TALL BUILDINGS

Ar. Yaswanth Chandra

Visiting Faculty, JNIAS Hyderabad.
TALL BUILDINGS Design & Approach TALL BUILDINGS Design & Approach

IN DISCUSSION

• Introduction to tall buildings.

• Approach to tall buildings.
• Design approach.
• examples of tall buildings

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INTRODUCTION TO TALL BUILDINGS

Tall Buildings as defined by Council On Tall Buildings And Urban Habitat

Buildings higher than 50m is termed as Tall Building.
Buildings higher than 100m is termed as skyscraper.
Buildings 300m or higher is termed as super tall.
Buildings 600m or taller is termed as mega-tall.

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The approach to tall buildings include the structural design of a tall building
involves conceptual design, approximate analysis, preliminary design and
optimization, followed by detailed and final design.

APPROACH TO TALL BUILDINGS In tall building design, the primary considerations are the effect of wind,
seismic, and correspondent lateral stability system to resist wind or seis-
Expedience, transcendence, ambition, and dominance: these are mic loading. Owing to the height of the tall buildings, wind-induced vibration
the principal reasons why tall buildings emerged and why they becomes another critical design issue, which affects the occupants’ com-
continue to be built. fort level. Therefore, it also needs to be addressed in the design.

Foundation design is also another major consideration. Except that, consid-

erations on gravity loading and correspondent flooring system are also es-
sential.
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Bahrain World Trade Center 1 and 2 (Bahrain)

DESIGN APPROACH TO TALL BUILDINGS

The core ideology of tall building design approach has been changing
since the engineering boundries have been pushed beyond limit.
The idea of a high rise construction has evolved from mere rectilinear
structures to complex curvature designs.
Even though the designs have evolved, the principles behind then re-
main untouched mostly.

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FAMOUS EXAMPLES OF TALL BUILDINGS - SKYSCRAPERS

Opened: 2008 | Use: Offices | Design: Atkins

Reaching an incredible 787 feet, the futuristic towers of Bahrain’s
The theory of tall buildings and skyscrapers is best understood with a few
World Trade Center complex are optimally positioned to take advan-
examples that can educate us on the subject. Following are a few examples
tage of the island nation’s desert winds, with three turbines mounted
of tall buildings around the world.
on sky bridges between the towers to generate electricity.
The towers’ shapes, reminiscent of the Arab dhow sailing ships, help
funnel wind to the turbines, which supply about 15% of the buildings’
electricity. Reflective pools at the towers’ base help with cooling via
evaporation.
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TALL BUILDINGS Design & Approach TALL BUILDINGS Design & Approach
1. BURJ KHALIFA, 2. SHANGHAI TOWER,

Dubai wants to make the tourism the emirate’s Shanghai Tower stands in the heart of the Lujiazui.
second industry to lighten the reliance on Oil trade. The majestic high-rise boasts 127 floors above the
Building a tower that size can greatly improve the ground and 5 floors below ground level. At 632 me-
identity of city and its reputation in the world, and ters, Shanghai Tower is now the tallest building in
to capture the attention of the world. More than just China, and the second tallest in the world.
the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa is an un- The building’s twisting glass facade, ideal for
precedented example of international cooperation, off-setting wind loads, created an impractical floor
a symbolic beacon of progress, and an emblem of plate, forcing tenants to pay for large areas of un-
the new, dynamic and prosperous Middle East. usable space.

• Location: Dubai • Location: Shanghai

• Height: 2,717 ft (828 m) • Height: 2,073 ft (632 m)
• Floors: 163 • Floors: 128
• Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM) • Architects: Gensler
• Building Function: Hotel, Residential, Office • Building Function: Hotel, Offices
• Completion: 2010 14 • Completion: 2015 15

