​5 Basic Elements When Designing Huge Skyscrapers

The increasing popularity of moving to urban centers sparked a change in how you live in major cities. As the population grows yearly, traditional living and working arrangements are gradually getting phased out.

But how are these structures made? In this article, you'll learn about some of the considerations Engineers and Architects take in the skyscraper construction process.

Footing

The ground underneath your skyscraper must handle the structure's weight, plus any people and equipment that'll go into it. It's for this reason that high-rise building guidelines exist today. The leaning tower of Pisa is one example of what would happen to a building if you were to neglect these guidelines.

There are several methods that Structural Engineers use to keep the building upright, such as:

1. Digging into a layer of Hard Strata: In terms of Engineering, Hard Strata is a layer of earth that is nearly incompressible. This layer can be bedrock, hard clay, or heavily compacted soil. This layer's load-bearing capability makes it perfect for building your skyscraper.

2. Concrete Pile Foundation: Digging to a layer of hard strata can be impossible in some cases. For these, engineers drive several concrete piles into the ground. The concrete piles create enough friction with the surrounding earth to ensure that any structure on top won't slide down during its lifespan.

Wind Load

The higher your construction goes, the more wind it'll experience. Resisting wind loads is why you see such unique styling in skyscraper engineering.

Taller buildings also have to deal with a phenomenon known as Vortex Shedding, a series of alternating low-pressure zones that intensify the swaying of the building. The greater the intensity of the movement, the more nauseous and uncomfortable it becomes on higher floors.

Architects consider some of these skyscraper design concepts to combat the wind forces.

• Tapering: Since the wind gets more forceful on the upper floors of a building, you can make the building skinnier the taller tower is.

• Softening: Another trick designers do "soften" the edges of a building. Softening the fringes can take the form of rounding off the corners or introducing unique patterns, like the "sawtooth edges" seen in Taipei 101.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes are another aspect you'll see in the design considerations for high-rise buildings. Thankfully, earthquakes are part of lateral forces like the wind, which means you'll see many of the same methods used to reduce earthquake damage.

• Tuned Mass Damper: These dampers are typically large weights suspended in the upper part of a skyscraper's core. As the building sways, these dampers sway in the opposite direction and significantly reduce the earthquake's effects on the building.

• Ground Isolation: Another tactic you'll see is separating the ground from the building. The isolators absorb the earth's motion by replacing the solid foundation footing with one made from rubber and steel layers, which keeps the building safe.

Context

Skyscrapers are the status symbols of the modern age. As such, designers need to consider the surrounding building's aesthetic and height.

The context becomes a more critical decision in places of historical importance where newer and taller buildings can easily cover up tourist destinations, thus reducing their aesthetic.

Utilities

HVAC ducts, electricity lines, water, and gas pipes. These are just some of the facilities you'll need in a modern building. Because of the sheer scale of skyscrapers, you'll need to have a proper plan for routing these utilities. As such, designers must choose only the best flangeless access door to maintain the building's aesthetic.

Elevators and escalators are another utility you'll have to integrate into the design of your building. Without proper planning, these utilities can quickly consume valuable space, meaning you'll have a more challenging time reaching your client's high-rise building space requirements.

Skyscraper Design is Important

With skyscrapers being a centerpiece of any large urban center, understanding the aspects of its construction is paramount. Hopefully, you'll be able to appreciate the convenience and function of the skyscraper. Without it, our cities just wouldn't look the same.

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