Designing Tall Buildings: Structure as Architecture

by Mark Sarkisian

The first of its kind, Designing Tall Buildings is an accessible reference that guides you through the fundamental principles of designing high-rises. Each chapter focuses on one theme central to tall-building design, giving you a comprehensive overview of the related architecture and structural engineering concepts. Author Mark Sarkisian provides clear definitions of technical terms and introduces important equations, to help you gradually develop your knowledge. Later chapters allow you to explore more complex applications, such as biomimicry. Projects drawn from Skidmore, Owings & Merrill 's vast catalog of built high-rises, many of which Sarkisian designed, demonstrate these concepts.This book advises you to consider the influence of a particular site 's geology, wind conditions, and seismicity. Using this contextual knowledge and analysis, you can determine what types of structural solutions are best suited for a tower on that site. You can then conceptualize and devise efficient structural systems that are not only safe, but also constructible and economical. Sarkisian also addresses the influence of nature in design, urging you to integrate structure and architecture for buildings of superior performance, sustainability, and aesthetic excellence.

Genres: Architecture

410 pages, Hardcover

First published September 19, 2011

Reviews

[Demi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark writes really nicely. An SOM-centric curriculum of tall building design for a more general audience (architects and engineers alike, not as much technical detail as an engineer might need to know for an exam). Several interesting unique SOM systems shown, including classics like Hancock and Sears, but also new ones I wasn’t aware of, such as the rocker in Poly HQ or Kingtown International Center's lateral pipe system. Special emphasis on seismic systems and the need for stiffness for wind, softness for seismic. Pin-fuse joint illustrations compelling. Some of the genetic algorithm / fibonacci sequence discussion at the end not as compelling for me, but other visionary last takes at the end were compelling, especially the adaptive structures and sensory fields.

[Dan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty good but didn't quite live up to what I wanted or expected. I was hoping for a bit more technical information as far as the actual design process for tall buildings. I feel like the title of the book was a little misleading. The information in the book seemed to me to be more about the pre-design phases of tall building design such as choosing a site, deciding on a lateral system, choosing a code-based approach vs. design-build, etc.