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TALL BUILDINGS Design & Approach TALL BUILDINGS Design & Approach
3. SHANGHAI WORLD FINANCE TOWER 4. TAIPEI 101
Shanghai World Financial Center is not just a office
Taipei 101 is rooted in traditional Chinese architec-
building but a mixed-use building, the most influ-
ture. Completed in 2004 and designed by Chu-Yuan
ential use is its observatory floors for sightseeing.
Lee and C.P. Wang, the 101 stories are numerically
The building is designed to withstand earthquakes
symbolic of time starting over in the new decade
and high winds from typhoons (tropical cyclones).
and the new year. The building also expresses its
The skyscraper was topped out at 492 meters
distinctively Chinese character in its resemblance
(1,614.2 ft), making it the 2nd tallest building in the
to a stalk of bamboo or an elongated pagoda.
world on completion, and the tallest building in
Mainland China.
• Location: Shanghai
• Location: Taipei
• Height: 1,614 ft (492 m)
• Height: 1,667 ft (508 m)
• Floors: 101
• Floors: 101
• Architects: Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates (KPF)
• Architects: C.Y. Lee & Partners Architects/Plan-
+ Mori Building + Irie Miyake Architects and Engi-
ners
neers
• Building Function: Offices
• Building Function: Hotel, Office 16 17
• Completion: 2004
• Completion: 2008
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5. PETRONAS TWIN TOWER 2 6. 432 PARK AVENUE

Standing at 88 stories high, the numeral eight

theme used throughout the building is symbolic of The 432 PARK AVENUE project has come to life at
good fortune. The two towers, which were designed an auspicious time for skyscrapersin New York. In
by the late César Pelli, connected by a flying bridge some ways it embodies “tall & thin” trend of new
are grounded in Islamic architecture. Because of residential towers. while it has those charecter-
the soft ground on which the towers were built, the istics in common with some of its peers, in most
foundations reach up to 374 feet deep to support ways its an oulier. The devotion to quality, the de-
the structures. sign, the engeneering and planning discipline, and
the commitment to achieving a highly flexible model
that stands the test of time.
• Location: Kuala Lumpur • City: New York
• Height: 1,489 ft (451.9 m) • Height: 1,397 ft (425.5 meters)
• Floors: 88 • Floors: 85
• Architects: Cesar Pelli & Associates • Architects: Rafael Viñoly Architects
• Building Function: Office • Building Function: Residential
• Completion: 1998 18 • Completion: 2015 19

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7. WILLIS TOWER / SEARS TOWER

Willis Tower is the heart of downtown Chicago and

ARCHITECURAL-DESIGN - ENGINEERING - CONSTRUCTION
the future of work and play. The 110-story building FAILURES IN TALL BUILDINGS
is one of the tallest buildings in the world and the
second tallest building in North America, making
it impossible to miss when appreciating the city’s With High rise constructions competing against time and nature, we have a
skyline. Tallest Building in the world 1974 - 1996
few failures that form the architectural, engineering and constructions in-
Upon completion, the Sears Tower set the standard
for future super tall high-rise design and construc- cidents happening all around the world in the field of tall buildings and sky-
tion. scrapers. following are a few examples of the above mentioned INCIDENTS.
• Location: Chicago
• Height: 1,451 ft (442,1 m)
• Floors: 108
• Architects: Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP (SOM)
• Building Function: Office
• Completion: 1974 20 21

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1. AON CENTER 2. CNA CENTER, CHICAGO
This impressive tower is Chicago’s third tallest building Opened in 1972, the CNA Center is a high-rise, 44 stories,
and opened in 1974. It was originally called the Standard Oil building in Chicago. The building was designed by Graham
Building. Anderson, Probst & White, and is a vibrant red, so you can’t
On completion, the tower was a feast for the eyes. The really miss it!
building’s designers chose to clad the entire external fa-
cade in Italian Carrara marble. And hey, why not? In 1999, a large piece of a cracked window came loose and
This form of marble is much thinner than regular cladding plummeted from the 29th floor. Sadly the accident caused
materials, and in 1974, before the building was even com- a single fatality. It was also not the first time falling glass
pleted, one slab detached. This rogue piece crashed onto from the building had struck someone. Consultants had
the roof of the neighboring Prudential Centre. earlier found that the building’s glass could not withstand
After exposure to Chicago’s large temperature swings, thermal stress, which occurs when a warm area of glass
much of the façade began to deteriorate to dangerous lev- expands against a cooler area, creating pressure that can
els. The changes in temperature from summer to winter cause it to crack.
caused the thin marble slabs to bow outward, resulting in
permanent deformation and a loss in strength. The tragedy led to an $18 million dollar settlement and a
later refurbishment of all the building’s windows.
Not ideal, to say the least. $80 million dollars!
22 The windows are still monitored monthly to this day. 23

