1/2/2008 QT At Home in World’s Tallest Building

When Skidmore, Owings, and Merril, one of the most prestigious architectural firms in the world, specified sound and vibration insulation for the Burj Dubai Tower, the tallest building in the world currently under construction, QT was its top choice.

The recycled rubber-based underlayment will be installed in the residential portion of the building, directly under stone flooring in hallways and bathrooms. QT may also be installed in several other locations in the building including under ceramic tile and hardwood in condominiums and beneath vinyl flooring in the Armani Hotel housed in the structure. When the project is completed, nearly 2 million square feet of QT products will be installed in the mammoth skyscraper.

“The Burj Dubai Tower is an example of modern day extraordinaire,” said Paul Downey, QT business unit manager. “Naturally, a structure of its magnitude requires only the best materials. S.O.M. had its choice of sound underlayment but chose QT for its proven performance and acquired trust in the marketplace. It offers the versatility to perform at high levels with a variety of assemblies and under all floor coverings.”

QT’s appeal for inclusion in the Burj Dubai Tower was enhanced by the desire of Dubai Ruler Sheik Mohammed to invest in green building construction. While the word “green” generically refers to buildings that are environmentally friendly, it has also become synonymous for a set of standards put out by the United States Green Building Council called the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, system. LEED puts priority on using energy efficiency, employing innovative construction materials, and recycling. Comprised of 100% post-consumer SBR tire rubber and 30% pre-consumer waste, QT products are designed to earn points in two of the six categories of LEED for New Construction. Based on these criteria, QT products can potentially contribute up to 5 points toward LEED certification.

When finished in 2009, the Burj Dubai tower will stand alone as the tallest building on Earth. It is rising from a desert oasis to a height of more than 2,000 feet and it will be the crown jewel of Dubai, United Arab Emirates.