TOP DOWN CONSTRUCTION

Concurrent above and below grade construction

Conventionally, buildings with underground basements are built by bottom-up method where
sub-structure and super-structure floors are constructed sequentially from the bottom of the sub-
structure or lowest level of basement to the top of the super-structure. Though this conventional
method, also called as bottom-up method, is simple in both design and construction, it is not
feasible for the gigantic projects with limited construction time and/or with site constraints. Top-
down construction method as the name implies, is a construction method, which builds the
permanent structure members of the basement along with the excavation from the top to the
bottom. Top-down method is mainly used for two types of urban structures, tall buildings with
deep basements and underground structures such as car parks, underpasses and subway stations.
In this case the basement floors are constructed as the excavation progresses. The top/down
method has been used for deep excavation projects where tieback installation was not feasible
and soil movements had to be minimized. Top-down construction method which provides the
significant saving of the overall construction time has been adopted for some major projects
where time factor is of primary importance. The sequence construction begins with retaining
 wall installation and then load-bearing elements that will carry the future super-structure. The
basement columns (typically steel beams) are constructed before any excavation takes place and
rest on the load bearing elements. These load bearing elements are typically concrete barrettes
constructed under slurry (or caissons).

PROCEDURE
The typical construction procedure of top down construction is as follows
Construct the retaining wall.
Construct piles. Place the steel columns or stanchions where the piles are constructed.
Proceed to the first stage of excavation.
Cast the floor slab of first basement level
Begin to construct the superstructure
Proceed to the second stage of excavation; cast the floor slab of the second basement level.
Repeat the same procedure till the desired depth is reached
Construct the foundation slab and ground beams, etc. Complete the basement
Keep constructing the superstructure till it gets finished.

INSTALLATION OF RETAINING WALL

The underground retaining wall which is usually a diaphragm wall, is installed before excavation
commences.
Excavation and installation of steel strut

The soil is excavated just below roof slab level of the underground structure. Struts are installed
to support the retaining walls, which in turn support the soil at the sides

Construction of underground structure

The roof slab is constructed, with access openings provided on the slab for works to proceed
downwards. The roof slabs not only provides a massive support across the .

Construction of underground structure

The next level of slab is constructed, and this process progresses downwards till the base slab is
completed
Construction of underground structure
 The side walls are constructed upwards, followed by removal of the intermediate struts. The
access openings on the roof slab are then sealed.

Backfilling and reinstatement

After the underground structure is completed, the soil is backfilled to the top strut level before
the strut is removed. This is followed by completely backfilling the top of the underground
structure and finally reinstating the surface areas.

TRUCTURAL MEMBERS REQUIRED FOR TOP-DOWN CONSTRUCTION

Design and construction principles for top-down method primarily call for two major structural
elements.
Columns with sufficient capacity must be pre-founded in bored piles or barrettes to sustain the
construction load and to utilize as part of bracing system.
Excavation for basement must be carried out with the support of permanent
retaining wall so that basement floor slabs can be utilized as lateral bracing.
Diaphragm wall of 0.8m to 1.2m in thickness with sufficient embedment in firm soil layers is
commonly used as a retaining wall whereas prefabricated steel columns known as Stanchions
embedded in either large diameter deep-seated bored piles or barrettes are utilized as structural
columns. Figure 1 illustrates the top-down construction method with utilization of stanchions and
diaphragm wall.

Installation of Diaphragm wall

Construction of guide wall

A guide wall is constructed to set out the position of the diaphragm wall.
Excavation of panel
The grab/trench cutter cuts and removes the soil to form the panel. The excavation is stabilised
by filling it with bentonite slurry to support the wall of the excavation.

Installation of Rebar cage and concreting

The crane lifts up the reinforcement-bar cage and places it within the panel. Concrete is poured
into the panel to form the panel wall.
Repetition of process

Process 2 - 4 repeats for the remaining soil in between the panels till the entire length of the
diaphragm wall construction is completed.

