, it can take centuries to produce some of the most impressive buildings in the world.

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