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TALL BUILDINGS Design & Approach TALL BUILDINGS Design & Approach
3. WALKIE TALKIE CENTER 4. VDARA HOTEL & SPA The Vdara Hotel and Spa opened in 2009 and features a
The Walkie Talkie Centre is an award-winning office block in
fairly unique curved structure. Nothing untoward there,
the center of London. Its concave design has been hailed as
until you go for a swim.
an architectural triumph, but it also leads to some serious
health and safety issues.
The buildings’ design was such that it acted as a giant
magnifying glass, focusing the power of the sun directly
Even before its completion, complaints began to roll in
into the swimming pool area. Guests immediately began to
regarding its focusing of sunlight onto local streets. In
complain that they were regularly getting “burned” and the
one notable instance, the design of the building was even
building was dubbed, “the Death Ray”.
responsible for partially melting a Jaguar parked nearby,
and other cars have been damaged by it. The problem was
One guest, in particular, Bill Pintas, claimed that the hotel’s
solved by fitting the building with a sunshade.
design had burned his hair and melted a plastic bag he had
with him!
It can get so hot that some are even able to cook eggs on
the street. Incredible!
The Walkie Talkie & Vdara were both designed by
Rafael Viñoly Architects

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5. TOWER OF PISA The Tower of Pisa, if you don’t already know, is a freestand- 6. RYUGYONG HOTEL, N.KOREA
ing bell tower associated with the Cathedral of Pisa. Intended to be used as a 3000 bedroom hotel, Ryugyong
has yet to take any guests, let alone actually open.
During construction, the tower started to tilt. A combina-
tion of inadequate foundations and unsuitable ground ulti- Construction commenced in 1987 and was halted in 1992.
mately led to the tower’s present-day situation. Amazingly, the entire project has cost the North Korean
around 2% of its budget over the last few decades. To this
The tilt became progressively worse during construction, day it still remains unfinished, unopened, and unoccupied.
and the builders attempted to correct the problem by
building upper levels at an angle to the base. You can see Even in its incomplete state, it is reportedly the 22nd larg-
the evidence of this today with the tower’s slight curve in est skyscraper in the world. Money shortages and faulty
form. engineering appear to be the main causes of this aborted
But this wasn’t enough. building.
Over the following centuries, The tower has continued to
sink at around 1 mm a year. The structure was stabilized by
remedial work between 1993 and 2001, which reduced the
angle of the tilt.
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TALL BUILDINGS Design & Approach TALL BUILDINGS Design & Approach
Designed by I M Pei and Partners, the John Hancock Tower
7. JOHN HANCOCK TOWER
(now known as 200 Clarendon Street) is a 60 story sky-
scraper in Boston. It opened in 1976 and received great
praise for its minimalist form.
In November 1972 the buildings’ glass from the unfinished
building began raining down on the street below. IN SUMMARY
It turned out that the outer layer of reflective chrome
on the windows was rigidly soldered to the metal window
frame, allowing no flexibility. Since the windows could not
flex in the wind, they cracked. The cracks spread and soon • Tall Buildings are considered the future of mankind, considering the popu-
all windows failed. By mid-1973 several thousand of them lation growth and adverse effects of vegetative loss.
had broken. The problem was solved when all 10,000 win-
dows were replaced with more robust glazing made of tem-
• Vertical cities are under development and engeneering marvels have
pered glass, at a measly cost of $7 mn. paved way for futuristic and experimental designs.
• Skyscrapers are designed with multiple considerations and specifications
The tower’s woes didn’t end there. As you know, skyscrap- of unique kinds.
ers are normally designed to sway in high winds.
Normally this is imperceptible to the occupants, but not so
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here. So bad was the problem that occupants on the upper
Ar. Yaswanth chandra Kanduri
floors actually suffered from motion sickness! Ar. Yaswanth chandra Kanduri
TALL BUILDINGS Design & Approach TALL BUILDINGS Design & Approach

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• Introduction to CHAPTER-2, Vertical Transportation. tall-building-design> [Accessed 20 June 2021].

• time, 2. and time, 2., 2021. 20 of the most outrageous-looking skyscrapers of all time. [online] Business Insider. Available at: <https://www.businessinsider.
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30 tallest-buildings> [Accessed 20 June 2021]. 31

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