1) The document traces the progression of structural systems in skyscrapers from curtain walls to framed tubes to 3D megastructures. 2) It discusses examples such as the Seagram Building, Brunswick Building, and Hancock Tower that demonstrated this evolution. 3) Later projects like the Bank of China integrated structural and spatial aspects, challenging the traditional floor plate model with more continuous 3D structural forms.

1. arc5410 Advanced Structure and Construction

2. 3.0 Vertical Structural Systems Pt. 4

4. Bank of the Southwest Helmut Jahn and Wm LeMessurier Houston, Texas 1982 Comparison of types of building structures based on the bending rigidity index (BRI). See Ch.2 Tower and Office p.80

18. M.L.C. Center Harry Seidler / P. L. Nervi Sydney, Aus. 1978

21. Dharmala Headquarters Paul Rudolph Jakarta, Indonesia 1982

23. Atlanta Marriot Marquis Hotel John Portman Atlanta, GA ca. 1977

25. Petronas Towers Cesar Pelli / Thornton-Tomasetti Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 1997

26. Structure of the Petronas Tower has an outer ring of 16 cylindrical r/c columns of high strength concrete (up to Grade 80). Charles Thornton, structural engineer, refers to it as a “soft tube”. In-situ concrete construction was chosen because of local practice and because of the stiffness against wind sway provided by concrete. The tower resists lateral forces with both a perimeter “tube” of columns and an inner r/c core.

33. Mega or Super frame concept Commerzbank Norman Foster Associates

43. Johnson Wax Headquarters Tower Charter Bank

45. PSFS Tower First Wisconsin Center

46. Standard Bank of Johannesburg, South Africa 1970 Example of tall building with a core tree structure: floors are suspended from cantilevered arms in groups of ten floors.

47. Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation Centre I. M. Pei Singapore 1976 Example of a multi-tier compression frame transfer structure.

49. Grovesnor Place Sydney Luk Yeung Sun Chuen Estate Hong Kong

54. Note the middle upper chord of the trusses in the photograph (not shown in the drawing at left). This upper truss chord is omitted on the exterior trusses because the floors are set back from the plane of the truss. On the interior trusses it supports floor framing.

56. The important “butterfly” connections at the middle of the lower chords of the trusses. The ‘butterfly’ joint contains three single pin connections each requiring a tolerance of 0.3mm. This causes the collar to fit ‘tight as a glove’ around the inserted pins.

58. Large X-bracing at the truss levels provide lateral stiffness to the building in the north-south direction (perpendicular to the façade).

64. Envelope details

68. Raised floor. The HSBC Building had the first raised floor used in a commercial building. The floor system was developed by Foster Associates working with special contractors in the aircraft industry. The size of the panel (1200mm x 1200mm) is determined by maintenance requirements (weight limit for two men to lift) and stiffness.

73. Two views of the central atrium which “replaces” the memorable main banking hall of the former bank building. Public entry to the hall (and the building) is provided by the angled escalators (feng shui inspired) that pierce the suspended glass enclosure (the former vaulted ceiling turned upside down) bringing visitors to the double height main bank floor.