Building Technology V

MODULE 5 TOWER STRUCTURES

Arch. Dennis L. Estacio

Associate Professor II
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Introduction
In the past two decades, the world has witnessed an
unprecedented construction boom of tall buildings.
Despite financial difficulties and construction challenges,
cities have been building an increasingly greater number
of tall buildings with greater heights (Kodmany, 2018).
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The HIGH-RISE BUILDING is

generally defined as one that is
taller than the maximum height
which people are willing to walk
up. It thus requires mechanical
vertical transportation.

Sky Suites (Q.C Philippines)

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High-rise buildings are among the largest building built,

and their unit costs are relatively high, their commercial and
office functions require a high degree of flexibility. They arose
in urban areas where increased land prices and great
population densities created a demand for buildings that rose
vertically rather than spread horizontally, thus occupying less
precious land area. These buildings were made practicable
by the use of steel structural frames and glass exterior
sheeting.
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BUILDING HEIGHTS IN THE PH (not expressly stated in

the NBCP):
1. LOW-RISE (from 1 - 5 storeys i.e. 4.0 m to 16.0 m, inclusive of an average
1.0 m provision for parapet wall or roof apex; excludes maximum
allowance for a 6.0 m tall antenna/ steel tower on top of the structure
(only where allowed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Ph/ CAAP);
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BUILDING HEIGHTS IN THE PH (not expressly stated in

the NBCP):
2) MEDIUM-RISE (from 6 - 15 storeys i.e. 19.0 m to 46.0 m, inclusive of
an average 1.0 m provision for parapet wall or roof apex; excludes
maximum allowance for a 6.0 m tall antenna/ steel tower on top of the
structure (only where allowed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Ph/
CAAP);
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The thirteenth floor is a designation of a level of a multi-

level building that is often omitted in countries where the
number 13 is considered unlucky.
Omitting a thirteenth floor include triskaidekaphobia and to
prevent problems that may arise with superstitious tenants,
occupants, or customers. In 2002, based on an internal
review of records, Dilip Rangnekar of Otis Elevators
estimated that 85% of the buildings with Otis brand
elevators did not have a floor named the 13th floor.
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Similarly, new buildings in some parts of China avoid the

fourth, fourteenth, twenty-fourth, etc. floors, as the word
"four" (Hanzi: 四) sounds like "death" (死 – pronounced "sì"
and "sǐ", respectively) in Mandarin.
Another variant found in Vietnam is naming floors 13 and 14
as floors "12A" and "12B" respectively.
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BUILDING HEIGHTS IN THE PH (not expressly stated in

the NBCP):
3) HIGH-RISE (from 16 - 60 storeys i.e. 49.0 m to 181.0 m, inclusive of
an average 1.0 m provision for parapet wall or roof apex; excludes
maximum allowance for a 6.0 m tall antenna/ steel tower on top of the
structure (only where allowed by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Ph/
CAAP); and
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BUILDING HEIGHTS IN THE PH (not expressly stated in

the NBCP):
4) VERY TALL BUILDING (taller than 60 storeys i.e. taller than 181.0 m,
inclusive of an average 1.0 m provision for parapet wall or roof apex;
excludes maximum allowance for a 6.0 m tall antenna/ steel tower on
top of the structure (only where allowed by the Civil Aviation Authority
of the Ph/ CAAP).
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BUILDING HEIGHTS IN THE PH (not expressly stated in

the NBCP):
There are presently NO prescriptions for the number of basement levels
under the NBCP and the same is generally mainly limited by ground
conditions and the location of the basement/ building with respect to
identified hazard zones and water bodies.
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FUNCTIONAL PERIOD
ECLETIC PERIOD
EVOLUTION OF ART DECO PERIOD
INTERNATIONAL STYLE
SKYCRAPERS SUPERTALL PERIOD
SOCIAL SKYCRAPER
POSTMODERN PERIOD
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1. The Functional Period – 1880-1900

Opened in 1885, Jenney’s Home
Insurance Building in Chicago further
advanced the possibilities for iron
construction. The building featured a
hybrid construction of masonry cladding,
iron beams and cast-iron connections to
reinforce the internal structure, which
resembled a grid-like skeleton. This
method of lightening the load of the
building’s walls made the original 10-story
design of the Home Insurance Building
both innovative and influential.
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2. The Eclectic Period – 1900-1920

Daniel Hudson Burnham used the footprint of the
site to generate the base of the building, and drew
from classical architecture by making it resemble a
column of antiquity, becoming more slender as it
moves from the base up the shaft to the capital.
The building is built around a skeleton of steel,
fronted with limestone and terra cotta - inspired
by the French and Italian Renaissance with a
Beaux Arts styling that was popular at the time as
a result of the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition.

At its narrow ‘prow’ end the building measures only

1.8m across. Viewed from above, it describes an
acute angle of roughly 25-degrees.
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3. The Art Deco Period - 1920-1940
The Chrysler Building is often regarded as a
masterpiece of Art Deco architecture. It was created
during a time when people were scrambling to make
New York City the home to the tallest building in the
world. The design went through quite a few different
stages on its way to approval. In the end, Walter P.
Chrysler and Van Alen worked together to create the
classic look of the building.

