Reaching For The Sky
Dr. N. Subramanian, Gaithersburg, MD, U.S.A
Introduction
Debates about the significance, efficacy and even the morality of tall structures, especially skyscrapers have been raging since the building type was invented in Chicago more than a hundred years ago. There were fear of heights (ironically, the architect of the WTC, Minoru Yamasaki, was slightly acrophobic one reason why the windows were so narrow) and fear of fire (that many people legitimately experience in high structures). But the recent terrorist attacks on WTC, renewed the debate that these types of structures make ideal targets for terrorists stable, highly visible and big [Subramanian (2002)]. In spite of the debate many tall structures are under construction and many countries are vying to have the world’s tallest structure in their own soil.
This is a premium article available exclusively for our subscribers.
If you are already a subscriber, please Login
If not, subscribe now and get access to well researched articles & reports on infrastructure construction, equipment & machinery, innovations & technology, project reports, case studies, and more. All this by simply paying just ₹200/- for a month of complete portal access, or a discounted rate of ₹1000/- for a full year of access.
NBM&CW April 2009
No comments yet, Be the first one to comment on this.
The Skyscraper Curse: Myth or Reality?
This article explores the theory linking the construction of skyscrapers to economic downturns, also known as the "Skyscraper Curse." It examines the evidence for and against this theory, including recent research that challenges the idea of a causal relationship.
Futuristic High-Rise Buildings
High-rises are the result of innovations and advancements in structural and mechanical systems, design, lighting, façade, building materials, and construction technologies. Use of ICT has resulted in designing complex forms of high-rise
Fire in Tall Buildings An Overview of Resources
In 1800 B.C. the Amorite king, Hammurabi, took the throne of the new Babylonian dynasty and established an extensive law system which encompassed nearly every area of ancient life. The code of Hammurabi made the builder accountable for the houses
Need for Vertical Fire Fighting Solutions in High-Rise Buildings for Faster & Safer Evacuation
Despite the increasing number of fire accidents in high-rise buildings, Mumbai is still looking for answers to fire safety and evacuation measures. Once again, the city’s vertical development turned the spotlight on evacuation plans in high-rise buildings
Draft Revision of Code IS: 16700 for 'Tall Concrete Buildings'
High-rises in India have reached 280m; 300m tall buildings are under construction, and 500m are at proposal stages. This recent development has pushed the need to stipulate Indian building codes. IS 16700 deals with tall buildings, but now, some
Stability of Tall Buildings
N. Munirudrappa, Professor of Civil Engineering (Retd), Bengaluru University, reveals the behavior of multi-storey buildings and structures of R.C.C and steel under Elastic Stability in his study on the stability of tall buildings
SALSETTE 27 Another Attractive Landmark
Work at the Salsette 27 high-rise residential project by Peninsula resumed after the lockdown restrictions were eased. On completion, Salsette 27 will add to the skyline of the city of Mumbai and will be viewed as yet another
SOBHA Winchester A Towering Inspiration
Indian cities are witnessing a steep growth in the number of high-rise structures owing to the increased migration of people to cities. With the advent of modern technology, constructing a high-rise building is perhaps
Prestige Trade Tower
High-rise buildings are built to achieve high density projects due to rapid growth of population and lack of available land for development. Their design is the outcome of various technological and social developments
The National Bank of Kuwait Tower An Iconic Engineering Marvel
Located on a prominent site in Kuwait City, the 300-meter-high, 60-floor tower, headquarters of the National Bank of Kuwait (NBK) is set to have a distinctive presence amongst other high-rise buildings in Sharq
LEED Certification and Sustainable Buildings
The LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement. Its purpose is to recognize buildings that have made attempts to create environmentally friendly building and provides a framework to create healthy
ITC Colombo One Towers in Sri Lanka
Welcom Hotels Lanka is currently setting up the ITC Colombo One Project at Colombo in Sri Lanka. The proposed project is located on the coast of Colombo, having the oceanfront on the west side and Beira Lake on the east. Gensler of Los Angeles
MVRDV completes first project in India, Future Towers, in Pune
Though "context-sensitive", "diverse", and "community-focused" may not be the first terms that come to mind when imagining a building that houses over 5,000 people, MVRDV's Future Towers is an attempt to upend those
Smart Cities: Planning & Implementation
Rudrabhishek Enterprises Limited (REPL), an Integrated Urban Development & Infrastructure consultant, has the assignment of preparing a detailed project report (DPR) and related
Unpacking Composite Construction: Global Trends
The construction of tall buildings has had a marked shift away from a North American dominance that has lasted from the first steel skyscrapers in New York and Chicago in the early 1900s until the emergence of a new
2017 Sets Records for Geographical Diversity, Number, and Height of Skyscrapers
The 2017 Tall Building Year in Review / Tall Buildings in Numbers data analysis report shows that more buildings of 200 meters’ height or greater were completed in 2017 than in any other year, with a total
Vertical Construction Equipment - Concrete Pumps, Tower Cranes, Man-n-Materials Hoist
To arrest cost and time overruns for project delivery to end-customers as per the new regulations in the real estate sector, and faced with a paucity of funds by developers, contracting companies are striving to meet their
COMPARITIVE STUDY OF G+30 MULTISTOREYED STEEL-CONCRETE COMPOSITE, RCC AND STEEL BUILDING USING TIME HISTORY ANALYSIS
In this present paper the comparative study of G+30 steel concrete composite, steel and RCC building is done using dynamic analysis i.e. time history analysis. Etabs structural package is used for the analysis
Torre Reforma: An Eye-catching Addition to the Skyline of Mexico City
Designed by Mexican architect L. Benjamin Romano Arquitects (LBRA) and engineered by Arup, ‘Torre Reforma,’ an iconic triangle-shaped tower, the tallest in Mexico, is not only striking in appearance, but also