TYPES OF STANCHION AND THEIR APPLICATION

 General information

Material & Example Application limitation

TYPES OF
Size
STANCHION

For semi top- Limited capacity of light

Steel H-beams down stanchion does not allow for
Light stanchion 350x350x137kg/m construction construction of super
For temporary structure until completion of
decking basement construction

For semi and full

top-down
Medium sized Steel H-beams construction of Limited number of super
stanchion 350x350x390 kg/m shallow to structure floors construction
medium deep
excavation

Steel H-beams
508x457x738kg/m
Composite steel Full top-down Depending on the loading
columns construction in condition, numbers of
Heavy stanchion built up by 2 or more deep excavation superstructure floors can be
small constructed before
to medium size H- completing basement
beams excavation
Large section pre-
cast RC
column (seldom use)
STANCHION INSTALLATION METHODS
Stanchion installation method is usually selected by the piling contractor who takes into
consideration three main factors such as installation depth, size of stanchion and size of bored or
barrette piles. Though installation details may be different from one contractor to another,
stanchion installation can be categorized under two main methods, post-concreting or plunging
installation and pre-concreting installation or placing stanchion prior to concreting.
Post-concreting installation or plunging method
In this method, stanchion is installed immediately after completion of bored pile concreting
process. General construction sequence involved in this method is demonstrated in Figure 2.
Guide frame is used to install thestanchion at the correct

position.

Pre concreting method

In this method, stanchion is installed immediately after completion of drilling and reinforcement
lowering prior to concreting process. In some projects stanchion is attached to the last section of
reinforcement and installed together with the reinforcement. General construction steps involved
in this method are demonstrated in Figure 3.
Advantages and disadvantages
Advantages:
1. The shortened construction period due to simultaneous construction of the basement and the
superstructure.
2. More operational space gained from the advanced construction of floor slabs.
3. The higher stiffness of floor slab compare to steel struts improves the safety of excavation.
4. It is highly suitable for construction for tall buildings with deep basements to be constructed in
urban areas.
Disadvantages:
1. Higher cost (due to the construction of pile foundation)
2. Since the construction period of the basement is lengthened, the lateral displacement of
retaining wall or ground settlement may possible increase due to the influence of creep if the soil
layers are encountered.
3. The construction quality may influence because of worsened ventilation and illumination
under floor slab.
4. It requires highly skilled supervision and labour force.

Case Study
a) The Top-Down Construction in Indonesia:
The top down construction in Indonesia was introduced for the first time in 1994. The project
was the Bank Indonesia C-Building Projects (12 stories, and 3 basement), and PT. (Persero)
Wijaya Karya was the main contractor.
In, 1995 another project was Menara Merdeka Building (30 stories, 3 basement) also built by
top-down construction. The main contractor was joint operation of PT. (Persero) Pembangunan
Perumahan and PT. (Persero) Wijaya Karya.
The largest project in Indonesia that use the top-down construction was Pasar Baru Bandung
Project , 2003. The huge building was consisted 120,000 sq.m, 10 stories plus 3 basements, and
the time line for accomplishing the project was only 8 months. The main contractor was PT.
(Persero) Pembangunan Perumahan.
b) The one seen here depicts the basement entrance for the Cheung Kong Center projectin hong
kong, which best illustrates the method. The top-down construction method is virtually the only
method suitable for the construction of deep basements on a large scale. One irresistible
advantage of this method is that substructure and superstructure work can be carried out at the
same time.

C) Top-down basement construction: the permanent RC structure at the top has been completed
but remains supported on temporary steel stanchions, while the excavation and construction
work to the lower basement is yet to be continued. (Lee Gardens)

d) Another feature of top-down construction is that the ground floor slab (indeed, any slab
close to ground level) is cast first as a starting level to provide the necessary rigidity to the side
supports. This example, from the Festival Walk project, best illustrates the arrangement
Conclusion
From the above report we can conclude that top down constuction has its suitability for certain
kind of mega structures. It is suitable for structures with deep basements like undergrond rails,
car parks etc. It is also very efficient way of doing two way construction to save time.
Skyscrapers with deep basements in urban areas should be constucted using top down
construction. But top down construction needs very efficient planning and designing and skilled
supervision and labour force. Top down construction is the need of the hour as it is highly time
efficient and is becoming popular and is coming more and more in practice with every passing
day