The building is held together by nearly 400,000 rivets

and 3,826,000 bricks. The bricks were all manually laid
and only comprise the non-load bearing walls of the
building. The building has over 30 elevators connecting
all 77 floors. It has a floor space of nearly 1.2 million
square feet.
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4. The International Style –1950-1970

The Seagram Building, with its use of

modern materials and setback from the
city grid, became a prototype for future
office buildings designed by Mies as well
as a model for many buildings erected in
its surroundings. This building, fifty years
after its completion, is still admired by
many visitors everyday and sets an
example of an International style
skyscraper amidst the New York skyline.
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5. The Supertall Period - 1965-1975

JOHN HANCOCK CENTER

Construction on the tower began in 1965. Due to the high
winds in Chicago, one of the main factors that had to
be taken into consideration was using a secure structure
for the building that would minimize movement on windy
days. The structure consists of a tubular system that
strengthens the building against wind and earthquakes.
The famous cross-bracing on the exterior provides
security against horizontal movement while opening up
the interior of the building with more uninterrupted floor
space. Although the X-bracing is massive and slightly
blocks views from the interior, it is the Hancock Building's
signature exterior feature and is structurally sound.
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6. The Social Skyscraper – 1970-1980

Skyscrapers could no longer exist as
isolated towers, each one cut off from the
street and community of which it was part.
The design that emerged was the
forerunners of the postmodernism and
Romantic Modern skyscraper of the late
20th century.
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7. The Postmodern Period- 1980

Postmodernism, a reaction to the
Modern Movement or Int’l Style,
incorporated color, sculptured form and
decoration. But the choice of exact style
was wide open, and s type of modern
eclectic approach emerged. This style is
no longer confined to North America, with
many of today’s skyscraper being built in
Europe and the Far East. At present,
high-rise structure is led by Philip
Johnson, William Pedersen, Cesar Pelli,
and Norman Foster.
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PRIMODIAL CONSIDERATION FOR TOWER DESIGN

1. LIFE SAFETY
a. earthquake
b. fire
2. UTILITIES
a. sewage treatment plant (STP)
b. substation – electrical
c. water system
d. mechanical and air conditioning system
e. parking
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PRIMODIAL CONSIDERATION FOR TOWER DESIGN

3. MAINTENANCE
a. easy to maintain
b. change ability of parts or components
c. adaptability to new technology

4. BUILDING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (BMS)

a. security – CCTV closed circuit tv.
b. Energy conservation
c. Building automation
d. Maintenance schedule
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An escalator is a moving
staircase which carries
people between floors of a
building or structure.
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A passenger elevator is
any elevator intended for
the transport of people
through a building. These
elevators can vary
drastically in terms of size,
speed and interior options
depending on the use of
the elevator.
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Service elevators are

actually regular passenger
elevators that have been
outfitted with utility cabs
and floors, and are usually
in an “employees only”
area of a commercial
building. The most
common example would
be the service elevator
used by housekeeping in
hotels.
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All exit routes must remain

unobstructed. Fire exit doors must
never be blocked, even temporarily.
Exit routes should never be blocked
by materials, equipment, or locked
doors, or have dead-end corridors.
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Linen chute: A passage in

the form of a tunnel for
sending soiled linen from the
floor pantries of all floors to a
central place near the
laundry, from where it can be
collected by the laundry staff.
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Refuge area is a separate

space in high-rise buildings,
where residents can take
shelter in case of fire or other
emergencies.
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A helipad is a landing area or

platform for helicopters and
powered lift aircraft.
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As per National Building Code,

high-rise buildings should have
Smoke Detectors, Sprinklers, First Aid
Fire Fighting system, PA system,
Adequate water supply, Fire pumps,
Fire escape routes, Fireman Lift,
Service shaft enclosures, compact
mentation, approved electrical
system, refuse area etc. Outside the
high-rise buildings, adequate access
roads and surrounding areas are so
designed so as the emergency
vehicles can get as near as possible.
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DEFINITION OF TERMS:
OFFICEC/OFFICE BUILDING – the use of the building or the
place is for the conduct of business or profession.

RESIDENTIAL/RESIDENTIAL BUILDING – use of the building

or the place is for dwelling.

COMMERCIAL SPACE – use of the building or place is for the

sale of merchandise, commodities or goods to customers for
their consumption.
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GROSS FLOOR AREA – the total floor space within the perimeter
of the permanent external building walls occupied by office
areas; residential areas; commercial areas; corridors, lobbies,
vertical penetrations; machine rooms, pump rooms, electrical;
utility rooms, storage and closets; covered balconies and
terraces; and other interior features. This excludes covered
areas used for parking and driveways; and uncovered areas for
AC cooling towers, overhead water tanks, roof decks, etc.
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FIREWALL – an interior or exterior wall having sufficiently high

fire resistance.

COURT – an open, uncovered, and unoccupied space partially or

fully surrounded by walls or building.

CHASE – a continuous recess built into a wall to receive pipes,

ducts, etc.

ROOF DECKS – the flat portion of a roof used as a terrace, etc.

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PENTHOUSE – a structure occupying usually less than half the

roof area of a flat roofed building.

LOBBY – a space at the entrance of a building, theater, elevator,

etc.

SETBACK – a minimum distance between a property line and a

building or portion thereof, as required by the ordinance or a
code.
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PENTHOUSE – a structure occupying usually less than half the

roof area of a flat roofed building.

LOBBY – a space at the entrance of a building, theater, elevator,

etc.

SETBACK – a minimum distance between a property line and a

building or portion thereof, as required by the ordinance or a
code.
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END OF PRESENTATION