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Posted on: March 17, 2009  0 Like

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CONCRETE SUPERSTRUCTURES
Why structural reinforced concrete is being used increasingly to build super-tall buildings

By Joe Nasvik

 Traditionally, engineers have designed the structure for high-rise buildings

using all structural steel or all structurally reinforced concrete. There are
advantages to each building material. “Composite structures” combine the two
using structural steel columns and beams for floor construction, concrete on
metal deck floors, and a concrete core structure that contains elevators and
emergency stairwells.

Not long ago, most high-rise structures were built with structural steel, such
as the Sears Tower Chicago, which is the tallest building in the United States.

However, advancements in the concrete industry over the past few years,
have made the current trend toward concrete possible. But regional and job-
specific conditions can tilt a project toward or away from concrete. Bill Baker,
a partner in charge of structural and civil engineering for SOM, says they try
to avoid bias when they are designing and engineering a project. He adds that
they often submit estimates for all concrete, all steel, and composite systems,
leaving the decision to the owner—most decisions are made based on the best
price.

Trends in building construction

Today, most high-rise residential towers, as well as hotel construction, use

MICHAEL MARCOTTE concrete construction systems (although a current trend for some hotels is

At 80 stories the Aqua building in Chicago topped out in structural steel). Geographical trends greatly influence building construction
early March. Using flat-plate floor construction, they were decisions. In the northeast, the trend is toward structural steel high-rise
able to complete concrete construction well ahead of a
structural steel building being built nearby. construction, except in New York City where virtually all residential high-rise
construction is concrete. Chicago has a more balanced market, while in Las
Vegas, nearly all casino hotel construction on the Strip has been concrete.

Design considerations also influence trends. Structurally reinforced concrete construction becomes very efficient when bay
sizes between columns don't exceed 20x30 feet. This creates an ideal situation for contractors to use flat-plate floor
construction methods (the bottom of a floor slab is flat). Flat-plate floors reduce forming time and increase productivity.

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Owners also can benefit from this form of construction because it's sometimes possible to get an extra floor without
increasing the height of a building.

When column spaces are wide, Baker says it is necessary to add either concrete or steel beams, adding more time and
expense to complete a floor level.

General contractors (GCs) who build tall structures usually self perform their concrete work but rarely self perform structural
steel work, often hiring specialized subcontractors. Baker notices that when GCs control their own schedules and self
perform work, they tend to be more inventive and find ways to be more productive.

 Advantages in choosing concrete

There are many reasons why owners, designers, engineers, and contractors,
choose to work with concrete. For end users, there is reduced noise between
units, less building sway from wind forces (wind shear) because the mass and
stiffness of concrete dampens movement, and increased fire safety.

For the design and construction community, concrete can be faster to install
JOE NASVIK
than structural steel. It's fairly common for contractors to construct floors on
SCC makes it possible to consolidate concrete around
three-day cycles. For more than 50 years in New York City, many residential
congested steel reinforcement, increasingly an issue for
high-rise construction. high-rise buildings have been built with two-day cycles.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Joe Nasvik
Joe Nasvik is a senior editor for Residential Concrete. He can be reached at 773-824-2510 or jnasvik@hanleywood.com

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