Shenzhen Shum-Yip Tower One - Gravity and Lateral Load Resisting System Optimization

In the pursuit of a highly efficient high-rise structure, structural engineers have been developing new systems. Almost all of these techniques involve use of the entire width of the building. Legacy systems - such as outriggers, belt trusses, and perimeter braces - provide efficient systems, but they have an impact on the ductility, redundancy, and uniformity of the stiffness of structure. In regions of high seismic activity, the cost of adopting such legacy systems can be significant in terms of structural and architectural efficiency. The design team for Shum-Yip Tower One developed a structural system which allows for maximum architectural flexibility without compromising efficiency of the structure. This system has been named the Ladder System. The architectural requirement of unobstructed views has resulted in fewer perimeter columns. Gravity loads at the perimeter are directed through eight mega-columns; the resulting higher gravity loads have eliminated tension due to overturning. This gravity system is instrumental in the success of the Ladder System.